Quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic turned out to be fairly productive for former local Lynette Balmer.
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It finally gave her the time she was craving to let her creative juices flow.
Out of that came a series of stories about fairies, magic, dragons, demon mafia, robots and aliens - among other subjects.
Her characters are now the stars of a series of books for two very different audiences.
Her pre-teen/teenage fantasy books - for anyone who still believes in magic and including the Clancy Quill series - are published under the name LA Hearn (Hearn being her birth name).
Her novels intended for a more mature audience are published under Lyn Balmer.
Lynette was born in Deniliquin in 1972 and attended Edward Public School in her early years.
Her fondest childhood memories were of the Sun Festival.
“I remember the events at McLean Beach and the Waring Gardens. It was always so much fun,” she said.
Lynette graduated to Deniliquin High School in 1985, leaving after Year 10 to join the Army as an apprentice mechanic.
Lynette said she found army life, "physically taxing and confusing but also some of the best times of my life“.
"I learned a lot about mateship, teamwork and a lot about how far I could push myself."
Lynette was married for 22 years and had four beautiful children.
That’s when she first attempted to explore her passions as a writer.
“I tried a number of times to write, but with four kids and Mick (my former husband) away driving trucks it was difficult."
Life got in the way for many years, but Lynette returned to story writing in 2020.
“My youngest two girls - Ella and Tori, who were seven and nine at the time - were home during the quarantine and home schooling.
"They are both avid readers. Ella read Harry Potter at four, and we ran out of books.
"We couldn't visit the library and the small school they attended only had a small selection of books available for the home school packs.
"Unable to find them books, I decided to write them instead.
"I'd always had the stories in my head so with time and the right motivation, the flood gates opened."
The subject matter for her pre-teen/teen books are based on what her own children love.
Branching out to murder mysteries in her adult fiction range was a surprise.
“I didn't mean to write a murder mystery until I did", she said.
Lynette’s initial books were so well received with readers, she started getting messages asking for more.
To date she has published 14 teen books and two murder mysteries.
There’s another murder mystery on the way, as well as a romantic comedy.
That romantic comedy will include a tribute to her home town.
A character is the book, titled Where In The World Is Worth Morgan?, is Deni Archer.
"I named her as a nod to my life, family and friends in Deniliquin.
"I love books and instead of being inspired by the books I read, they teach me what I like or dislike as a reader that I can then use as an author.
“Depending on the book, it can take anywhere from a month to over 12 months to complete each.
Lynette's favourite author is Christpoher Paolini, but she is currently reading Lee Child's Jack Reacher books and the Immortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.
Lynette said her personal life also inspired her writing.
It’s had its ups and downs, but has recently been filled with much celebration.
Lynette met her now husband at the start of 2020, and it wasn't long until they bought their first house.
In July this year guests were invited to their home for Lynette's 50th birthday celebrations only to learn they were the guests at a surprise wedding.
Lynette also became a grandmother, and she says the new love she has discovered in her growing family has changed her life and “definitely helped with my writing.”
Lynette has lived in Queensland for the last 14 years, and is currently based in Ipswich.
Her teen fantasy books are available through https://www.amazon.com/author/lahearn, and her other titles from https://www.amazon.com/author/lynbalmer. You can also contact Lynette directly for copies at lahearnauthor@gmail.com.