Lori L. Lake

Lori L. Lake (born February 9, 1960) is an American writer of fiction, mainly about lesbian protagonists. She is also an editor, writing instructor, and former publisher.

Lori L. Lake
Lake in 2018
Lake in 2018
Born (1960-02-09) February 9, 1960
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater
GenreFiction, Memoir, Short Story, Creative Writing, Nonfiction
Literary movementLGBTQ+ stories, human rights
Notable awardsAlice B Readers Award, Golden Crown Literary Society, Rainbow Awards
Website
www.lorillake.com

Personal life

Lake was born in Portland, Oregon, the oldest of five daughters, and spent her early years with her family in Seattle and Portland, then lived with an aunt and uncle in Tigard, Oregon, during her teen years and graduated from Tigard High School in 1978.[1] She graduated from Portland's Lewis and Clark College in 1983 with a double major in English and Political Science and moved to the Twin Cities with her partner shortly after. She attended Saint Paul's Hamline University where she studied with Carol Bly and in 1989 received a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Literature and Ethics. After working in Saint Paul in county government for nearly two decades, she quit in 2003 to work on writing and teaching. In 2009 Lake returned to her hometown in Oregon after a breakup with her partner of 27 years.[2]

Writing career

Her work includes The Gun Series police novels, The Public Eye Mystery Series, four standalone drama/romances, two short story collections, the Lambda Literary finalist anthology The Milk of Human Kindness, and the World War II novel Snow Moon Rising, which won the 2007 Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award, a Goldie from the Golden Crown Literary Society, and The Alice B Readers Award.[3] In concert with fellow writer/editor Jessie Chandler, Lake also won a 2016 Golden Crown Literary Award for the anthology Lesbians on the Loose: Crime Writers on the Lam.[4]

In recent years, Lake has become a mentor and coach to many young and aspiring writers, especially through her work at The Loft Literary Center,[5] the Portland Lesbian Writers Group,[6] and the Oregon Writers Colony,[7] and in her work as an organizer of writing retreats or as program director of literary conferences, particularly for the Golden Crown Literary Society[8] from which she received the Directors' Award in 2012 for her co-founding the organization and coordinating conferences and events from 2004 to 2012. Lake also commenced publishing the work of others in 2014 upon opening Launch Point Press[9] in Portland, Oregon. Citing time constraints, Lake sold Launch Point Press to new owners who assumed ownership in January, 2023, leaving Lake time to write once more.[10]

Novels
  • Gun Shy: Book 1 in The Gun Series (2001)
  • Ricochet in Time (2001)
  • Under the Gun: Book 2 in The Gun Series (2002)
  • Different Dress (2003)
  • Have Gun We'll Travel: Book 3 in The Gun Series (2005)
  • Snow Moon Rising (2006)
  • Like Lovers Do (2011)
  • Buyer's Remorse: Book 1 in The Public Eye Series (2011)
  • A Very Public Eye: Book 2 in The Public Eye Series (2012)
  • Jump The Gun: Book 4 in The Gun Series (2013)
  • Eight Dates: A Romance (2014)
  • Gun Shy: The 20th Anniversary Edition (2019)
  • Adventures Unlimited (forthcoming, 2023)
  • Strays (forthcoming, 2023)

Short story collections
  • Stepping Out: Short Stories (2004)
  • Shimmer & Other Stories (2007)
  • A Cold Dish: Stories of Vengeance (forthcoming, 2023)

Nonfiction
  • Sparking Creativity: Words of Wisdom to Inspire Your Writing Craft—Book One in The Writer's Odyssey Series (forthcoming, 2023)

Anthologies Edited
  • The Milk of Human Kindness: Lesbian Authors Write about Mothers & Daughters (2004)
  • Romance For Life (2005)
  • Lesbians on the Loose: Crime Writers on the Lam (2015)
  • Time's Rainbow: Writing Ourselves Back Into American History - Volume I (2016)
  • Time's Rainbow: Writing Ourselves Back Into World History - Volume II (forthcoming)

Story Contributions to Anthologies
  • "Take Me Out" in Silence of the Loons (2005)
  • "Paige" in Best Lesbian Romance (2006)
  • "Jumping Over My Head" in Toe to Toe: Standing Tall and Proud (2008)
  • "Den of Iniquity" in Once Upon A Crime (2009)
  • "The Penthouse Birthday" in Women in Uniform: Medics & Soldiers & Cops, Oh My! (2010)
  • "Den of Iniquity" in Women of the Mean Streets: Lesbian Noir (2011)
  • "A Darker Side of Green" in Writes of Spring (2012)
  • "An Age Old Solution" in Minnesota Crime Wave Presents Fifteen Tales of Murder, Mayhem & Suspense (2012)
  • "An Age Old Solution" in Lesbians on the Loose: Crime Writers on the Lam (2015)
  • "Bayard" in Time's Rainbow: Writing Ourselves Back Into History (2016)
  • "Kitchen Matters" in Cooked to Death: Lying on a Plate (2017)
  • "Kindred Spirits" in Dark Side of the Loon: Where History Meets Mystery (2018)
  • "Dog Eat Dog World" in Learning Curve: An Anthology of Lessons Learned (2018)
  • "Writing to Wes" in Now We Heal: An Anthology of Hope (2020)

Awards and recognition
  • 2016 - Golden Crown Literary Award Winner - Fiction Anthology Category co-edited with Jessie Chandler: Lesbians on the Loose: Crime Writers on the Lam
  • 2014 - Rainbow Award Winner - Best Comedic Romance: Eight Dates
  • 2014 - Rainbow Award Runner-Up - Best Overall Lesbian Novel: Eight Dates
  • 2014 - Rainbow Award Winner - Best Comedic Romance: Eight Dates
  • 2014 - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist - Mystery/Thriller Category: Jump The Gun: Book 4 in The Gun Series
  • 2013 - Rainbow Award First Runner-Up - Best Lesbian Mystery/Thriller: Jump The Gun: Book 4 in The Gun Series
  • 2013 - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist - Mystery/Thriller Category: A Very Public Eye: Book 2 in The Public Eye Mystery Series
  • 2013 - Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award Finalist - A Very Public Eye: Book 2 in The Public Eye Mystery Series
  • 2012 - Golden Crown Literary Award Winner - Mystery/Thriller Category: Buyer's Remorse: Book 1 in The Public Eye Mystery Series
  • 2011 - Golden Crown Literary Society's Directors' Award - For service to the GCLS 2004-2011
  • 2011 - American Fiction Book Awards (formerly USA Best Books) Gay & Lesbian Fiction Finalist - Like Lovers Do
  • 2007 - Golden Crown Literary Award Winner - Best Dramatic Fiction: Snow Moon Rising
  • 2007 - Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award - Snow Moon Rising
  • 2007 - Alice B Readers Award - Snow Moon Rising
  • 2007 - LJ Maas Memorial Mentoring Award
  • 2007 - Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Award - Snow Moon Rising
  • 2007 - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist - Anthology Category: Romance For Life
  • 2007 - Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Award - Romance For Life
  • 2006 - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist - Mystery/Thriller Category: Have Gun We'll Travel
  • 2005 - Lambda Literary Award Finalist - Anthology Category: The Milk of Human Kindness
  • 2003 - Lavender Magazine's Twin Cities Outstanding GLBT Author
  • 2003 - Girlfriend Magazine August "Girlfriend of the Month"
  • 2003 - StoneWall Society Winner - Fact & Fable Award - Gun Shy
  • 2002 - Lavender Magazine's Twin Cities Outstanding GLBT Author

References
  1. Kathy Eaton (1 December 2013). "Author Lori Lake Remembers Her Portland Roots". Star News. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. Lori L. Lake. "Lori L. Lake Biographical Information". LoriLLake.com. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  3. Alice B Administrator. "Alice B Awards ~ 2007 Winners". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. Awards Administrator. "2016 Goldie Awards". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. Elisa Rolle. "Reviews & Ramblings: Lori L. Lake". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  6. Portland Lesbian Writers Group. "Facebook Home of the Portland Lesbian Writers Group". Facebook. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  7. Marlene Howard. "Board of Directors". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  8. GCLS Webmaster. "Directors' Award Winners". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  9. Bella Books Webmaster. "Launch Point Press Books". Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  10. Launch Point Press. "Facebook Home of Launch Point Press". Facebook. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
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