Guest Author Interview

Lisa Fender - Author of Fable - Book One in The Lorn Prophecy



Today I have a guest author. She published her first book recently and this is a blog stop for announcing this exciting time and getting to know this writer better. I hope you will leave a comment for her. Each person who leaves a comment will have their name entered into a drawing for a copy of the book and a Starbucks gift card. So please, comment or ask questions.

Lisa'a First Novel

1.) Give us a brief summary of your book and how did you become involved with the subject or theme? First of all, Thanks Sunni, for having me on your blog! I look forward to any comments below and will have a drawing giveaway for a free copy of the book Fable, and a 10.00 gift card from Starbucks, so leave me a comment or question!

I will post the blurb from the book; it’s easier to explain the basics that way. I became involved with this by making it up. It’s a fantasy fiction novel with a made-up world and even a made-up language. It has been a lot of fun writing it and I look forward to seeing what the next books turn out like!

Blurb: Stevie Barrett lives an ordinary life in Golden, Colorado, where nothing remarkable ever happens. That is until right before her high school graduation, when Stevie’s life takes a bizarre turn. Her best friends, Jack and Alyssa, want to be supportive, but are confused by the events plaguing Stevie.

Stevie’s mom is attacked by men with glowing gold eyes. A strange being spies on Stevie, hidden in shadow. She has waking visions of a people called the Djen and their archaic world. And when her and her BFFs don’t think it can get any weirder, Stevie heals a stranger with a touch. The abilities build until they are a tidal wave awakening within her and threaten her sense of reality.

Her efforts to understand what is happening lead her and her friends to discover a group known as the Rebellion. These warriors from another dimension are hunting her. Their leader is a man bent on destroying Stevie and possessing her legacy. In order to stop him and save everyone she loves, Stevie and her friends must embark on a quest to find and return Tecton, one of the five Orbs—relics—of the other plane she comes to know as Djenrye. The journey will alter everything she believes, propelling her into another world and another life.


2.) What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them? My goal was to make the story sound as believable as possible and to not use the typical supernatural characters that everyone uses, such as Vampires, Werewolves, and the like. I think so far that I have achieved my goals. I guess only time will tell as I get reviews from my readers.

3.) What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing your book to life? My biggest challenge, at first, was creative writing skills, (or lack thereof). I had to hire a writing coach and take classes, but it finally came together and is now a novel, instead of chicken scratch. We researched the trip that my characters had to take, which is in British Columbia, more exact, Princess Royal Island of the west coast. We also had to research the boat they use and little things like made-up names for Gods. We did research weaponry too.

4.) What is the most important piece of advice you would give an aspiring writer? Don’t ever give up and seek someone who knows how to critique. Take their advice to heart and don’t ever fall in love with a line from your book. It might not be necessary to keep it in there.

5.) If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? I have thought of a few things I wish I would have added, but nothing I would change at this point.

6.) As an author, how have you used social media to connect with readers and boost the success of your book? What tips do you have for new writers? If you believe your book will be ready within a year and a half, you need to start building your list of followers now. First, email all those in your email list who you think would be supportive of you and your writing. Ask them if they would be interested in becoming part of your ‘tribe’ and would be willing to read a few chapters and give feedback. Then once your blog is up and running, would they join at least for support.

Then the ones, who are all in, send them your first chapter. Give them time to read it, and after a week or so, if you haven’t heard from them, email them and ask how the chapter went. Some will never read it; others will get right back to you. You will begin to see who truly supports you after a while. Once you have done a few chapters this way and established some supportive people, start a blog. Also, you need to get on Facebook and Twitter, too. The biggest thing I found is a lot of people I know just aren’t into reading. But you have to keep reaching out and build a following. Some will join your blog just to shut you up, lol!

7.) What are you working on now? I am working on a novella, which is a side book about the world I created. There will be one in between each of the bigger novels - the continuing story. The one we are writing now explains more about Stevie’s history. The second ‘novel’ will be out next spring, but the novella is planned for this fall.

Thanks again for having me on your blog, Sunni! I hope some of your followers plan to participate and leave some comments so they can be a part of the drawing!

Here are links to Lisa’s sites. Please check them out.

Blog: http://www.lisafender.com/

Twitter Account: http://www.twitter.com/lisafender1

Facebook: http://facebook.com/fablebookI

Amazon Book link:
http://www.amazon.com/Fable-Book-Prophecy-Lisa-Fender/dp/1484143515/