Looking Out the Window: Lynn Lovegreen Talks about Gold Nuggets, Her Latest Book in the Gold Rush Series

A Warm Welcome to Lynn Lovegreen

Lynn will give away an ebook copy of Gold Nuggets. To enter to win leave a comment and an e-mail address.

Also, be sure to check out her fun quiz at the end of the interview.

Hi Lynn, first, tell us a little about yourself.
I was lucky enough to grow up in Alaska, and still live there. I’m a retired teacher who now writes full-time. I write young adult historical romance, and Prism Book Group publishes my Gold Rush series.

Lots of writers loved to read as children. How about you? Were you an avid reader as a child? If so, what did you read?

Yes—mine was a reading household, and I read anything I could get my hands on. I read a lot of children’s books (favorite picture book: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, favorite chapter book author: E. B. White). I enjoyed strong young ladies, like the Little House, Anne, and Nancy Drew books. But I also waded into my mother’s poetry and Shakespeare books early on, and read both young adult and adult novels by the time I was in high school. I discovered the power of words and that was it. I was hooked.

Why do you write?
I write to entertain and inspire with stories of old Alaska. I hope readers see themselves in my strong female characters, and enjoy the fun parts of Alaska history. I write to show readers they are not alone. And, of course, I also write because I enjoy playing pretend on paper.

All about Lynn's Latest book

My latest book is the last in my Gold Rush series. Gold Nuggets is set in Kantishna and Denali Park in 1916.

In the shadow of Denali, she has a home, and he finds adventure. Charlotte Cooper wants to stay near her parents' home in Alaska. But her dreams of being a writer call her away to college or work, and she has to choose her own path in life.

Henry Reeves is a wealthy New Yorker seeking a summer adventure when he travels to Kantishna near the proposed Mt. McKinley National Park. He discovers two passions, one for Charlotte, and the other for keeping Alaska wildlife from being wiped out like the buffalo. Charlotte and Henry find an attraction they can’t deny, but can they build a new life together between the wilderness and high society?

What inspired you to write this particular book?
I knew I wanted to wrap up the series near the end of the Gold Rush. Tying it to the beginning of the conservation movement and the creation of Mt. McKinley (now Denali) National Park seemed like a nice transition into the next era of Alaska’s history. Plus, I love the area. I’ve been there several times, and my husband used to drive buses in the Park, so the setting was a natural for me.

In three words describe your style of writing.
Heart-warming, sweet, romantic

What themes do you write about?
So, far, all of my books involve young characters coming of age. I love that scary/heady period of life when we’re discovering ourselves and where we fit in the world.

Romance also finds its way into each story. Love is the most important thing in life, whether it’s romantic love, love of family and friends, or love for our fellow human beings. “Love thy neighbor,” as they say.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Read and write! Both will give you models and tools for writing. Get as many hours of practice as you can. Then, when you’re ready to show your work to others, find a critique group or network to help you grow in your writing and support you through your journey. And be ready for a long journey—persevere!

What is the coolest, wackiest, most risk-taking thing you’ve ever done?
It’s not really wacky, but the most risk-taking thing I’ve ever done is retire in order to write full-time. It was scary, but something I needed to do at that stage of my life. And I have no regrets.

Introduce us to the main character in your new book. (the one we’re featuring this time)
Charlotte grew up in Kantishna, Alaska, far from any town. She is an independent young lady who wants to become a writer. She’s considering what this means for her future plans when she meets Henry, a wealthy, cocky young Easterner who comes to Alaska for a summer adventure. She is surprised to find they have things in common, and even more when she finds herself attracted to him.
To learn more about Charlotte and my other heroines, take my quiz to find out which Gold Rush heroine you are! 
https://www.qzzr.com/quiz/01a90050-71bf-4c5e-907c-37ae28c99e4b/fi9xdWl6emVzLzc5NDUy

Book Links:

Prism Book Group

Amazon

Website/blog:
www.lynnlovegreen.com

Looking Out the Window: Memories on the Heart

Several weeks ago my husband, Rick, and I ate at a restaurant we frequent fairly regularly. The cute, young waitress who usually waits on us took our orders for burgers and fries. I’ll call her Mandy. As usual Mandy’s smile and bubbly personality brightened our day. We giggled and confessed to her that we shouldn’t eat the fries, but we were going to do it just this once. She joked. “Okay, you’re being bad today.” Not long after we got our food a couple came in and sat in the booth behind us. Mandy walked up to the table with her big grin. “Hi, how are you?” she asked. The man, who had salt and pepper colored hair and a pudgy face, spoke in a harsh tone, “I want the steak.” “Sure, which one would you like?” Mandy asked. “I don’t want you to put it in the microwave. That will make it tough. Do you understand?” Mandy’s lips turned down. “Yes sir, which one do you want to order?” “I want it medium rare. I don’t want blood oozing out of it. I want it cooked right.” “Yes sir, which steak di

Looking out the Window: Bible Study Leader Kristi Neace Says God Won't Fail Us and Introduces Us to Her New Book, Pathlight to Praise. Free Bible Study Coming Soon.

A Warm Welcome to Kristi Neace Kristi shares a devotional. She will start a new Bible study on Facebook in July. Watch for the announcement, giving the exact date and time on her Facebook Page Scriptural videos also available. See below.* In a Pit? Psalm 40:1-3‚ “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” Can you think of a time when God helped you out of a low place? Perhaps something had caused you to spiral downward, or maybe like the Old Testament character, Jonah, you had run away from God so as not to have to do what He was asking of you. Through this passage, we see that David was experiencing this first-hand. He was in a place of despair, yet God was gracious, and after some time, placed David in a new area of serv

Looking Out the Window: Brandy Heineman Talks about Writing and Her New Book, Whispers in the Braches

A Warm Welcome to Brandy Heineman Photo credit: Copyright Emilie Hendryx of E. A. Creative Photography, 2014. Hi Brandy, lots of writers enjoyed reading as a child. How about you? If so, what did you read? Oh, yes. I always loved to read. I adored mysteries— The Dollhouse Murders and Behind the Attic Wall come to mind—and of course I had my Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High phase, my Roald Dahl phase, my Judy Bloom phase . . . I was quite a bookish child, I’d say! About Whispers in the Branches In 1942, Ruby lost something. In 2012, Abby found it. Abby’s love life, career, and faith are in shambles when she first hears Great Aunt Ruby’s claims that the family home is haunted. Abby moves in, determined to shake out a ghost, but the secrets she discovers there aren’t the ones she hopes to find. Whispers in the Branches is my first novel. It was released earlier this year by Elk Lake Publishing. Buy Whispers in the Branches on Amazon Where

Peering Through Life's Window

Search This Blog