Loretta Nyhan's Blog

I still can't rate my books--it doesn't feel right. What I can do is explain why I wrote THE OTHER FAMILY, and why I hope you'll want to read it...

So...I was at a party (shocker, I know) a few years ago. A group of us were discussing the now ubiquitous 23andMe DNA test--it was fairly new then, and people were curious. How did it work? If you did it, what did you find out? Were you surprised? Well, anytime people are that interested in something, my writerly brain kicks in, alert to possibilities. Among the interested faces was a guy who looked, for lack of a better term, pissed. I mean...ANGRY. I'm nosy, and I can't help myself when it comes to satisfying my curiosity, so I asked him, "Everything okay?"

Turned out he did the test, and, because relatives are listed, found out he had an aunt and cousins he never knew about. Apparently, his father had feuded with his sister before this guy was born, and cut all ties. He'd grown up without much in the way of extended family, and now that his father passed, he felt he'd unfairly missed out.

"Wow," I said, rendered almost, but not quite, speechless. "Wow."
"Yep," he seethed.
Again, I couldn't hide my curiosity. "What happened when you contacted them?"
He gave me a weird look. "Why in the world would I do that?"

Um...because that's the first thing I would do! Wouldn't you?

At about the same time, I began to notice a disturbing trend--more and more of my family and friends were getting sick with autoimmune syndromes/diseases/illnesses. At times it seemed everyone around me was suffering from something. Many of our immune systems were horribly confused, attacking healthy tissue and causing all kinds of debilitating problems. And, in addition to the burden of not feeling well on a daily basis, many sufferers could not get a solid diagnosis from their doctors without countless tests and office visits. Some had yet to get a definitive answer for their distress. Watching loved ones suffer was devastating, and I felt so helpless. Unfortunately, I am not a doctor; however, I am a writer so...

I started writing THE OTHER FAMILY. It's the story of Ally, a woman who is struggling to find some answers for her ten-year-old daughter's autoimmune struggles. In doing so, she uses DNA testing to research the possibility of a hereditary illness. Ally is adopted and knows next to nothing about her birth family, and, to her great surprise, the DNA test reveals a biological aunt living nearby. Putting her misgivings aside, Ally contacts this aunt, which, in turn, introduces Ally and her daughter, Kylie, to a whole new world of...

...you'll have to read the novel to find out what craziness ensues. I promise you'll laugh while reading about Ally and Kylie's adventures, and cry a little, and just maybe, if you or your loved ones suffer from a chronic illness (Isn't that everyone at this point?), you'll feel a little hopeful.

Happy reading!

XOXO,

Loretta

Find out what happened to Breeda, Miro, and our gang of Chicago witches...

THE WITCH COLLECTOR, PART II concludes Breeda's story. Will she find her parents? What's Brandon's deal? Is Miro who we think he is?

Download for $1.99!

The Witch Collector, Part I, my digital-original paranormal thriller, is in the world! Check it out on the HarperTeen site here. 




The Witch Collector is a digital original novel in two parts that's a suspenseful brew of magic, dark strangers, and witchcraft—perfect for fans of the Beautiful Creatures and Mortal Instruments series.The day after her best friend's funeral, Breeda's parents pack her up, usher her into the car, and then drive out of Oregon without looking back. Breeda doe...

So...Kirkus Reviews, the highly respected (and often difficult to please) trade journal, gave I'LL BE SEEING YOU a starred review! Suzy and I are thrilled! Here's what they wrote:


Two World War II soldiers’ wives begin a pen-pal correspondence and help each other through the emotional upheaval of war.
Rita is a middle-aged professor’s wife in Iowa, and Glory is a young mother in Massachusetts. Through a pen-pal program, the two become fast friends in 1943 and share their fears, temptations...

THE WITCH COLLECTOR comes out April 2, which is a little over ONE WEEK away. I can't wait!

In anticipation of the release, Hypable did a fun interview with me. Read it here: http://www.hypable.com/2013/03/25/hypable-exclusive-author-interview-loretta-nyhan/

Also coming soon:  thewitchcollector.com !!!!  Visit for info about the book, spells, and other fun stuff!

Find me at epicreads.com ! I'm LorettaNyhan.

Thanks, all!

Hey, everyone!

It's October, the month of my favorite holiday, Halloween! I love all that is witchy--spells, talismans, tarot cards, so it thrills me to announce the sale of my latest book, to HarperTeen. From PM:

Loretta Nyhan's THE WITCH COLLECTOR, about an unmarked witch on the run from a supposed serial killer as she desperately searches for her missing parents, to Sarah Barley at Harper Teen, by Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media (world English).



Part 1 is up on Amazon for pre-or...

Hey, everyone! Suzy and I were interviewed by Publishers Weekly about how our growing friendship resulted in our first novel, I'LL BE SEEING YOU. Check it out here.

 Suzy and I are happy to announce... Italian rights to Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan's I'LL BE SEEING YOU, to Garzanti, by Luigi Bernabo Associates, in association with Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media, on behalf of Anne Bohner at Pen and Ink Literary and Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media.  AND...my agent, Joanna Volpe, recently announced the opening of her new literary agency, New Leaf Literary & Media. Congrats, Jo! So much excitement!

(We're going to pretend that it hasn't been a whole eight months since I posted, okay? I've been writing like crazy, and I hope someday soon you'll think it was time well spent...thanks for sticking with me.)

Yesterday I attended Chicago's Printers Row Literary Festival. Half outdoor flea market/half literary conference, the festival draws some pretty big name writers AND a ton of people who simply love to read. It's eccentric and informative and completely fabulous. I was lucky enough to attend a...

From today's Publishers Marketplace:

Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan's I'LL BE SEEING YOU, a story of unexpected friendship told through letters shared between two American women on the home front during World War II, to Erika Imranyi at Mira, in a two-book deal, by Anne Bohner at Pen & Ink Literary and Joanna Volpe at Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation.

So...how did this happen?

Magic? Happenstance? Accidentally?

I fell in love with Suzy's words on her lovely blog. She read min...