Lisa Kleypas, dances her way through our questions…
When are you moving back to Texas, aren’t you cold up there?
I will come back to visit often, for the warm friends and the spicy Mexican food! Yes, I’m a little cold . . . but the scenery is to die for, and the weather is ideal for writing! In fact, rainy days are the best for snuggling, reading, eating, having s . . . er, having long conversations . . .
Have you climbed Mt Rainier yet?
I’m waiting for them to install the escalator.
Will Sebastian be in all the books in the series, please?
Well, Syb, I’m hoping he will, but he’s really busy these days! He’s still working at the club, and he STILL chases after Evie constantly. Not that she’s complaining.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Oh, I wish I could give my younger self a manifesto for living! Basically, I would say, “Lisa, relax. Stop stressing about things you can’t control. Have as much fun as possible. And since you’re never going to lose those six pounds, have a cookie.”
Looking back over my 20s and 30s, I can see that I worried too much. This is what I love about being in my 40s . . . you let go of so much pointless worrying. By now most of us have learned that happiness, the ability to enjoy your life, is really a skill.
What do you hate about writing?
The numbers part of it. The sell-thrus and sales figures and lists.
What do you love about writing?
Everything. I really, really love creating these stories. And I love the feeling that happens every few books, when you get this fluttery hot feeling in your stomach because you know you’re writing something good . . . it’s a feeling like falling in love.
How has writing changed you?
Well, novel-writing was a revelation. It was not something I fell into, it was something I dreamed of and longed for, and when I was finally able to focus those creative impulses enough to create characters and follow them through a story arc (I was about 16) it became an instant compulsion. My husband says I’m never the same when I’m between books, that I don’t know what to do with myself. He’s right. If I have to go for a while without working on a book, all this creative energy builds up and it makes me anxious and distracted. And I’m pretty sure that’s how I was for my entire childhood–anxious and distracted. So writing became my outlet, my way of connecting to the world.
If you could run away with any of your heroes, who would it be?
This is a fun question, because the answer is not necessarily my best hero, but the one who would be best for me. I think it would be Marcus, Lord Westcliff, from It Happened One Autumn. Although he is sexy and occasionally playful, there is a hint of paternalism in him that I find wildly appealing. Don’t get me wrong–I’m a fairly strong and resilient woman. But I think many strong women are attracted to that fantasy of a powerful man who can take care of your problems, indulge you, sit you on his lap, satisfy all your needs. I think sometimes strong women need a break.
What has changed the most about your process since you started writing?
It is entirely. Different. In. Every. Conceivable. Way.
I am innately a night person. Before I was married, I stayed up insanely late, woke up at ten AM, and had no regular hours for anything. I LOVED IT. But my husband and children have this ridiculous system called “family routines”, which entails eating meals together, getting up and making school lunches . . . so I have had to become an early-to-bed-and-early-to-rise person. And this has led to a huge change in my actual writing process. No more getting in the mood, no more afternoon soap opera breaks. I have so much more self-discipline, because once the children are home from school, my work day is pretty much over.
So I have learned to focus on what I’m doing, and become more efficient. And part of that efficiency has to do with having finally learned about the actual mechanics of novel-writing. Constructing a plot. Balancing sub-plots. Working out character arcs. If you can liken the process to a game of darts, my writing used to be like throwing darts at a target in the dark. Sometimes out of pure luck or instinct, they would hit. Now my writing is like throwing darts with the light on. I know how to aim, and how to throw. I may not always hit the target, but my chances are much better now.
Who do you root for the dallas cowboys or the seattle seahawks now?
Could I just watch Dancing With The Stars instead?
What is your opinion on “books not set in Great Britain don’t sell”?
Well, it’s a fact that they don’t. [ppsstt, harlequin sez westerns sell well in North America 🙂 seeee you should do another western just saying… play on syb 😉 ]But you know what?–someday someone is going to write an AMAZING romance not set in Great Britain, and it will catch on and open up a new segment of the genre. Frankly, I’m astonished that stories set in historical New York a la Edith Wharton aren’t huge. Wonderful, fascinating time, fascinating characters, all the ingredients of really passionate dramatic stories. My bosom is heaving just thinking about it *g*
What do you learn about your books from your fans?
I learn a lot from my readers when I’ve missed the target, so to speak. And I listen, because I think the greatest potential for learning comes from well-intended criticism rather than praise. In my opinion, readers are willing to forgive anything except a piece of work that feels “phoned-in” to them. And I don’t blame them one bit! If a woman out there has worked hard for the $7.99 she spent on one of my books, I had better convince her that I worked just as hard for the money I earned writing it! It’s a question of passion, and commitment, and respect. And I will tell you, there are days I’m tired and I don’t feel like I have much to give to that blank screen. But whatever I’ve got, I will give it. Because if someone picks up one of my books needing a temporary escape from a tough situation, I want her to have the best I could do at that time. It’s a sacred trust to me.
Has anyone ever had a completely different take on something you wrote than you intended?
LOL . . . so many times I can’t count them. I still regret something that happened several years ago, when a reader said something nice on a message board about one of my older books, and because I’m always pretty harsh on myself about those early efforts, I said something about all the flaws in the book she liked. And then she was terribly offended because she felt I had basically insulted her taste. I apologized and felt awful about it for days. So since then, I’ve learned to relax and take pleasure in a compliment.
The lightning round:
mustard or mayo?
Dijon mustard
Extra Chunky
high-heels or flats?
flats with treads
beach or mountains?
beach!
computer or pen&paper?
Computer.
records or CDs?
iPod
email or telephone?
Email!
drive or be driven?
Driven, definitely! I can never drive and talk at the same time.
Now it is your turn! Have any questions for Lisa?
Have any others?
Go for it, she will be around today to try and answer them.
LOL! These are great! Love the answer with the escalator! 😀
Great answers. 🙂
What a fun and neat way to learn more about you Lisa! I have/enjoy your books since Where Passion Leads. Will you ever write Holt’s story (from Forever My Love) or shall we just conclude he found his true love and they lived happily ever after..! Love the covers for Mine till Midnight and Blue-Eyed Devil….which leads to the pet peeves post!
Mine is an odd question and then a comment. I watched the trailer for Mine Till Midnight and I loved the music. Do you know what it is? Being a great lover of all Celtic music, I have a rather nice collection and I’d love to know who was playing on the trailer.
And I love the armadillo. I hold it when I’m feeling sad and it always cheers me up.
And *g* I’m a huge Dancing With the Stars fan too.
Yay questions!!!
Who’s storyline has been the hardest for you to write, and why?
Which of your couples do you cherish the most nd why?
Wht time period do you like writing about the most and why?
xoxoxoxoxo
PS – Dancing with the Stars rules, lolol
What a fabulous interview!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it all, especially the lightning round. It made me think of that guy who does the interviews on The Actor’s Studio.
And Lisa, if you are watching Dancing with the Stars . . . who are you voting for?
Dear Allison,
I don’t think I’ll ever go back and do Holt’s story, but trust me he DOES find Layla, and they live happily ever after. *g*
Dear Kristie,
We are kindred spirits, that’s all there is to it. I love Celtic music too. Unfortunately the music for the trailer is a piece of royalty-free music that you buy specifically for movies and videos, so it’s not available on an album. And it’s so romantic and haunting, don’t you think? We started out using Gypsy-type violin music for the trailer, and it just wasn’t working. It didn’t seem right for Cam. And then it occurred to me . . . he’s half-Irish, and that Irish flute/recorder tune captures the mood I felt while writing the book.
I’m so glad you like the armadillo, dear. We’re both a pair of armadillos, aren’t we?
Dear Buffie,
Waaaa . . . I’ve missed both episodes so far. My seven-year old daughter and I are both fanatics, but we’ve had so many activities lately, we haven’t been able to watch DWTS yet. Who are you rooting for???
Lisa — Right now I am lovin’ Helio, the race car driver. He is just so much fun to watch — always smiling and having a great time. I was a little surprised that Albert got the boot last week — he’s a model and was doing really well, but I guess he just didn’t have the name recognition. Would you ever consider doing the show?
Hi,
I really enjoyed MTM but I have to join Kim C in saying that Blue Eyed Devil aka otherwise known as the-book-Carol-drools-for-daily.:-) I’ll have to ask Kim to start the support group, till BED comes out.
Would love any tidbits you could throw our way.
I think it’s cool that you would run off with Marcus, because IHOA is my favorite of your books (and I like all the other he’s in too.)
Hi Lisa!
I love your answer to the question: What do you learn about your books from your fans?
Just a very nice answer and I can see all the respect your have for your fans in it. I appreciate that as a reader.
Thanks for taking the time to do an author day! I’ve been anticipating this.
OH! BED Tidbits! We do need that don’t we… like a spoiler or sumthing huh… to be honest… Lisa was going to give us a BED excerpt but uh I jumped at the Seduce Me at Sunrise one.
You know nice mix… prize: contemporary hardcover novel and an ARC of the next contemp. So an excerpt of the historical seemed very zin. We do so strive for balance here at The Good, The Bad, The Unread.
OK, fine I just thought it rocked… although the BED excerpt I must admit was HAWT.
Lisa: Since you love Celtic music too, I was wondering if you’ve ever listened to Loreena McKennitt; it’s playing in the back ground right now which makes me think of it. She’s a singer who lives in Statford (Ontario) and that’s what her music is. She sings everything from old Irish Celtic music to far eastern music. I saw her in concert just a couple of weeks ago and she was amazing. I’ve loved her music for years – have all her CD’s and it was great getting a chance to see her live.
I’d take the elevator, too. It Happened One Autumn is my favorite Wallflower book so far.
Those are great questions and answers. Here are some more questions for you…if I’m not too late.
What three things can always be found in your grocery cart?
Where is your favorite place to vacation?
What was the last good movie you saw at the theater?
Hi Lisa!
I just love that the acronym for Blue Eyed Devil is BED, don’t you? I can’t wait for his story…..
When you started writing books as a teen, were they romance? 🙂
” Don’t get me wrong–I’m a fairly strong and resilient woman. But I think many strong women are attracted to that fantasy of a powerful man who can take care of your problems, indulge you, sit you on his lap, satisfy all your needs. I think sometimes strong women need a break.” You hit the nail on the head for me. I am a strong woman~Polish descent, we are all a bunch of pushy, loud women ROFLOL!! But the heroes I gravitate toward are the alpha males that like to “take care” of their woman. hmmmmmm interesting!!
FYI: Once Lisa’s kiddos get home her net time is limited, I am sure Lisa will be back to finish answering questions… but it might not be until Monday.
And I never did ask again… you ready to re-release your Onxy books yet? 🙂
If I remember correctly she even has the RIGHTS! Sniff… and I still need two of them 🙂