Lydia Emma Niebuhr

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I grew up on a farm between Gibbon and Winthrop, Minnesota. I was the first in my generation to go to college and lived with my grandparents in North Mankato while attending Mankato State College (now University of MN, Mankato). I graduated in three years with a BA, majors in Chemistry and Biology, with a minor in Mathematics. I graduated a year later with a MA in Chemistry. My first job was in a U of M hospital lab studying Graves disease (thyroid related). After 1½ years I transferred to the Hormel Institute in Austin, MN. One year later I began my 37½ year career at Hormel R&D. One of my interests has always been sewing and for several years had a sewing business with my neighbor. We did custom sewing, including wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and mother-of-the-bride dresses. We participated in many craft shows using leftover fabric to create children’s clothing. Unfortunately, due to an unusual nerve problem that has left me with numb fingertips on my right hand I’ve had to limit my sewing to family projects. Another interest of mine is gardening. The size of my garden has been reduced to four raised beds. I enjoy preserving my produce as well as the fruit from our numerous apple trees. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting with spices. I enjoy reading cookbooks and have collected cookbooks from the countries I’ve traveled in.

When and why did you start writing books?

I started writing middle-grade books when my oldest son couldn’t find suitable books when he started school. It is the reason why the main characters in my early books are boys. It was my goal to address some of the issues kids in the middle grades faced but without using bad language or violence. My community was in turmoil when I wrote my first book. At that time, my goal was to give kids a book that could transport them away from that turmoil.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I didn’t begin to seriously pursue a career in writing until after I retired. I never had enough self-confidence to believe I could be an author. I have found that choosing to be a chemist as my first career was a good choice and choosing to be an author as my second career has also been a good choice. I try to write every day and usually have several manuscripts in progress at the same time. This gives me the opportunity to keep writing if I should need time to develop a plot for one of them. My confidence was grown thanks to the editors I have been fortunate to have.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

My favorite middle-grade book is The Tale of a Seventh Grade Dog because it is one of three books that brought out my sense of humor. Sarah and New Moon are my favorite characters in Under the Daytime Moon, my only book in the historical fiction genre. And, of course, Thad wheeler is my favorite character in the cozy mystery genre.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

I don’t think any of the books were hard to write but Under the Daytime Moon required the most time because of all the research I did. It is the only book that combined my skills in research and writing. My plan is to write another historical fiction based on Minnesota history.

Who is your favourite author and book?

My favorite author is William Kent Kreuger. I have read all of his Cork O’Conner books plus his latest two in which he’s taken a different direction. Prior to discovering him, I followed Gary Paulson, a Minnesota author of middle-grade reader books.

What book are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading a historical fiction titled After Alice Fell by Kim Taylor Blakemore. The historical fiction I read is not always related to US history.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

A phrase often sparks an idea or the possibility of a title. Most often I write a book around a title that I think might attract readers. The inspiration varies depending upon which genre I’m writing for.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Spare time? I haven’t had much of that since I joined Fox Pointe (haha). Actually, I’ve made counted cross-stitch twelve days of Christmas ornaments for my grandchildren. Since the pandemic, I have reserved my Sunday mornings for baking bread, dinner rolls, cookies, and mini waffles. I like the challenge of sudoku and puzzles. My collection of puzzles range from 1000 to 4000 pieces.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I have several middle-grade books waiting to be finished and I have already done the research for another historical fiction. However, I’m actively writing the fourth book in the Thad Wheeler series.