Lynn Gorski

Author bio

Personal Bio My father was active air force so until I graduated from high school on Okinawa, Japan in 1965 I moved with my family every few years, learning about and adjusting to different cultures. I was born in California and lived in Massachusetts, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Maine, Florida, North Carolina, and Okinawa. I am now 72 years old with two children, and two grandchildren Since I was a kid, writing has been a passion. Approaching the age of 30 (42 years ago), I found I needed a goal for each decade so I can look forward to its arrival. When I turned 30, I parachuted solo out of an airplane. At 40, I became a soccer referee for high school and semi-pro leagues. At 50, I ran my first marathon, and ran one a year for the next eight years. At 60, I earned my second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art. In addition, I received my certification to teach Women’s and Kids’ Self-Defense Classes. By 70 I earned my 4th degree Black Belt making me a Master. I had a long and prosperous career working in acquisition at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. My job required long hours, but I found solace in knowing some day I would retire and have time to write a great American novel. Then came 9/11/2001. While my employees and I listened to a news report of the twin towers attack, we heard the crash into the opposite side of our building. We ran outside, saw a plume of dirty black smoke and my heart sank. While we searched for our employees and heard reports that a second plane may be approaching, I realized I had my priorities all wrong, and how important personal passions are, especially when faced with the prospect of not living to see them to fruition. I resolved to retire as soon as I was eligible to pursue those personal passions. I worked on the recovery team that managed the rebuilding of the Pentagon for one year until September 2002 when I turned 55 and was eligible to retire. My first grandchild was born in August 2002 in Charlotte, North Carolina so my husband and I packed up and moved to Charlotte. As soon as we hit Charlotte, I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Charlotte Writers’ Club (CWC). It did not take long to learn that having the passion to write does not a writer make. I took writing courses, read books, and joined a critique group.