Interviewing Romance Author Lisa M. Campbell

Today I have romance author Lisa M. Campbell here for an author interview. She got in touch with me through my association with Jessica Coulter Smith and the e-publisher Wild Horse Press. She contacted me in hopes of scheduling an author interview, author guest blog as well as a book review for her historical romance novel, Superstition's Desire. Remember to come back on Thursday, July 16 to find out more about how she came to write her novel Superstition's Desire and keep a look out for my review of the novel as well. Now on to the interview between me and Lisa.

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Phoebe Jordan: When did you know that writing romance was going to be the thing that you would do with your life? Which author inspired you to start writing romance?

Lisa M. Campbell: I fell in love with Mr. Darcy at the age of thirteen. Pride and Prejudice had been my first foray into the world of romance and I was hooked! From that point on I wanted every story to have a happy ending, it just felt so satisfying. After awhile the feeling wasn't enough; I wanted to create my own characters and worlds.

Phoebe: Did you know what type of romance you wanted to write about or did you experiment with different genres before you chose the one that you felt was for you?

Lisa: When I was a kid, my favorite movie was the 1938 film, 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' starring Errol Flynn. I would watch it every time it aired; I had the dialogue down pat. I was completely fascinated by the courtly rituals, chivalry and politics of the time. When I began to write, historical romance was a natural choice for me.

Phoebe: What was the first fiction you ever wrote? And do you still have it with you?

Lisa: What a good question! I remembered my first story, but uncertain I still had it. I started searching through closets, drawers and finally happened upon an old hat box full of old stories (I know, it sounds too cliché). But the hat box was where I found, 'Androchma's Fury.'

Phoebe: How much research do you have to do for your novels and does it take you a long time to gather that research?

Lisa: I do the bulk of the research upfront so I can write with knowledge and ease of the time period. I don't want the reader jarred from the story, because I had my medieval warrior plopping his tight buns into a lay-z-boy recliner after a day of pillaging.

Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your debut novel, Superstition’s Desire?

Lisa: Early superstition's have always held a fascination for me. Did you know bathing in the warm blood of a freshly killed mole was thought to clear up warts? I mean, who thought up this stuff? And more importantly, who was the first to try it? Given that some superstitions trace their roots to early religion, I thought it'd be interesting to have Arabella believe she was practicing Catholicism, while everyone else believed her to be a witch.

Phoebe: How do you come up with each of your characters for your novels? How do you choose their names out of so many names out there?

Lisa: I search through fashion catalogs for models I find attractive, then once I have the physical characteristics I'm looking for, I research names to match their looks.

Phoebe: Do you have a favorite character that you really enjoyed writing about in your debut novel Superstition’s Desire? Did you have a character that you felt you could really relate to in your debut novel Superstition’s Desire?

Lisa: I really loved writing Uncle Angus; he always had a quip or witticism, and an optimistic outlook no matter the problem. I can't say I related to one character alone, though. There's probably a little bit of me in every character I write.

Phoebe: Do you have a process of how you start to write your novels?

Lisa: Beating my head against the wall, arguing with my husband and tearing my hair out—okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration. I don't really argue with my husband. I'm always jotting down snippets of things I've read or heard about, let them kinda ferment a bit, and then come back to them and see if I can salvage a plot idea from it. The majority of the time it works.

Phoebe: Have you ever considered writing a series or are writing stand alone novels your preference? How would writing each be different for you?

Lisa: I really love the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, but it takes an awful lot to sustain a world like hers from book to book. I would love to do that, but at this point I don't think I have the chops for it. Right now I'm giving a secondary character from my current book a story of his own.

Phoebe: What process did you have to go through to get your first book published and did it take you long?

Lisa: I started submitting in April 2008, and despite three rejections before I signed with Wild Horse Press, each letter had given me clear insight as to where my story broke down. John Scognamiglio, Kensington's Ed-in-Chief, gave me a great critique on my MS. I didn't expect that, and despite his eventual rejection, I didn't consider it as such.

Phoebe: Do you ever get writers block? What do you do to get rid of it so you can get back to writing your novels?

Lisa: For me, writer's block is continually writing and hating everything on the screen. Eventually, I manage to push through, but sometimes it takes a few weeks.

Phoebe: What is your biggest reader pet peeve, if you have any?

Lisa: Overly descriptive narratives! I really don't care to know the character prefers dental tape to wax floss unless someone in the story has been strangled to death with it.

Phoebe: Which aspects of writing do you enjoy the most and why? And what is your biggest writing pet peeve? (Overuse of exclamation points, adverbs, bad guys named Wayne, etc.), if you have any?

Lisa: I love being hit over the head with the seed of an idea. Especially after a dry spell when every concept seems lame. I also tend to come up with my best scenarios at the most inconvenient moments. As for pet peeves, I'm tired of reading shifter stories where the hero/heroine's name relates to its animal form. Naming the guy, 'Rex Wolferton' seems a tad redundant.

Phoebe: What is the one writing tool can you not live without?

Lisa: My Etymology dictionary.

Phoebe: How do you handle your writing schedule and your personal life without going insane?

Lisa: I try, and I mean try to give myself four hours in the morning to answer any emails, update my websites and post to any blogs or groups I'm active with. After I left the military, my husband (a career Air Force Officer, with 23 yrs active duty service, and going strong) and I decided I would stay at home. We're now in our twentieth year of marriage and our arrangement still works well. Good thing too, as I'm the type of writer who doesn't adhere to a writing schedule. I write whenever I feel the urge.

Phoebe: What do you do to relax after having spent a long while writing? Do you have any hobbies?

Lisa: The treadmill helps when I really need to unwind, and then there's always a steamy sex session. A couple of O's takes the edge right off—heehee—just making sure you're paying attention! Hobbies…hobbies. Hmm, besides the sex? I love to cook and bake and I play a mean Tenor Sax. Of course there's always down time with the family, to include the doggies.

Phoebe: Is there any advice that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?

Lisa: I have an author/friend who is a mystery writer with Simon & Schuster. In our writer's group we were talking about promoting. She told me she promotes just as much with a NY house as I do with a smaller Press. Don't come into the business thinking if you land a big House right off the bat you won't need to do much to promote your book; because you will be expected to do just that. Come in with a business plan. I floundered for months until I asked for advice. Also, get a critique partner.

Phoebe: Is there any writing tips, research tips, promotion and marketing tips that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?

Lisa: Stay true to your voice. It'll save you a lot of grief.

Phoebe: Do you have a favorite genre you like to read? Who is your favorite author(s)?

Lisa: My favorites change with the wind, but right now I'm loving Charlaine Harris, Sarah Addison Allen, Karen Marie Moning, Katie Fforde, Stuart Woods, L.M. Romagnoli and always, Jane Austen.

Phoebe: What are you reading now? And what do you plan to read after that?

Lisa: I finished the latest Sookie Stackhouse and too quickly at that! Now I have to wait another year for the next installment. Recently I re-read, Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter, and I'm patiently waiting for the next Sarah Addison Allen book. I'm also looking forward to digging into Katie Fforde's latest offering, Wedding Season.