Cape Fear Chapters: Brunswick County author explores grief and growing up in debut novel

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Brunswick County author is drawing inspiration from her time in the classroom for her debut novel.

Gael Lynch joined WWAY’s Jessica Keisling for the Cape Fear Chapters to discuss her novel, “Ivy Leigh Ever After.”

“It’s about a girl stuck in the middle of her life. She mucked in the mud and caught frogs and climbed trees and now all of a sudden she has to grow up,” Lynch said. “Unfortunately her mom has passed away a year prior, but she has a small circle surrounding her, so it’s a hopeful book.”

Lynch was a teacher for 32 years and said it was a big inspiration in writing the book.

“In the classroom I saw the outliers, the kids that struggled and they needed to be seen,” Lynch remembered. “Ivy’s that kind of story. She’s a girl that could be thought of as different, but she’s no victim.”

Although “Ivy Leigh Ever After” is Lynch’s debut novel, she’s been writing for years.

“Usually a character will speak to me, and an idea will pop into my head,” Lynch said. “I like to think of problems and solutions, and I like to think about kids and where they’re at in their lives.”

While the book is appropriate for readers ages 10 to 12, Lynch said older readers have enjoyed the book as well.

“Ivy Leigh Ever After” is available at Pomegranate Books in Wilmington. It’s also available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Audible.

To learn more about author Gael Lynch, you can visit her website and Facebook page.