Guest Author day with Lisa Worrall & a Contest

Please give a warm welcome to author Lisa Worrall today.

CONTEST: She is giving away a e-copy of Always Hope, her new M/M story to one lucky reader. Leave a comment to be entered-with your email address in case you win we can contact you-and contest will be close Feb. 18th.

How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid, but I’ve been doing it seriously for almost two years.  It was a friend who suggested I should get into fanfiction and then it was another friend who said I was good enough to be published… so I submitted a short story to Dreamspinner’s Daily Dose and the rest, as they say is….

What makes your characters so vulnerable yet strong? Can you describe them to us? What do you do when characters stop talking to you when writing?

I try to keep my characters strong while making sure they aren’t afraid to show what is in their hearts.  I don’t think that, because they are two men, that they shouldn’t be unable to show their feelings for each other, so I like to write manly men who wouldn’t think twice about calling their partner “baby” if the moment called for it.

My characters don’t stop talking to me as a rule… they stomp their feet and say “I don’t wanna” a lot, and pout until I agree to go in the direction they point me, but apart from that we usually get on reasonably well.

You have some great secondary characters in your books. Will we see spin offs in regards to them in their own story lines? Do you prefer writing series books over non series or does it matter?

Thank you.  To be honest, I have no idea.  The only secondary character I have possibly thought of writing their own story is Lyle from Thirst.  I think it would be interesting to see where his second chance takes him and Richie.

I’m about to release the first book in a series of four that I’m co-writing with Laura Harner, who is an uber-talented writer.  Which is fantastic, because she makes me look good!  This has actually been my first try at a series rather than a stand alone and I’m really excited about it.  The first book is called Continental Divide.

I am also working on a series under my own name called Barty Bear, Me & Daddy Makes Three.  My publisher is already interested in it and hopefully it could be a three or four book series of three novellas in each book.

What do you think is the level of sensuality/heat in your books? What can readers expect from your books with respect to sexual content and sensuality?

I put a great store by sensuality rather than overly graphic sex.  My characters make love, not just have sex.  Heat level I’d probably say between three and four out of five J

Please tell us about your latest/upcoming release(s). What are they all about?

Always Hope is released on the 20 February, and is my first foray into the world of Indie-publishing.  It’s about a young journalist who discovers secrets in a small town in the heart of Alabama, called Freedom, when he flies in to bury his only sister.  He meets an honest to good Cowboy who was his sister’s best friend who is keeping a few secrets of his own.

3 March is the release date for Laurel Heights, through Silver Publishing.  It’s a twisty turny story revolving around an apparent murder/suicide in an exclusive gay, gated community of Laurel Heights.  Scott Turner and Will Harrison are sent undercover to discover if there is more to the deaths than meets the eye, and are instructed to pretend they’re gay.  Which is not much of a stretch for the two men because, unbeknownst to each other, gay is what they actually are.  So we have two gay men pretending to be straight, who then have to pretend they’re gay, fighting their attraction to each other, while trying to figure out if there is a killer in their midst.

What genre do you write in? Is there a genre you haven't tried yet but want to in the future?

I write m/m.  I did attempt a little forage into the m/f genre but… I like my boys and m/m is where I think I’ve found my niche.

What is the last line of your last WIP you worked on that you wrote?

Oh, blimey…. Um…. Hang on….

“Where do you think I was? Alcatraz?” Evan said as he stared at his friend.  “You watch way too much crap TV.”

What do you do for fun/relax? Any hobbies? 

Apart from writing… which I find myself getting twitchy if I’m away from it for more than a couple of days (sad I know), I love to read and I love horror movies…. Good horror movies.

And I like to spend time with my children who, though responsible for more than the occasional headache, are also my joy and the reason… you know?

Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

I think if a story is begging to be told, you just have to get it down on paper, regardless.

If you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?

I think I’d want to be Brody in Unshakeable Faith – simply because I wish I possessed his innate ability to see the best in everybody, and I’d want his capacity for love.  I find myself dwelling too much on the negative at times and I wish I had that well of unconditional love that Brody seems to have tapped into.

What do you do on a typical writing day?

After I’ve packed the kids off to school and the decks have been cleared, I usually open my latest WIP and spend the day flitting between it and Facebook and blogging, and promoting.  I try to set myself a goal of 2,500 words per day.  If I hit that I’m delighted.  If I hit more, I’m ecstatic but, as every writer will reiterate, some days the words flow more vociferously than others J

Can you please give us an idea on what you are working on for the future?

I’m working on Barty Bear, Me & Daddy Makes Three, the three or four book series consisting of three novellas in each book.  Some of the titles I have so far are… Barty’s First Date… Barty Meets the Ex… Barty Get’s Laid… and so on J  I’m really excited about it.  Barty is the star attraction of a California theme park called Dreamland and the story follows Barty, or rather Evan, as he meets a little lost girl and her handsome father.

And I’m also working on a story called Before Sundown, which is the love story between a ranch owner’s son and a ranch hand in 1870’s Texas J

What’s better to write about-perfect characters or flawed ones? And why?

I definitely prefer flawed characters.  I mean, real-life is flawed, so how could anyone relate to characters who have none?  What I want to do most is leave the reader feeling touched by the characters and the story.

When you have writer's block how do you break free?

Music!  Usually Nickelback, or Evanescence, or Kane.  I just throw on the headphones, crank up the volume and let the characters take me where they want to go.

Few fun ones:

If you could travel to any time period, where would you and why?

Oooooh…. What a fabulous question.  Um…. Honestly?  Memphis in the 1950’s.  I’d hang on to Elvis’ hand and never let go.

Hollywood has come calling and is interested in Laurel Heights. You get to pick the actors to play the main characters Scott Turner and Will Harrison. What book do you choose and who do you choose to play these characters?

Anyone who knows me well enough, knows what I’m going to say.

Laurel Heights because I think it’s the most complex of the stories I’ve tackled to date and covers a few taboo subjects.

As for who would play them…. Jensen Ackles would be Scott Turner and Jared Padalecki would be Will Harrison.

What is your one favorite foods to enjoy?

I’m a good old Essex girl (which is a county about forty miles outside of London) and my favorite food is Steak & Kidney Pie, mashed potatoes and onion gravy.

Any weird cravings when writing?

When I’m really into a story I kind of forget to eat so as long as I have toast on hand I’m fine.

Anything else to add?

I just want to say thank you for having me, I had a blast and hope to see you all again soon.

And I hope you all enjoy Always Hope.

Always Hope by Lisa Worrall

Find more information HERE

Coming February 20th, 2012

BLURB:

Ash Watts has his life exactly how he wants it: burgeoning career, gorgeous boyfriend, and an apartment with a fabulous view of LA. But his perfect world comes crashing down around his ears when learns of his only sister's untimely death. A small town isn't all he finds when he lands in Freedom, Alabama for Annie's funeral. This small town is brimming with secrets; secrets that could change Ash's life forever. 

Kaleb Gibson, honest-to-God cowboy, and native of Freedom, born and bred, found his best friend the moment Annie Watts breezed into town. Her death left a gaping hole in his heart, and while Annie's brother may have her same dark hair and green eyes, Kaleb refuses to lose his heart all over again, and he can’t forgive the man for neglecting his sister when she needed him most.