It’s a delight to have Liza O’Conner in the Blue Rose Writing Room today. I chuckled all the way through her interview!
Welcome Liza!
So, Liza, what’s one thing you absolutely can’t tolerate during your writing? One thing you can’t write without?
I get terribly distracted if someone is talking. That includes the TV and music. On music, I can turn it down so the words blend in with the music, but the TV must be off.
I cannot write without my computer. When on a 4 month walkabout in Australia & New Zealand, I attempted to handwrite in notebooks. I call them my lost stories, because I can’t read my handwriting.
I have to have silence when I write too. I’ve tried writing with background music, but I find myself singing along. As for handwriting, mine’s horrid!
What’s the funniest thing anyone has ever said to you about your writing? Or the unkindest? Or the oddest?
The funniest might be the reviewer who said they wanted to read mindless fluff and instead got ridiculous drivel (for Worst Week Ever.) I declared we had different values. I have no interest in writing mindless stuff. However, the ridiculous I have great fun with. That’s because reality is amazingly ridiculous. For example: recently Iowa passed a law to allow blind people to carry and discharge guns in public. Next book I write is going to have a blind person carrying an AKA rifle and firing it in the air to kill pigeons in the park so he can take them home to eat. (Finding them of course will be challenge.) But even worse, all those bullets can’t stay in the air. Gravity will call them home. Soon bullets will be pelting the poor citizens of the town like hail. Car windows broken, Women and children running for cover, and because there is nothing they can do about stopping the fellow given he’s not breaking any laws, metal umbrellas will become a huge seller in the local hardware store. And someone will need to pick up all the dead birds the blind man leaves behind.
I still laugh thinking about this scenario.
Too funny; I’m howling here!
Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever written any other genre? Do you plan on doing so in the future?
I write in a great many genres. I began publishing in contemporary/abnormal romance because one critter declared Saving Casey un-publishable based on the blurb. Thus, when Rebecca Royce (a fabulous writer) nudged me into publishing, I selected Saving Casey to open doors. It was a test to see if publishers were willing to publish a great book even if I do break a great deal of rules within it. 3rd publisher I sent it to published it.
And thus began my year of humorous contemporary & romances.
Next year, I’ll finish off with one more book about Carrie, then I’ll do a 3 book series based in the future. (Those are NOT funny. But they are powerful and engaging).
Then I will begin my very funny Victorian mystery series. Of all the books I’ve written, those are my favorite. There are so many (seven books at the present), I’ll probably alternate with Liza’s Life Lesson contemporaries when publishing them.
What historical figure do you wish you could have met?
James Barry, who performed the first successful Cesareans in the world July 26, 1826. But that’s not why I’d want to meet him. James Barry was a brilliant woman who thought her life would be better as a man, went to medical school as a man, and served as physician in her majesty’s army reaching the rank of Inspector of General Hospitals in Canada. In 1864 he was forced to retire. (Perhaps someone found out?) He died a year later. Even then the examining army physician tried to declare him a hermaphrodite rather than a woman. But upon investigation, the army determined James Barry was indeed Margaret Ann Buckley. (That information was kept hidden for a 100 years only released in the 1950’s.) She/he inspired me to create Vic Hamilton, a young woman who decides life will be more interesting as a man during the late Victorian era. Her aunt, an early suffragette, allows Vic to dress and grow up as a man. In book one, Vic meets the renowned sleuth Xavier Thorn and becomes his partner…in all ways.
01.jpg "LIZA O'CONNER IS IN THE BLUE ROSE WRITING ROOM TODAY! 2") |
| James Barry |
I’ve heard of her. So, what are you most proud of about your writing?
People say they have trouble putting my books down.
(I put super-glue on their Kindles.)
Hmm, I’ve never tried that trick. I am considering scenting my books with chocolate though.
What is something you are determined to do?
Sleep more. Due to fan demands, I pulled Oh Stupid Heart, which was planned to publish in early 2014 up to September 15, 2013. That’s a huge change, and to get everything done, I worked 17 hours a day. It took a huge toll on me, both physically and emotionally. So I’m not pulling the 3rd in the series up. No, you’ll just have to wait. I leave you with a sweet HEA-for now. Enjoy the moment.
What are you most afraid of?
I’m pretty fearless. (see bio below)
Tell us something unusual, quirky, or odd about yourself?
I really am a nut. In fact I have a badge to prove it.
I need to get one of those!
Okay, now for the quickie questions: Answer in three words or less. Ready? Go!
Favorite Fruit? Mango
Favorite Hero? Chicken/whole wheat.
Favorite Eye Color? Pink—Can’t work.
Best Vacation Destination? New Zealand
Food you can’t stand? Brussels sprouts (You’d be amazed how often I get this!)
What annoys you? Bugs when hiking
Coffee, tea, or something else? Water, Tea, Vodka
Nightgown or Jammies? Nightgown
Prefer dogs or cats? Jess says Jess
A bit about Liza
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.
The blurb about Oh Stupid Heart
Carrie Hanson is in love with a different species: Trent, a pampered, uber-rich socialite who’s also her boss. Everyone keeps telling her it’s a train wreck looking to happen, but her heart wants what it wants. So despite the billion and one reasons not to, Carrie commits to this inter-species relationship. But while she’s off being trained for her new job responsibilities, a beautiful ex fiancée is working hard to get Trent back and Carrie fired.
Enjoy an excerpt from Oh Stupid Heart.
Carrie Hanson couldn’t believe it. Her four year sex-drought was about to end. She shivered in anticipation until a sinking dread over came her. What if I’ve forgotten what to do?
Trent pulled back from their kiss and studied her, his brow furrowed. “Are you cold?” He reached across her bed and tugged the edge of the comforter over her, tucking the fabric beneath her body so she became a human corndog.
She wiggled out of captivity and scooted across the bed, closer to him. “I’m fine. I’m just happy our horrible week is over and we can start anew. This time not as boss and an employee, but best friends who love each other.”
Trent gathered her to his chest and kissed her. She opened her mouth and met his tongue with her own, giving as good as she got. His soft groan inspired her to do more.
She unbuttoned the waistband of his suit pants and slipped her hand beneath his boxers, determined to move matters along and end her drought forever. He broke their kiss and his hands captured hers.
He didn’t want her?
She turned away, mortified with shame…and confused. Why the hell had he kissed so provocatively if he didn’t want to make love? She tucked her head, so he wouldn’t read all the emotions bouncing around inside her, but he forced her chin upward, his blue eyes somber and concerned.
“Carrie, I have screwed up every relationship I’ve ever been in. I think part of the problem is I gravitated toward glamour girls with no brains and or personality, which I would have discovered, if I had taken a moment to talk to them first.”
Worst excuse ever! “We’ve known each other for two years, in which time I’ve certainly established I’m not a glamour girl.”
Trent chuckled and nodded.
Her eyes narrowed and she growled, “You don’t have to be so quick to agree.”
“But you aren’t. You’re not an image of beauty, you’re the real thing. While I have no complaints about your small, perfect body, what makes you special comes from inside. When you smile I feel like I’m standing before an angel of joy.”
She saw where his thoughts headed. He didn’t want to make love to an angel. She recalled Elvis Presley did something this crazy. He refused to touch his wife after she bore him a child because he couldn’t make love to a mother.
She pulled her hand away and gripped his shirt as she stared sternly into his eyes. “Do not go Elvis Presley on me. I am not an angel. I’m a small, catastrophe-prone woman who wants to make love to you.”
Here’s how you can contact Liza
Buy links
A Long Road to Love
Book Two
Oh Stupid Heart
Book One
Worst Week Ever
Thanks again, Liza, for joining me here today.
