Lori L. Lake
Encyclopedia
Lori L. Lake is an Oregon
writer, teacher, speaker, and author of mystery, drama, romance, and general fiction, most of which is about lesbian
protagonists. Her work includes the "Gun" police trilogy (soon to be a quadrology), three standalone drama/romances, two short story collections, and the WWII novel Snow Moon Rising, which won the 2007 Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award, a Golden Crown Literary Award, and The Alice B Readers Award
. Lake teaches fiction writing, most recently at The Loft Literary Center
in Minneapolis. She frequently gives talks about the craft of writing, serves as a coach to many up-and-coming writers, and is a founding mother of The Golden Crown Literary Society.
, the oldest of five daughters, and spent her early years with her family in Seattle and Portland, then lived with an aunt and uncle in Tigard, Oregon
, during her teen years. She graduated from Portland's Lewis and Clark College in 1983 with a double major in English and Political Science and moved to the Twin Cities shortly after. She attended Hamline University
where she studied with Carol Bly
and received a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Literature and Ethics in 1989. She resided in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area until 2009 and moved back to Oregon in August 2009 and now lives in Portland.
In recent years, Lake has become a mentor and coach to many young and aspiring writers, especially through her work at The Loft Literary Center
and in her work as an organizer or program director of literary conferences, particularly for the Golden Crown Literary Society
, where she was most recently the Chair of the Board and the Director of Organization & Recordkeeping.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
writer, teacher, speaker, and author of mystery, drama, romance, and general fiction, most of which is about lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
protagonists. Her work includes the "Gun" police trilogy (soon to be a quadrology), three standalone drama/romances, two short story collections, and the WWII novel Snow Moon Rising, which won the 2007 Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award, a Golden Crown Literary Award, and The Alice B Readers Award
The Alice B Readers Award
The Alice B Readers Award is given annually to living writers of lesbian fiction whose careers are distinguished by consistently well-written stories about lesbians. Named for Alice B. Toklas, the award is given once, only, in appreciation of career achievement...
. Lake teaches fiction writing, most recently at The Loft Literary Center
The Loft Literary Center
The Loft Literary Center is a nonprofit literary organization located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Incorporated in 1975, the Loft's stated mission is "to support the artistic development of writers, to foster a writing community, and to build an audience for literature"...
in Minneapolis. She frequently gives talks about the craft of writing, serves as a coach to many up-and-coming writers, and is a founding mother of The Golden Crown Literary Society.
Early life
Lake was born in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, the oldest of five daughters, and spent her early years with her family in Seattle and Portland, then lived with an aunt and uncle in Tigard, Oregon
Tigard, Oregon
Tigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state's 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, during her teen years. She graduated from Portland's Lewis and Clark College in 1983 with a double major in English and Political Science and moved to the Twin Cities shortly after. She attended Hamline University
Hamline University
-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...
where she studied with Carol Bly
Carol Bly
Carol Bly was a teacher and an award-winning American author of short stories, essays, and nonfiction works on writing...
and received a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Literature and Ethics in 1989. She resided in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area until 2009 and moved back to Oregon in August 2009 and now lives in Portland.
In recent years, Lake has become a mentor and coach to many young and aspiring writers, especially through her work at The Loft Literary Center
The Loft Literary Center
The Loft Literary Center is a nonprofit literary organization located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Incorporated in 1975, the Loft's stated mission is "to support the artistic development of writers, to foster a writing community, and to build an audience for literature"...
and in her work as an organizer or program director of literary conferences, particularly for the Golden Crown Literary Society
Golden Crown Literary Society
The Golden Crown Literary Society is a 501 organization established in February 2004 as a literary and educational organization for the study, discussion, enjoyment, and enhancement of lesbian literature. The GCLS membership includes publishers, distributors, authors, and readers of lesbian fiction...
, where she was most recently the Chair of the Board and the Director of Organization & Recordkeeping.
Novels
- Gun Shy: Book 1 in the Gun Series (2001)
- Ricochet in Time (2001)
- Under the Gun: Book 2 in the Gun Series (2002)
- Different Dress (2003)
- Have Gun We’ll Travel: Book 3 in the Gun Series (2005)
- Snow Moon Rising (2006)
- Like Lovers Do (2011)
- Buyer's Remorse: Book 1 in The Public Eye Series (2011)
- Jump The Gun: Book 4 in the Gun Series (forthcoming, Spring 2012)
- A Very Public Eye: Book 2 in The Public Eye Series (forthcoming, Fall 2012)
Short story collections
- Stepping Out: Short Stories (2004)
- Shimmer & Other Stories (2007)
Anthologies
- The Milk of Human Kindness: Lesbian Authors Write about Mothers & Daughters (2004)
- Romance For Life (2006)
Story Contributions to Anthologies
- "Take Me Out" in Silence of the Loons (2005)
- "Paige" in Best Lesbian Romance (2006)
- "Jumping Over My Head" in Toe to Toe: Standing Tall and Proud (2008)
- "Den of Iniquity" in Once Upon A Crime (2009)
- "The Penthouse Birthday" in Women in Uniform: Medics & Soldiers & Cops, Oh My! (2010)
- "Den of Iniquity" in Women of the Mean Streets: Lesbian Noir (2011)
- "A Darker Side of Green" in Write of Spring (forthcoming, 2012)
Awards and recognition
- 2011 - USA Best Books 2011 Awards Finalist: Like Lovers Do
- 2007 - Golden Crown Literary Award Winner - Best Dramatic Fiction: Snow Moon Rising
- 2007 - Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award: Snow Moon Rising
- 2007 - Alice B Readers Award
- 2007 - LJ Maas Memorial Mentoring Award
- 2007 - Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Award: Snow Moon Rising
- 2007 - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist - Anthology Category: Romance For Life
- 2007 - Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Award: Romance For Life
- 2006 - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist - Mystery/Thriller Category: Have Gun We'll Travel
- 2005 - Lambda Literary Award Finalist - Anthology Category: The Milk of Human Kindness