Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Interview with Lisa Lickel and Meow Mayhem Giveaway!!

Hey readers!! Today I am leaving on a trip to Florida but I will be updating the blog every week. Just might not be as often:) And what I have for you here is an interview with author, Lisa Lickel, and a giveaway of her new book, Meow Mayhem. This has just come out and I am excited to read it. Have it on my wish list:)


Thank you for being with us today, Lisa!!!
I’m pleased to be back – I love Giveaway Gal!


How long have you known you wanted to be an author?
Since 2002 when I took a writing course online. I was gainfully employed at the time, so it wasn’t scary to think about it. Of course, that was my last regular paying gig.

Can you tell me a little bit about your newest book?
Meow Mayhem is a contemporary sweet, romantic mystery that takes place in a little town in eastern Illinois. Here’s the back cover write up:

After being left at the altar, Ivy Amanda McTeague Preston uproots herself and her cat,
an Egyptian Mau named Memnet, from her boring and lonely life to start over at the
urging of Mayor Conklin, a fellow pedigreed Mau owner.

Truesdale Thompson is ready to move in a fresh direction with his life. A private man
whose physical wounds are the only outward sign of a tragic accident in his past, True
and his cat, Isis, open a branch of his trendy little bookstore and coffee shop in Apple
Grove.

When Ivy takes a mysterious message while the mayor is away on business, only Ivy’s
criminology professor mom and True believe there’s something rotten in Apple Grove.
Can Ivy carry on her romance with True while saving the town from further Mayhem?

When a reader gets done with your book, what do you want them to come away with?
I hope readers have had an enjoyable few hours’ worth of entertainment, as really, that’s one of the main goals of fiction. Maybe a reader will learn something about cats or cat scratch fever, or taking chances or how afraid Americans were during war times and built tunnels or other structures in their communities to hide in, and hopefully understand that life’s too short to be greedy and ridiculous.

Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?
I’ve only flown over Great Britain. I’d love to spend a month there, tramping around with a guide.

If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?
Jodi Piccoult and JK Rowling, today... I’d love to know how they decided on their genre and how it worked to leap into the best seller category, and the consequences of their success.

What one event would you love to be at? Historical or future?
I remember last time I visited I said something about a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first viable moonbase. Today…such choices! I’d like to watch, from an enclosed safe bubble, the building of St. Basel’s in Moscow. I’ve been there, but it would be terrifying and haunting, but intriguing to see how it went up.

Do you have a favorite hobby?
These days, it’s cleaning house in between writing and editing gigs.

Is there something about you most people wouldn't know?
Well, I guess I spilled the beans above, but I spent a couple of weeks touring Russia—the Soviet Union—back in 1981 for a college seminar. I’m not positive I’d like to go back. There’s something quasi-democracy does to a nation that might have been best served behind locked doors.

Do you have any suggestions for the aspiring writer?
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: this is a business. An author’s business is to be READ, not to finish a book or whatever. In order to be read, authors must tell others that a book is available to be purchased, thus the business part. Fair trade must happen: a book that meets the expectations of a reader must be offered in exchange for cash. You will meet people along the way who enjoy creating unhappiness, and even when given a book free, and even if it was enjoyed somewhat, you will be booed, because there are a lot of people who love to boo. You cannot let those boos overcome the oohs, however tempting it might be. The last writer standing wins, but that does not mean you can cheer the dropouts, either. Character counts.

Any last thoughts for your readers?
Chew well and thoughtfully, leave positive feedback and tell others when you enjoy something—spread the word. It’s fun, and you never know who might talk back.

So, if you love a good mystery, this sounds like an interesting one!! One of my readers will win a copy so get your entries in below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

8 comments:

Lisa Lickel said...

Thanks for letting me visit today, Charity.

Linda Kish said...

Lisa also wrote The Last Bequest

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Lisa Lickel said...

I confess, Linda. This is a different series.

Karla Akins said...

Awesome giveaway. Awesome book.

DEBIJOT said...

She also wrote A Summer In Oakville

Lisa Lickel said...

Hey, Karla, thank you...
and Debijot: I also confess, that along with my bud Shellie, we wrote Oakville, and had way too much fun holding down tables and booths at Panera doing so. Miss her!

Coolestmommy said...

I see she also wrote "Harpstrings".

Maryann D. said...

Lisa also wrote The Map Quilt
twinkle at optonline dot net

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