Author Lauren Brandenburg on Her New Book and Her Time at GC
Submitted on November 13, 2019
Author and GC alumna Lauren Brandenburg ‘99 has made a career out of her own boundless creativity. She’s the author of several books for younger readers, but her latest book, The Death of Mungo Blackwell, is her first work for adult readers. Never one to back away from a challenge or limit her imagination, Brandenburg dove head first into writing her new book, shifting a bit in her creative approach.
“I had to think like a grown-up, which isn’t always easy for me, especially after six years of writing for young readers. However, I wanted The Death of Mungo Blackwell to have a bit of a whimsical flair like Big Fish or Second Hand Lions, sort of meshing the hard realities of adulting with the hard to believe,” she said.
She calls her latest work “the most ridiculous novel I’ve ever written. It’s also the most fun and beautiful tale I’ve ever told. I wrote Mungo wanting my readers to find laughter in the darkness and hope in starting over.”
It becomes quickly apparent when reading her work that she beams with adventure and whimsy, and her family serves as a key inspiration. “My family is an adventure! We’re always willing to try, eat, go, do something new – which has allowed me a lifetime of extraordinary experiences that find their way as tidbits into my stories.”
She lives just south of Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Jamie, and their two children, but she’ll always consider Kentucky home. She graduated from Georgetown College in 1999, and during her time as a Tiger, many professors inspired her and encouraged her with their support. One of those professors, Dr. Rosemary Allen, instilled in her the confidence she needed.
“I kind of felt like I was one of those behind the scenes students – trying my hardest to understand what it seemed like everyone else in the class knew. But she made me feel smart; I never felt defeated, but rather included. She had a way of submersing her students in literature, pulling out hidden gems, unearthed elements that made you feel like you knew a secret about the piece that no one else did. She definitely added a layer of confidence that has aided in moving me this far.”
While her time at GC was one of growth academically, it was also the place where she would meet her biggest fan.
“Georgetown taught me the art of working hard for what I want. But most importantly, it’s where I met my husband. He’s without a doubt my biggest fan. He’s also the one who encouraged me to write, has believed in me, marketed for me, prayed over me, and gave me his blessing to give a glimpse of our story in The Death of Mungo Blackwell. Georgetown College is such an important part of our lives… it’s the beginning of our story. I sometimes wonder if I would be where I am without him.”
The Death of Mungo Blackwell is out now. You can purchase it and her other works and learn more about Lauren Brandenburg at https://laurenhbrandenburg.com/. She will also host a signing in Lexington, so alumni and fans can connect with her.
The signing will be on December 22nd from 1:30-3:30 pm at Barnes and Noble in Hamburg Pavilion.
