Historical
Women's Fiction
Publisher:
Cougar Creek Books
2017
Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Silver Winner in the LGBT Category
B.R.A.G.
Medallion Honoree
Finalist
in the Self Publishing Review Awards
2017
Finalist
in the Golden Crown Literary Society - Debut Novel and Historical Fiction
Women’s
Fiction Writers Association Star Award Finalist Debut Category
In
the shadow of the Great Depression, long before historical changes leading
toward LGBTQ advocacy and equality, eighteen-year-old Ruth Thompson defies her
family's expectations to marry Duke, her long-time sweetheart. Instead, she
joins a rodeo circuit in order to earn money for college and comes of age in
the male-dominated culture of rodeo competition.
Ruth
returns home to Minnesota a prize-winning competitor and resumes her familiar
relationship with Duke. Once at college she grows increasingly restless in her
role as sorority girl with Duke as her escort for all social occasions. Her
safe existence is upended when she meets confident and free-spirited Gisela and
then further unravels when the two women fall in love.
The
lives of Ruth, Gisela, and Duke entwine while Ruth embarks on a journey of
self-discovery, full of dangerous social repercussions that takes her from
Minnesota to the Pacific Ocean of California. As WWII escalates, each of them
faces a test of their fortitude as all three must come to grips with
redemption, forgiveness, the meaning of family and how to honor their authentic
truth during this perilous time in history.
Both
heart wrenching and uplifting, The Winter Loon honors the strength and spirit
of all those who struggle with social persecution because of who they love and
how they define family whether it is their own flesh and blood kinfolk and/or
those nearest and dearest to their heart.
Praise
for The Winter Loon:
"The
Winter Loon is a compelling story of a woman's secrets, choices, and courage.
Both tender and wise, Henriksen is a fine storyteller and her characters are
skillfully drawn and memorable." ~Sandra Butler, award-winning writer,
group facilitator and activist. sandrabutler.net. motheringdaughters.net.
"The
Winter Loon is an ambitious, gripping, often painful story with a lot of drama
and emotion, ups and downs and an ending that leaves the reader in satisfying
tears." ~Alan Rinzler
"What
a beautiful, thoughtful book. The Winter Loon offers up complex characters and
issues, a multi-textured plot and lots of heart. I have felt wrapped in the
cocoon of this beautiful love story." ~Alissa Lukara
About
the Author
A
retired family therapist, Lori Henriksen believes in the influence of past
generations and is convinced that we have the potential to strengthen and
transform ourselves through the power of story. Her debut novel, The Winter
Loon, about the healing power of love, is inspired by her mother’s life. She
lives in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon with her
husband Patrick, two rescue dogs and a reformed feral cat turned couch potato.
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