Come On In, Don’t Get Lonesome by Lauri Cruver Cherian
Come On In, Don’t Get Lonesome, by Lauri Cruver Cherian, is an historical novel loosely based on ancestral history. The author’s great grandparents ran the Old Alpha boarding house in the heart of Tacoma, Washington in 1910. Immigrants flocked to the City of Destiny for jobs in lumber mills, the railroad, fishing, boat building, and shipping. Each new boarder was greeted with, “Come on in, don’t get lonesome.” Considered the little princess of the Old Alpha, six-year-old Myrtle is a central figure in the book. Her life as the endearing daughter of the hospitable proprietors of the Old Alpha, intertwines with those of the borders of many cultures, and their immigration stories, amidst the hustle and bustle of this boom town. Everyday activities, as well as special events, outings, and poignant moments are sprinkled throughout this period tale, immersing one in the customs and norms of the time in Tacoma and Gig Harbor, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
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Author Bio:
Lauri Cruver Cherian is an author and educator, teaching English as a second language and bilingual education to children and adults for decades. She is a native of Gig Harbor, Washington, transplanted to South Texas for the last 30 years.
When Lauri isn’t writing articles, stories or poems, she is volunteer teaching adult English as a second language in her community, volunteering at the Center for Arts and Sciences, presenting night sky star talks and coordinating school tours at the Planetarium. Lauri enjoys playing the piano, singing, acting, traveling, and meeting friends for coffee. Lauri and her husband, Jacob, have three adventurous grown children.
Lauri’s writing journey began in 2022, when she published her debut chapbook of poetry, Poems of the Point, a tribute to growing up on the beach in her hometown of Gig Harbor, Washington. In 2023, she published her full-length poetry book, Brave as Thistles, a collection of poems about becoming brave as one navigates mid-life messiness. Her children’s chapter book, Four Anxious Armadillos, is a delightful story of four unique species of armadillos on a quest to cure themselves of anxiety while on an adventure in Argentina. It was a finalist in the 2024 Storytrade Award for Children’s Middle Grade Fiction for 8-12-year-olds. Come On In, Don’t Get Lonesome is Lauri’s newest release, a historical fiction novel set in Tacoma, Washington, a bustling boom town in 1910. The reader meets compelling immigrants from around the world who board in a house owned and operated by Lauri’s great grandparents. Each boarder was welcomed with, “Come on in, don’t get lonesome.”