Author Spotlight: Allie Reynolds
Author extraordinaire George R.R. Martin famously said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only once.” I’ve always loved that quote for its immense truth. One of my favorite parts about reading is stepping into a character’s shoes for a short period of time and leaving my own life behind. While there are many developmental and emotional benefits of reading, at the end of the day, it should be an enjoyable activity.
Thanks to talented writers, everyone has the chance to temporarily (and okay, yes, imaginarily) assume lives and roles we may never have had the opportunity to otherwise. Whether it’s solving a mystery, falling in love, or defeating saboteurs to save a kingdom, for as long as there is access to books, there is opportunity to conquer fears and discover magic. Through storytelling, I have personally enjoyed occupations as a forensic psychologist, a big-time book editor, and my personal favorite- a dragon rider! I treasure the adventures I have taken and look forward to many more in the future.
An author that comes to mind when thinking about stepping into an adventurous life is Allie Reynolds. This Australian writer had a variety of jobs and passions before pursuing writing. Snowboarding and surfing are activities that have impacted her life, and as such, her two thrillers reflect just that.
In Shiver, a group of highly competitive and professional snowboarders find themselves trapped in a snowstorm on a resort in the French Alps when reuniting after ten years. The only thing deadlier than the blizzarding weather conditions is an individual present with them hungry for revenge and armed with motive and a hidden secret.
Trading blistering, cold snow for tropical waters, The Swell follows a young woman who has given up surfing after an accident years prior. She is brought back to the world of waves when her friend invites her to join a group of friends on a remote beach the surfers have claimed as their own. As each person is hiding a strange past and the friends egg each other on to engage in ritualistic-like challenges, this story climaxes to the divulging of devastating secrets that may cost people their lives.
I have always been intrigued and inspired by athletic individuals’ drive, focus, and commitment to sport, and that’s partly why I was so hooked on Reynold’s books.
With each of these reads, you can feel Allie’s passion and mastery through the pages. I love that a person does not need to be well versed or even enjoy snowboarding and surfing to thoroughly engage with the story. I couldn’t help feeling excitement for the characters as they took on these feats. I felt their weariness of not being able to overcome their limitations and their reasoning for wanting to prove their worth against competitors. I experienced their fears as they pushed their physical and mental boundaries as well as their triumphs as they took a chance and conquered. It takes talent to make people deeply care about your cares through writing alone, but Allie successfully does just that.
Another thing I love about Allie’s books is how she creates the perfectly unique locked-room style mystery. By blending a combination of the dangerous seclusion that comes with wild and unpredictable natural forces along with human deceit, makes for a deliciously atmospheric story full of heart-pounding tension.
The next time you find yourself craving a high adrenaline adventure, look no further than Allie Reynolds’ books!
Books by Allie Reynolds:
Written by Christine Campbell – PDL Team Member