LAURA: Thank you so much for having me here again, Laurie! The Lighthouse Baby was initially inspired by my fascination with lighthouses. I’ve always admired the stoic structures from afar, and then a few years ago, my family and I visited the stunning Oregon Coast. As soon as I stepped inside my first lighthouse, I knew there was a story to be told. I imagined what joys and tragedies had occurred over the years within those secretive, damp, rounded walls. Needless to say, this book is set right on that rugged coastline in the picturesque tiny city of Florence.
“Life on the run from a horrific past is all Bella King knows—until she lets down her guard and falls for Oregon architect, Adam Lexington. The draw of a lighthouse, the dream of a family, and the determination to discover answers leads to grave danger—will the truth set Bella free before it’s too late?”
LAURIE: What is the theme of The Lighthouse Baby?
LAURA: The main theme is “freedom”. Our protagonist, Bella King, has been on the run for years—fleeing from a traumatic past which held her captive and stole her identity. As a result, she has great difficulty trusting others when her natural response is always to escape. She knows in her heart that as a Christian, she has freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1), yet she needs to unlock the truth from her secret past to ultimately live free. This truth begins to unravel after a sinister package arrives and is followed by doubt, devastation, and danger… (cue spine-chilling music!)
LAURIE: And is this the first book you have coming out with Anaiah Press?
LAURA: No, The Glass Bottom Boat, my first book in the “Flight to Freedom” series came out in March 2019 with Anaiah Press. In fact, The Lighthouse Baby is my seventh traditionally published book.
LAURIE: What do you enjoy about writing a series?
LAURA: This is my second book series, and I absolutely love writing them. It takes so much creative effort developing characters for any novel—they almost become real people to the author! At the end of writing a book, it’s a bittersweet moment when we joyously complete the manuscript yet have to bid our characters farewell. Therefore, a series allows us to jump back in and delve deeper and investigate further building on our original work—either with the same characters or bringing in some new ones. In my “Flight to Freedom” series, I wanted each book to be able to stand alone (which is a challenge) yet allow the reader to follow certain beloved characters on their journey.
LAURIE: How long has it taken to get The Lighthouse Baby published?
LAURA: I began writing this manuscript in 2016, so it’s taken a full three years to get published from start to finish. The bulk of the story I wrote in 2017 and then it was picked up by Anaiah Press a year ago.
LAURIE: What advice would you give to other writers trying to break in to the Christian market?
LAURA: Don’t put your writing into a box.
When I began writing, I wanted to be a picture book author. That was my “box” of choice. My dream. I wrote some stories for children’s magazines, but then God steered my writing in (many) other directions. Articles, stories, and devotionals for all ages—and my published books are Christian teen fiction, middle grade fiction, marriage non-fiction, and Christian romantic suspense. I do currently have an agent for my picture book, but ironically, that’s the one genre I initially wished for and am yet to crack! Sometimes God holds a surprise door open for us—I would have missed so much if I hadn’t stepped through mine.
Watch for those open doors!
LAURIE: Where can your readers find you on social media?
LAURA: Here, there, and everywhere:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauracthomas/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraThomasAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Laura_Thomas_
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/lauracthomas/
Bookbub: bit.ly/2Uj4gyR
You can also find the links on my website at www.laurathomasauthor.com
LAURIE: And finally, how long do we have to wait for your next book?
LAURA: Hopefully, not too long… I am currently in the process of revising the manuscript for The Orphan Beach, book 3 in the “Flight to Freedom” series!
Life on the run is all Bella King knows. But after letting down her guard and opening her heart in a charming small town along the Oregon Coast, a chilling revelation forces her to make desperate decisions. Local architect, Adam Lexington, longs to protect Bella and secure their future together, but is hiding a tragic secret of his own.
The draw of a lighthouse, the dream of a family, and the determination to unlock the shocking reality of Bella’s heartbreaking past lead them both into grave danger. Will the truth set Bella free before it’s too late?
You can buy it here: amzn.to/2VREJtd
