An Interview with
Lisa Childs
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Welcome Lisa Childs! On behalf of CK2’s Kwips and Kritiques we are honored you could join us for an interview. I must admit to being just a bit excited, interviews are a big deal to us over here. All of our staffers love to get the chance to talk to amazing authors such as you, and learn more about what ramblings go through their heads. So without further ado I am going to bring on some questions. Please feel free to interject at any point, for this is truly about you. Thank you for wanting to interview me. I’m so happy to answer your questions. 1. As many paranormal fans may have noticed there is a new addition in the Silhouette line, entitled Nocturne. Throw out all your preconceived notions as these are not your normal romances you grew up reading, they are much more intriguing with a paranormal element about them. If you haven’t given them a try you don’t know what you are missing and I wholeheartedly recommend reading them. Me, too! I can’t recommend the books highly enough. Nocturne is a wonderful combination of romance and excitement – they’re so dark and sexy! 2. I have read the first book in the Witch Hunt series entitled HAUNTED, and have to admit I couldn’t put it down. For those who have not yet had the opportunity to read it can you explain a little about the book? I’m thrilled you enjoyed HAUNTED! I loved writing it. The Witch Hunt series involves three sisters, separated in their childhood, who have inherited supernatural abilities from an ancestor who was a witch, burned at the stake three hundred fifty years ago. Now someone has started up the witch hunt again, and the sisters must reunite – with the ancient charms their mother gave them for protection – in order to save themselves and the men they love. 3. Ty in particular sticks in my mind, there are moments when he has things to say to Ariel and doesn’t have the chance to say them. In future books will he reappear and will we get the chance to hear what he has to say? Ty is definitely one of my favorite characters. Despite his suspension, Ty is a lawman – he can’t just walk away with a killer on the loose. So yes, he’s involved in PERSECUTED, and he gets even more involved in DAMNED. 4. Throughout the book it was difficult to pinpoint who held the most danger to Ariel, every time I was certain I knew something caused me to change my mind. When you started writing HAUNTED did you know how it was going to end or did you find the ending as you were writing? I have to admit than when I started plotting the series, I had a different ending in mind. I’ve written four Harlequin Intrigues, and the villain never gets away. But to keep up the level of suspense for all three books, I had to do the hardest thing I’ve ever done – I had to let the villain get away. 5. In general when you write what types of things spark your creativity? I come from a large family, six siblings, lots of nieces and nephews and hundreds of cousins, so I have a wealth of characters and family dynamics from which to draw. As for plotting, I’ll think about ideas for a while before I write anything done. I’ve worked out entire plots while on the treadmill or in the shower. 6. When you get to a scene in your novels and get a mental block how do you overcome it? Are there any techniques you use? Even though I’m a linear writing, I’ll skip the scene if I can’t quite figure out how to write it. By writing the next scene, I either figure out how to fix the previous scene or I realize that I didn’t need that scene anyways. My writing struggle is not with mental blocks but finding enough time to write all the books I want to write. Why does my family think they need to eat and wear clean clothes? <G> 7. At what age did you discover your love for writing? And what was the first thing you wrote about? One of my sisters taught me to read before I started school. My love of reading seemed to naturally carry over to a love of writing. I was crafting stories as soon as I learned to form sentences. My first book was a biography of our family dog, written in crayon on construction paper. 8. In April, you have a new book out for the Witch Hunt series, PERSECUTED. Not having read this book yet, I am anxious to know what lies in store for readers. Can you give away any of the juicy tidbits? Juicy tidbits? Hmmm… PERSECUTED is Elena’s story. In HAUNTED, she might have come across as cold, but we’ll learn quickly just how passionate she really is. She’s also strong and independent and far braver than she ever realized she could be. We also learn the identity of the killer and his motivation for resurrecting the witch hunt. 9. What is your favorite of the sisters? And are they based on anyone in particular? I’m fickle. As I was writing HAUNTED, Ariel was my favorite. Then Elena won me over in PERSECUTED when she faces and fights all her fears. When we finally meet Irina in DAMNED – well, she’s a mess – but I love her. Flawed characters are my favorite – the more flawed the better because then they’re real! None of them are based on anyone in particular, but I probably borrow traits from some of the real-life “characters” I know and love. <G> 10. What was it like to get your first book published? What was your reaction? Someone I know – who never read my manuscripts, btw -- told me that my chances of getting published were as good as winning the lottery. So that’s how I describe that crazy rush of “getting the call” with the offer of a contract – I felt as though I’d won the lottery! 11. Now when you get accepted by publishers has your reaction changed any? It’s still like winning the lottery. Because there are so many awesomely talented authors – both published and unpublished -- I’m always surprised and overwhelmed by every contract. 12. If there was one defining book that solidified your desire to become a writer what was it? When I was fifteen, I started submitting to publishers because of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I still love that book, and I loved that it made me feel that getting published was actually an attainable dream. 13. Which authors do you look up to? I admire so many authors, but Nora Roberts is who I try to emulate – not just her amazing talent but her discipline and work ethic. 14. When you are having a day when nothing going right what is the one thing that can make it all better? (Smile, Laugh, encouraging words, chocolate, a quote?) Chocolate is always good – dark chocolate especially. Talking to friends and loved ones helps put everything in perspective too. After all, it’s just one day – there’s always tomorrow. 15. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Keep writing. Never give up no matter how many rejections or snarky critiques you might get. I truly believe that perseverance is the key to success. No one ever attained a dream without reaching for it! These are questions that have rattled my brain and very pleased to have the opportunity to have answered. Authors to me are heroes they can leave a bright spot in an otherwise hazy day. It is truly a magnificent gift, when an author decides to share their talents with the world. So for that I am thankful to you and look ahead to many more of your novels in the future. Thank you for sharing yourself with us, and Good Luck with the series. The next book is PERSECUTED due out in April, be sure and grab a copy while you can. Thank you for interviewing me! It was such an honor! I enjoyed answering all your questions. If anyone has any more, they can reach me through my website -- I love hearing from readers! Read reviews of Lisa's books:
Witch Hunt: Haunted
Interviewed by Joyce |