Author Interview with Lissa Brown!
An ordinary, extraordinary relationship. Where does a
young girl turn to survive family turmoil? Reaching into a past she never knew,
young Ellen Brodsky establishes a transformational relationship with Grandma
Hannah. But who is this dead grandmother, and why is their connection so crucial
to the survival of three generations of women?
I am honored to introduce the Author of Family Secrets: Three Generations, Lissa Brown! Thank you for being here Lissa!!!
About the Author: Lissa Brown has been writing since she
learned how to form letters and put them on paper. She’s been a columnist, a
speech writer, a ghost writer for elected officials and company executives, and
a media relations specialist for gubernatorial and state legislative campaigns.
After successful careers in teaching, public relations and marketing she retired
to her present home in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. There she
discovered the luxury of being able to write for herself and quickly published
the book, Real Country: From the Fast Track to Appalachia under the pen name,
Leslie Brunetsky. Family Secrets: Three Generations is her first novel.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK.
I’ve had several careers—teacher,
public relations and marketing pro, columnist—and for the past eight years,
full-time writer. Family Secrets: Three
Generations is my first novel. It
highlights the struggles of a young girl as she copes with a family that is
less than ideal. She establishes a relationship with her dead grandmother,
Hannah, and this mentoring helps her get through the challenges of a failing
family and the usual things a young girl has to deal with as she enters her
teens.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
I’ve written since I was about
seven years old. I was always drawn to expressing myself in writing and wrote
for my junior high school newspaper once I realized I had a bit of talent. My
first articles were published in school newspapers and later in magazines and
newspapers. I didn’t publish my first book until I’d retired from full-time
work.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
This might sound strange but I’d
have to consider the results of the first article I wrote for my school
newspaper to be the greatest achievement. I was assigned to interview the girl
who won the naming contest for our school paper. I did that, wrote the article,
and out of that contact a friendship grew that we share to this day. We’ve been
close friends for more than 50 years!
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
For me, it’s rewrites. I spend far
more time doing that than writing the book. It is painful to have to omit
segments that I think are wonderful when I realize they don’t move the story
forward. It’s like killing off a child or a pet.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
I’m writing a sequel to my latest
novel, Another F-Word, about the
bullying of a gay boy. I’m also doing a lot of speaking engagements about
bullying in conjunction with that book.
WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE?
I write humor, fiction and
non-fiction. I’ve also written a memoir and have had several essays published
in anthologies.
DO YOU EVR SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK? IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT?
I’m not a very disciplined writer. I pretty much write when
I feel like doing it. I suppose
that’s why I don’t experience writer’s block. I’ve written under tight deadlines
for many years and always managed to
come up with something.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?
I write at my PC in my home office.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
A young man who read my novel, Another F-Word, told me it gave him
the courage to go on living because
the book convinced him that somebody understood what he was going through.
WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
Someone said a book was poorly written. It happened to be
what I thought was my best
book.
OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
I love anything to do with nature. I hike, bird watch, spend
as much time as I can outdoors. Photography is something I especially enjoy. I love bluegrass music and tinker with
a bluegrass banjo and write songs from time to time. My greatest passion is
reading. I cannot recall a day when I didn’t read.
DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK(S) PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
Yes. I’m a good proofreader but not a good editor of my own
work. I always need a pair
of professional eyes to edit my work. I also rely on other writers to critique my
work.
HOW DID YOUR BOOK COVER COME TO FRUITION?
I hired a professional illustrator to do the cover of Family Secrets: Three Generations. I’d used him to do another
cover and was impressed with how quickly and how
well he grasped the plot line and captured it with his illustration. Once I was
pleased with the illustration, I turned it over to a professional book designer to
incorporate it into a cover design.
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
There’s a definite resemblance to my main character,
nine-year-old Ellen. The setting is
a composite of places where I grew up so
I was aware that I occasionally saw myself in her place.
DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
Of course. The effort required to find an agent, get
something published through the
traditional route is so time-consuming that I decided not to bother with it. I’ve
self-published all three of my books. I’d rather spend the time writing than trying to
cut through the maze of red tape with
agents and publishers. Besides, like
having the control over my books.
DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
No. I write because I feel I must, so that’s not an option.
I still enjoy it. If I ever reach a
point at which I no longer do, I’ll quit, but I can’t imagine that happening.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?
Each writing project has its own purpose. With Family Secrets: Three Generations my goal was
to write a novel that conveyed to young readers that every generation has similar
challenges. The particulars might change, but the issues we face as we grow up
are the same. Another idea I tried to develop was that nobody needs to face
problems alone. There’s always a way to get support from others. If readers
tell me they get that, I consider it a successful book. When I
write humor, I look for signs that people find it funny. That’s how I measure
success with that type of writing. In my newest novel, I hoped to convey that
being bullied is difficult, but when you have support from friends and family,
you can survive it and even thrive. Readers have told me they feel that
way about the book, so I’m pleased that I’ve met my major goal.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
First, write for yourself. Even if you never submit it to
anyone, write what is
important to you. Get several writers to critique your work. That is the
single most important way to refine your skills. When you’re ready to put your
work out there, remember that it’s your work people are reacting to; it’s not you. That
makes it easier to accept criticism.
And now for the speed round of questions...
Lissa's “BLONDE” BASICS:
FAVORITE FOOD?
Blueberry pancakes with maple syrup
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Quartet
FAVORITE BOOK?
Les Miserables
FAVORITE SUPERHERO?
Rosa Parks
FAVORITE AUTHOR?
Barbara Kingsolver
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