AUSTIN, Lynn (N.) 1949-

PERSONAL:

Born December 5, 1949; daughter of a sales manager and a librarian; married; husband's name Ken (a Christian musician); three children. Education: Southern Connecticut State University, B.A.; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduate work. Religion: Presbyterian. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, hiking, traveling, exploring ancient ruins.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Orland Park, IL. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bethany House Publishers, 11400 Hampshire Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55438. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Former teacher; author; speaker.

AWARDS, HONORS:

New Writer of the Year, Moody Bible Institute Write-to-Publish Conference, 1993; Writer of the year, Wheaton Write-to-Publish Conference, 1996; Silver Angel Award, for Eve's Daughter; Christy Award, for Hidden Places.

WRITINGS:

"CHRONICLES OF THE KING" SERIES

The Lord Is My Strength, Beacon Hill Press (Kansas City, MO), 1995.

The Lord Is My Song: A Novel, Beacon Hill Press (Kansas City, MO), 1996.

The Lord Is My Salvation: A Novel, Beacon Hill Press (Kansas City, MO), 1996.

My Father's God: A Novel, Beacon Hill Press (Kansas City, MO), 1997.

Among the Gods: A Novel, Beacon Hill Press (Kansas City, MO), 1998.

"REFINER'S FIRE" SERIES

Candle in the Darkness, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Fire by Night, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

NOVELS

Fly Away, Beacon Hill Press (Kansas City, MO), 1996.

Eve's Daughters, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

Wings of Refuge, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

Hidden Places: A Novel, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Contributor of articles to magazines including Moody, Parents of Teenagers, Christian Reader, Lookout, Teen Power, Discipleship Journal, and Teachers in Focus.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Flames of Freedom (novel).

SIDELIGHTS:

Lynn Austin, a full-time freelance writer and a popular speaker at churches, schools, conferences, and retreats, had always wanted to write fiction but could never find the time. While living in Canada, however, she discovered that the long winters and her children's nap times gave her the time she needed. Austin commented on her Web site, "I was not an English major in college, and I knew very little about writing except that I felt compelled to do it. So I simply set aside the time, sat down one day while my children were napping, and began my first novel."

Austin's "Chronicles of the King" series includes five novels set during Biblical times. Reviewing the first novel in the series, The Lord Is My Strength, Booklist contributor John Mort appreciated Austin's historical research and sympathetic portraits of her characters. Melissa Hudak, in a Library Journal review of My Father's God, also praised Austin's skill at presenting an ancient time and place, as well as her ability to create believable characters.

Her interest in biblical history also inspired Austin's novel Wings of Refuge. Set in the present era, the novel tells the story of Abigail MacLeod, who travels to Israel to participate in an archaeological dig and to escape from her family problems, which include a cheating husband. To her surprise, Abigail is a suspect in the murder of a man who was seated next to her on the flight to Israel. Once at the dig site Abigail forms a strong connection with Hannah, the dig leader. As the dig proceeds and artifacts are found, the story of a young woman from the past surfaces. Throughout the book readers learn about the lives of Abigail, Hannah, and the young woman from the past. "It's an intriguing and eye-opening book … one I highly recommend," commented Renown Magazine contributor Jessica Heikoop.

Hidden Places: A Novel is set during the Great Depression. Eliza Wyatt, a widow with three young children, is determined to keep her family's orchard in business. A man comes to her door looking for work, and Eliza decides she needs his help. Though he appears like every other man looking for work during the Great Depression, but he seems very familiar with the farm and the work. Eliza begins to wonder just who this man really is. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly praised the novel as a "beautifully descriptive" work with "endearing, believable characters."

Set in Virginia at the time of the Civil War, Candle in the Darkness, the first installment of Austin's "Refiner's Fire" series, tells the story of Caroline Fletcher. Caroline has grown to love and care for the slaves that work for her wealthy family. When Caroline's mother commits suicide, Caroline, then twelve years old, is sent to live with her relatives in Philadelphia. Three years later, the Civil War is about to begin, and Caroline's father brings her back home to Virginia. Now a firm abolitionist, Caroline finds it hard to be back in the South and to support her loved ones who are fighting to keep slavery legal. Caroline decides to do what she thinks is right, with the help of God and the slaves she loves. Renown Magazine contributor Jessica Heikoop commented, "This book is so intriguing and suspenseful it will keep you at the edge of your seat." Its sequel, Fire by Night, focuses on the Civil War and its effect on two young women from the North.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, 1995, John Mort, review of The Lord Is My Strength, p. 1309; October 1, 1999, John Mort, review of Eve's Daughters, p. 326.

Library Journal, September 1, 1997, Melissa Hudak, review of My Father's God, p. 166; November 1, 2002, Shawna Saavedra Thorup, review of Candle in the Darkness, p. 71.

Publishers Weekly, June 25, 2001, review of Hidden Places, p. 44.

ONLINE

Beacon Hill Books Web site,http://www.nph.com/ (January 20, 2003), "Lynn Austin," reviews of The Lord Is My Salvation, The Lord Is My Song, The Lord Is My Strength.

Bethany House Web site,http://www.bethanyhouse.com/ (January 20, 2003), reviews of Eve's Daughters, Wings of Refuge, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fly Away, Among the Gods.

Lynn Austin Web site,http://www.lynnaustin.org/ (January 20, 2003), "Biography," and "Frequently Asked Questions."

Renown Magazine online,http://www.renownmagazine.com/ (January 20, 2003), Jessica Heikoop, reviews of Candle in the Darkness, Wings of Refuge, and Eve's Daughters.