Lynne Spreen

Great news! Dakota Blues just won Next Generation Indie Book Finalist Award! More than an honor, it's validation that people want to read about the midlife experience, and triumphing over age! See below right for book trailer.

Although Dakota Blues is a work of fiction, much of it is based on the real lives of my ancestors, German immigrants who settled in North Dakota in the late 1800's. Dickinson, my fictional character's hometown, is real. My mother grew up there and hauled us kids back to visit my extended family almost every summer. Many of my relatives still live in and near the town. Dakota Blues is full of descriptions of beautiful vistas and the richness of smalltown life, a scenario which sadly no longer exists due to the oil boom. My story is an homage to Dickinson as it was in the verdant Spring of 2008.

About me: after spending a career in human resources, I was able to start writing fulltime. I wrote a bi-weekly newspaper column and did freelance work for magazines for a couple of years. Then, joyously, I was able to pursue my lifetime dream of writing a novel. In addition I have a VERY busy blog, at AnyShinyThing.com ("Midlife Magic"), and I invite you to join us there, as we explore the second half of life. Here's what we talk about: At a certain point are we too old to start over? Should we be winding down or blowing things up? How best to travel this later-in-life pathway?

Come sit around our electronic campfire. Let's figure things out together.