Linda Erley is the debut author of Rainbow Over the Bayou: Jim Crow Through the Eyes of a White Girl, a faith-based historical fiction inspired by her lived experiences growing up in Southern Louisiana in 1960.This dual timeline of a severn-year-old white girl and her ‘second mother,’ the family’s Black housekeeper, is set against the atrocity of Jim Crow and the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, weaving true historical events into the narrative.

Linda shares her heart for God and a passion for His Word, which is intertwined throughout the book, along with her love for connection, story, and truth. She invites readers to find their voice and take action, as echoes of Jim Crow still reverberate today.

With an added discussion guide, Linda hopes to spark meaningful conversations—especially between Black and White readers—on God’s platform of grace, truth, and love. Her hope is that her book will help to build bridges of communication and understanding across racial divides, leading toward healing and reconciliation.

Linda is a Rocky Mountain girl with deep roots in the bayou country of Louisiana. She and her husband, Bruce, of 42 years, now reside in Colorado with their Portuguese water dog, Matilda.

Linda graduated from Louisiana State University and is a former global traveler and dancer with the international group Up with People. She taught and led numerous Bible studies and retreats throughout the years with her church and community. The best, most fulfilling, and adventurous career of her life was staying home to help raise their three sons, who now have beautiful families of their own. She is the proud grandmother of eight.