Micheala Lynn
Schuler Books and Music, Grand Rapids
Feb. 26, 7 p.m.
schulerbooks.com, (616) 942-2561
The ruthless exploits of a machete-wielding maniac and the seesaw passions of star-crossed lovers may seem light-years apart to many fiction lovers, but Micheala Lynn believes otherwise. Since her days as a graduate student, the West Michigan-based author has transitioned seamlessly from an aspiring horror writer with a serious Stephen King addiction into one of the brightest emerging talents in the lesbian romance genre.
“People laugh when I say this, but there’s not that much difference between horror and romance,” Lynn said. “It’s all about the tension . . . that’s what drives a good story.”
There’s plenty of tension to be found in Lynn’s debut novel, Jagged Little Scar, which has earned her consideration for Best Contemporary Lesbian Romance from both the Golden Crown Literary Society and the Lambda Literary Awards. The story follows the sudden collision of two wounded women: Jodi Price, a prolific musician struggling to come to terms with a tragic accident that marred her vocal chords, and Sam Werstler, a computer geek who has become withdrawn in the wake of a toxic relationship.
The story begins with the pair’s first meeting, as Sam’s friends drag her out to see Jodi’s band perform. Despite the accident, Jodi still plays guitar, and Sam is instantly transfixed by her reserved-yet-dynamic stage presence. Needless to say, sparks fly and the two women are quickly entangled, setting off on a turbulent journey in search of happiness together.
Lynn seems largely interested in the unique chemistry that propels the trajectory of all relationships, literary or otherwise.
“They say that opposites attract, and that might be sort of true, but I think that our experiences in life can compliment each other while also adding a lot of tension to things,” she said.
Lynn’s characters tend to be odd parings for just that reason, and their development showcases life’s capacity to transform us. Her forthcoming second book, for instance, matches a forensic anthropologist with a kindergarten teacher, while in her third novel, currently in progress, a former athlete confined to a wheelchair faces new difficulties in trying to have a relationship.
More than the tropes and formulas that people often reduce romance fiction to, Lynn explores how our individual experience shapes the way we connect intimately with others.
“We all have these moments where we can look back and say, there was life before this, and then there was life after this,” she said.
As far as validating her genre, Lynn isn’t out to do that, nor does she have any agenda to push in writing about LGBT relationships.
“I’ve grown up in West Michigan – a fairly conservative area – and the interesting thing that comes up a lot of times is that for me and a lot of people in the LGBT community, it’s just the way things are, we don’t think about it that much,” she said. “A lot of times, it’s the conservative straight community that thinks about it a lot more than we do.”
Instead, Jagged Little Scar is Lynn drawing plainly from her own experience. And that’s a powerful statement all on its own.
“At the heart of it, it’s just a good love story,” she said. “Most people just want to find that one person, and wherever that can be found, that should be a good thing.”
Other Literary Events
Taste of Soul Sunday
Grand Rapids Public Library – Main Branch
Feb. 15, 1-4:30 p.m.
grpl.org, (616) 988-5400
Returning for the tenth straight year, Taste of Soul Sunday is the Grand Rapids Public Library’s celebration of African American history and culture. Come hang out and explore a wide variety of art, music, literature, history and food at this event, free and open to the public.
Grand Valley Writers Series - Jamaal May and Tarfia Faizullah
University Club – GVSU Pew Campus
Feb. 16, 6-8:45 p.m.
gvsu.edu, (616) 331-5000
February brings a duo of accomplished young Michigan poets to the GVSU stage: Detroit’s Jamaal May won the American Library Association’s Notable Book Award for his most recent collection, Hum, while Tarfia Faizullah took home a prestigious Pushcart Prize for her 2014 release, Seam. Together, they direct the Organic Weapon Arts Chapbook Press & Video Series.
Barnes and Noble Monthly Book Group
Barnes and Noble – Kalamazoo
Feb. 4, 7 p.m.
barnesandnoble.com, (269) 324-1433
Join with other bookworms in this monthly group discussion series. February’s selection is Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, a New York Times best-seller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France.
