Lisa Jensen's Blog, page 7
June 8, 2016
Write On
Last month, I was contacted by the lovely Clare Moore of the online mag, Ampersand Literary. She had just read Alias Hook, and invited me to do a Q&A for her site, which publishes fiction, poetry, photography, and artwork, along with occasional interviews with the purveyors thereof.
I was thrilled to do it, and the post is now up at https://ampersandlit.com/2016/06/08/i...
Clare generously invited me to blather on about my books, the writing process, my completely chaotic publishing history, and any tips I might have for emerging writers. It was a fun interview to do. And while you're there, surf around this diverse, eclectic site devoted to the creative process!
I was thrilled to do it, and the post is now up at https://ampersandlit.com/2016/06/08/i...
Clare generously invited me to blather on about my books, the writing process, my completely chaotic publishing history, and any tips I might have for emerging writers. It was a fun interview to do. And while you're there, surf around this diverse, eclectic site devoted to the creative process!
May 23, 2016
BEASTLY NEWS
Very excited today to sign a contract with Audible for the audiobook rights to my next novel, Beast: A Love Story! No idea who the narrator will be, yet — I don't think we're that far along in the process. Ralph Lister did a wonderful job reading the audiobook for Alias Hook (13 Hours! 11 CDs! Unabridged!). But, sadly, Beast requires a female narrator.
In other Beastly news, last week, the art department over at Candlewick sent me a very rough mock-up of the cover design for Beast in print. I like it a lot, but it's way too early to share it, yet. All of which means that Beast is one more paw-print (make that hoof-print) closer to publication!
In other Beastly news, last week, the art department over at Candlewick sent me a very rough mock-up of the cover design for Beast in print. I like it a lot, but it's way too early to share it, yet. All of which means that Beast is one more paw-print (make that hoof-print) closer to publication!
May 14, 2016
CHAOS THEORY
A funny thing happens when you become a published author. People start asking you for writing advice. Personally, I don't presume to offer advice; if I was so smart, it wouldn't have taken me so long to get published!
But one useful thing that writers can do for each other is share experiences and strategies. One writer's process may not work for anybody else, but the act of sharing them lets us know that we're all facing the same challenges, and not just toiling away in wretched isolation. At the very least, it may be encouraging to know that someone else's methods are even more haphazard than your own!
Recently, I was asked two common questions:
Do you outline?
Do you follow any of the plot structure methods that exist out there?
Feel free to compare notes with my answers at:
http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2016/...
But one useful thing that writers can do for each other is share experiences and strategies. One writer's process may not work for anybody else, but the act of sharing them lets us know that we're all facing the same challenges, and not just toiling away in wretched isolation. At the very least, it may be encouraging to know that someone else's methods are even more haphazard than your own!
Recently, I was asked two common questions:
Do you outline?
Do you follow any of the plot structure methods that exist out there?
Feel free to compare notes with my answers at:
http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2016/...
April 18, 2016
Will Power
Pop those corks! William Shakespeare's 400th anniversary is almost upon us!
This week, April 23, is the 400th anniversary of his death (which was also his 52nd birthday, back in 1616), and why wait another 48 years to throw a party?
And there is much to celebrate in a low-born scribe (his father was a glove-maker), with an unremarkable education, whose plays are still being performed and enjoyed with gusto four centuries later—and still strike an emotional chord in audiences worldwide.
As my character, Jack Dance, actor-turned-pirate-turned actor, says, in my sequel to The Witch From the Sea:
"There’s no censure in Shakespeare, and every facet of life is represented— bawds and kings and villains and fools. Everything you could ever think or feel or want, Shakespeare has already written about it. And everything that happens in your own life affects how you to respond to him, so his words always seem new and fresh, however often you play them."
Not surprisingly, I totally agree! But Jack is only 28 when he says this, so from the vantage point of my own great age, I would add this: as we grow in years and experience, Shakespeare's words become ever more relevant, as we view them from our own ever-expanding perspective.
Shakespeare is timeless, in the same way that mythology, folklore, and fairy tales endure. And their timelessness inspires succeeding generations of bards and storytellers to reinvent the stories on their own terms.
So, check out my list of favorite Shakespeare reinventions—including (but not limited to) the likes of Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Bear, and Walt Disney at
http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2016/...
This week, April 23, is the 400th anniversary of his death (which was also his 52nd birthday, back in 1616), and why wait another 48 years to throw a party?
And there is much to celebrate in a low-born scribe (his father was a glove-maker), with an unremarkable education, whose plays are still being performed and enjoyed with gusto four centuries later—and still strike an emotional chord in audiences worldwide.
As my character, Jack Dance, actor-turned-pirate-turned actor, says, in my sequel to The Witch From the Sea:
"There’s no censure in Shakespeare, and every facet of life is represented— bawds and kings and villains and fools. Everything you could ever think or feel or want, Shakespeare has already written about it. And everything that happens in your own life affects how you to respond to him, so his words always seem new and fresh, however often you play them."
Not surprisingly, I totally agree! But Jack is only 28 when he says this, so from the vantage point of my own great age, I would add this: as we grow in years and experience, Shakespeare's words become ever more relevant, as we view them from our own ever-expanding perspective.
Shakespeare is timeless, in the same way that mythology, folklore, and fairy tales endure. And their timelessness inspires succeeding generations of bards and storytellers to reinvent the stories on their own terms.
So, check out my list of favorite Shakespeare reinventions—including (but not limited to) the likes of Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Bear, and Walt Disney at
http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2016/...
April 5, 2016
My Pirate Podcast
Ahoy, there, pirate fans! Last month, it was my pleasure to be interviewed by the effervescent Phil Johnson, proprietor of the website, "Under the Crossbones." And today, our podcast went live!
It's a swashbuckling half hour or so, where we natter on about my books, our favorite (and otherwise) pirate movies, and the allure of all things piratical. Hoist a pot of rum and check it out!
http://www.underthecrossbones.com/utc...
It's a swashbuckling half hour or so, where we natter on about my books, our favorite (and otherwise) pirate movies, and the allure of all things piratical. Hoist a pot of rum and check it out!
http://www.underthecrossbones.com/utc...
March 27, 2016
Copy That
I'm thrilled to announce that my next novel, Beast: A Love Story, has been officially copyedited and proofread. We are now one big step closer to production!
Read all the details at
http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2016/...
Read all the details at
http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2016/...
February 4, 2016
New Book Trailer!
Hey, Folks, check out the new book trailer for Alias Hook I just posted up there on my Profile page. Pretty cool, huh? I love the rousing music and the distant clashing of swords!
Big thanks to Flax Glor, Smoothio Films, for putting this together! See the You Tube version at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy558...
Big thanks to Flax Glor, Smoothio Films, for putting this together! See the You Tube version at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy558...
January 20, 2016
Timeless Tales
Hey, fairy-tale fans: BBC News reports that the oral traditions that spawned many popular fairy tales (like Beauty and the Beast) actually go back thousands of years. Much longer than the paltry 2 or 3 centuries since they first began to be written down. Why do we love these stories? Because they are (literally) timeless!
Read all about it at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35358487
Read all about it at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35358487
October 14, 2015
Never Mind
Full disclosure: I went to see Pan with extreme prejudice. As someone who has cheerfully adulterated J. M. Barrie's classic for her own devices, I'm leery of anyone else trying to do the same. And I'm very possessive of the way "my" characters (let alone Barrie's) are portrayed onscreen.
I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised by Pan. But it's even worse than I imagined, in every way that matters: a story that makes any kind of sense on its own terms, characters we're invested in who share a sense of camaraderie, fresh dialogue, and, you know, fun. Pan comes up goose eggs in every department, opting instead for insanely huge and irrelevant CGI effects that pummel the fun right out of it.
Not even Hugh Jackman stomping around in black leather, as a kind of steampunk Darth Blackbeard can make it work! Read more at: http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2015/...
I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised by Pan. But it's even worse than I imagined, in every way that matters: a story that makes any kind of sense on its own terms, characters we're invested in who share a sense of camaraderie, fresh dialogue, and, you know, fun. Pan comes up goose eggs in every department, opting instead for insanely huge and irrelevant CGI effects that pummel the fun right out of it.
Not even Hugh Jackman stomping around in black leather, as a kind of steampunk Darth Blackbeard can make it work! Read more at: http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2015/...
October 6, 2015
Beast Goes Global
Happy news on the book front: my agents have just made their first sale of foreign-language rights for Beast: A Love Story to Poland!
No word yet on a date that Beast will be available from HarperCollins Polska. But I'll keep you posted on this, and any future foreign editions!
Read more at:http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2015/...
No word yet on a date that Beast will be available from HarperCollins Polska. But I'll keep you posted on this, and any future foreign editions!
Read more at:http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/2015/...
