Interview with Lynn Dove, author of the Wounded Trilogy
I’d like you to meet my Canadian friend Lynn Dove! Our families went to church together when we lived in Alberta. Lynn is the author of a trilogy of contemporary Christian books for youth and young adults that have people talking – and reading!
What led you to write your “Wounded Trilogy” books? Why did you target youth with these books?
Youth today are
under such a spiritual attack from the enemy. He wants to destroy their spirit and he does it subtly by surrounding them with worldly messages that make them question their looks, their intelligence, as well as their hope for tomorrow. I wanted to write books that deal with relevant themes, but with a definitive Christian message running throughout: the hope in Jesus Christ.
My young readers need to know that everyone makes mistakes; Christians are not excluded from that. Scripture teaches us to “love one another” even when they make mistakes, but Christians don’t always respond with love. I have seen wonderful young people crumble from the constant barrage of cyberspace bullying, malicious gossip, and innuendo. Insensitive words and blatant lies can lead to deep emotional scarring sometimes with tragic consequences. My books deal with gritty topics such as “cutting”, bullying, gossip, family violence, and cancer. We are not excluded from tough situations just because we are Christians. On the contrary, it is exactly in those tough times that God comes alongside us and helps us. I want my young readers to understand that they are never alone; God is their ever-present comfort and strength.
Tell us a little bit about your books?
Shoot the Wounded, the first book of the Wounded Trilogy, addresses how lies and gossip destroy a person’s spirit. The book includes relevant themes such as bullying, teen pregnancy, and family violence. The story points the characters, and ultimately the reader, to hope in Jesus Christ. STW was a finalist in the 2010 Readers Favorite Book Awards.
Heal the Wounded, the much-anticipated sequel to STW, is the second book of the Wounded Trilogy. HTW delves even deeper into the real world of teenagers trying to live out their faith in the midst of upset and struggle. Heal the Wounded continues to follow the characters, Jake, Leigh, Mike, and Tim, as they deal with the aftermath of their friend’s death in the first book. Jake is especially struggling with a variety of disappointments (“Job” experiences I call them) that cause him to question why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Cassidy, a young cancer patient with unquenchable spirit and faith, is a new character. She impacts Jake, Leigh, Mike, and Tim in a way that allows them all to experience God’s grace and the power of His healing.
Both STW and HTW have been selected as helpful resources on the world’s largest anti-bullying website. Check it out here.
What projects do you have coming up?
I hope to have Love the Wounded, the final book in the trilogy published next year. I am also writing an autobiographical account about my experiences and personal battle with breast cancer.
Check out Lynn’s books now. Someone you know could benefit from reading them.
Kathy, I just wanted to thank you for having me on your blog today! You are such a great friend and encourager to me. As of right now my book, Heal the Wounded is on two best seller’s lists on Amazon. PTL! What a great way to launch a book! Thank you to you and your readers!