J.C. Wing and the Goddess: Author Spotlight

I recently had the honor of meeting and working with author Lark Griffing. I became her editor through a friend that we share, and the two of us hit it off immediately. She’s a talented novelist with a quick wit and an incredible sense of humor. The Starfish Talisman is a remarkable thriller set in a gorgeous oceanside locale with a colorful and quirky cast of characters. While this is a YA novel, I believe it will appeal to a wide variety of readers of all ages. Reagan, Griffing’s protagonist, is a confident, intelligent, high spirited seventeen-year-old girl who spends an eventful summer away from home. The tale of her adventure is incredibly well written and thoroughly entertaining.

Lark Griffing is an author who likes to bring her sense of adventure to her writing. The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here, a young adult coming of age novel, is Lark’s debut novel. Her most recent publication, The Starfish Talisman, is a young adult, old-fashioned ghost story.

Lark collects hobbies like some people collect friends. When not writing and teaching, she is hiking, kayaking, SCUBA diving, camping, and enjoying life to the fullest with her family. She is married to an amazing man, and she has two wonderful boys, a precocious golden doodle, named Maggie, and a psychotic tabby cat named Dickens.

New Release: The Starfish Talisman

Available on Amazon

The secrets of the forbidden fourth floor…

Seventeen-year-old feisty Reagan James can’t imagine spending a summer on the coast with an eccentric aunt she’s never met.

But then, how bad could it be?

The second she steps foot into the massive house on the cliffs, one thing is clear: someone—or something—doesn’t want her there. With every new encounter, Reagan realizes that there’s more at stake than she could have imagined.

Suddenly, the strange happenings and whispers from the forbidden fourth floor cannot be ignored. Now, it’s up to Reagan to sift through all the lies to save herself from the evil that stalks her. But will the jealous vengeance from the past destroy everything for the future?

Author Interview

Tell us about your new release, The Starfish Talisman.

When I was a little girl, my mother used to tell me about the house on Crittenden Ave. where she grew up. It was a large house with a beautiful curving staircase. It had a formal dining room with a very large table. My mom used to tell me about seeing wolves underneath it. She would talk about their red glowing eyes. I never got that vision out of my head. To this day, my mother swears there were wolves under there.

My grandmother used to take in boarders because the house was so large, and it helped with the expenses. They were older, single people who rented rooms on the upper floors. Grandma would cook for them, and they became like part of the family. Eventually, they all died. Once, when I was very small, and all the boarders were deceased, I spent the night at Grandma’s. All of the other rooms were filled with family who were spending the weekend, so I had to stay in Miss Mears’ old bedroom. I had been told that Miss Mears had died in that very bed. Needless to say, I had a very bad night!

There were other stories my family told, ghost hands that came out of the stairs, chairs that rocked and items that simply vanished. These things left major impressions on my young mind.

When I started to write The Starfish Talisman, all of the stories my family told me came flooding back. I just closed my eyes and let the words flow out my fingers.

One of my favorite things about Starfish is the character of Cora Rose and her cooking ability. I love to cook and bake. My mother and grandmother both taught me my way around the kitchen. I like Cora Rose’s crustiness, and I can hear her in my head when she gets going!

The Starfish Talisman is a YA novel. Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

I love reading all kinds of genres, but I really enjoy YA. Currently, I teach high school, and I have taught middle school, too, so I enjoy the stories that speak to my students, my kids. I’m a sucker for Gary Paulsen’s Hachet stories. I am an adventurer at heart, so my first novel, The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here, is a coming of age adventure story. (Note to self: Write shorter titles). I had a lot of fun writing that. I camp and backpack, so I drew from my experiences and my fears when I wrote it.

I am currently working on a women’s fiction series. Again, I write about what I know, and the things that touch me.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I really don’t. I know people would rather hear that I light a burgundy wine candle, turn around three times, spit in my left palm, cross myself and start to write, but alas, that just isn’t the case. I am one of those super busy, over-extended people, so I write whenever I get the chance. My favorite place to write is in the front seat of the Ford truck, my husband at the wheel and my youngest in the back seat. I am typing away as we are on a road trip heading for another adventure.

What do you think most characterizes your writing?

I think that I write about people finding their space and their place. Even though my first book is the coming of age adventure, and my second is an old-fashioned ghost story, they both celebrate a person who figures out just who they are and what they believe. I am all about journeys for my characters and myself.

Who is your favorite character from any of your books?

I love Reagan from Starfish. Reagan is sure of herself and strong. She doesn’t take crap from people. I probably identify more with Amy from The Last Time because she takes off to the mountains to figure out things. I tend to do that. I find that once I am out in the woods hiking or camping, the things that seemed like such a big deal just aren’t anymore.

What is your favorite quote or line from one of your books?

“What is the point of hiding beauty behind glass? Things are much more beautiful when they are in the sunlight and are loved daily. Don’t you think? Besides, it is better to be broken, scarred, and loved than it is to be perfect, whole, unloved and alone.”

What authors inspire you and your writing?

See, that’s a problem. I am like a young Labrador Retriever puppy. I run from one thing to another with my tail wagging and my tongue hanging out, ears flapping in the breeze. I like this person, and that person, and oh yeah that, but wait, what’s that wonderful smell, that’s really good… So, um. What was the question?

What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?

I hate marketing. I want to be left alone to just write. I love being surprised at the words that come out of my fingers. I’m a pantster. I don’t always know what is going to happen until it does. In Starfish, I was writing along and a new character appeared. I thought to myself, hmmm, I wonder who this guy is? He turned out to be very important. I think that’s hilarious.

What’s not hilarious is when the book is done, and I have to do something about it. I tend to pace around the house getting frustrated because I don’t want to do the other stuff. I want to find out who is going to fly out of these fingers next.

Characters often find themselves in situations they aren't sure they can get themselves out of. When was the last time you found yourself in a situation that was hard to get out of and what did you do?

I found myself on the deck of a sailboat in the middle of the night in a terrible storm. We were anchored out in the Keys, well off-shore. Long story short, my husband and I had to sleep on deck out in the elements. The sky opened up with torrential rain, wind, and lightening. What did I do? I hung on and enjoyed the ride, because it was exhilarating coming out on the other side!

What literary character is most like you?

Lassie. I am fiercely protective.

Where to find

Lark Griffing online:

Read the first four chapters of The Starfish Talisman for free here!