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Rel: What appeals to you most about writing fiction?
Lisa: I think
I’m an empathetic soul. I love to dive, headlong, into other people’s experiences, struggles, triumphs. Fiction is the vehicle.
Why Christian fiction?
Because God is the center of my life. If faith can’t be a part of my stories, at least in some form, then it’s adrift, just as I am without Him. Some of my fiction has strong evangelical content, and some of it is very subtle. It all depends on the characters, emotional and plot arcs, and what feels natural. I always try to avoid the soapbox, but always strive to remain honest.
Name five things you can’t live without
God, family, friends, learning, laughter.
Favourite book ~ Favourite movie ~ Favourite TV show
Impossible to answer on books—I’m a super-eclectic reader and lately, I’ve been reading a ton of YA, mostly secular (not a whole lot on the Christian market). Movies: Far and Away, True Grit, Gladiator, Return of the King. Anything epic and saga-ish. TV: Modern Family, The Office, V, Amazing Race.
Where is the most interesting place you have been?
Another impossible question for me (see our travel web site, www.theworldiscalling.com). Some answers: Inside the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. Floating atop the Dead Sea, Israel. In the streets of Jerusalem. Beside old sugar mills in the West Indies. Wandering through a medieval castle in Italy…
What did
you want to be when you grew up?
An archaeologist. I wanted to BE Indiana Jones. I’m guessing that’s not a huge surprise to my readers…
What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
I have to have a hot shower every day and I don’t camp. Love, LOVE the outdoors. But I want a shower in the morning and my awesome, Comfort Foam mattress at night. No matter how much my kids whine at me. We do day hikes.
Waterfall
Waterfall is your first YA book. Is the writing experience different to your adult novels?
In some ways, it was a throwback to my early days of writing romance. And I had to get back in touch with my “inner teen.” My voice had grown a bit too adult in my 44 years, so I had to pull it back a few notches and really pay attention to how kids think/speak/process. However, YA has gotten very sophisticated in recent years, giving me lots of room to flex.
Which character did you connect to the most?
Gabi, my heroine. When you’re writing first-person POV, it’s hard not to be her in some ways.
Which character was the most difficult to write?
Fortino, Marcello’s brother. I wasn’t sure how long I wanted him in the picture, and in what capacity…
Why the fascination with medieval times (considering your Gifted series too!)?
It’s inherently romantic to me. Lords and ladies. Chivalry. Fighting for honor, love, territory, faith, freedom. When it gets down to it, there is no way I’d want to live then (see previous statement about nee
ding hot showers and a fabulous bed), but in my mind it’s somehow different, otherworldly, drawing me in…and the world was on the verge of a total change, on the precipice of modernity, in a lot of ways, with the Renaissance around the corner.
What was your favourite scene to write in Waterfall or share your favourite paragraph?
I love battle scenes and the big, romantic scenes that you can feel. That’s when I’m in the zone, writing as fast as my fingers can move, pouring my vision onto the page. And there are lots of those in WATERFALL.
Cascade and Torrent are next ~ what can readers look forward to?
More battles, more adventure, more romance, more excruciating tears, mor
e healing, more learning, more embracing life…in short, more of Gabi and Lia’s saga in a foreign—in time—land!
Sigh! Lisa ~ a delight to have you visit and share about your writing and your fabulous new series. Thank you for using your gifts for us to enjoy :)
Relz Reviewz Extras
Character spotlight on Gabi, Marcello, Lia & Luca
View the trailer
Enter Lisa's contest to win a Kindle & more
Visit Lisa's author website and her travel website
Buy Lisa's books at Amazon or Koorong
3 comments:
Thanks for the interview, Rel! I love your questions...I just know that some day, we're going to get to sit down to lunch and we'll chat for hours about books, kids, life, God. I look forward to it, friend!
I'm in, Lisa :) Surely Australia is on your must visit list!
Loved having you on my blog!
YA and Christian fiction are tied as my favorites so this is a must read for me! Can't wait Lisa!
Great interview Rel, as always. :-)
XOXO~ Renee
p.s. I can't live without a hot shower either.
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