Lina Patton

It’s hard to convey how much this means to me.   And while I’m going to share more about the eight years it took to get here—because I’ve always found it inspiring and humbling and comforting to hear other writers’ journeys—for now I simply want to celebrate and say: I worked so hard for this. I pulled myself up again and again—often silently, often while feeling like my sense of self was slipping through my fingers, sometimes “down bad crying at the gym.”   Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way.   Thank you to everyone who believed in me in their bones.   @danyakukafka - no thank you is enough. This book—and my writing life as I know it—would simply not exist without you. Your brilliance, generosity of spirit, patience, and taste are unmatched. Forever grateful to have you in my corner.   @arianaisabellaa - even though this book took years to come together, it always felt meant to be—and finding you was like finding the last fated piece of the puzzle. Thank you for seeing me and this story. I am so honored to be working with you and the William Morrow team!   Cannot wait for everyone to meet Augie, Danika, and Chat in summer 2026! Will it be fun, surprising, and a little sexy? You betcha!!! 🚤☀️🤫🥂🩵

I’ve had the TRUE pleasure of connecting with so many authors, readers, and bookstagrammers lately, so I figured it was time to reintroduce myself! 🙋🏻‍♀️ If you know me, you know I like to work hard AND play hard, so consider that the framework 😉☯️ So, so lovely to meet you all! Let’s yap about books over a fascist tears martini!!!! 🍸💞📚✨

Friends! So excited to be teaching a two-part online class for Politics and Prose on SANDWICH + WRECK by Catherine Newman! 🧡 If you have not read these two hilarious, heartfelt (short!) novels—now is the perfect time! Join us to kick off your summer reading/pondering ☀️🤔 Plus, Catherine herself will be joining us for a visit (!!!) May 28 & June 4 (online, so you can join from anywhere)�Link in bio! Hope to see you 🫶🏻

Book Journey Podcast this month features our 2018 alum, @linapatton and her debut novel, THE LAKE CLUB (William Morrow, 6/15/26⁣)! ⁣ ⁣ When Lina Patton finished college, she did what every responsible adult (who secretly wants to be a writer) should do: she went into advertising to make money. For years, she fought the idea of being a writer—it was not the smart, organized, Type-A thing to do. But when she applied to the George Mason MFA program and got in, and then to the 2018 Northern California Writers’ Retreat and also got in, it seemed the universe was trying to tell her something.⁣ ⁣ This month, on the Book Journey Podcast, Lina and I talk about the circuitous route to publishing her debut novel (guess what? It’s not the first novel she wrote!), and how an email she received in Kosovo at midnight changed her life! I hope you’ll listen and enjoy!⁣ ⁣ Photos:⁣ 1. Lina and her novel⁣.⁣ 2. Lina at the retreat, 2018⁣.⁣ 3. Lina with fellow alums @caroclaireburke , @mdbowers , @lucilleinthesky , listening to @smdanler ’s Book Journey at the retreat in 2018.⁣ 4. Book spine stack created by Lina of our Authors-in-Residence, 2020.⁣ 5. Lina sporting her NCWR bag in front of @bookworkspg .⁣ 6. Reconnecting in Pacific Grove, 2019.⁣ 7. Bookmarks designed and created by lina for our 2020 virtual retreats.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #bookjourney #bookjourneypodcast #writersretreat #writingretreat

Insert all your Club puns here!! I’d love to yap with you this summer ☀️📚 My personal goal is to join 20+ book clubs by Labor Day, and I’d be so grateful for your support. Visit my website for details on how we can make it happen! I’m here to chat about whatever you want—breaking down the book, behind-the-scenes details, creative writing, publishing, life’s greatest questions, Taylor Swift track fives, etc., etc., etc…. Can’t wait to meet you 🥰 More details on my website!

***UPDATE: EVENTBRITE TICKETS IN BIO! RSVP ASAP—hope to see you there 🥰*** ——————— SAVE THE DATE(S) for my DC & MN book events! Anyone and everyone welcome! Eventbrite tickets & details to follow! Thank you endlessly for the support! 💞🍾🤗🎉‼️ (So full circle to gather at the WCC, amirite?!)

Come on in, the water’s warm! 🩵 Pre-orders are now 25% off at Barnes & Noble (which makes The Lake Club $14.25… aka cheaper than a glass of🍷 in DC?!), so truly no better time to treat your future self—and help me out hugely in the process (thank you, thank you). Books hit your doorstep (or E-reader) June 16! They say don’t read your reviews, but you know I love a vice (100+ and counting, lol), so here’s a little taste. I’m so, so grateful to every generous reader who’s endorsed The Lake Club so far. I wish I could give you each a hug. And to my one-star darling, thanks for trying 🤪 Lake Club summer is coming!!!! Pre-order link in bio! And below… /b/books/_/N-26Z29Z8q8

☀️AVAILABLE AS READ NOW ON NETGALLEY FOR 48 HOURS! 👙 As we inch closer to summer, dive into this sizzling novel set in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Come for the summer vibes, but stay for rich people behaving badly, country club drama, and hot male nannies. Carola Lovering, author of Tell Me Lies, says: " Patton's debut is juicy and tense, insanely readable and surprisingly tender— you need this one in your beach bag.” Head to NetGalley for your free download link. U.S. only, ends 3/21 at 12 AM ET.

Not to be dramatic but MN author @linapatton has crushed it with her debut summer novel! It’s giving Wayzata country club drama and I am here for it! Releasing Summer 2026! #minnesota #mn #countryclub #summerreads #summertbr Preorder available now at your local bookstore or at bookshop.org

This month on The ARTWIFE Podc@st , we’re joined by the wonderful Lina Patton. She’s here to discuss her debut novel, The Lake Club, forthcoming from William Morrow on June 16 (and available for pre-order now!). Lina shares her insights about the role of joy in our work as writers, why finding companions in writing is just as important as finding mentors, and much more. Available wherever you listen! 🎧

MN friends! Please check out this fantastic event happening across the state on Saturday, February 28th: Authors for Minnesota Day. 💙 Here’s how it works: Stop by one of 19 participating Minnesota indie bookstore this Saturday between 12–4 PM to browse shelves and meet local authors. While there, make a digital donation (any amount!) to @immigrantlawcentermn or @womensfndnmn and receive a gift from the store, whether a signed book from the authors, a swag bag, or fun merch! This is an incredible way to support community, immigrants, and women—and to spread the love of reading, which I believe is one of the greatest ways to learn and expand empathy. 📚 (Also thanks to @lucassjoness for the stunning poem.)

Winter things ✨ Alt caption: @kellybaldwin gifted me this Juicy suit from Costco.