
Erik McEwen’s family founded Grouper Cove, the only place he’s ever lived. The devastation of his beloved town is almost more than he can stand, the urge to give up overwhelming. When Kate pulls up with her own haunted eyes and broken soul, can they use the force of nature to create a sanctuary of their own?
To order: http://mybook.to/SunsetSanctuaryCI
Q&A with Author Lorah Jaiyn
Now, before I began, I must say what a pleasure it was reading Sunset Sanctuary. It was such a nice little escape into a town I could really see myself living in and enjoying.
I hope you love this Q&A as much as I do, everyone!
How would you describe your series to someone you didn’t know?
Grouper Cove is like a Hallmark Channel series with a little Nicholas Sparks thrown in. Each book is a standalone – there will be characters that carry over, but mostly the town is what ties them all together. I write them in such a way that there’s no requirement to read them in order.
What inspired Sunset Sanctuary?
I live in Florida, and I have always loved the Gulf of Mexico. I also love the closeness and charm of small-town living. I actually wrote Book 2 first, which is where I created Grouper Cove, but before it was released, I wanted to write one to explain the town’s origins, which is how Sunset Sanctuary became Book 1. Again, that was more for me because you don’t have to read them in order.
Can you tell us about some of the characters in your book?
Kate and Erik are both down-to-earth, everyday people. I like keeping my characters real and relatable. Kate had just lost her parents, and Erik had just lost his town to a hurricane. I wrote their story to help them heal together while rebuilding and helping each other find the inner strength they needed to get through.
I absolutely loved Curry, the pelican. What inspired you to use a pelican for this story?
I love pelicans. Every time we go out in the Gulf fishing, or over to the Atlantic Ocean side, there are always pelicans waiting for a handout. They are the sweetest things waiting for a treat, and I adore watching them fly by in formation. There’s something so majestic about them. Curry came about because I would love to have one that I could cuddle and love on.
If you were one of the characters in this book, who would you be?
I would be Kate. Strong, independent, ready to get things done, not afraid of an adventure. And I’d have Curry 😉
What surprised you about Sunset Sanctuary as you were writing it?
How easy it all came together. I am in love with this fictional town, and there are many days I have to remember that I can’t just get in the car and go there. One day, I’ll win the lottery and buy enough land to start the town of Grouper Cove.
What can we expect next from Lorah Jaiyn?
Grouper Cove is going strong. I keep each book separate and different enough so I don’t fall into the category of “they all sound the same”. There are four more planned for 2020. I also have the Nut House Series started, one book for each season this year. Winter Wonderful (Nut House 1) is out, and Notes of Spring (Nut House 2) will be out in April. These stories are all individual but center around four estranged siblings. A squirrel rescue ties them all together. Poetic Justice also comes out in April, and this story – definitely not Hallmark – revolves around a young woman who snaps at the injustices of animal abuse and goes vigilante to right the wrongs after the criminal justice system keeps failing. I will definitely be showing my multi-genre skills this year.
Give us a fun fact about yourself.
I am turning into the crazy squirrel lady. I volunteered at an animal rescue when Hurricane Irma came along – there was no fuel to be found in our area, so rather than take all the orphaned squirrels to the facility, each volunteer had their own area to foster the babies until we had the means to travel around (we’re talking hundreds of babies). I ended with several and fell in love with the little bushy tails. It was one thing to volunteer at the rescue; it was quite another to be a full-time squirrel mama. I still foster when needed, and I’ve made friends with many of the wild squirrels at my home.
And finally, because I am a huge lover of movies, what are some of your favorite movies?
My movies tastes are as varied as my writing. In no particular order:
Dirty Dancing
Kate and Leopold
the Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Expendable, and RED movies
Hobbs and Shaw
Lambada
PS I Love You
Jumanji (new or old)
Grease
Just watched The Shape of Water today – loved it!
About the Author

To order Sunset Sanctuary: http://mybook.to/SunsetSanctuaryCI
