In this episode of Read the Damn Book, host Michelle Glogovac welcomes debut author Lina Patton to discuss her novel The Lake Club. Lina shares the inspiration behind her first book, how living abroad shaped her perspective as a writer, and the role that travel and personal experiences played in crafting the novel’s setting and characters.

The conversation explores Lina’s creative process, from developing compelling, emotionally resonant characters to balancing authentic settings with fictional storytelling. She also offers an honest look at the publishing journey as a debut author, the challenges of bringing a first novel to life, and the lessons she learned along the way.

What We’re Talking About…

• Lina Patton’s journey to writing her debut novel, The Lake Club
• How living in Kosovo inspired her storytelling and creative perspective
• Choosing authentic character names and crafting immersive fictional settings
• The six-year journey of writing, revising, and publishing a debut novel
• Exploring themes of home, belonging, friendship, and social dynamics in contemporary fiction
• Weaving personal experiences and real-life inspiration into fictional stories
• Behind the scenes of the novel writing, editing, and publishing process
• How publishing trends and market timing influence book deals and releases
• Lina Patton’s creative hobbies, including doodling, stationery, and artistic inspiration