Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.
The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight with Melanie Dobson is Sharon (sami***7)! Please email my assistant Christen with your mailing address. (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com)
This week please welcome Lisa T. Bergren in the spotlight! To win a copy of the newest book in her Grand Tour Series, Grave Consequences (David C. Cook 2013), leave a comment on this post
Share a little bit about yourself. Married with kids? Empty nester? Do you work full-time and write when you can squeeze it in?
Married for 21 years to Tim, my best friend. Our eldest of three is our first to leave the next this fall, when she goes to college. *sniff* *snort* I write when they’re all away at school.
And share something about your writing. What’s your genre(s), your areas of interest…
I write in many genres. I’ve written over 40 books–children’s, teen fiction, devotional, nonfiction, spiritual suspense, women’s fiction, contemporary romance. I often ask people what they like to read because I can pretty much come close to most reader’s favorite genres, except for sci fi.
After you started writing seriously–how long was it before you were published?
A year. God was gracious and opened a door, and then kept on opening doors…
Aside from a cup of good, strong coffee, what helps you get all of your “brain cylinders” firing so you can write well? Do you have any favorite places and routines when you write? How many hours a day do you spend writing?
I like to fill my head with good, thought-provoking nonfiction. Often those themes that God wants me to work on myself, creep into my novels. You write what you know, right? In regard to routine, I’ll not write for a month or two, then write five days a week for a month to get a decent rough draft done. I’m fast, once my research is done and I get my rear-end into a chair to concentrate. I always write at the library, hardly ever at home.
What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication? Writers’ conferences? Writing groups? Your mom as your first draft reader?
Reading WRITER’S DIGEST and going to writer’s conferences.
What are your biggest distractions?
Facebook and Twitter.
What do you least like about being a writer? Most like?
I least like the roller-coaster finances. I most like the flexibility.
What is the role and importance of an agent?
Steve Laube is my agent, and he’s a great sounding board and brainstormer. With publishing’s constantly shifting sands, I wouldn’t want to be without a good agent.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Read a ton of what you love, and then write THAT. Not what you think you should write, but what you can’t NOT write. Passion shows, regardless of genre.
Pretend I’m a customer at a bookstore looking for a good book. Give me a one or two sentence promo to convince me to buy your book.
Like “Downton Abbey?” You should check out my series about a group of Americans in Europe in 1913 on the Grand Tour…
What’s on the book horizon for you?
Rewrite of GLITTERING PROMISES, book 3 in the Grand Tour Series; edits on REMNANTS: SEASON OF WONDER (1st in a new YA trilogy); rough draft of the second REMNANTS; DELUGE, the fifth installment in the River of Time. And all that by end of June! Then, vacation and rest, and REMNANTS #3….
Last question, how can readers find you and your books?
www.LisaBergren.com; Facebook.com/LisaTawnBergren; @LisaTBergren
Most bookstores should have at least a copy of one of my books on their shelves, but if not, they can order it for you. Support your local bookstore! And if that doesn’t work, you can always find my books on Amazon, B&N, CBD, etc, etc.
I would love to read Lisa’s 2nd book of the series! The first just left me hanging!
Great interview! I don’t see how she write so many different genres, but we love to read them. Thanks for the giveaway!
I Can NOT wait to read this.
This sounds wonderful! Great interview and I look forward to reading the book 🙂
I have been really wanting to read this series, thanks for the chance to read book 2!
Jasmine A.
montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com
I love Lisas books! They are amazing and I cannot wait for her new books coming this year! 🙂
I’ve been waiting to read this book. Loved the first one.
Thanks, Suzanne, for this great interview with Lisa — VERY fun!!
Lisa is one of my favorite authors to read, so if I don’t win Grave Consquences here, I will definitely buy it. 🙂
Hugs,
Julie
gsus (at) charter (dot) net
Love Lisa’s books, have many of them!
Susan
tsazspoll at hotmail dot com
I love het books. l hope I win!
Great interview! I love that she writes as the library. The library is one of my favorite places to go. I can spend hours there. I’ve recently become disabled and cannot drive. My Mother will drop me off at the library, then leave to run errands. When she returns, I’m still not ready to go.
This looks like a great book!
I would love to win this book! Looks like another great one!
I’m leaving for college this fall too, just like your daughter!
I’ve wanted to read your books for a very long time now. Can’t wait to!
Lisa’s book sounds wonderful! Thank you for featuring her on your blog, Suzanne!
I enjoyed the interview. Would love to read this book.
Looks like a most intriguing book!
thanks for the chance to read this novel 😉
I love Downton Abbey so I would probably love this series. I’m a librarian and am very impressed that you can get so much writing done at the library. My library is not quiet enough I think. Gasp! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.