Today we’re chatting with the awesome lady who wrote the River of Time series. She’s my new favorite person, and soon she’ll be yours, too. *wink*
Great to have you on the blog today, Lisa! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about this.
Your historical novels for teens are like no other. What inspires and motivates you to write historical fiction for YA?
I love the River of Time series because it’s historical, and yet not-quite. Given that we have contemporary girls there, we can get a contemporary perspective on a wildly different time period. It was fascinating to write, and I think it’s because of that nuance that many readers say, “I don’t usually read historicals but I loved these!” It made it more accessible. And I love history…stories seem to write themselves in different eras.
What kind of research did you do for the Grand Tour series, as well as the River of Time series? Did you do any travelling? (If it were me, I’d probably sit around watching BBC period dramas all day, but I’m sure you were much more studious, right? *wink*)
I’ve been to Italy four times, and France and England. Would love to do more, but the bank account is empty. J Other than that, I read a lot. And yes, I’m a huge fan of Downton Abbey, but I discovered it AFTER I’d written GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS.
I love how you incorporate Biblical principles into your books. Is this ever difficult to do?
Not really. All of life incorporates God at work, and either our resistance or cooperation with him. It’s hard for me NOT to write about Him, given that I think He’s a part of everyone’s life, whether they recognize it or not.
You’ve written a couple of novellas for the River of Time series (Bourne and Tributary). Do you think you’ll do the same for the Grand Tour series? I’m sure we (your fans) would eat it up!
Thank you for your support, but no. I’ll just do the three, full-length novels. I think. Ask me again after GLITTERING PROMISES (book 3) is out. J
What’s the main message you want readers to glean from Glamorous Illusions and the other books in the Grand Tour series?
Our core identity is not the one the world gives us: it’s the one God gave us from the day we breathed our first breath. We are His treasured children. Anything else is just icing on a very delicious cake.
The cover for GRAVE CONSEQUENCES (Grand Tour #2) was revealed just the other day (I’ll admit, I “squeed” when I saw it). Can you tell us a little bit about what’ll happen to Cora Kensington in this installment?
Cora’s finding it harder and harder to avoid what she feels for Will, and he for her. But that is forbidden. So it’s really their story of working that out…when everything seems set against them.
I hear you’re working on a YA dystopian series. Dystopian is my absolute favorite genre, so as you can guess, I’m super excited about this! Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Sure! The title was just set yesterday: REMNANTS: SEASON OF WONDER. It’s about a group of young people, born a couple hundred years after the world’s gone to war and many, many have died. They’re brought together to knit back together the people that can bring the world back from the brink and closer to what God hopes for us.
And just for fun…if you could go back in time and hang out with any historical figure from any time period, who would be your top pick?
Winston Churchill. He seems like such a character with his dry wit and sharp mind! I’d be scared to talk to him. I’d just want to sit in a corner and listen.
Lovely talking with you, Lisa! We’re all on the edge of our seats as we wait to read your upcoming books. *grin*
Thanks for inviting me!
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Check out more about Lisa in these crannies of the internet:
Oh, and don’t forget to check out her books!
Thanks so much for the awesome chat, Shelby!
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