Check out our interview with Laura Griffin, the author of "Thunderbird Ranch."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
When I sat down to write THUNDERBIRD RANCH, I had this character in my head. I wanted to write about Faye McCann, a fifth-generation rancher who is trying to save her family business. She is tough, smart, and resilient, but also deeply flawed. Despite her problems, there is nothing she wouldn’t do for her family.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
As readers, it’s so important that we stand up to book bans. Reading is a primary way that we learn to value and respect people whose lives are outside of our own experience. When we allow book bans to creep into our culture, we are silencing people’s stories and eliminating a chance for people to learn about one another and develop empathy.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Learning people’s stories and struggles through reading is a way for us to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding. I have gone on so many heart-wrenching journeys through reading. As an author, I try to take the reader to a new place, maybe one they’ve never been, and help them understand the people in that world. My goal is to make them feel in the story, and also to help the reader feel empathy for what someone is going through.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
I wanted to write about a big, messy family with lots of secrets and drama and I wanted to set the story in the Texas Hill Country where I live. The Hill Country is both rugged and beautiful, and it’s the perfect backdrop for this suspense story.
What can fans expect from your book?
I hope they will be pulled into this family and see the humanity in everyone, despite all the mess. Every person is dealing with their own challenges and they constantly clash.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I’m writing a wilderness thriller set in Colorado in the world of extreme sports. It’s been so fun! More details to come on that soon.
