Lauren Lynne

I’m author Lauren Lynne. The good side of growing up is that you can write whatever you want. The downside... now I can’t read it without my glasses! I have the soul of an adventurer but when it comes to actual danger, I’m the one running the other way. I must be an armchair adventure hound since I’m drawn to suspense, intrigue, and action when it comes to reading, writing, and film.

I spent my childhood in Milwaukie, Oregon and I'm a graduate of both Oregon State University and Portland State University with degrees in education. I’ve been passionate about reading my whole life, but my professional writing is a more recent adventure. For my sons and my students, I wrote The Secret Watchers series. Today, I have fans from age 10 to 96. Hear that? It’s my heart singing with joy.

Other works in progress include a fantasy novel and two different middle-grade stories in various stages of completion. Creating stories for the young and young at heart is a perfect fit for me since I love to teach curious learners, and I am, after all, a big kid who just looks like a grown up. I still brainstorm with my friends, parents, and my boys, who have grown into adults during my writing career; like their mom though, it’s just on the outside.

When I’m not doing author stuff, I can be found spending time with my friends and family, working with students, reading, gardening, baking, playing with our goofy Golden Retriever, or hiking around Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, or the Oregon Coast with my camera. Yep, I love to take pictures of scenery.

The Recalcitrant Project

Young Adult, Dystopian, Adventure

When Elise Andrek becomes suspicious that she is being used by the government to design a game which mimics real-life scenarios depicting the eradication of those unwanted populations the government deems underworlders, her world is turned inside out.

Her worst fears are confirmed when she realizes she is responsible for the success of the government’s mass murder of most of her graduating class. In the midst of the tragedy, Elise uncovers a nationwide conspiracy that reveals her class is just the beginning.

After escaping the murderous graduation trials, she becomes a fugitive on the run, caught between an unforgiving regime and a rising faction of resistance known as the Recalcitrants. Things become even more complicated when Bren, the only boy she has ever had serious eyes for, tries to rescue her, and she’s not sure he can be trusted.

As the program she designed begins going online, more graduating classes are marked for extermination. Elise must survive this harsh new world and somehow infiltrate the government’s military-protected servers and take the program offline. No matter how much she tries to protect her friends or the boy she wants for herself, the risks are high—the consequences even higher.

Visions: The Secret Watchers book 1

Young adult, Action/Adventure, Suspense, Coming of Age

Fourteen-year-old Owen Ryer hates school and his life in general, but dreams that there must be something more… until he is irrevocably drawn to a watch in an old pawnshop that unlocks his amazing and unexpected gift. Now it’s a race to see if Owen can master his special ability before the dark watchers destroy him or turn him to the side of evil and chaos.

You will experience Owen’s confusion, frustration, and compassion as he discovers that it is demanding enough just to be a teenager, let alone have a secret as big as the one he is burdened with. Who should he trust? Who can help him? Typically watchers work alone but Owen is the next generation – should he be the one to challenge the rules?

Whispers: The Secret Watchers book 2

Young adult, Action/Adventure, Suspense, Coming of Age

For Owen, high school is difficult enough without adding the stress of knowing that there are some things in this world that only a secret watcher can fix. Too bad one of their special abilities isn’t repairing relationships because he feels like no one understands. Owen wonders what is going on with Lucie who is doing everything she can to avoid him. Then there’s Tess. She’s older, wiser and seems to really like him, but he’s afraid that she might just be using him. Something strange is happening on campus and his friend Katie is involved. And finally, his father is not himself, blames Owen for everything and threatens to give his secret away. Owen is scared – plenty of dark watchers are already after him without his father exposing his presence and abilities to the rest of the world. Owen and his family must go to Florida in the hope that he and his mentor, White Eagle, can get to the bottom of what is going on with his father. More importantly, Owen hopes to discover what is behind the strange, potent relationship that his father and grandfather have rekindled after years of not speaking. They’re afraid it's a trap but what choice do they have? It’s not in Owen’s nature to avoid danger. He will go where he is needed. Now if he can just make it out alive… because girl problems, not getting along with his dad and keeping up on homework are nothing compared to what’s waiting.

Insights: The Secret Watchers book 3

Young adult, Action/Adventure, Suspense, Coming of Age

Owen Ryer thought he was normal. He thought his life was boring. A walk into a pawnshop in eighth grade showed him that his life was a lie. Two years later Owen has accepted how far from normal he really is. He has a special gift, granting him the ability to see dark energy in the objects around him. Now he’s part of a secret society where people like himself help others and fight the dark watchers who want them for their powers.

Owen has discovered that a Secret Watcher does not have to live his life alone. He knows that he can expand his powers by working with other watchers but what will the price be? Darkness is growing and evil thinks it has found its new prince in Owen. They will stop at nothing to get to him even if it means kidnapping, mind-control or murder.
Owen must do more than fight; he must use his wits and every ability he has at his disposal to hold the growing darkness at bay. Who knew high school could be more challenging than football, homework, and relationships? The dark side knows… and they’re watching.

Perceptions: The Secret Watchers book 4

Young adult, Action/Adventure, Suspense, Coming of Age

Marlo finds a missing watcher and now it’s up to Lucie and Owen to go undercover to pull her out, if she’s even still alive. They find themselves thrown into the world of human trafficking and are afraid they won’t make it out alive. Caged, drugged and confused, they lose sight of their mission. Then they must face the truth about darkness and light or is it all shades of gray? How will they save someone else if they can’t even save themselves? Sometimes you have to do truly horrible things for the greater good but then what does that make you? What do you become if you are just as malicious as the dark watcher you are supposed to be saving everyone from? White Eagle says that power is power, but Owen has absorbed dark watcher gifts. He can feel himself morphing and he’s pretty sure he’s nowhere near good anymore. What will two damaged watchers do now? Are you still good if you’ve been consumed by darkness? Owen will have to figure that out before it’s too late. He meets a mysterious stranger who has an interesting offer. Owen can’t decide if it’s worth the risk but it becomes more and more appealing as he is used again and again by both sides and now that he’s actually killed someone, who will save him?

Destiny: The Secret Watchers book 5

Young adult, Action/Adventure, Suspense, Coming of Age

One extraordinary teen with the memories of two other watchers, one dark and one light, crammed in his head. Owen knows that he must be the one to face the greatest evil ever known; it is his destiny, but nothing is going right. His team is losing faith in him but perhaps worst of all, he is losing it in himself. Owen had always found a way to work with Miles Malone, whose gifts and memories were bequeathed to him four years ago through an enchanted watch that had belonged to the man. Now Owen has had dark watcher powers thrust upon him. Does he have the strength to balance the darkness and light? The Traveler hints that he must do just that if he hopes to win but Owen fears that he is losing his mind and he’s pretty sure his soul will never recover.

Owen’s worst problems don’t lie within. Bob has decided that he is just as dangerous as Madame Evilia Malvada and the best way to rid the world of all watchers is to pit the forces of good and evil against each other. Team Owen is growing stronger and more capable but with threats to his family, an attack on his youngest brother and finally the loss of Marlo, how can he hope to lead them or should he go it alone?

Each choice that Owen makes seems to have consequences broader than anyone could imagine, except for the mysterious Quartet, who know way more than they are willing to share. He learns a hard lesson - you can both hate and admire someone at the same time. He had felt like a pawn in the past but now he knows the truth; he has been used by both sides and the ones pulling his strings are not the ones he thought.