Hi Lisa! It’s great to welcome you to my blog for this first time and I am very much looking forward to learning more about you and your latest release MID-FLIGHT – let’s get things started with my questions…
1.) What do you wish you’d known before you
started writing?
I wish I had known that self-publishing was a
great option.
I completed my first novel in the early 2000s,
but I didn’t explore the self-publishing route. In my mind, traditional
publishing was the only way to go. I sent query letters to countless small
presses and literary agents. To my dismay, they expressed very little interest
in my book.
A decade later, I’d completed twelve full-length
novels. I had also racked up a rejection pile so high, it made my head spin.
Rejections poured in daily, adding to my misery. By 2015, I reached the point
where I simply couldn’t handle another rejection letter. Completely wrecked
over my perceived failures, I stepped back from writing for a few years. It
felt like a hopeless pursuit. Maybe I just wasn’t cut out for the literary
world. Maybe my dream had been really stupid and unrealistic.
Eventually, I sucked up my pride and got back to
the business of writing books. In 2019, I landed a contract with The Wild Rose
Press (TWRP). My debut romance novel, Flight Path, was published the following
year. I was really impressed by TWRP’s commitment to its authors. They provided
tons of resources and helped me get plugged into a community of seasoned
authors. TWRP walked me through the entire process, start to finish. As a
starry-eyed newbie, I appreciated that.
I achieved my happily-ever-after in 2019.
However, I could have spared myself years of heartbreak if I had considered
self-publishing some of my previous books. At the time, I didn’t think it was a
viable option. Which was simply not true. I should have done more research and
kept my options open.
Now that I’ve got two published novels under my
belt, I’m considering going back through those old manuscripts and publishing
them myself. There are several routes to publication, I’ve learned. And each
one has its merits.
2.) Is there one subject you’d never write about
as an author? What is it?
I appreciate reading every genre, including
erotica, but I can’t picture myself writing an erotic novel. It’s just not my
style. With that said, I try not to fully rule things out. Never say never,
right? Maybe someday I’ll change my mind.
3.) Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Both! I plan every chapter of my book, but the
characters have a life of their own. They tend to veer off in a completely
different direction. Ultimately, it’s their story, not mine. So I typically
scrap my original outline and let the characters lead the way.
4.) If you could be the original author for any
book, which book would it be? Why?
“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, because that is
honestly the most soulful and magnificent book I’ve ever read.
5.) What are you working on at the moment?
I’m about forty pages into a book that’s part
murder mystery and part psychological thriller. It has metaphysical elements,
too. Like all my books, there’s a lot going on…
6.) Do you work on one book at a time? More?
I have written two books simultaneously in the
past, but I prefer to focus on one book at a time.
7.) Do you have a favourite character in your
latest release?
Absolutely. The protagonist’s best friend, J.R.,
is a bubbly and vivacious spirit. He isn’t afraid to sport a pink crop top with
kittens all over it, nor is he afraid to repeatedly remind his friends how much
he values them. I love J.R.’s style and his confidence, but most of all I love
his big, bold heart.
BLURB & BUY LINK:
2037 was a really bad year.
Lexi Brennan’s best friend was killed in a plane crash. Two weeks later, an intergalactic crisis threatened the fate of humanity. Authorities responded by launching a genocide.
Lexi opposed this vicious attack. Then again, what could she do? An eccentric flight attendant drawn to glamorous trysts, she felt powerless to incite change.
Until tragedy struck close to home. Suddenly, Lexi was forced to acknowledge the widespread atrocities. She uncovered a network of lies along with an opportunity to restore basic human rights. To protect others, Lexi would have to launch a movement that could destroy everything important to her, including her promising new romance.
BUY:
BIO:
Lisa Wilkes has spent 13 years as a flight attendant, jetting across the globe and collecting inspiration for her writings. Her debut novel, Flight Path, is a fast-paced romance laced with serendipitous encounters. This book follows a daydreaming stewardess as she learns to navigate a new terrain: unconditional love.
In her second novel, Mid-Flight, Lisa transports readers to the year 2038. A flight attendant begins to unravel after her best friend is killed in a plane crash. In the throes of unspeakable grief, she uncovers a political ploy to decimate one-fifth of the population. To combat this sinister plan, she must risk everything. Including her breathtaking new romance.
Lisa’s writing is provocative and timely, with a focus on societal issues and powerful internal conflict. Flight Path’s readers will appreciate Mid-Flight’s emphasis on hope and redemption, while newcomers to Lisa’s work will be drawn to the power of her storytelling.
LINKS: Books By Lisa Wilkes – Book, Novel, Writer, Book (lisamichellewilkes.com)