It’s been nearly 20 years since Maple Grove resident Lyn Miller LaCoursiere began learning the art of the pen. Struggling with anguish over the loss of her husband and determined to improve her emotional well-being, LaCoursiere purchased a box of pens and a stack of yellow legal pads. She began to scribble her frustrations into a journal that morphed into poetry and eventually into prose.
LaCoursiere later joined a writing critique group called Night Writers that meets regularly in Maple Grove. There, she shared some short stories with the group for feedback and encouragement. One particular story remained unfinished. She couldn’t decide on an ending. That’s when a friend suggested that she make it into a book.
Based on a real life incident when carpenter ants were gnawing away at a corner of LaCoursiere’s home and fence, she created a character who burns down her house to collect insurance money. “I didn’t burn down my own house of course,” she says with a chuckle. “But that little bit of prompting was the impetus of my book titled, Nightmares and Dreams which I immediately put in my closet.”
Unable to stop what she’d started, LaCoursiere began a second book called Tomorrow’s Rain. She put that one in her closet. Then a third, titled Sunsets. She put that one in the closet too! She says, “It wasn’t until I’d finished my fourth manuscript that I thought maybe I should do something with them.”
LaCoursiere explains being nervous about putting herself out there and being judged. But with the help of Night Writers and Gabriel’s Horn Publishing, LaCoursiere has published five novels and is releasing the sixth in her Lindy Lewis Adventure series in October. She says she’s certainly gotten braver as she’s gone along.
She’s also come to love the two main characters in the series, Lindy Lewis and Reed Conners. “I use bits and pieces from my own life in my stories—things I’ve done or wish I’d done. I feel a connection to Lindy because she is how I’d like to be. And Reed, he’s a combination of personalities. He’s intelligent, wears western boots, pressed jeans and a leather jacket. And he always smells good.” LaCoursiere smiles then adds, “Writing fiction is so great because I can make these characters do and be anything I want!”
Fellow Night Writer member Jack Stanton has known LaCoursiere for five years. He says each of the night writers has a super power and LaCoursiere’s style is famous among the group for incorporating the senses. “She has a way of making scenes vivid with an economy of words,” says Stanton.
LaCoursiere admits that carving out her niche in the self-publishing world is a big job. Not only has she published a book a year since 2007, she designs her own book covers and handles her own promotion. She does book signings and author appearances. Look for her at the Maple Grove Art Center in November.
She also attends holiday boutique shows and visits bookclubs. Plus, she’s learned to use social media to connect with her readers. LaCoursiere has a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and blogs on her own website. The Lindy Lewis Adventure Series has also been made available as ebooks. Not bad for a grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of four, who says she’s not that good on the computer.
In fact, she’s probably at her computer right now working on her brand new series due out in 2013. Her writing room walls are lined with books by authors she admires, Catherine Coulter, Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown. At the top of one bookcase is a portrait of Lyn Miller LaCoursiere’s mother who once wrote a column for the Thief River Falls Times. “She always encouraged me to write,” LaCoursiere says. “I wish she were still here to see how I’m following her advice.”
Someone once asked LaCoursiere if she’d ever stop writing. Retire. She answers with an unequivocal no and then goes on to say, “To live a healthy life, I need a routine of creativeness each day.” Great insight from a woman who first chose writing as a creative outlet only to discover that it is her calling.
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Lyn Miller LaCoursiere can be seen 1-5 p.m. November 6 at the Maple Grove Art Center and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. November 12 at the Maple Grove Community Center. Her books are available here.
