Lynne Spriggs O’Connor, author of the memoir Elk Love: A Montana Memoir:
“I dropped myself into this place of not knowing, this place of mystery and wildness, and just decided to open my heart and see what happened.”
On this episode of The Women’s Eye podcast, bestselling author Laura Munson, founder of her acclaimed Haven Writing Retreats in Montana, chats with Lynne Spriggs O’Connor about her soul-searching new memoir, Elk Love.
Available also on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube
During Lynne’s journey to begin life anew, she found a true connection with nature after leaving everything behind and moving to “Big Sky Country” from the East Coast.
These two dedicated Montana writers share notes about their rewarding rural lives and writing processes. Laura is the author of the powerful, bestselling memoir, This Is Not The Story You Think It Is, and the novel, Willa’s Grove. Her upcoming book The Wild Why: Stories and Teachings to Uncover Your Wonder is coming to you April, 2025.
For the past 15 years, Lynne has lived with her husband on a cattle ranch in an isolated Montana mountain valley east of the Rockies. In this podcast she describes some of the why about her journey to find a fulfilling relationship and new surroundings.
“At 42, I was still on my own. I’d never been married, so I had this profound sense of loneliness. I think we’re living in times where there is this sort of pandemic of loneliness. I knew I needed to address that.”
Along with a new companion, she began to separate from human culture and the human world where she started to observe and feel more of her animal nature. This self-described perfectionist found deep value in not doing and in not knowing just by being in nature.
Photo: Lynne Spriggs O’Connor/Photo: Kristin O’Connor
“Look at animals,” she says. “They hibernate. They go underground. They cocoon. They rest. When they’re being quiet and internal, the presence comes much more easily. I just breathed into it.”
As you listen to the podcast, you will learn more about what caused Lynne’s need for reinvention and what she has learned from the experience including:
- Her process of writing Elk Love and why the elk were important.
- What freedom of wildness meant to her.
- How she built a bridge from one world to another.
- How she healed from discomfort and found wonder and love.
What a wonderfully introspective book this is! The 12-year-writing process allowed Lynne to reach her simple goal. I think you’ll be inspired as she explains that goal in this podcast. Hope you will spend some time watching or listening. You may find yourself enjoying nature in a whole new way.
To follow Lynne:
Website: lynneoconnorauthor.com
Instagram: lynnesoconnor
Facebook: lynneoconnorauthor
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