Lissa: I live in Beaverton, Oregon, with my husband of twenty years, my two kids, ages 15 and almost 12, and two spoiled toy poodles who keep me company when I write. I attended Beaverton High School, and then earned my B.A. in Business from the University of Oregon in the dark ages. I love to read, of course, and I really like to sew and craft, but haven't had much time to do that since I began writing full time. I walk three times a week, and enjoy cooking and baking, too (maybe that's why I need the walk!).

Joey: Okay, now I want everyone to hear about how you started writing. Tell us the details on why you chose to write romance and the story of how you sold your first book.

Lissa: I have always wanted to write and publish a book, and I've always loved to read romance - I've been hooked since I read THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER when I was fourteen. When my kids were little (circa 1993), I needed an outlet from diapers and strollers, so I began writing a terribly melodramatic historical romance during naptimes. I loved the whole process, and dreamed of being paid to write. I kept at it, joined RWA in 1995, met my fab critique group, and nine years and five books later I sold my first book to Silhouette Romance in December, 2001.

Selling my first book was a dream come true. Long story short, I finaled in a writing contest with another book I had written. I went to the conference, pitched a different book than the book that finaled to the attending editor, and she asked me to send the complete to another editor. I did, and a week later that editor wrote back asking me to revise the book for Silhouette Romance - which meant cutting 80 pages. I did that in three weeks, sent the book back, and sold it eight months later!

Joey: How do you come up with your story ideas? Is it one thing that triggers a new tale? A joint venture? What do you find that inspires you in your writing?

Lissa: My stories usually come from a germ of an idea that generates a title, and then the book. For instance, for my next WIP, I picked my own brain and decided I wanted to write a book about two girls who scheme to get their single parents to fall in love. The working title, THE SECRET PARENT PLOT, sprung from that idea, and the story framework from the characters and the conflict I cooked up. The rest of the book (that's all still up in the air!) will come from that. Actually, I think I come up with ideas kind of backwards (title first, then story), but that's what works for me. Incidentally, the title is crucial to me; I always have it before I start the book, and it's always very integral to the story, integral enough, in fact, that I've kept the titles to all five of the books I've sold this far!

My story ideas are definitely joint ventures with my critique partners. We brainstorm ideas and plots and conflicts and things like that. I then flesh out the book and write it.

As for inspiration, a good romantic comedy always inspires me, as does any well written, engrossing book.

Joey: Your heroines are independent and fun, your heroes strong and determined. Can you tell us a bit about how you develop your characters? Ever use real live people as models?

Lissa: I don't usually use real people as models-too unrealistic *G!* I use a detailed plotting/character device that helps me to come up with characters that have not only enough conflict to sustain a good romance (it wouldn't be a very satisfying romance if the hero and heroine got together at the end of chapter three, would it?), but characters the reader will care about. Plus, while writing, I always keep in mind that I need to show the reader what kind of person the characters are rather than just telling. If I have a hero who is into being physically fit, then I better show him being physically fit, right? Actually, I spend a lot of time on this, and my critique partners are quick to remind me when I try to skate by without building strong, believable, interesting characters. I think this is one of the hardest things to do in a romance, and it took me a long time to "get it right," or at least to the point where editors weren't shooting my manuscripts right back at me.

Joey: Okay, you wrote a series, the "Chronicles." Why a series? Did you plan from the beginning to write related books? How are the books related (other than by title - *smile*)?

Lissa: No, I didn't plan from the beginning to write a series. THE BACHELOR CHRONICLES was intended to be a stand alone book. But after it was done, I was brainstorming ideas, and I wrote down a bunch of words that could be put into hooky romance titles. Of course, I had BABY and BRIDE on the list, and one thought led to another and I came up with THE BRIDAL CHRONICLES and THE BABY CHRONICLES. All of the books are connected by premise - each involves the hero and heroine getting together while working on an article for a newspaper article - and by characters, too. Actually, the fourth and fifth books are connected to the third by character, too. I guess I was on a roll. It's kind of fun to create characters in one book, and then give them their own book later on. The sixth book I'm planning isn't connected to any book - so far!

Joey: Now's your chance to brag about your upcoming works! Feel free to shamelessly promote your book out this month and any upcoming works you have scheduled.

Lissa: Well, since you twisted my arm ... Actually, I'm very excited about the next year-and-a-half. My third book, THE BABY CHRONICLES, comes out January 12, 2004. Then, in December, 2004, my fourth book, MR. COMMITMENT will be released. And then, sometime in mid-to-late 2004, my fifth book, LOVE AT THE SECOND CHANCE RANCH, will be released. Whew! Looks like I'll be busy for a while!

Joey: I like to end with asking authors if they have any advice for aspiring writers that they'd like to share.

Lissa: First and foremost, write, write, write! Then write more. Writing a saleable book is a learning process, and it takes lots of practice. I wrote five books before I sold one, books that will more than likely never see the light of day - they were awful, but I learned from writing them. Treat your writing like a job as much as you can. I sold only after I worked every moment I could, constantly educated myself by attending conferences, and focused on the goal of being a selling writer (and being able to work in my pajamas at home!). Plus, being self-employed as a writer takes an incredible amount of self-discipline; why not establish good habits early on?