On the heels of Washington State Book Awards crowning Lora Senf\u2019s \u201cThe Loneliest Place\u201d a finalist for young readers, the Spokane author is releasing her latest middle reader horror \u2013 \u201cPennies\u201d on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Those looking to meet the \u201cBlight Harbor\u201d series creator in person can find her at Wishing Tree Books for the Perry Street Fair on Saturday, Sept. 27.<\/p>\n
Senf was thrilled \u201cThe Loneliest Place,\u201d the third book in her series chronicling the adventures of Evie Von Rathe, was a finalist; the second book in the series, \u201cThe Nighthouse Keeper,\u201d also received the recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shocked,\u201d Senf said. \u201cI mean, honestly, I was shocked, because last year was a finalist, which was wonderful, but also, frankly, horror doesn\u2019t often make these lists or become finalists for these kinds of awards, so I was very happily surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n
Horror has played an important role in Senf\u2019s life since childhood, when she discovered the books of John Bellairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like he was talking to me,\u201d Senf said. \u201cHe had these ordinary kids and extraordinary circumstances, and I loved the spooky stuff. I enjoyed that being afraid, but it\u2019s a safe kind of fear, right? Because it\u2019s happening in a book.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later in life, Senf realized she had anxiety, and credited scary books in helping her deal with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was afraid all the time of so many things, and scary books gave me a chance to practice being brave, and that\u2019s what I love so much about horror for kids, the age appropriate stuff is it\u2019s a safe place for kids to practice their bravery,\u201d Senf said.<\/p>\n
Senf\u2019s main character Evie has a similar background.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to be a fearless kid, but I was a kid with anxiety,\u201d Senf said. \u201cSo, Evie became the main character, and Evie is brave, but she also has anxiety that she sees a therapist for. She\u2019s a kid wrestling with anxiety and panic attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though \u201cThe Loneliest Place\u201d concluded the trilogy which told Evie\u2019s story, \u201cPennies\u201d takes place in the Blight Harbor universe \u2013 a century earlier. Because some of the characters in Evie\u2019s world are ghosts, \u201cPennies\u201d allowed Senf to tell their stories when they were alive.<\/p>\n
Senf found it particularly rewarding to explore the character Lark in this book, who was a ghost in \u201cThe Nighthouse Keeper.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get to see her with her friend group, just being a kid, a kid on a scary adventure, but just being a living, breathing kid,\u201d Senf said. \u201cI really loved giving that to her. It\u2019s funny, these characters, especially the young characters, become kind of living, breathing, little people in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n