Meet author Lynne Tagawa

Lynne Tagawa is an educator, author, and editor living in South Texas. Best of all, she’s a mom of four and a grandma to six. She loves writing historical fiction with a theological emphasis. A Fallen Sparrow: A Novel of the American Revolution, is a 2023 Selah Awards finalist. She sometimes falls down rabbit holes in her research, and her husband enables her by ignoring the dust.

What inspired you to write your story?

The Root of the Matter was inspired by John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. I’d read bits of his journal and was amazed at the depth of his heart. Not a cold man or harsh magistrate. But I didn’t know how to communicate this long-ago era until I had an epiphany: a character who goes back in time.

What genre do you focus on.

I love history and love historical fiction because it brings history to life. My passion is to be accurate but at the same time relatable and entertaining!

Why do you write?

For me, it’s an empty-nester thing. My kids are grown, and I don’t know how to sew. And all my plants die.

Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?

Geneva Fielding is an archivist in the Department of Applied History at Harvard of the (near) future. Geneva is a reference to Geneva, Switzerland, a hub of the Protestant Reformation. It is also the name of the Bible translation the Pilgrims and Puritans read.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?

I try to write a little every day, but it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, it just happens in my head. It marinates before I set it down.

What is the hardest part of being an author?

The discipline. To keep writing. I love it, but still.

What’s the best part of your author’s life?

Coming to the end of the story—putting the final polish on it—there’s a lot of satisfaction there.

How have you changed or grown as a writer?

I’ve learned the craft of writing over time, of course. But I’ve also learned from my research. I’ve had to study the history and the theology woven into my stories. So, when my readers say they learn a lot from my books, well, I have to say, so have I!

Do you have other books? We’d love to know.

I’ve written a series set during the 18^th century, and it’s NOT time travel. Just straight history—from the Great Awakening to the American Revolution. The first in the series is The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening.

What are you working on now?

The sequel, of course! Geneva Fielding goes back in time to investigate Anne Hutchinson and the craziness of those couple of years. I plan for the American Puritans series to be a trilogy—at least!

Website: www.lynnetagawa.com

Link to book: https://amzn.to/3KsK6uA

Social media links: X: @LynneTagawa

Facebook: Lynne Basham Tagawa