Hi Donna, It is wonderful having you on fundinmental today.
How Real-Life Inspiration Influenced Writing a Book
I never knew my Great Uncle Elmer, but he lived on in stories my mom told me—and the dozen or more large-framed photos he took that I inherited. He was an avid photographer and organic gardener back in the mid-20th century before organic was mainstream. His articles and photos were even in Organic Gardening magazine.
And in 1968 when he was in his 60s, Uncle Elmer solo thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from April to October—hiking 2,200+ miles from Georgia to Maine. He even got invited to visit the White House by President Johnson for his adventures but refused to leave the trail to attend. His wife would drop food packages at designated spots along the way, but he mostly ate seeds and berries.
Uncle Elmer at the start of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, April, 1968
After his 6-month trek in the wild, Uncle Elmer stopped at my parents’ house in New York on his way home and when my mom asked what he wanted to eat he heartily replied, “Fried chicken!” Then he slept on the floor in the guest room as he was so used to sleeping on the ground.
Uncle Elmer alone in the wide-open spaces of New Hampshire
On his thru-hike, an October snowstorm prevented Uncle Elmer from climbing Mount Katahdin in Maine and reaching the end of the trail at this mighty peak. But he returned the next year to Maine and completed the final five miles of the trail up the mountain.
Uncle Elmer carefully crossing a Vermont pond
A hiking lover myself, Uncle Elmer was my inspiration behind featuring adventures on the Appalachian Trail and Mount Katahdin in Loon Cove Summer, my next middle-grade novel being released on May 6th. His real-life scenarios played a role with a death-defying adventure in Loon Cove Summer. I wish I could be brave enough to solo through-hike like him.
Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful guest post, Donna.
MY REVIEW
Donna Galanti is a talented author that can write fabulous stories that appeal to all ages. Her latest, Loon Cove Summer comes out at the perfect time of year. She draws from real life stories and experiences to make Sarah Richardson’s story feel authentic.
Thirteen year old Sarah Richardson has not been on the lake since her mother’s death. She is determined to turn her life around. She will return to the lake and save the loons. She loves volunteering at the wild bird rehabilitation center.
Sarah becomes friends with Theor and his mother, Maggie, when she comes to study the loons. When Maggie becomes too close to Sarah’s father, her emotion run amok. Then, she finds that the campground she has loved may have to be sold.
She wanted her father to be happy, but she felt Maggie was a threat. Would she lose her father to her? Or would her life become fuller with the addition of Maggie in their lives?
As Sarah struggles to face the challenges in front of her, she will be forced to grow and accept the things she cannot control. She will come to terms with her grief.
I like that Sarah uses her mother’s diary for inspiration.
I love stories that weave fact and fiction together as seamlessly as Donna Galanti has and I love how she uses her own love of the environment to supply us with food for thought. Loon Cove Summer is an adventure that had my emotions mixing with Sarah’s as she grows and develops into a fully fleshed out character.
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center. The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family’s Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah’s family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo’s aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief. With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks—or if she’s made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.
You can order Loon Cove Summer here in hardcover, paperback, or eBook from your favorite bookstore: https://www.donnagalanti.com/loon-cove-summer/
Praise for Loon Cove Summer:
“A warm-hearted novel that balances profound loss with humor and hope.”
– Kate Allen, author of The Line Tender
“As sparkling, refreshing, and mysterious as a Maine lake in summertime.”
– Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska
“An original and fun read from start to finish … unreservedly recommended.”
– Midwest Book Review
“A page-turning read set in the wilds of Maine.”
– Paul Greci, author of Surviving Bear Island
“The cast of unforgettable characters and tender relationships stays with you.”
– Jessica Rinker, author of The Dare Sisters
LOON COVE SUMMER EXCERPT
Theo slowed the canoe as the sun burned the fog away. We glided into Lambert Cove, a favorite place for kids to hang out. A forgotten dock jutted out around the turn. Some pine trees dotted the island. The old Lambert house stood there, its weathered boards fading more each year. The front shell was all that remained after a fire. I’d reminded Theo of the fire again, but too late now.
We eased the canoe onto the sandy beach. The wind picked up and water lapped up against the canoe. We sat in the warm sun for a long moment.
Theo rubbed his nose. “Wanna talk?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then let’s explore.” He grabbed his bag and stepped out, pulling me with him.
We pulled the canoe up farther onto the sand. Just offshore sat two massive boulder, the Gunks, names for the twin, giant flat-topped rocks that kids spent time together on. Set ten feet or so off the beach in the water, they were each wide enough to hold several people. A cool spot to hang out from spring to fall, with great views of the lake. Remnants of campfires were strewn across the small beach, blackened logs sunk in ash. Theo clicked photo after photo of the Lambert house, taking off through the overgrown trail leading up to it. Charred timbers stood among the trees. They didn’t seem to bother him.
“What is this place?” he said.
“Jeremy Lambert built it for his wife over one hundred years ago.”
His camera clicked faster. Something new to photograph that was disappearing.
“What happened to it?” He stood back for a wider shot.
“I heard they had kids who didn’t like the lake. So, when his wife died, Jeremy left it to nobody.”
Theo lowered his camera. “This Lambert guy didn’t want anyone to have it who didn’t love it like he did.”
“I guess so.”
He ran a hand over the sagging porch railing, peering through the front door, still guarding the blackened remains.
I looked up at the now cloudless blue sky, the sun bright in my eyes. “It burned down one night when a bunch of kids lit a fire in the old fireplace. It went up like a torch, some town people said. You could see it all the way to our beach. It happened before we moved here.” I kicked an old crunched-up beer can. “Can you imagine seeing that?” The moment it came out, I wanted to suck the words back in.
Theo lowered his camera. “I can. Wood burns fast.”
“Sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay.” He slid his camera away and headed back for the tiny beach, setting his bag down and tossing off his shirt in one swift movement. Scars crisscrossed up and down his back, pain and healing painted on him. I stood, clasped in the shadows of an ancient pine, moved by his sharing this and all the words we left unspoken. His loss. Mine.
He strode in, shivering as waves rippling around him. He pushed through the water and hauled himself up on the iron stairs built into the Gunks. Sitting on top, he leaned back on his elbows and peered up at the sun, water drops glimmering along his curls and shoulders.
I inched toward the beach, staying in the shadows as he shimmered on the rock. A sailboat skimmed waves in the far distance. An osprey soared overhead, searching the deep blue for his next meal. Waves rolled into shore from a speedboat that passed a moment ago. I breathed in the fresh scent of Nikuwoss Lake as I’d done a thousand times.
I’d breathed it in with tears flying, overlooking Loon Cove.
I’d breathed it in with six breaths a minute then four then two, then none.
I’d breathed it in with laughter before death came to our house.
“Come on in, Wes,” Theo called, peering over at me.
I went for it and plunged in, fully clothed.
ABOUT DONNA GALANTI
Donna Galanti is the author of two middle-grade book series, Unicorn Island and Joshua and the Lightning Road, and the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. She has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and the National Audubon Society. When Donna’s not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. For more information on her books, school visits, and events, visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com.
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- A Human Element
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- Unicorn Island (Secret Beneath The Sand)
- Unicorn Island (Beyond The Portal)
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