West Michigan author Micheala Lynn seems to be on a mission to prove that opposites do, in fact, attract.
In her latest novel, Joie de Vivre, Lynn focuses on the budding love story between a workaholic forensic anthropologist, who spends the majority of her days peering at the dead, and a former basketball star turned kindergarten teacher whose partner of a decade recently died, leaving her 100 things to do in an “anti-bucket list.”
Lynn is an up-and-coming author in the lesbian romance genre and a self-proclaimed “habitual people watcher,” crafting her stories by bringing together the most unlikely of characters.
| Micheala Lynn: Joie de Vivre June 16, 7 p.m. Schuler Books, 2660 28th St., Grand Rapids |
“What if this character, a highly intellectual forensic anthropologist, gets to together with a life affirming kindergarten teacher?” Lynn said. “They may seem like polar opposites, but they actually really complement each other.”
Her novel follows Dr. Kate Riley, the forensic anthropologist and Lisa Sorenson through their unlikely romance, beginning with a blind date and progressing until both of their professional lives begin to drive a wedge between the couple.
Though a wild ride, Lynn said the novel is really about two people finding their joie de vivre, French for “zest of life.”
Lynn will host an author event regarding her new novel June 16th at Schuler Books on 28th Street. Guests will have the opportunity to hear Lynn read from Joie de Vivre, ask questions about the novel and participate in a wine and cheese socializer.
Lynn’s event coincides with the first day of the 28th Annual Grand Rapids Pride Festival, which begins on the 16th and runs through Saturday, June 18th. The festival includes a “White Party” at Rumors Nightclub in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday, June 17th and a street fair from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
While Lynn tries to limit the amount of activism for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LGBT) issues she puts in her novels, she wants her novels to feel more like a way for her readers to escape into a love story.
“I like to sit there and just show life as plain and simple,” Lynn said. “My characters are living their lives and to be honest it's just two people falling in love. Whether that's two women, a man and a women, two men or whatever, it's a celebration of coming together.”
OTHER LITERARY EVENTS
Grace, Gert, and the Berkey & Gay Gals: Women, War and Work in 1910s Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
111 Library St. NE, Grand Rapids
June 2, 7 p.m.
Local history experts Julie Tabberer, Heather Edwards and Drew Damron will highlight Grand Rapids women over the last 100 years, including an early women cartoonist, the first female elected official and the women of the Berkey & Gay Furniture factory.
Raising Strong Black Men Panel Discussion: A Response to Between the World and Me
Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
111 Library St. NE, Grand Rapids
June 16, 7 p.m.
Panelists, including Jamon Alexander, Dr. Andre Fields, Tonay Jolliffi and Joe Jones will discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book, Between the World and Me, and the struggle that black youth have in both the country and local community.
Summer Foraging in the Midwest
Kent District Library, Walker Branch
4293 Remembrance Rd. NW, Walker
June 15, 6:30 p.m.
West Michigan forager, author and herbalist, Lisa Rose will be on hand to extend some of her extensive knowledge on finding local plants to use for food or herbal medicine.
