Featured Interview With Lynne Howard
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and continue to reside there with my husband, our three children (ages 24, 23 and 15) and our two dogs. I graduated from law school in Toronto in 1995 and practiced law for several years before I decided to change my professional path. With the encouragement of my husband, I went back to school and became a teacher. I have been teaching Grade 11 and Grade 12 Law, as well as other Social Sciences courses at a private high school for over twenty years. I have also taught part-time at a university in Toronto, and I have written non-fiction publications for teachers and students. When I am not teaching, I enjoy giving back to my community, so in addition to the extra-curricular activities that I am involved with at my school, I also volunteer at a local organization which provides horseback riding therapy to individuals with disabilities. I find the time to write my novels on weekends and holidays. I am so grateful to my family for all their support and for giving me the time I need to write.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have loved reading since early childhood and have fond memories of reading with my parents. My husband and I continued this tradition with our own children. In elementary school, I started writing short stories and poetry, but I never tried to write a novel until the Dylan Dover series, which I began in 2019.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I enjoy so many genres of books, but fantasy is definitely my favorite. I love getting lost in new worlds and anything to do with magic always fascinates me. I think historical fiction is probably a close second! But I also read contemporary fiction, biographies, mysteries…For me, reading is like choosing a flavor of ice cream – I love them all, it’s just a question of what I feel like on a particular day! My favorite authors include Rick Riordan (the Percy Jackson series is one of my all time favorites! The Dylan Dover series has been strongly influenced by Greek mythology which is so important in the Percy Jackson books); J. K. Rowling (while I do not agree with her personal views, in my opinion, Harry Potter is an absolute masterpiece of fantasy fiction and I can only hope that people will connect with my characters in the way that they have embraced Harry, Ron and Hermione); I have recently been binging on books by JoJo Moyes and I couldn’t stop crying for several hours after I finished Me Before You; and finally, the book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is one that I have read a hundred times and never get tired of re-reading!
The person who inspires my writing the most is my 15 year old son, Dylan (no coincidence that the main character in my novels is named Dylan). I started writing this series when my son was 12 years old and was looking for a new series to read. Like me, Dylan is a voracious reader and he had plowed through everything that the book stores and libraries had to offer. When I created the character of Dylan Dover, it was based very much on my son except the real Dylan obviously does not have any magical powers! When I am writing, it is my son’s voice in my head and with his permission, I use many of the experiences he has had in my novels. For example, when I was writing book 5 in the series, we were right in the middle of the Covid pandemic. My son, like so many other young people, was suffering from mental health issues caused by social isolation. Dylan was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, and I used his lived experiences in the novel. Dylan Dover had to face his own mental health issues in that book. I am so proud of my son for courageously talking about his challenges and working to dispel the stigmas that are often associated with mental health issues. Dylan is also the first person to read my drafts, and he is very quick to praise the parts he likes and critique the parts that he thinks needs to be changed. Dylan has given me so many incredible ideas that have really helped me to create the immortal world and the characters in the series.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
In the first book in the series, Dylan Dover: Into The Vortex, readers are introduced to twelve-year old Dylan who believes he is a typical kid until he stumbles into a vortex that miraculously transports him to the immortal dimension, a parallel universe. This immortal world is populated by every kind of immortal being – warlocks, witches, wizards, vampires, shapeshifters, fairies, elves, ogres, etc. who all live together, unencumbered by the rules which govern those immortals who live in the mortal dimension. This alternate universe is linked to the human world by a vortex which allows immortals to cross between realms.
Dylan not only learns that he is a warlock, but he also discovers a twin brother, extraordinary powers, and a secret prophecy that seems to have Dylan and his family at its crux. Dylan, along with his brother and their new-found wizard friend Thea, begin to unravel the mystery that surrounds their birth and the danger that threatens immortals and humans alike.
Greek mythology is an important part of the series, which is alluded to in the first book and becomes much more prevalent in books 2-5. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and Orion all become important to the series as it continues.
The book weaves together elements of fantasy with relatable themes that all readers will connect with, including friendships, family, identity and facing adversity. The story is meant to allow readers to escape into a world of fiction, while also addressing significant issues of our society, such as diversity and social justice.
“In a stunning debut, Lynne Howard’s Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex casts a potent reader’s charm over all youngsters clamoring for a new supernatural hero.”
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Lynne Howard’s Website