Hannah Layne took a trip back to Michigan Tech’s campus on Friday, Oct. 2. At the Library she had a book signing for her popular Lift Bridge Series. The series follows main characters Kara Linden and Blaze McKade as they go through personal problems, college life, and a passionate romance.
Layne graduated from Michigan Tech in 2017 with a B.S. in Geological Engineering. Her books are heavily inspired by her time at Michigan Tech, hence the name “Lift Bridge Series,” a reference to the Houghton-Hancock lift bridge. There are many other references to the local area, including a fictionalized version of Michigan Tech where the characters attend college.
When asked what inspired her to write this series, Layne said, “I read a lot of romance, especially hockey romance.” As the birthplace of professional hockey, Layne thinks Houghton is a charming town more than deserving of its own story. Layne also shared that she is a big fan of the “Off Campus” book series by Elle Kennedy, which served as an inspiration for her writing.
While speaking to students, Layne offered a glimpse into her relationship with writing during college. “I always wanted to [write a book]… When I was in college I was STEM-focused. I didn’t read and write for fun… I would go through stints of not feeling the greatest, and as I grew up I realized I’m a writer and I need to write.” Writing is a passion that Layne wanted to share with the world.
Many current Tech students are also fans of the Lift Bridge Series. Jack Rozenberg, a first-year Environmental Engineering major, became a new fan of the series after hearing about the event. “The style of the book changes near the end with a twist you wouldn’t expect… I read it in two days.”
Layne also answered many questions by fans during the Q&A portion of her book reading. She revealed that she is working on the fourth book of the series and is even planning a spinoff series about Kara’s best friend Hallie.
