Between A Book & A Real Place with Lisa White

Hey hey hey! Today I have Lisa White as my guest. Now, I knew I liked Lisa on an entirely new level once I found out we shared a love for Robert Pattinson. All my friends have great taste I must say. :P lol





·        Tell me, what do you like to write, and why?

I mainly write contemporary romances, but my latest novel, Discovery, is a new adult paranormal romance.  I’m into superheroes and that was the only category that covered such characters.  I love romances of every kind because I’m a sucker for happy endings.

When offered your first publishing contract did you:

A) Scream

B) Jump out of your seat and run around flailing your arms chanting OMG OMG OMG

C) Pee your pants

D) B & C

E) None of the Above You’re lying if your answer isn’t B If not A-D , what was your reaction?

          A.  I screamed.  Then I called every family member I knew to tell them.  And then my best friends. And then anyone who would listen.  I was fortunate to have my very first book, The Laws of Love, published and I still can’t contain my excitement – I LOVE to write.

·        After how many published titles do you think it’s appropriate to write your own autobiography?

I’m not sure the number of published titles is the primary factor as much as age.  I have a lot more life to live before I tell you all my secrets…the juicy ones may be yet to come!

·        How important to you are the names of your characters?

Very important. While no one admits it, I think people judge you by their name.  It’s as if they subconsciously put you in the same bucket as the last Nancy they met, or the last Karen, or the last Fiona.  So I believe readers do the same thing with characters.  They meet a character and feel they already know them before reading the next sentence just based upon your character’s name.  I have no scientific evidence to prove this…but didn’t the Fiona I mentioned above make you think of the cool princess from Shrek?

·        How do you go about nabbing that perfect title for your books?

I’m weird.  They just come to me and are usually one or two words in length.  The shorter the better.  And most of the time my working title ends up being the actual title.  I don’t agonize over titles – it’s the 90,000 to 100,000 words that come after that give me grief.

·        What are the occupational hazards of being a writer?

A large derrière – seriously.  Sitting at the computer all day for work and then all night for writing makes for an ample bottom.  Luckily my top balances me out.

   

·        Do you have a quote or slogan you try to live by?

“Do your best and God will take care of the rest.”  Also, “Everything happens for a reason.”  I’m very good at rationalizing…

·        Have you ever taken the writing to the bathroom with you? Sometimes for me it’s the only place I can find that elusive peace and quiet. Until my 5 year old sniffs me out.

Totally understand that!  Kids innately know the best time to interrupt – no matter what you are doing.  But to answer your question, nope.  Have never written in the bathroom. 

·        Pantser or Plotter? I’ll have you know how proud I am that I just used these terms. Since I’ve just recently learned what they meant. Go me. Always keepin’ up with the author slang.

You go, Harley – throwing around that author slang!  I’m a plotter with pantser tendencies.  Because all my books have an element of suspense in them, I have to be able to leave clues along the way in order for the suspense to be believable.  But as I write, new characters always pop up so I find the pantser part of me screams to come out every now and then.  I usually end my books where I thought I would – but the road to the end can be very curvy.

 

·        What do you like to write in? (i.e PJ’s and stompeez, a prom dress or perhaps a bathtub?)

PJ’s – comfort is key!

·        How do you react to a bad review?

I try to ignore them.  I had one lady tell me I had too much sex in my books, another one said I had too little.  You can’t please everyone all the time and the sooner you learn that, the better you can handle rejection when it comes around. 

HJ: Agreed. I have some that tell me the cursing is too much in FJ but the New Yorker’s that read it say it’s perfect. Can’t please everyone.

·        Do you feel like a complete dumbo (like I do) when people ask for your autograph? I tend to get stuck on stupid and fumblerooski all my words when someone asks me for mine.

Definitely.  I feel very self-conscious.  Being out front is not my thing.  I would rather sit at home in my PJ’s and write.  Maybe I can hire a body-double to take on the autographs and book signings – but of course, she needs that Kim Kardashian derrière…

·        Have you ever been a character in one of your books?

No.  Never.  My first book had a female corporate lawyer as heroine but everything else about her came out of my imagination.  Life is simpler if it doesn’t imitate art.

·        Would you ever play yourself in a movie or TV production of one of your books?

No, I wouldn’t play myself – but I could totally see myself pulling a Stephanie Meyer and being an extra.  I would love that.

·        Have you ever gone a little REDRUM after a few days shacked up in the ol’ writing hole?

I haven’t shacked up lately!  Most of my writing is done at night after everyone goes to bed so sleep breaks up the stress between my writing life and my real life.

·        What do you think is your biggest accomplishment in writing? Your biggest failure?

My biggest accomplishment would be getting a contract with a traditional publisher.  I’m very proud of that.  Of course, it was after receiving quite a few rejections – but in the end I realized my dream of getting The Call.  My biggest failure would have to be my inability to churn out books as fast as some of my writer friends.  Some seem to release a book every month.  I would need a time machine to do that.

HJ: I know. I’m amazed how some release them one after another. It takes me a good three months to put something together! Then the editing starts.

·        Do you do research for your novel?  Me... I could totally walk into the Bio Buzz pick up a bong and be like..It’s for research dude! Lol

I research a little here and there.  If I have any reference to history or an actual place, I make sure I know everything about it first.  I don’t want some reader to call me out on an inaccuracy.

·        Speaking of bongs. Have you ever written anything while high on the weed, drunk on the wine or chill from the pill? I have...I’m on bottle number two. 

Nope.  But I have been known to sing into a beer bottle or two.  So while my writing is sober, my singing may require a little alcohol help.

·        Do you laugh at yourself ever?

Every day.  Life is better that way.

·        How much of your childhood reflects upon your musings?

I’d say a great deal.  The good people in my life always make it into my books in some small way.

 

·        How do you like these questions so far? Anything striking your fancy? Ok, moving along…

I love them all Harley!  These are great!

·        How do you feel about being interviewed?

It depends.  If the questions are the same old, tired author questions – I get bored.  You, however, are keeping me on my toes!  I love how you have mixed random and professional questions together in one blog.  Thank you!

 

·        How do you feel about global warming?

I hate it, definitely think there is something to it – but I’m not giving up my aerosol hairspray for anything.  Does that make me sound bad?

·        How do you feel about Antonio Sabato Jr.?

Good looking, sexy – but you already know who my main pretend squeeze is.  RPatz, aka Edward Cullen.  I know you feel the same so nothing more needs to be said about him.  I will share RPatz with you – but no one else.

HJ: WAHOO! Yes, he is quite a saucy man. AND now the face of Dior’ Homme. I will be that nutjob stopped by security trying to run out of the mall with the cardboard cutout of Rob in Dior’. HAHAH

·        Are you jealous of other writers?

No.  So far, every writer I have met has been so supportive and generous, including you!  I wish nothing but good things for my writer friends.  No jealousy here!

·        What makes you laugh? Cry?

I laugh at everything.  I love to laugh.  The best laughter occurs when you are not supposed to be laugh.  Like at church.  Or a funeral.  I’m just full of social tact…

As for crying, I’m a sucker for a soldier.  Ever since 9/11, I cry every time I see a soldier.  They are the best and give so much – their sacrifice literally brings me to tears.

·        Vacation or staycation?

Vacation absolutely.  Staycations are full of laundry and dishes for me.  Moms still have laundry and dishes on vacation – but chores are a little more special when performed with a beach background.

·        Fancy Schmancy wedding or a Vegas wedding?

Fun wedding whatever it takes and wherever you are.

·        Favorite season? Mine’s football :P

Ha – one more thing we have in common.  I love fall and college football makes it even better.

·        Who were some of your inspirations for writing? For your characters?

I love Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts and John Grisham.  My characters are always from my imagination – with real characteristics sprinkled in for good measure.

 

·        Did you enjoy this interview?

I loved it!  Thank you so very much for having me!  You are a gracious but fun host – a rare combination in any setting! I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading more from you! 

Thanks again!

Lisa

Below is my author bio:

LISA WHITE was born in Tennessee and raised in Virginia.  After graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Italian language and literature, she obtained her law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. 

When not practicing law, Lisa enjoys gardening, spending time with friends and family, and, of course, writing romance novels.  She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.  Her first novel,  THE LAWS OF   LOVE , was released by Crimson Romance in July, 2012.  In April, 2013, Crimson Romance released her second novel,  DISCOVERY , the first book in her Council of Powers trilogy.   DISCOVERY  is a new adult paranormal romance where two friends discover hidden powers and the love that makes these powers great.  

Lisa currently lives in Southwest Virginia with her husband and two children where she is frantically writing another story in which her readers can escape...one page at a time. 

Look for her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-White-Author/345773668818384?ref=hl and on her website www.lisawhiteauthor.com.

You can find Lisa’s books at:

 http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-White/e/B008GHCPCK

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/discovery-lisa-white/1115218126?ean=9781440567063

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/discovery/id634132085?mt=11

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17611325-discovery
Thank you Lisa for being a guest on Between  A Book & A Real Place. I wish you many sales and great reviews and most of all I hope you get to meet the f