Linda Yoshida, aka Kaylin McFarren, is a rare bird indeed. Not a migratory sort, she prefers to hug the West Coast and keep family within visiting range. Although she has virtually been around the world, she was born in California, relocated with her family to Washington, and nested with her husband in Oregon. In addition to playing an active role in his business endeavors, she has been involved in all aspects of their three daughters' lives - taxi duties, cheerleading coaching, script rehearsals, and relationship counseling, to name but a few. Now she enjoys spending undisciplined time with her two young grandsons and hopes to have many more.
Although Kaylin wasn't born with a pen in hand like so many of her talented fellow authors, she has been actively involved in both business and personal writing projects for many years. As the director of a fine art gallery, she assisted in furthering the careers of numerous visual artists who under her guidance gained recognition through promotional opportunities and in national publications. Eager to spread her own creative wings, she has since steered her energy toward writing novels. As a result, she has earned more than a dozen literary awards and was a 2008 finalist in the prestigious RWA® Golden Heart contest.
Kaylin is a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Willamette Writers. She received her AA in Literature at Highline Community College, which originally sparked her passion for writing. In her free time, she also enjoys giving back to the community through participation and support of various charitable and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
Exiting News!! Flaherty's Crossing received an amazing review in The Chicago Sun TImes and Southtown Star!!
Flaherty’s Crossing
Thursday, April 15, 2010
“Flaherty’s Crossing” begins as Kate Flaherty is rushing to her estranged father’s deathbed. She makes it there before he passes, but he appears to be incoherently drifting in and out of the past. Kate carries a tremendous amount of anger towards her father. After her mother tragically died at age thirty-six, she blamed him for her death. Holding a grudge against him and his inability to express his feelings towards her, Kate saw her father as an enigma.
At the same time that Kate is losing her father, she is about to lose her husband. This loss would not be to death. Just as Kate’s father withheld himself from her, Kate has been withholding herself from her husband, Drew. Their marriage is on the rocks and neither knows how to reach out to the other. A car accident changes everything. When Kate runs her car off a road to avoid hitting a deer, a strange encounter with a mysterious man in an old diner begins to wake her up from her apathetic state. Realizing that he could have lost her forever, also forces Drew to know that he does not want this to happen.
Together they decide to try to salvage their marriage. They start looking at what is truly important to each other. Drew begins to see that being trapped in an unrewarding job so that he can afford their big expensive house and fancy BMW is not worth it. The couple also has other serious issues to contend with. As Kate deals with her father’s passing, she begins to learn more about his life. She discovers that the family secrets ran very deep. Finding mementos that he had saved of her, shows her how much her father really loved her. She begins to see that she has been making the same mistakes in her marriage that her father did in his. She knows that she needs to make changes so that she does not end up like her parents did.
“Flaherty’s Crossing” by Kaylin McFarren is a beautiful story. The author does an incredible job of presenting the story in vivid detail. We are taken into the minds and hearts of the characters. As you read, you will feel the same anguish that they each felt in dealing with their own issues. In your heart, you will also feel their love and their hope for a better future. Even though it is a fictional story, it made me reflect on my own life, and how I shouldn’t wait until it is too late to let people that I love know how I feel, or to apologize if I need to. This is a novel that is written with exceptional quality. Readers will truly enjoy this story.
Flaherty’s Crossing Kaylin McFarren Champagne Books (2010) ISBN 9781926681191 Reviewed by Paige Lovitt
02/12/2010
Review
FLAHERTY'S CROSSING Now Available at Champagne Books. http://www.champagnebooks.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_12&products_id=357
"Flaherty's Crossing" by Kaylin McFarren is a beautiful story. The author does an incredible job of presenting the story in vivid detail. We are taken into the minds and hearts of the characters. As you read, you will feel the same anguish that they each felt in dealing with their own issues. In your heart, you will also feel their love and their hope for a better future. Even though it is a fictional story, it made me reflect on my own life, and how I shouldn't wait until it is too late to let people that I love know how I feel, or to apologize if I need to. This is a novel that is written with exceptional quality. Readers will truly enjoy this story."
PAIGE LOVITT, Reader Views
"A skillfully wrought tale."
KIRKUS DISCOVERIES
"Flaherty's Crossing is an inspirational story about learning to let go and love fully for the sake of love. Who are we under our masks of pain? How would it feel to have those burdens lifted?"
TAMI BRADY Brady, TCM Reviews
"For anyone who has loved immensely and faced a painful loss, this book is a bridge to healing, forgiveness and an open heart."
REGINA ELLIS, Founder, CEO The Children's Cancer Association
"McFarren's writing is powerful and detail oriented, making the story come alive and creating a suspenseful atmosphere that sustains to the last page. A brilliant exploration of women's fiction."
AUBRIE DIONNE, Author , SynergEbooks
"Beautifully written, heart wrenching yet inspirational, this is a 'must read' for anyone who has loved and lost."
ELIZABETH JOY ARNOLD, USA Today bestselling author of Pieces of My Sister's Life
"Suspenseful, poignant and ultimately soul-satisfying, this life-affirming tale of shattering secrets will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't miss it!"
JOY NASH, USA Today bestselling author of Deep Magic
"From heart wrenching to heartwarming, inducing laughter and tears, this virtual roller coaster of a tale won't let the reader go until reaching the final turn of the ride. A superb novel bearing a message not easily forgotten."
ANGELA FOX, Publisher of Oregon City News/Clackamas Review
Kaylin would like to announce that 100% of the proceeds generated from all sales of Flaherty's Crossing will be donated to colon cancer research. Let's help her end this disease in our lifetime. Purchase copies today at Amazon.com
