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Hatteras Island’s own Jan Dawson has done it again. Her third book, Tangled Lines, is now available. Fans of her previous works have been eagerly awaiting the final installment in this interconnected Hatteras Island-inspired series.

Tangled Lines follows-up on the inconclusive tie between Jo and Dare, who have appeared in Dawson’s two prior books. As Jo leaves Hatteras Island to pursue her dreams of marine biology with a specialization in jellyfish, Dare stays back and makes headway in becoming a highly regarded charter fishing boat captain. The book explores the complexities of relationships, identity and the pull of the Outer Banks on those who have always called it home.

It all began in the fall of 2022, when Dawson was preparing for her November knee replacement surgery. As she struggled to sleep at night, she found herself needing something to take her mind off the upcoming procedure. That’s when she had an idea: “I’ll make up a story.” Dawson’s childhood passion for storytelling was rekindled, and she started thinking about her work at the motel and the impact of hurricanes on the island. “I was nowhere when I started writing Storm Season,” Dawson said. “This whole journey was very accidental, not intentional at all.”

As the days went by, Dawson’s story began to take shape. Every night, she would think of a little bit more of the story, and in the morning, she would share it with her husband Dave. “It got to be kind of a joke,” Dawson said. “I would say, ‘Oh, I’ve written another chapter in my head.’” By the time January rolled around, the characters were “going nuts.” Dawson had developed a close relationship with them, and they now needed a permanent place to live: on paper.

“It was almost like I had a movie in my head,” Dawson said. “I had replayed the story so many times … when I actually sat down to write it, it was more or less a brain dump.” Dawson didn’t know anything about self-publishing and initially thought she would just run off a few copies of the story at Staples to share with friends. Fortunately, a friend introduced her to a self-publishing expert from Buxton who was willing to help. In working through the nuances of self-publishing and bringing her book before local booksellers, Storm Season hit shelves and almost immediately left readers wanting more. Hooked on You followed closely behind.

By the time Dawson’s second book was published, readers were already asking about the fate of two beloved characters from the first two books: Jo and Dare, very good friends who grew up together on Hatteras Island. “You left us hanging,” “We need to know what’s going to happen with Jo and Dare,” readers would say to her. Dawson took these requests to heart and decided to bring their story to a conclusion.

Readers will follow Jo as she heads to the oceanographic institute in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Dawson’s prior novels focused heavily on her home base of Hatteras Island, so she called in a reinforcement for this new setting: author and scientist Juli Berwald. “Woods Hole is a place I had never been to, but my father went there and always talked about it with a lot of awe and respect,” Dawson shared. “When seeking information about jellyfish, I wanted to run some things by someone who was an expert in that field. I found Juli on Instagram, sent her private message and told her about my book. We started talking and she gave me a real feel for the place [Woods Hole].”

After writing the third book, Jan and Dave went up to Cape Cod and visited Woods Hole. In walking around, they both agreed that this author had done the place justice. Now, it’s up to readers to find out how the fishing lines off of a Hatteras Island charter boat and the tentacles of a jellyfish can sometimes get tangled up. Tangled Lines will reveal if and how they get untangled.

Dawson recalled the day she finalized the epilogue in her head. Her husband noticed tears running down her face as they were driving and asked what was wrong. “I just finished the epilogue,” she said. “The characters are quiet now, it’s done.” In that, Jan knew she had completed the storyline for her beloved characters and closed the page on this chapter of her writing life.

Her favorite part of writing has been connecting with readers who identify with her characters. At book signings and events, she’s met people who have shared their own stories and experiences, and she’s been touched by the impact her writing has had on their lives. “It’s been very fulfilling, because it’s made a lot of people happy, and that has made me happy. The world right now is a bit overwhelming and I think many of us are wondering, ‘How can we brighten someone’s day?’”

For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Dawson offers some words of encouragement: “Go ahead and write your book. It will probably be a million times better than you ever thought it could be. Just take the step and do it, don’t be afraid to sit down and start.”

As for what the future holds, this author is taking it one step at a time. She plans on celebrating the past three years of her writing career by enjoying book signings, interviews and trips this summer and fall. A new romance story is taking shape in her head, as well as a nonfiction account of life in a motel, including vignettes of the things that happen and the people you meet while working in a beachfront motel.

For now, you can find Dawson at the following upcoming book signings and events throughout the Outer Banks:

April 16: Pamlico Deli in Frisco, “Wine, Cheese, and a Good Book” from 4-6 p.m.

April 22: Island Bookstore in Duck from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

April 23: Island Bookstore in Corolla from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

May 2: “First Friday” in Manteo at Downtown Books

Tangled Lines, as well as Storm Season and Hooked on You, are now available in paperback, online, on Kindle as e-books, and in audiobook formats.

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