Posts
Thank you so much Lisa for taking the time to answer some questions!
Jenn: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into writing?
Lisa: I've been telling stories since I was a little girl. My mother used to give me all kinds of different writing prompts (Anyone remember Superman peanut butter?) and I'd let my imagination run wild. I'd then take my story about peanut butter and pimp it to anyone who'd listen. I wrote creatively all through high school and then stopped shortly after as I started a family. Now that my girls are grown, I have time to explore my creative side again, and I began writing for publication. I couldn't be happier. I'm doing something I love, and I get to share my crazy characters with all of you.
Jenn: Is the Eve of Samhain your first novel? I know it's your first one published, but have you written others?
Lisa: Before Eve Of Samhain, I wrote one piece of fanfiction for Twilight as sort of a trial run. Uh...yeah, it wasn't the greatest, I'm not going to lie. LoL! But what it did do was spark my excitement and determination. I was hooked on the writing thing again and I knew without a doubt I had my own story to tell.
Jenn: Were, if you don't mind me asking, did you get the idea for Eve of Samhain? I really enjoyed that in Quinn and Ryann's world that all different kinds of nether creatures exist, not just say were's or vamp's.
Lisa: I'm a Twilight junkie. Anyone else out there like me? Raise your hand! LoL! Shortly after reading the Twilight books I was hooked and felt I needed more. I headed over to Twilighted and got my Edward and Bella fix that way. What's great about that site is that they hold creative writing contests for original fiction, and pull in Bestselling authors to judge. I entered a contest, and I think the premise was "Girlfriends, Ghouls and Gorgeous Guys." Having read a ton of vampire fiction (still do btw) I wanted to try something different and hopped on the internet. I did a Google search for mythical creatures and ended up on Wikipedia. It was there I found the legend of The Gancanagh, an Irish love faerie with an addictive touch. I took his basic legend and added my own twist and flare and that's how Quinn came about.
Jenn: (Lisa, can you tell us some of your favorite fan fiction?)
Lisa: I knew I couldn't stop there, and that my villain needed to be different as well. I spent a large chunk of time reading about different monsters and demons until I came across one that fit my needs and I ran with him, tweaking his characteristics to fit the story.
Jenn: Another really interesting difference in Eve of Samhain is that Quinn is cursed and can't touch Ryann, I loved how there love exploded partly because they could not touch, which took the physical out of the mix. Which almost, in a delicious way, brought it into the mix even more, but in the end allowed both Quinn and Ryann to get to know each other better, with out that pressure. Was that a conscious choice of yours to give them that?
Lisa: Yes. I knew right away things would be tough for Ryann and Quinn. His curse brought about a false reaction in any woman he touched, so he'd never know if the feelings that woman had were real. The only way his relationship with Ryann could develop emotionally was to abstain from any kind of touching. Their lack of physical contact also provided a great conflict and tugs at your heart. You feel their pain and longing and want them to find a way to overcome the obstacle so they can be together.
Jenn: Another character that caught my fancy is Martha, it was sad coming to realize how cruel people can be towards other people they don't know or understand, merely because of how they look or dress. I know this is not just a problem in books, but in our world today, reading her story really hit home, did you model her after someone you know, or after an event that happened?
Lisa: Ahh, Martha...Actually, in the beginning, Martha wasn't anything more than a small character. I knew I needed a somewhat phantom roommate for Ryann and Jessica, so I dreamed up this character with a silly name "Martha Stewart" and thought that would be it. Boy was I ever wrong! I'm very much a panster with my writing. Other than a few key points that need to happen, I don't plot ahead. Martha took on a life of her own as I wrote and became an integral part of the story. She scared me at first with all of her anger. I remember emailing my critique partner and whining that I didn't want to write her because she was so pissy all the time and scary. As the story progressed, Martha's character opened up, and revealed herself to be a deeply wounded soul with an amazing heart and a wonderful capacity to help others despite their mistreatment of her. Martha is the prime example of the old addage "Never judge a book by its cover." Some of my characters, Ryann and Jessica for example, are modeled very (let me stress VERY) loosely by people around me. Not Martha. Girlfriend is one hundred percent organic.
Jenn: I hear, actually a little birdy named Lisa told me, your writing "book 2" in the same "world" you created in Eve of Samhain, which I can't tell you how thrilled I am to hear, can you tell us anything about it yet?
Lisa: Yes! Book two is Martha's story. Woot! I don't want to give away any spoilers for people who haven't read Eve Of Samhain yet, but toward the end of the book you see a clear opening for Martha's story, and have a good idea where it will start. Just like Eve Of Samhain, there are lots of underworld baddies to fight and a deliciously handsome hero to drool after. And can I just share with you what a total badass Martha is? Girlfriend is amazing!
Jenn: *Fan girl squeal* I can't WAIT!
Jenn: Is there anything else your working on right now? Can you tell us more about it? (We love juicy details can you tell?)
Lisa: Yes again, lol! I'm currently polishing a romantic suspense. I'm a paranormal girl, and this WIP was a step outside the box for me. I participated in NANOWRIMO last November, and this baby was a product of that endeavor. It was very refreshing to step back from the characters and world I'd been immersed in for so long and come up with something fresh and new. The story is set in present day San Francisco, and deals with issues like stalking, drug addiction and learning to overcome your past. The hero is raw, gritty and wounded and I think I'm in love with him. Squee!!
Jenn: Holy cow, I can't wait to read it!
Jenn: Ok, what about a few silly questions, before I throw myself into a tail spin asking more and more about the books!
What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it, or was it just ok? Lisa: The last book I read was Full Disclosure, an erotic romance by Cari Quinn, one of my awesome Twitter buddies. I'd never read an erotic romance before and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Her writing was fluid, her voice was great and I found myself ignoring my housework just so I could read. It's a great read and makes you tingle in all the right places, lol!
Jenn: If you could be any fictional character, whom would you be and why?
Lisa: Oooh this one is easy! I'd be Marissa from the Black Dagger Brotherhood Books. Butch is my favorite hero of all time and Marissa is his shellan (wife). If I had it my way, I'd dispose of her altogether and keep Butch for myself. But this is fiction we're talking about, and I can't, so I'll just daydream instead. Sigh...
Jenn: I have to admit, I have not read these books yet, gotta get on that!
Jenn: What is the most important part of a book, the beginning, middle or end? Why?
Lisa: As a writer I'd have to say all three. Beginnings are crucial. You need to hook the reader on the first page, the first sentence if you can. Then you need to hold that interest through the rest of the opening chapters.
As far as the middle goes, you don't want the pacing to sag or slow, and you need to be very conscious of keeping the action going and growing. Each suspenseful event needs to be bigger than the last.
Endings are tricky too as you don't want them to be anticlimactic. For me, endings are the hardest. I agonize for days.
Jenn: Is there anything else you have going on you would like to mention?
Lisa: Nothing else going on at the moment, phew! I do have an idea for book three (Jessica's book) bouncing around in my head. I know who the villain is, the hero and the basic plot, but I've got a lot of work to do before I start writing. I'll probably crack down and focus on it when I get back from RWA National in July. I'm so excited! I'm going to my first writers conference!
Jenn: Thanks again Lisa!!! I cant wait to read more! And book 3, Jessica's story - gosh that sounds delicious!
Lisa: Thank you, Jenn! You've been a complete doll and a joy to chat with! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to interview me.
Jenn: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into writing?
Lisa: I've been telling stories since I was a little girl. My mother used to give me all kinds of different writing prompts (Anyone remember Superman peanut butter?) and I'd let my imagination run wild. I'd then take my story about peanut butter and pimp it to anyone who'd listen. I wrote creatively all through high school and then stopped shortly after as I started a family. Now that my girls are grown, I have time to explore my creative side again, and I began writing for publication. I couldn't be happier. I'm doing something I love, and I get to share my crazy characters with all of you.
Jenn: Is the Eve of Samhain your first novel? I know it's your first one published, but have you written others?
Lisa: Before Eve Of Samhain, I wrote one piece of fanfiction for Twilight as sort of a trial run. Uh...yeah, it wasn't the greatest, I'm not going to lie. LoL! But what it did do was spark my excitement and determination. I was hooked on the writing thing again and I knew without a doubt I had my own story to tell.
Jenn: Were, if you don't mind me asking, did you get the idea for Eve of Samhain? I really enjoyed that in Quinn and Ryann's world that all different kinds of nether creatures exist, not just say were's or vamp's.
Lisa: I'm a Twilight junkie. Anyone else out there like me? Raise your hand! LoL! Shortly after reading the Twilight books I was hooked and felt I needed more. I headed over to Twilighted and got my Edward and Bella fix that way. What's great about that site is that they hold creative writing contests for original fiction, and pull in Bestselling authors to judge. I entered a contest, and I think the premise was "Girlfriends, Ghouls and Gorgeous Guys." Having read a ton of vampire fiction (still do btw) I wanted to try something different and hopped on the internet. I did a Google search for mythical creatures and ended up on Wikipedia. It was there I found the legend of The Gancanagh, an Irish love faerie with an addictive touch. I took his basic legend and added my own twist and flare and that's how Quinn came about.
Jenn: (Lisa, can you tell us some of your favorite fan fiction?)Lisa: I knew I couldn't stop there, and that my villain needed to be different as well. I spent a large chunk of time reading about different monsters and demons until I came across one that fit my needs and I ran with him, tweaking his characteristics to fit the story.
Jenn: Another really interesting difference in Eve of Samhain is that Quinn is cursed and can't touch Ryann, I loved how there love exploded partly because they could not touch, which took the physical out of the mix. Which almost, in a delicious way, brought it into the mix even more, but in the end allowed both Quinn and Ryann to get to know each other better, with out that pressure. Was that a conscious choice of yours to give them that?
Lisa: Yes. I knew right away things would be tough for Ryann and Quinn. His curse brought about a false reaction in any woman he touched, so he'd never know if the feelings that woman had were real. The only way his relationship with Ryann could develop emotionally was to abstain from any kind of touching. Their lack of physical contact also provided a great conflict and tugs at your heart. You feel their pain and longing and want them to find a way to overcome the obstacle so they can be together.
Jenn: Another character that caught my fancy is Martha, it was sad coming to realize how cruel people can be towards other people they don't know or understand, merely because of how they look or dress. I know this is not just a problem in books, but in our world today, reading her story really hit home, did you model her after someone you know, or after an event that happened?
Lisa: Ahh, Martha...Actually, in the beginning, Martha wasn't anything more than a small character. I knew I needed a somewhat phantom roommate for Ryann and Jessica, so I dreamed up this character with a silly name "Martha Stewart" and thought that would be it. Boy was I ever wrong! I'm very much a panster with my writing. Other than a few key points that need to happen, I don't plot ahead. Martha took on a life of her own as I wrote and became an integral part of the story. She scared me at first with all of her anger. I remember emailing my critique partner and whining that I didn't want to write her because she was so pissy all the time and scary. As the story progressed, Martha's character opened up, and revealed herself to be a deeply wounded soul with an amazing heart and a wonderful capacity to help others despite their mistreatment of her. Martha is the prime example of the old addage "Never judge a book by its cover." Some of my characters, Ryann and Jessica for example, are modeled very (let me stress VERY) loosely by people around me. Not Martha. Girlfriend is one hundred percent organic.
Jenn: I hear, actually a little birdy named Lisa told me, your writing "book 2" in the same "world" you created in Eve of Samhain, which I can't tell you how thrilled I am to hear, can you tell us anything about it yet?
Lisa: Yes! Book two is Martha's story. Woot! I don't want to give away any spoilers for people who haven't read Eve Of Samhain yet, but toward the end of the book you see a clear opening for Martha's story, and have a good idea where it will start. Just like Eve Of Samhain, there are lots of underworld baddies to fight and a deliciously handsome hero to drool after. And can I just share with you what a total badass Martha is? Girlfriend is amazing!
Jenn: *Fan girl squeal* I can't WAIT!
Jenn: Is there anything else your working on right now? Can you tell us more about it? (We love juicy details can you tell?)
Lisa: Yes again, lol! I'm currently polishing a romantic suspense. I'm a paranormal girl, and this WIP was a step outside the box for me. I participated in NANOWRIMO last November, and this baby was a product of that endeavor. It was very refreshing to step back from the characters and world I'd been immersed in for so long and come up with something fresh and new. The story is set in present day San Francisco, and deals with issues like stalking, drug addiction and learning to overcome your past. The hero is raw, gritty and wounded and I think I'm in love with him. Squee!!
Jenn: Holy cow, I can't wait to read it!Jenn: Ok, what about a few silly questions, before I throw myself into a tail spin asking more and more about the books!
What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it, or was it just ok? Lisa: The last book I read was Full Disclosure, an erotic romance by Cari Quinn, one of my awesome Twitter buddies. I'd never read an erotic romance before and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Her writing was fluid, her voice was great and I found myself ignoring my housework just so I could read. It's a great read and makes you tingle in all the right places, lol!
Lisa: Oooh this one is easy! I'd be Marissa from the Black Dagger Brotherhood Books. Butch is my favorite hero of all time and Marissa is his shellan (wife). If I had it my way, I'd dispose of her altogether and keep Butch for myself. But this is fiction we're talking about, and I can't, so I'll just daydream instead. Sigh...
Jenn: I have to admit, I have not read these books yet, gotta get on that!
Jenn: What is the most important part of a book, the beginning, middle or end? Why?
Lisa: As a writer I'd have to say all three. Beginnings are crucial. You need to hook the reader on the first page, the first sentence if you can. Then you need to hold that interest through the rest of the opening chapters.
As far as the middle goes, you don't want the pacing to sag or slow, and you need to be very conscious of keeping the action going and growing. Each suspenseful event needs to be bigger than the last.
Endings are tricky too as you don't want them to be anticlimactic. For me, endings are the hardest. I agonize for days.
Jenn: Is there anything else you have going on you would like to mention?
Lisa: Nothing else going on at the moment, phew! I do have an idea for book three (Jessica's book) bouncing around in my head. I know who the villain is, the hero and the basic plot, but I've got a lot of work to do before I start writing. I'll probably crack down and focus on it when I get back from RWA National in July. I'm so excited! I'm going to my first writers conference!
Jenn: Thanks again Lisa!!! I cant wait to read more! And book 3, Jessica's story - gosh that sounds delicious!
Lisa: Thank you, Jenn! You've been a complete doll and a joy to chat with! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to interview me.
Thanks so much, Jenn, for having me on your blog! I've really enjoyed chatting with you!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! I really enjoyed learning more about the novel. :-) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! You've got me all curious now about her novel :)
ReplyDeleteI just downloaded the book day before yesterday! Great Interview :)
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to see what you think Felicia!
ReplyDeleteJenn DID do an awesome job on the interview! I really enjoyed chatting with her. She's such a sweetie :)
ReplyDeleteFelicia- I hope you enjoy Ryann and Quinn!
Jenn, thanks for posting this interview! I read Eve of Samhain and LOVED it, so I'm glad to see bloggers spreading the word!
ReplyDeleteLisa (Not Lisa Sanchez LOL)
I have Eve of Samhain and I can't wait to read it. I have heard great things about it :)
ReplyDelete