Meet Author Lauralyn Keller
Lauralyn Keller loves to combine history and romance in stories that touch the heart. She lives in beautiful Colorado and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading.
Tell us about your newest book.
After losing her fiancé in the Great War, nurse Bethany Astor swore she’d never risk her heart again. But when the Red Cross sends her to the struggling mountain town of Laurel Ridge, Tennessee, she meets a schoolteacher whose pain mirrors her own. As she uses her skills to heal his injured leg, Bethany discovers that keeping her walls intact might be harder than she ever imagined.
Dylan Harper’s leg injury kept him from the battlefield, but his emotional wounds run deeper. Haunted by a tragic accident that claimed a young student’s life, he’s learned that loving someone means risking devastating loss. When Bethany arrives in town with her gentle spirit and healing touch, she awakens feelings he thought long buried—and terrifies him with their intensity.
As Laurel Ridge fights for survival, Bethany and Dylan must confront the ghosts of their past before they can embrace a future together. With both their hearts scarred by loss, will they find the courage to choose love over fear before time runs out?
What inspired you to write your story?
I used to write fanfiction, but I would take characters from my favorite show and put them into different historical settings to create my own stories. This particular book was inspired by a WWII fanfic I wrote, though it changed a lot in the process—the book ended up being a complete rewrite, with only a few elements still recognizable from the original story.
What genre do you focus on.
Historical romance. I’ve always loved history, and it’s a joy delving deeper into certain time periods to bring timeless stories to life.
Why do you write?
This might sound cliché, but I write because I love it! It’s been a dream of mine since I was a young girl to be an author. Even so, I never actually thought that dream would come true. Now, it has, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to bring these stories to life.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
My main character is Bethany Astor. Name choosing is always a fun process—I’ll look up names that were popular during that time period, make a list of some favorites, and then match them with favorite male names until a “couple name” strikes me. “Bethany and Dylan” sounded good, so that’s what the characters were named.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
Usually I write evenings and weekends. I’m a kindergarten teacher, so I can’t write much during a typical work week. It’s all about finding the time outside of my teaching hours. Weekends see the most progress in writing.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Kind of a follow up to the last question, but finding time to write has been the hardest part. I’m an introvert, so after a full day with energetic kindergarteners, my creative energy is sapped. I’m thankful for my publisher’s deadlines, because it means I have to get the story done in a specific amount of time, but sometimes it’s stressful balancing teaching life with author life. Not that I would change it! I love both jobs.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
Being able to live my childhood dream. I love taking the half-baked story ideas in my head to full-length, fleshed-out novels that hopefully speak to people and bring a little bit of joy to their lives. Another thing I love about storytelling is that it’s a tiny participation in the Great Story that God writes every day. He’s the true Author, and being able to mirror that creativity in any way, no matter how miniscule, is a blessing.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I’m the oldest of eight kids, with parents who have been married almost 40 years, and that shapes my writing. Families feature heavily in my stories, and I have my own family to thank for that. I was blessed to have loving parents who showed their love to one another without reserve, and that has heavily impacted how I see love and romance and how I want to portray it in my stories.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
Looking back on old manuscripts, it’s obvious to me that writing workshops, classes, and retreats have had a big impact on my growth as a writer. Having editors point out where my stories need work, how they can improve, has also helped me grow. I used to fall into the “tell instead of show” trap (still do!), and I like to think I’ve improved at showing. Capturing details is also something I’ve struggled with, and while I’ve grown in that, there is still a lot of room for improvement.
What is your favorite pastime?
Reading! Getting lost in a good book is so relaxing.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Yes. This book is number four in a series of eight. The first three—Second Chances in Harmony Springs—focused on characters in the 1880s in Montana. The next five—of which Bethany and Dylan’s story is first—take place in Tennessee Appalachia in 1919. I’ve also got two self-published books that take place post-WWII in a fictitious Eastern European kingdom.
What are you working on now?
My current work in progress is called The Soldier’s First Love. It’s the sixth book in the above mentioned series, with a main character named Marie, who you meet in The Teacher’s Mending Heart.
Website: lauralynkeller.com
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/Teachers-Mending-Heart-Chances-Country-ebook/dp/B0GM3FQRNH
Social media links: Instagram – @lauralynkellerauthor
Facebook – www.facebook.com/lauralynkeller
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