Author Visit: Lillian Humphrey

Posted bySusan K. MarlowPosted inAuthor Interviews

I’m excited that other young authors have emailed me, interested in sharing their first (or new) works. This time, I’m happy to introduce you to Lillian Humphrey, an up-and-coming young author with her very first published work: The Lawman’s Daughter. Sound intriguing? Well, read on to learn more. Like other young authors I interview, she is giving away a copy of her print book! 👏🏼 Ready? Let’s get started!

About the Author

Lillian Humphrey is a nineteen-year-old author who is proud to call Oregon’s ranching country home. She’s been writing since she was little, and The Lawman’s Daughter is her first published work.

And a GIVEAWAY!

Lillian is offering The Lawman’s Daughter as a giveaway to one lucky winner. You will not want to miss this fun opportunity to enter to win.

After the interview, I’ll let you know how you can win the book. Also, you can get a copy of this book yourself–in print or as a Kindle book. Read a sample of The Lawman’s Daughter on Amazon >

Young Author Visit with Lillian Humphrey

Tell us a little about yourself.

Well, to start off with, I’m a Christian and a homeschool graduate. I live in the High Desert of central Oregon, and I may be biased, but I think it is one of the most beautiful places in the state. Even though 1) green stuff (some people know it familiarly and call it grass) does not grow much here and 2) the land lights on fire every year in spite of that fact. We get around a foot of rain annually, which leaves it deliciously sunny and dangerously dry!

I have five brothers, and my family built a house on the side of a juniper-and-sagebrush-covered hill. It’s been a great place to dream up Western stories! I love adventuring, hiking, creating celebrations and Texas style fiddling.

When did you start writing?

I don’t know the exact age, but I was pretty young. Writing runs in my family and it was only a matter of time until the bug struck me! I think I’ve been writing about fictional characters since I was 9.

What was it like to write The Lawman’s Daughter?

I could write a list of the emotions that come upon writers at different parts of the process, but I’ll just say it had its ups and downs! I started writing The Lawman’s Daughter about four years ago and wrote sporadically until the end of 2024. I wasn’t sure I was going to publish my work; the story had lost some fire at this point and it was a slog to think about. But my dad saw potential in the project and encouraged me to finish it. I’m so glad he did! I spent a whole month finishing my manuscript in January of ’25 and edited, then formatted for over 10 months. The formatting and editing were the hardest parts, but they paid off.

Why is the setting of your book in Montana?

I’ve been fascinated with Montana for a long time…and the Bitterroot Valley seemed like the perfect place to set my book in. The geography fit the plot well, it’s gorgeous, and it was remote enough to be behind-the-times when I needed it to be for my story. I got to go to Montana for the first time in 2025, and it was even more beautiful and scenic than I imagined!  

What inspired you to write The Lawman’ Daughter?

I grew up reading the Little House on the Prairie books and my favorite Old Western series is Gunsmoke, both of which have influenced my writing  🙂 

But much of it I dreamed up in my imagination. Thankfully most of the plots in my book have never happened to me! I love to imagine real-world situations (I’ve never been much of a fantasy girl) and I spent a lot of time during highschool in the world of Maryan and Alan. My brain favored Biology studies as a good time for plot-hatching…

All right! That leads us into my next question. Can you tell us a little bit about your book?

Absolutely! It’s a clean romance, mystery, and coming-of-age adventure that takes place in the Wild West of 1890’s Montana. 

Open the book and you’ll meet Maryan, the daughter of a legendary sheriff. She thinks life has treated her unfairly, but she isn’t prepared for what comes next. Will cruel challenges refine her character or has bitterness already taken over?

Alan McKinnley thought he was a simple deputy. Now crime is spiraling out of control, the sheriff has disappeared, and all eyes are on Alan to protect the very people who doubt his abilities most. The odds are against him: to defeat a seasoned criminal mastermind, to protect the town, and to win Maryan’s heart. Must they both endure alone? Is it possible for love to grow in chaos?

Meanwhile, a deeper mystery is taking root; a mystery that reaches further than anyone suspects.

Who’s your favorite character in your book, and why?

Probably Alan. He’s got a lot going against him, but you keep rooting for him anyway. It tickles me when he gets very frustrated…which is more often than he deserves. 

The poor guy really needs someone to love him (are you listening, Maryan!?)

Which character do you identify with the most?

Maryan, hands down. In certain aspects of personality and in many of her struggles, she is like myself. However I am proud to say that I have never done what she does in chapter 1! (You can read a sample here!)

What’s your favorite scene from The Lawman’s Daughter?

To list my first choice for a favorite scene would be a complete spoiler! But I’ll give a second choice: the Currentsville squash feud. Against his will, Alan is sucked into a ridiculous scandel involving creaturish-looking vegetables and hurt feelings. As a new deputy trying to secure goodwill with the town, it’s the last thing he would have asked for. Little does he know it will be the least of his troubles…

What takeaway would you like readers to come away with after they read your book?  

I want them to be struck with how Alan and Maryan prioritize loving duty and courage in their lives. At times when I’m not sure I would rise to the occasion, they do. At times when it would be easier to shrink from a horrible situation, they don’t. I’ve actually found myself influenced multiple times by my characters…which sounds really silly (and it gives my brothers a laugh)…but because I’ve implemented my standards into my main character’s lives, they keep me true to what I believe.

This is your first published book. Are you going to write more?

Yes! In fact, I recently started the sequel to The Lawman’s Daughter!

Where can we find your book?
On Amazon, in paperback and E-book form!

✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼

Thanks so much, Lillian, for letting us peek behind the scenes into your writing life.

If you have questions for Lillian, ask it in the comments. Your question counts as an extra entry in the giveaway (so enter your name first and then create a separate comment for your question).

🔎I was a little disappointed by the number potential entrants that could have won the last author’s (Rebekah’s) book but entered as ANONYMOUS or did not supply an EMAIL as instructed below. Like, how do you think Lillian can contact you without an email? Right?

Now, the GIVEAWAY!

You can earn up to two entries. You can also Buy the book >

First entry: Comment (with your first name) and hide your email. Tell Lillian why you would like to win her book.

Second entry: Ask Lillian a question about being an author, or her book, or any writing-related/homeschool question.

Read on for instructions on how to leave your email address in the “pre-posting” box. No entries will qualify for the contest without an email address (but don’t leave your email address in the comment itself).

Include your email in the pre-posting box, so I can send Lillian the winning name and email. Random.org will choose the winner in a random drawing. Lillian will contact the winner (who has 48 hours to claim her prize) so she can get the mailing address (US mailing addresses only.)

Giveaway runs Thursday, January 15 – Thursday, January 22 @ 5pm CT. Winner announced Friday, January 23.

Quick review on how to enter a giveaway on Andi’s Blog using comments. Click “Leave a Reply,” as always. Write your entry as a comment. Then click the blue envelope icon. Write your first name and your email in the boxes. Anonymous entries will be deleted (Rebekah can’t contact you without your “hidden” contact information). If you are already a WordPress user, you just click the “W” icon. Easy-peasy. Good luck and have fun!

Published by Susan K. Marlow

I'm the author of the Circle C and Goldtown Adventures series. I blog as "Andi Carter," the main character in the Circle C series. She lives on a huge cattle ranch in 1880s California. These are her adventures.

66 thoughts on “Author Visit: Lillian Humphrey”

  1. Avigail Y.

    Hello Lillian, your book sounds really interesting! I would love to win it! One of my favorite genres is Christian westerns so The Lawmen’s Daughter sounds like it would be right up my alley! Also, I really like the cover, it is so beautiful! What are some of your other favorite books?

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Hi there!

      Yup, I think you’ll like this one 😉

      Aw, thanks! I really like books written by L. M. Montgomery (who wrote the Anne of Green Gables series.) I like Jane of Lantern Hill in particular! She didn’t write about the Wild West, but she did have a beautiful way of painting life.

      –Lillian

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      1. Ok! I actually have read those too! They are some of my favorites along with Little House on the Prairie. (I like old-fashioned books!)

        -Avi

        Liked by 1 person

    1. It is set in the fictional town of Currentsville. While I do not know of a town in Montana named that, Stevensville, Mt. most resembles the setting of the book!

      –Lillian

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  4. This book sounds SO interesting! I love romance/mystery books. I would like it because I LOVE to read and am always on the lookout for new Christian books!

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  5. Lillian, what was your favorite thing about homeschooling?

    What curriculum did you use? I am homeschooled and we use Abeka. I love it 🙂

    What author inspires you the most?

    How has writing this book changed you as a person?

    Sorry for all the questions. 🙂

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    1. Hello Hope!

      My favorite thing about homeschooling…mm…maybe the fact that we studied old books from the 1800s as part of our schoolwork. We were reared on McGuffey’s readers, and I like having a bit of old-fashioned vocabulary in my life 🙂

      We actually didn’t stick to ONE curriculum. We used everything from Mennonite math and grammar to, like I mentioned, old books! And some online resources, too 🙂

      I find Laura Ingalls Wilder inspiring! I’m so glad she decided to write about her life so her incredible stories could be shared with the world.

      Through writing this book I learned tenacity (finishing what I started, even when it’s hard) the power of a story on its audience, endurance and how good it feels to accomplish something when you’ve put your hand to it for a long time! Definitely worth it!

      Thanks for the great questions.

      –Lillian

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  6. hi Lillian! I love western books. I also read the little house books and love them. I thought the sample chapters were interesting and can’t wait to finish the book!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Ella

    Hi! I would LOVE to read this book because I have been wanting to read a book that has (clean!) romance! (I loved the Andi Carter Milestone series especially when Andi and Riley were in love!)

    Also love the plot! If I don’t win, I’ll be looking to buy it on Amazon!

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    1. Oh, cool!

      Yes, I would consider it a full-length novel. It’s over 250 pages and covers a full story.

      What’s your book about?

      –Lillian

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      1. It’s about a 20 year old girl who has a lot of stress and trouble (mostly internal trouble) in her life. She grew up in Christian home, but looks to be very far away from God now.
        She prays one night and asks God to show His goodness to her. (How do I do this without spoilers!?!) Anyway, she has dreams, and misinterprets them as being physical goodness, when they were really about something else (not physically) which she finds out in the end.

        That’s the best I can say without giving spoilers. (I haven’t done a nutshell summary yet😆) ❤️❤️

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I prefer that you not do that, only because I guarantee you that it will get lost and then you won’t be in the drawing anyway. You could put your blog link in there and then if you win I’m sure there’s a way to contact through your website correct?

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Hey!

    I love reading books and I’m interested in reading yours since it’s from a Christian perspective! (And it’s western….. :))

    Have you been homeschooled all of your life?

    Thanks for doing this Mrs. M!

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    1. Hi Lyla!

      No, we don’t have any pets, although in the summer my younger brother likes to befriend tiny lizards that are native to our area. And I used to work at a dairy, so my favorite animals miiight just be cows…

      –Lillian

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  13. Hi Lillian!! My name is Elly, I’m also homeschooled and I have recently started writing westerns as well! I love reading younger authors’ work and I would really love to read yours!!

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  14. Hello Lillian, my name is Grace. I would love to win your book! One, because I love the cover of your book! (The dress Maryan is wearing looks like a dress I would like to wear!) Two, because the description of your book sounds like a book I would like!

    Grace

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  15. Hello Lillian! My name is Grace! I would love to win your book because, one I really like the cover of your book! (The dress that Maryan is wearing looks like a dress I would like to wear!) Two, the description of your books sounds like a book I would love to read!

    Grace

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    1. Hi Aurora!

      I love that I got to use old literature – like the McGuffey’s readers – in homeschool! Also that I got to set my own pace to some extent.

      Thanks for the question!

      –Lillian

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  18. Hi, Lillian!

    Congratulations on publishing your first book!! A book inspired by Little House on the Prairie and Gunsmoke sounds like a lot of fun. I would enjoy reading a Christian western.

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    1. Actually, that is tricky for me! I tend to fall into the ruts of the same types of names, especially when I’m naming secondary characters. Sometimes I look up common names for the era I’m writing in and get some ideas 🙂

      That being said, the names of my main characters were not hard to come up with! And I was very particular about the spellings of those names, though a few of them aren’t conventional in their spellings lol.

      –Lillian

      p.s. I replied to your first comment via my phone, which is why it labeled it as Anonymous 🙂

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  20. Hi Lillian!!
    I was so excited to read this blog about you! I actually used to live in Central Oregon for basically half my life (Prineville) And it made me so happy and proud that a fellow high desert homeschool girl is now a published author!
    I would like to win your book because first off, I love westerns, and the scene you picked for Montana sounds so inspiring! Also when you said the words “squash Feud” that instantly just grabbed my brains attention, and now I am so curious!
    I was wondering, Were you doing anything in particular, or what first sparked the idea that lead you to write The Lawman’s Daughter?
    Thank you so much!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. How cool is that!? We live near Prineville and I love it here!

      Great question. Early on, I had the plot in my mind as set in the modern-day era. However, I transplanted it into the world of Currentsville and had the main character be Maryan, instead of “me” persay, and liked it enough to write about it! I think I had been watching some police shows that inspired me to give Maryan an Alan in her world, but I can’t say there was a moment where the plot just downloaded to my head. The main idea (and I can’t describe it because it would spoil everything lol) was one I’d been intrigued by for awhile! (as in, too long for me to remember when it started haha.)

      What state do you live in now?

      –Lillian

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      1. That is so cool!! I love that some police shows helped you come up with Alan!
        And how Maryan is inspired by you! It is awesome!
        I am glad you love central Oregon!! I loved it too, and I still do! I always have so much fun now when I get to come visit friends and family up there!
        Now I live in Oklahoma actually, which I absolutely love too, and is awesome inspiration for coming up with old western story plots!

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      2. (Sorry forgot to put my name back on the reply above) But can’t figure out how to put my name back on there, Lol
        -Gwynne

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  21. So exciting!! That’s awesome you published your first book, Lillian, congrats! I would love to read this someday, it sounds interesting and great read. 😀

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      1. That’s awesome 😀 do you mind if I ask what programs you used to change it to a painting look?

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  27. Lillian, what are some of your favorite hobbies/things you enjoy doing in your spare time? A few of mine are knitting, cross-stitching, reading, playing the piano, and spending time outdoors!

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