Local Author Releases Third Novel, To Hold Book Signing

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake author Tanya Fyfe will be hosting a book signing at the Double Arrow Lodge from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, June 9. Fyfe will be promoting her latest book, "Secrets Abound in Missing Lake," which was released on April 27.

This is the third book in her Missing Lake series, which follows the fictional teen Luke Houser as he navigates the challenges of living in a tiny Montana mountain community.

"Secrets Abound in Missing Lake," picks up where the last one left off. Luke balances spending time with his friends, working at his stepmom's veterinarian clinic, raising his beloved sled dogs and adventuring with two dragons, Tabitha and Zagros.

Fyfe planned the release to coincide with the end of the school year, which is when the book starts out.

"It's very timely for right now," said Fyfe. "I based it on Montana's last days of school."

Fyfe received a lot of feedback from her first two novels and used that to direct some of her writing this go around. A lot of people told her they wanted to see Luke develop more as a teenager and Fyfe worked on expanding on his interpersonal relationships. She said it was fun delving into that side of the characters.

"I felt like I was hanging out with some kids and I've always felt like that," said Fyfe. "I like them a lot but I felt like I hung out with them more in creating this one."

While Fyfe says she doesn't tend to base her characters off real life people, Luke's veterinarian stepmom is clearly a direct interpretation of herself.

"I still wanted to be a practicing vet and so this is a way I can still do it," said Fyfe. "One of the challenges for myself was what would really inspire me to open up a practice again and if you brought me a pet dragon I'd be like 'yeah, I'll work on that.'"

Fyfe has been writing as a hobby since she was young but started writing her novels when she closed her vet practice. When she started out, very few people knew she was working on a book.

"Writing a book like this...is so personal," said Fyfe. "If people didn't like it you're telling me my imagination isn't good or you don't like my imagination."

Thankfully, her feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, which keeps her writing.

Fyfe began working on "Secrets" in the fall but did most her writing from January to March, sometimes writing for five or more hours a day. Right not, she doesn't have a timeline for writing her next book-golf season is about to start after all-but the ideas are firmly in place.

"I'd love to take him through high school graduation," said Fyfe. "There's a lot of places you can go but I'll have to make some changes in some characters which might make people upset."

Fyfe's books are available locally at the Double Arrow Lodge and the Grizzly Claw Trading Company in Seeley Lake. They can also be found on Amazon.com or purchased directly from Fyfe by emailing montanagem@live.com. Find out when book signings and other events are happening by following the Lost and Found in Missing Lake Facebook page.