SALT LAKE CITY, February 25, 2019
For Carrie Lynn Thatcher, life without reading is like life without oxygen. She grew up in a robust reading home, where the library was a bi-monthly obsession and the bookmobile was never missed. When she was young, Carrie Lynn’s grandmother told her she should be a writer. When Carrie’s own three children came along, family reading was a central experience all their growing up years.
One of her favorite childhood authors was John D. Fitzgerald, author of The Great Brain series. Now, Carrie Lynn’s book about “Finding Fitzgerald,” currently under contract with E.L. Marker, is part of a fulfillment of her Grandma’s vision. It is a memoir of a decade-long discovery into the inspirations of Thatcher’s favorite childhood author.
Outside of the information in her forthcoming book, details of her continued Fitzgerald related discoveries can be found at http://findingfitzgerald.com/ and her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GreatBrain/
As John D. Fitzgerald was a native Utahn, and his stories all set in the state, “it seemed best that a Utah publishing house should get this story,” states Thatcher. “WiDo/E.L Marker fit the bill. Its name alone was a selling point.”
“I’ve never seen another book quite like this one,” says WiDo Publishing Managing Editor, Karen Gowen. “It’s an intriguing look into how one woman sought out facts, culture, and detailed information on her beloved childhood author, John D. Fitzgerald. The Great Brain books were huge favorites in my and my own children’s reading list as well. I read Carrie’s search with great interest, and I was very happy when she chose to publish with us.”
Writing for publication is a new adventure for Carrie. She is looking forward to chasing the pursuit in the years ahead. Half a dozen other book ideas are bouncing around in her head. Time will tell how many make it to the page.
Her favorite reading genre is non-fiction, history, and human heroism. She loves a good family storyteller, which explains why Fitzgerald’s books were so popular with her.
Carrie Lynn Thatcher lives in Washington with her husband and three children. When she’s not working on writing, she can be found coordinating and managing an interfaith-community run, winter homeless shelter in Washington State. During her down time, she walks the family boxer.