The Stories We Carry: A Q&A with Lora Rodriguez

Some stories begin at a desk. Others begin much earlier—in the tales a parent tells, the work we do, and the people who make us look at life a little differently.

For Georgia author and Shoreline Stories founder Lora Rodriguez, storytelling has taken several forms: radio, magazine work, children’s adventures, and a novel about learning to trust again. As readers get to know the books behind Shoreline Stories, we wanted to introduce the person behind them, too.

In this Q&A, Lora shares the family connection behind Woofers the Wolf, introduces Where the Tide Turns, and reflects on what she hopes readers carry away from her stories.

Before becoming an author and publisher, you worked in radio and magazines. What connects those chapters of your life?

Lora: Looking back, the connection is communication. Whether I was behind a microphone, working in magazine sales and marketing, or helping produce a publication, I was thinking about how to reach people. What makes someone stop and listen? What makes a story matter to them?

Writing books gives that work a more personal shape. I get to spend time with characters and follow a story beyond the space of an article or a conversation. But there is still a reader on the other side, and I want to give that person a reason to stay.

For someone meeting your novel for the first time, what is Where the Tide Turns about?

Lora: It follows Abby Hughes, a woman building her career in Atlanta while living with the aftermath of an assault. When she meets Jason Ward, something about him brings her fear to the surface. Their connection unfolds alongside questions about the past and what really happened.

There is romance and suspense, but Abby’s healing matters just as much. I wanted room for her ambition, her friendships, her humor, and the ordinary moments that make up a life. She is more than the worst thing that happened to her.

What mattered to you about writing Abby and Jason’s relationship?

Lora: Trust needed time. I wanted their relationship to develop through the way they treat each other, not simply through attraction or a grand declaration.

Jason matters to Abby, but he cannot do her healing for her. She has her own work to do and her own choices to make. To me, the meaningful part is watching closeness become possible while she is still finding her footing. Love does not have to wait for a perfectly tidy life, but it does need patience and respect.

What do you hope a reader feels when they finish the book?

Lora: Hope—but hope that feels earned. I do not want to suggest that pain disappears because someone falls in love or finds an answer. I want readers to feel that a difficult chapter does not have to decide every chapter that follows.

And I hope they enjoy spending time with these people. There are serious themes, but there is also friendship, warmth, and the pleasure of watching two people slowly find their way toward each other.

Your children’s series has a very different tone. Where did Woofers the Wolf begin?

Lora: Woofers has a family beginning. My father told my sisters and me stories about him when I was a little girl, around six or seven. That makes bringing him into books especially meaningful to me.

Now he has adventures in Maplewhistle, with friends, mishaps, and plenty of surprises. I love the idea of a grown-up and child sharing a laugh over something that goes wrong for Woofers. A story can make room for a lesson without losing the fun of it.

What finds its way into your writing life when you are away from the desk?

Lora: Family, travel, and time outdoors are important parts of my life. I enjoy RV travel and hiking, and I am a grandmother, so there are very different kinds of days to draw from.

I think that variety helps. Sometimes you need to pay attention to what is right in front of you instead of trying to turn everything into a book. The conversations, places, and small details have a way of staying with you.

What would you like readers to find here at Shoreline Stories?

Lora: A welcoming place to discover the books and get to know the work behind them. I want to share book news, of course, but also some of the process and the personal connections that do not fit on a back cover.

Whether someone comes for a novel, a Woofers adventure, or a behind-the-scenes post, I hope they find something worth spending a little time with. I am grateful whenever a reader chooses to make room for one of my stories.

Your next chapter starts here. Meet Abby and Jason on the Where the Tide Turns book page, or explore more at Shoreline Stories. If you would like book news and behind-the-scenes notes, look for Stories from the Shoreline, our newsletter.

A note for readers: Where the Tide Turns includes sexual assault and its aftermath, trauma, and recovery.