Come on In, Don't Get Lonesome - by Lauri Cruver Cherian (Paperback)

About the Book

It is 1910, and Tacoma, Washington is booming. Immigrants flock to the City of Destiny to find work at the Tideflats, railroad, waterfront, and sawmills, to pursue the American Dream. A lucky few have found a home at the Old Alpha, a boarding house with the slogan: "Come on in, don't get lonesome!" Amidst the hustle and bustle of activity in the boarding house lives a little girl. She is intrigued by the stories and friendships she makes with the immigrant men boarding at the Old Alpha on Tacoma Avenue South. This tender story will touch your heart as you follow the life of this little girl and the boarders who share her home in a boom town.

Book Synopsis

Come On In, Don't Get Lonesome, is an historical novel loosely based on ancestral history. The author's great grandparents ran the Old Alpha boarding house in the heart of Tacoma, Washington in 1910. Immigrants flocked to the City of Destiny for jobs in lumber mills, the railroad, fishing, boat building, and shipping. Each new boarder was greeted with, "Come on in, don't get lonesome." Considered the little princess of the Old Alpha, six-year-old Myrtle is a central figure in the book. Her life as the endearing daughter of the hospitable proprietors of the Old Alpha, intertwines with those of the borders of many cultures, and their immigration stories, amidst the hustle and bustle of this boom town. Everyday activities, as well as special events, outings, and poignant moments are sprinkled throughout this period tale, immersing one in the customs and norms of the time in Tacoma, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Review Quotes

"Here is a beautiful story, told by a gifted author, based on her ancestors of a century ago and the immigrant workers who lived in their boarding house. It resonates with perfect characterizations, a compelling plot, and an abundance of memorable moments. Like this bit of sage advice handed down from Lauri Cruver Cherian's great grandfather: "So, you must smile and be full of nice talk, greet people happily, and tell some old story." This is a fine old story indeed, that made me not only smile but hang on to that quote as a mantra and a bright star to steer by." -Ron Rozelle, author of The Windows of Heaven

"Ms. Cherian has done a beautiful job of painting the formative years of the region in a sepia toned recollection. It was effortless to dip into the chapters." --Chris Staudinger of Pretty Gritty Tours, author of Secret Tacoma

About the Author

Lauri Cruver Cherian is an award-winning author and educator, teaching English as a second language and bilingual education to children and adults for decades. She is a native of Gig Harbor, Washington, transplanted to South Texas for the last 30 years. Lauri has been a master teacher and a leader of workshops in adult ESL education across South Texas. She is the recipient of several teacher of the year awards. Lauri is a columnist in The Facts newspaper in Brazoria County. When she isn't writing articles, stories or poems, she is teaching adult ESL in her community and volunteering at the planetarium. Lauri and her husband, Jacob, have three adventurous grown children.

Lauri's writing journey began in 2022, when she published her debut chapbook of poetry, Poems of the Point, a tribute to growing up on the beach in her hometown of Gig Harbor, Washington. In 2023, she published her full-length poetry book, Brave as Thistles, a collection of poems about becoming brave as one navigates mid-life messiness. Her children's chapter book, Four Anxious Armadillos, is a delightful story of four unique species of armadillos on an adventure in Argentina and was a finalist in the 2024 Storytrade Award for Children's Middle Grade Fiction for 8-12-year-olds. Come On In, Don't Get Lonesome is Lauri's newest release, a historical fiction novel set in a boom town of Tacoma, Washington in 1910. The reader meets compelling immigrants from around the world who board in a house owned and operated by Lauri's great grandparents.