Lissa Bryan is an
astronaut, renowned Kabukiactress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef
champion, and scientist who recentlydiscovered the cure for athlete's foot....
though only in her head. Real life isn't so interesting,which is why she spends
most of her time writing.
Her first novel, Ghostwriter, is now available through The Writer's Coffee Shop (which isthe least expensive option), Amazon, iTunes, and Kobo. Her second novel, The End of All Things,will be released on January 24, 2013, and is
now available for pre-order. Her third novel,tentatively titled Daughter of
the Wind and Waves is in-progress.
1.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? How did
you get started writing romance?
I always “wrote” books in my head, but I never imagined anyone else would
be interested in them. I posted a couple of them online and was surprised by
how many readers I had. Someone at The Writer’s Coffee Shop happened to see one
of them and asked if I’d be interested in writing a book. Sometimes, it still
feels a little unreal.
I write romance because it’s the richest aspect human experience. We see
people at their most vulnerable when they open their hearts to another person.
It’s something that deep-down, almost every human being wants, a deep emotional
connection, a partner, a soul-mate. The problem is, not everyone is sure how to
go about finding that special someone, and so there’s always a level of coflict
that makes for interesting stories.
2.
Tell us about your writing process. Do you
outline, or are you more of a seat of your pants type of a writer?
Most of my stories were “written” in my mind over the years. I’m working
on my third novel now, which is the first one I ever tried writing as I go.
It’s been a very interesting experience. I suppose I’m a pantser because
outlines just don’t work for me, and my notes are usually tiny scraps of
dialogue, or something I suddenly remembered, scribbled hastily before I fall
asleep. And then I stare at them in the morning and wonder what a crypptic
handful of words meant, provided I can even read it.
3.
Are there any romance novel cliché that make you
cringe when you read them?
I’ve always disliked novels where there’s a misunderstanding that could
be easily resolved with a two-minute conversation, but instead of talking about
their problem like adults, the characters flee to Istanbul or something.
4.
What is the hardest scene you’ve had to write,
and what made it so difficult?
Writing love scenes is very difficult for me. I once spent three hours on
a two-paragraph scene. Maybe it will get easier as I gain more writing
experience. I hope so.
5.
Which of your heroines would you say is most
like you, and why?
That’s a difficult question, because while all of my characters have an
element or two that’s similar to me, they’re usually very different from me.
Sometimes, like with Carly in The End of All Things, they have traits
I’d like to have, such as her hope and optimism, and Sara’s determination in Ghostwriter.
All of them like to read; I’m not sure I could actually get inside the head of
a character that didn’t like to read.
6.
What are you working on now?
I’m
working on a historical romance set in the time of Henry VIII. If all goes
well, it should be out in spring of 2014.
She is discovered by Justin, an ex-soldier who is intent on making his way to Florida before the winter sets in. Justin coaxes her out of her hiding place and convinces her to join him on his journey, because a warmer climate will be their best chance against the extremes of Mother Nature.
Together, they begin a perilous journey through a nation laid to waste by the disaster. Challenges abound along the way. The weather, injury, and shortage of supplies all help to slow them down. In time, they discover that they aren’t the only survivors. Some are friendly but some have had their minds destroyed by the high fever. Then there are those who simply take what they want, leaving Carly and Justin with no choice but to defend what is theirs.
But their journey is not without joy and love. Together, they face every struggle, including an unplanned pregnancy. Despite the perils of bringing a child into a world of chaos, their baby is a new beginning for themselves and a symbol of hope for the other survivors they find along the way.
This is the story of their journey to find a place to begin a new life, and a home in each other.
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