BONUS episode: Laurie's fiction

How does someone who had always dreamed of becoming an author, actually push through and get started?  For Laurie, it all came down to a visit to the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta, Georgia.  That one random decision changed her life in ways she could never imagine.

We're taking a break from the Bible essays this week to share more about Laurie's vast backlist of fiction.  Take a short listen and maybe you'll find a book or two to start off your New Year right!

Laurie's website is the best spot to learn anything you want to know about her books.

Transcript

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Hey friends, it's Lori Larson, your host on the year I read the Bible Podcast. Every Tuesday morning, I bring you a half hour episode filled with insight and inspiration and Bible knowledge. I'm having so much fun bringing these episodes to you, and I so appreciate you tuning in and sticking around. But today I planned something a little different. I wanted to share with you a little more about my fiction, hence my opening music from The Beatles. I currently have over two dozen novels released. My first one was published in the year 2000, so I've been doing this well a long time. If you like beachy, heartwarming, inspirational romance, and you haven't checked out any of my books, I hope you'll give one a try. Today, I'll tell you about your choices to see if any connect with you. I started my writing journey way back in 1999. I was on a business trip to Atlanta, Georgia, and I had a free Saturday. I ended up visiting the Margaret Mitchell house and toured the home where the esteemed author wrote her masterpiece Gone with the Wind. As I peered at that tiny little place and the old fashioned black typewriter, and listened to the stories about how she continued to write that book for 10 years through all of life's challenges. Something inside my head said, you could do that too. You see, I was at a very busy time of my life. I was married. I had two little boys and a very demanding job. I didn't have time to write a book, but Margaret Mitchell didn't either, and yet she continued to strive on when it was finally done, she had a literary classic. Can you imagine if she had quit what the world would've missed out on? So I started writing, not very fast, but I reserved one hour a night after the kids went to bed. Basically, I gave up an hour of television every night, and within 10 months I had a novel. Not a very good one, but as first novels go, probably not that bad either. I'm gonna fast forward to my eighth novel because it took me that long to figure out what the heck I was meant to write. I tried Contemporary romances, young adult Adventure family saga. You name it. Until ding, ding, ding, I wrote an inspirational romance called Preacher Man. It combined my love of romance with God's message of faith and redemption, and I was off and running. Preacher Man became an award winner when it was selected to win the Epic Award for best spiritual romance of 2010. I even got to travel to New Orleans my first time there to dress up and walk the red carpet and sit with bated breath when they called my category. When I won, I made my way up on stage and delivered an acceptance speech I'd memorized just in case I was where I was supposed to be in my writing and God rewarded me with this honor. From there, I moved into writing what would become my most beloved and successful series, Poly's Island Paradise. It grew to be a series of six full length novels and a short non-fiction companion book. It all starts with middle-aged Leslie Malone, a teacher in Pittsburgh. Looking forward to the start of summer break. And spending the hot, carefree days with her daughter who was coming home from college and her husband Tim. But she soon realizes that her idyllic summer will not go as planned. Tim has a midlife crisis and ask for divorce. Jasmine accepts a coveted internship in Paris and Leslie has to put her beloved house up on the market. Her life as she knows it is falling apart. After some tear field days, she prays for guidance and embarks on a road trip. No destination in mind. Just go where God leads her. Despite being rejected. She still has skills and talents. She can help others if given the chance. Off she goes and follows God's lead. Eventually she ends up in the beautiful place. Her family used to go on vacation, Polly's Island, South Carolina. It's a place that brings joy to her heart, and that's exactly what she needs right now. Why not check out the old gray barn? The beach house her family stayed at every year and it was right there. She encountered hunky Hank Harrison working to restore the old house to its former glory. And her heart lets her know this is no ordinary man. Here is a review I recently received on this very special series. Your Polly's Island Paradise Series continues to deliver the kind of heartfelt, faith-filled storytelling that deeply connects with readers who crave emotional journeys and meaningful character growth. Books four through six is especially stand out for their blend of romance. Redemption second chances and beautifully layered relationships. Each set against the warm, familiar charm of Polly's Island. It's clear why readers return to this series with so much affection and why the Harrison Families stories linger long after the last page. When I finished Poly's Island Paradise, I decided to not stray too far geographically and stylistically. My next series is Merles Inlet Miracles, just down the road from Polys. I started the series with another middle-aged woman, Nora, this time, an unmarried, high-powered Philadelphia attorney whose career was the basis of her life. Nora receives a letter notifying her that her beloved childhood aunt has passed, leaving her the horse ranch that Nora used to visit when she was a girl. Before her schooling and her career took off putting an end to much in the way of socializing, she goes to Merl Inlet, hoping to put the ranch up for sale and get back to work. But a series of issues makes her rethink that plan. One night a mysterious black stallion jumps into her pasture and she has no idea what to do about it. She calls the local vet for help and enters Shaw, a strong respectable, and you guessed it. Very handsome man. And off we go on the romance. Will Nora sell the place and return to Philly and her job filled with crazy hours, leaving time for nothing else? Or will she decide that Merle's Inlet. And the ranch life could offer her an alternative. Merle's Inlet Miracles contains five full length novels, all connected in some way by the characters you meet along the way. Next up for me was my COVID project. Remember in the year 2020 when everything shut down and we all needed to find meaningful ways to spend our time while never leaving the house. I ended up writing and publishing a five book series in about 14 months called The Matchmaking Moms of Oceanview Church. Three mothers of adult children who are failing in the love department decide to help out their offspring. Covertly to find love. The three moms work undercover to locate and nurture matches for each other's kids. Those books are Meet the Moms, finding Love for the Loner, finding Love for the Workaholic. Finding love for the playboy and finding love for the matchmaker. They're light and fun and a little shorter than my previous books, but still complete novels that fully explore the plot, the romance, and God's message of love. Okay. Next are a few books I call my Big Apple Blessings series. I tie them together because they all take place in my favorite city, New York. Those books are his secret daughter. Then a novella called One Big Apple Christmas and ending with her secret desire. They have the same inspirational romance with, I'd say more suspenseful storyline than my beachy books. More appropriate. For a big city environment and there you have it. My fiction backlist always ready to find new readers. My website, author lori larson.com is a great place to explore and all my books are available in all ebook retailers, some audio books, and Amazon carries all my paperbacks. Take a look and let me know if you find anything you absolutely love. Well, I'm going to end this episode here. Thanks for listening. New episodes for the rest of the, the year I read the Bible series. We'll start releasing again on January 6th. When I say thank you for taking this journey alongside me, I really mean it. I feel so honored and blessed to have you as listeners and readers. Take care.