Today, I’m happy to be part of the promotion for the Wounded Trilogy books of my e-friend, Lynn Dove. Lynn lives in Canada and has won awards for her writing and been showcased in a few compilation books, the latest being in Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith.
Be sure to check out the end of the post. There’s a link for a giveaway.
How do you describe yourself, Lynn?
I am a Christ-follower, a wife, a mom, a grandmother, a teacher, and a writer (in that order). I wear so many different hats that I find prioritizing them tends to focus me better. I have been married to my best friend, Charles, for over 33 years and we have three wonderful children: daughter, Laurelle (husband, Matt), grandbaby Jaxon, and we have two live-at-home teenagers, Brett and Carmen.
I have been a teacher most of my adult life and still substitute occasionally at the private Christian school my youngest daughter attends. I love volunteering and working closely with the youth in our church, blogging, camping, and reading.
Tell us a little bit about your “Wounded Trilogy.”
Shoot the Wounded, the first book of the Wounded Trilogy, is written for youth and young adults. It addresses how lies and gossip destroy a person’s spirit and focuses on relevant themes such as bullying, teen pregnancy, and family violence. The story points the characters, and ultimately the reader, to hope in Jesus Christ. STW was a finalist in the 2010 Readers Favorite Book Awards.
Heal the Wounded is the sequel to STW. Heal the Wounded won a Bronze Medal in the 2011 Readers Favorite Book Awards in the Young Adult-Coming of Age category. HTW delves even deeper into the real world of teenagers trying to live out their faith in the midst of upset and struggle.
Love the Wounded is the final and dramatic conclusion to the series as it follows the lives of teenagers Jake, Leigh, Mike, Dylan, and Tim. They face a series of tragedies and events that make each of them question why God allows “bad things to happen to good people.” Released May 30, 2012, the book has already received a five star review from Readers Favorite.
As bullying is one of the issues I deal with, my books are listed as resources on the largest anti-bullying website in the world, Bullying.org.
Why did you become a writer?
I know this is a cliché answer, but I have always wanted to write. I have written poetry and short stories since I was in elementary school. My teachers could always count on me to give a lengthy treatise on any subject.
I had no aspirations to be a novelist. My debut novel, Shoot the Wounded, actually started as a short story, but 100 pages later, I realized I couldn’t call it a “short story” any longer. It sat in my computer for ten years until, one day, as I deleted files, I came across it again. My husband encouraged me to finish it and get it published.
Do you tend to base your characters on real people?
Since two of my children are teenagers and I write novels for teenagers, I have been very purposeful not to base my characters on them. It would mortify them! Instead, I try to draw on my experience as a high school teacher and as a youth leader working with teenagers. So, each of my characters is composed of a smattering of many individuals, rolling them into one cohesive characterization.
My kids still say that they see themselves in the characters. I suppose that’s to be expected, but I pray that they see the character as positively portrayed and not otherwise.
Do you have any new book or writing projects now that the Wounded Trilogy is done?
I am working on an autobiographical account of my journey with breast cancer in 2001 called Life Lived. I am also working on a devotional as well as a few more articles set to be published in compilation books.
Readers may also connect with Lynn on Twitter, Facebook, and on her blogs:Journey Thoughts, Word Salt, and on her website Shoot the Wounded.
Don’t forget to check out the giveaway. Here’s the link.
Thanks for this interview- the books sound good, touch on vital topics for our youth!
Lynn, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog and getting the word out to your readers about my books! You are a blessing!