Building upon the
success of her three other books with us, we are pleased to release Let
Us Be Brave, a novel by Linda Thompson of
Homer, Alaska.
Linda first came
to us with the extraordinary story of her son, Erik Behnke, in Erik’s Story: Finding his Gifts Against all
Odds in Rural Alaska.
Erik was born
challenged. So severely, in fact, that it was recommended Linda put him in an
institution.
This was advice
that was contrary to her soul and her intuition.Erik’s Story is how Linda
discovered this son was, in fact, an artist, and how she helped him become
successful and well known.
Linda said she had
never thought she would become an artist’s manager, but that was what was
needed, so she learned how to do it.
Erik illustrated
both non-fiction works by his mother, as well as the Alaska Animal ABC Coloring Book written by Linda.
It's Okay
Momis
the prequel to Erik’s Story. It
begins with married life in the wilderness of Lake Clark region. Once baby Erik
is in her arms, people want her to institutionalize him. When her twins are
born, she faces life and death at the hospital. Her husband's job slowly draws
him away when they move to the capital, Juneau, when he becomes the Director of
Subsistence under Governor Sheffield. The marriage is slowly crushed. Linda
returns to the wilderness of Alaska to be a Bush teacher, raising her surviving
boys alone, standing by them no matter what. It's Okay Mom is a story
of trust, love of family, and triumph
over adversity.
Linda
Thompson’s experiences with Special Olympics, and the extreme Alaskan weather
she has lived in, led to her first novel, Let Us Be Brave.
A dramatic bush
plane crash in coastal Alaska leaves the pilot injured. The passengers, a team
of Special Olympic Athletes, must fend for themselves to survive. An Alaska
storm first threatens to overwhelm them during the night as they care for their
unconscious pilot.
Each must confront
the challenges of survival in the wilderness, while transcending their
limitations. Forced to overcome their habits of dependency and help each other,
the group finds courage in the Olympic oath: “Let me win, but if I cannot win,
let me be brave in the attempt.”
We know you’ll like
it.
