Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Pinecraft Refuge by Lenora Worth allows readers to get to know the real-life community of Pinecraft, Florida. It delves into family values and how family can be a burden and a blessing.
Both the hero and the heroine’s mom have a lot in common. Both wanted to cuddle and smother their children, being overprotective and overbearing. The heroine, Eva, is frail, shy, blunt, feels she is a Plain Jane with self-esteem problems. She can be bold, spunky, curious, determined, reckless, a little adventurous. She has been sheltered and protected by her mother. The doctor helped her get away from her mom by suggesting she visit her aunt in Florida. While the hero’s daughter, Becky, is very free spirited in a very stoic community. Both can be outgoing and bold. Both had parents who wanted to cuddle and smother them, overprotective and overbearing. Eva sees herself in Becky.
The author describes Eva as a sparrow while Tanner is a hawk, using these comparisons since a sparrow is friendly, caring, persistent, productive, hardworking, and vigilant. They are very cooperative and find joy in the little things of life. On the other hand, the hawk holds back and is a solitary bird who can be protective.
This book is an uplifting inspirational romance. The author likes to use comparisons to birds, which is very appropriate since eventually baby birds must leave the nest and fly on their own.
Elise Cooper: Can you talk about the Amish community in Florida?
Lenora Worth: I like to write Amish books. My favorite genre to write is sweet romance, which I have done for over thirty years. The Pinecraft Florida Amish community started out as a camp for Amish men and became a unique community. It progressed to where the wives and children came with them. Now it has a whole community. A lot of the Amish up North will come down for the month of January, anytime in the winter. Some of them decided to stay.
EC: It seems this community is more modern?
LW: A lot of the Amish here are more progressive, wearing flip-flops. I did take liberties since they are living in an urban area, not a rural area. They cannot have horses and buggies, so they use golf carts and bicycles to ride around. They live in cottages or mobile homes. It is a little more laid back than living in Lancaster County Pennsylvania.
EC: How would you describe the heroine, Eva?
LW: Frail, shy, blunt, feels she is a Plain Jane with self-esteem problems. She can be bold, spunky, curious, determined, reckless, and a little adventurous. She has been sheltered and protected by her mother. The doctor helped her get away from her mom by suggesting she visit her aunt in Florida.
EC: How would you describe Tanner, the hero?
LW: Grumpy, anti-social, a brooder, lonely, over-protective of his daughter, and an observer.
EC: The relationship between Tanner and Eva?
LW: Eva is afraid of being hurt. Tanner’s past affects how he sees things. Eva is like a sparrow and Tanner is like a hawk. She is floundering around, nervous. He is very focused, protective, and cautious, like a hawk.
EC: The aunt versus the mom?
LW: Eva’s mom is still grieving the loss of her husband. She is holding her daughter back. The aunt is similar to me more creative, a free spirit, while the mom is like my sisters more stoic. The mom is trapped in the past, while the aunt, Romana, looks ahead on what could be. Romana wants Eva to go with the flow and not worry about anything. Her mom also depended on Eva because she does not want to be alone.
EC: The role of the child, Becky?
LW: She is the catalyst that brought Tanner and Eva together. Becky is more like Eva, very free spirited in a very stoic community. Both can be outgoing and bold. Both had parents who wanted to cuddle and smother them, overprotective and overbearing. Eva sees in Becky herself.
EC: You also write suspense books with canine dogs?
LW: I have written about a dozen. I do a lot of research for them. When I write these stories, I want to bring out the personality of the dogs and how they are partners with their handlers. The dogs are very courageous, have great instincts, and only ask for in return their play toy. I see the dogs as amazing animals who are very loyal and protective.
EC: Next book?
LW: The next book is an Amish suspense book set in Pinecraft. As a girl looks for her missing sister there are two men who try to kidnap her since she looks a lot like her sister. It will probably be out early next year. It is titled, Pinecraft Perils.
EC: THANK YOU!!
