Interview and Giveaway: Lisa Renee Jones

Please join me in welcoming Lisa Renee Jones to Debbie's Book Bag today. Lisa is here to talk about the latest release in her Zodius series, The Storm that is Sterling. The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of Lisa's book, see details at the end of the post.

DEB: Lisa, tell us a little bit about yourself? 
LRJ: I write full time and I moved to Colorado for my fiancée to go to medical school. He’s supported my writing goals and now I get to watch him achieve his dream as well. I owned a large staffing agency with offices across Texas and Tennessee and it’s a different world working from home and a much happier one. I think those years of 80 hour work weeks make me appreciate what I do all the more but also allow me to write a lot of books because I just don’t know how to rest.

DEB: Tell us about your book, The Storm That is Sterling, and the Zodius series?
LRJ: Sterling is book 2 in the Zodius Series which is about a group of Super Soldiers created at Area 51 without their permission. They were told they were getting immunizations against an enemy pathogen.

Sterling is very Mel Gibson like from Lethal Weapon – a death wish after losing everyone he loves, but still so willing to do anything to save others. He has Dean from Supernatural’s witty personality and says crazy stuff at the craziest times. 

DEB: What inspired to you write about about the paranormal? Is it something you've always been interested in?
LRJ: Many years ago an editor at Berkley told my agent I reminded her of a certain well known author and I needed to write paranormal. I had already been playing with the Underground Guardians idea that the Zodius series is a spinoff of. And ironically I really didn’t get too into paranormal until right before then and it was like this new discovery that I loved and still do. I gobbled up all the books and television I’d missed. I was late getting into Buffy and Angel and wondered why I’d let such great stuff miss me.  


DEB: What is your normal writing day like? Do you have to have specific things in place to write comfortably?
LRJ: I get up and shower and then usually bypass my office for a chair in my bedroom with my kitkat sitting by me. We have a routine. She climbs into a spot beside me when I sit down with my coffee. On really cold days we move to a chair by the fireplace downstairs. I write 7 days a week when I have deadlines and that has been all the time lately. I just find I struggle to start writing again if I stop. When I write everyday I find I really feel the creative juices. 


DEB: Do you have advice for new writers?
LRJ: Never give up. I’ve certainly had my struggles. I was not one of those sell overnight stories. Epub, then like 5 NY anthologies and never a single title. Then category – 15 books. Then single title. I just made my first German single title sale and that felt like another baby step. No is part of being a writer. It means you are taking steps to hear yes. So keep taking them!


DEB: What was your reaction when you found out your first book would be published?
LRJ: At every step I was thrilled. Epub, then the first NY novella, then I sold to Blaze and Nocturne within a week and that was a real high! And of course Michael was just thrilling. 


DEB: When you are not writing, what do you like to read? Do you have a favorite genre or author?
LRJ: I love a good historical because I don’t write them. I can just escape. But I love all genres. I adore Urban Fantasy and devoured the Fever series by Moning but also her romances. I love a good Karen Robards RS and every once in the while I have to re-read yet again Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard. 


DEB: What books coming out in the latter part of 2011 are you looking forward to? Yours and other authors?
LRJ: I won’t get to read much this year and I hate it. I do listen on audible at the gym which helps but I have so many deadlines I worry I will get sucked into a  book and be thinking about it not the one I am writing. 


I have two indies out – Hot Vampire Touch out this week and December the 13th is Wicked Werewolf Night. I am excited about those books and I hope that the indie readers finding me will find Michael and Sterling and try them too. That is my goal. Try my indie and hopefully you will be convinced to try Sterling! And of course, its not 2011 but Danger that is Damion is book 3 and I LOVE Damion. I hope readers will too!


DEB: What are you currently working on?
LRJ: Finishing touches for Wicked Werewolf and then a proposal for  a Blaze trilogy and finally I have the 3rd book in a Blaze trilogy and a Spice Brief all due before Feb 28th! I’m busy but I love it. This Blaze trilogy is America’s Next Top Dancer and the 3rd book is a couple I fell in love with when writing the partial for my editor. I cannot wait to dig in and finish it.


DEB: Tell us one thing that readers may not know about you?
LRJ: My maiden name was Pickel lol! Maybe that should be my pen name. I promise you no one ever forgot it in school. I still remember my 7th grade teacher on day 1 – and yes I know his name – Mr. Bostick. He went down role and started laughing and then ask if THE PICKEL would please stand up. Thank you Mr. Bostick for damaging me for life!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of The Storm that is Sterling by Lisa Renee Jones.


~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower or an E-mail Subscriber to participate! (I will eventually be going to e-mail subscriber's only with the changes Google plans to implement in the near future... So sign up to receive Debbie's Book Bag by e-mail soon!)
~ US and Canadian addresses only (Publisher Request)
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST December 14th.


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