The “that’s all she wrote” saying doesn’t apply to Turtleford area author Lisa Guenther.
She is currently promoting her second novel, All That’s Left as a sequel to her first book, Friendly and has plans for a prequel as well.
Guenther talked about her latest fiction book in advance of a recent book signing at Coles in the LloydMall. All That’s Left picks up on the story of character Darby Swank in Friendly Fire when her life changes with the murder of her Aunt Bea in their rural Saskatchewan community.
“She really is trying to heal from the trauma inflicted in the first book,” said Guenther.
Darby does that in the book partly through art and music and building connections that resonant with Geunther.
“I’m really interested in how people survive and heal after experiencing severe trauma. I explore themes of domestic violence,” she said.
Although it’s fiction, Guenther noted Saskatchewan has the highest rate of domestic violence in the country so everyone probably knows people who are affected.
“It’s definitely not a book for young children,” she said with the target audience adults and teens.
Geunther says should someone from the Turtleford area thinks she is writing about them, she’s not.
“I always say, the people are fictional, but the horses are real,” she joked.
Guenther’s full time job is senior editor of Glacier FarmMedia.
“I’ve been the editor of Canadian Cattleman Magazine and I’m now working with the Country Guide Magazine team,” she said, adding paperback writer to her resume.
“I wanted to be a writer since I was a little kid,” she explained.
“I started working on my first novel Friendly Fire back when I was in university and I was just very driven to write those stories like almost obsessed about it.”
That prequel is also top of mind as her next book.
“I cut about 100 pages from All That’s Left, so I may turn that into a prequel. I haven’t really started yet but I’m planning to start in the winter,” she said.
Geunther says she’s the only writer in the family and mused on the source of her interest and talent
“I’m the only writer in the family, but my grandmother was a great storyteller and quite a few people in my family read a lot, so that’s part of where that influence came from,” she said.
Her first two books are published by NeWest Press and available at Coles and the usual places.
That’a All That’s Left was just released in May to good reviews.
“I’m just happy to get any reviews or feedback and hear from any readers good bad or ugly. I’m just interested in people’s reactions to both books,” said Geunther.
“I’ve had really good support from the Turtleford community and Lloyd.
“Coles was a supporter of my first book and they’ve been great for this event,” said Guenther in anticipation of the book signing that took place on June 22.
Guenther said she was just “hoping to meet readers maybe some people have read my first book as well and just chat with people” whether or not they’ve read either book.
“We’re also planning a followup event maybe in the fall with the library. We haven’t nailed down a date yet. People can read the club and we can do a Q and A book club later.”
Read More: Author focuses on mental health
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