In the fall of 2016, Melanie Crowder and I met for the first time. We’d known each other on line for a while and finally got to meet in person on our way to the Virginia Library Association’s annual meeting (where our books were both awarded the Jefferson Cup for Historical Fiction).
On that drive, we talked about the work we were doing. Melanie mentioned a new project that involved a lighthouse. That book, The Lighthouse between the Worlds, will meet the world next month. I asked Melanie what first drew her to this story. Here’s what she had to say:
I grew up in Oregon, and the lighthouse that inspired the book, Heceta Head, is just down the coast highway from where my family went camping for our summer vacations. I go home to Oregon every year—I’m still a west coast girl at heart.
I thought of the story when I was out in the wilderness and wondered what it must have been like when the telegraph, or AC currents, or the Fresnel lens came to the West. It must have seemed like magic. And I thought—what if it was? I had no idea at the time that a portal fantasy, with characters jumping between worlds would be the result, but isn’t that the fun of writing—finding those surprises in the process?
Here’s a description of the book:
Griffin and his father tend to their lighthouse on the craggy coast of Oregon with the same careful routine each day. There are hardly ever any visitors, but they like it that way. Which is why, when a group of oddly dressed strangers suddenly appears, Griffin begins to see just how many secrets his father has been keeping. He never imagined that his lighthouse contains a portal to strange and dangerous worlds, or that a Society of Lighthouse Keepers exists to protect the Earth from a fearsome enemy invasion.
But then Griffin’s dad is pulled through the lens of the lighthouse into one of those other worlds. With his father gone, nobody from the Society is giving Griffin any answers, so he’s on his own. Armed only with a book of mysterious notes from his parents, Griffin is determined to find his dad, no matter what dangers lurk on the other side of the portal.
Melanie has graciously offered an ARC for a giveaway. To enter, leave a comment below sharing why you’d like to read The Lighthouse between the Worlds. A winner will be selected Wednesday, September 26. US residents only, please.
This book sounds clever and imaginative! I love visiting lighthouses (we have many in the Great Lakes) and to have a book that creates a world like this will be exciting for me to read.
I think my son would love to read this book! He likes books with fantasy worlds.
I have visited Haceta Head Lighthouse a couple of times, first when we had a family reunion in Florence, OR to celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. My father-in-law is now deceased over two years but my 105 year old mother-in-law is still living in her own home, has just started Tai Chi classes, took her first kayak ride in MT at our family reunion this July, and reads tons of books. Recently I introduced her to a few Young Adult books that she has enjoyed. I think a story about the lighthouse in front of which we have a precious 50th Anniversary photo, would delight her no end.
I’m sorry. My mother-in-law is ‘only’ 101, not 105. Terri
Oh what a fun premise! In our travels around the US we’ve visited many lighthouses. It would be fun to gave new inside family stories to go along with them if we read this book!
Melanie has done it again. She’s create another to-die-for novels. I’ve never been to Oregon. I almost did, but life took a different turn and I ended up in Colorado where I met Melanie when she was an art teacher at my son’s school. I was her art class parent volunteer.
I’ve loved all of Melanie’s books and can’t wait to read The Lighthouse between the Worlds, too.
Hey, I’ve been to the Heceta Head Lighthouse! Our son went to U of O and we made many a trip out that way from Colorado. Also, I am a HUGE Melanie fan and cannot wait to read this new sure-to-be-amazing book!
I would love to read this book because the plot interests me. Thank You for the giveaway.
Marilyn
I would love to read this book because the subject interests me. Thanks for this giveaway.
Joan
Thank You for the opportunity to win this book. It sounds like my kind of book. Looking forward to reading it.
Marion
I’ve been living in the PNW for the last 5 years and I have to say, I *love* reading fiction and nonfiction about the *places* of the PNW….a lighthouse story is one I’ve not read yet! Sounds great.
Melanie is the heat author and this book has my favorite thing…..lighthouses!
This sounds like a great book for my middle grade gifted students. They love to read. They love fantasy and adventure. They will love this book. Thanks.
The Lighthouse Between The Worlds sounds like the kind of immersive fantasy I truly love. I would be honored to have a chance to read an advance copy!!