Lisa Plumley

Do your family and friends read romances? Or are you the Lone Ranger of romance reading?

Join me today at Fresh Fiction, where I’m guest blogging about romance readers, nonromance readers, funny books, whether it’s okay to laugh at fiction, the (totally addictive) Nintendo Wii, and anything else that comes up.

It’ll be fun! Please drop by.

Hi there! I have a couple of exciting events coming up next week (April 14th - 18th). I hope you’ll check them out:

• guest blogging at The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills — join me for a talk about men, women, and whether opposites really attract
• Harlequin Historicals week at Romance Vagabonds — chat with several amazing authors including Michelle Willingham, Denise Lynn, Carol Townend, Blythe Gifford, Georgina Devon, Elizabeth Rolls, Patricia Frances Rowell, Deb Marlowe, Diane Gaston, Julia Justiss, Charlene Sands, Kathryn Albright, Michelle Styles, Amanda McCabe, and Terri Brisbin

It’s going to be fun, so be sure to stop by!

Hi! I’m guest blogging today with the inimitable Lee Hyatt and the gang at Tote Bags ‘n’ Blogs — so why don’t you stop by? You can join the conversation, ask questions, and find out why my lovable dog, Cid, is pictured to the right. (See? It’s not just my book covers that feature dogs!) Please check it out today.

Till later,
Lisa

The lovely Patti Fischer (hi Patti!) interviewed me for the Romance Reviews Today blog, and I was happy to spill the beans about my latest book, my author buddies, the hardest part of writing, and more. We’re also giving away three autographed copies of Once Upon A Christmas (winners to be drawn at random). So head on over, read the interview, and join the conversation!

Till later,
Lisa

People often ask me if my books are based on real people or real events in my life.

On the surface, the answer to that question is a no-brainer. By which I mean: No! Are you kidding me? I write to escape!

Not really. Actually, the plain fact is, most people/daily events are just too…well, boring to make interesting fiction. (No offense, friends and family. You are awesome of course.) Most people go to work every day, go out at night, visit friends on the weekends, practice recreational square dancing in their spare time…you know, the typical stuff. There’s not a lot of drama involved. Not for me and (I’m just guessing here) not for you. Not unless you decide to act on your threat to “get even” with that annoying woman three cubicles down from you who keeps stealing your Diet Cokes from the office fridge. And even then your personal vendetta probably only matters to you, your parole officer, and Ms. Klepto Pants herself.

On the other hand, real life does inform a writer’s fictional world. How can it not? We’re imaginative, sensitive, easily influenced folks. For instance, we often concoct elaborate scenarios in which we deliver the perfect stinging comeback to that snooty waiter from lunch. Or we get lost in flights of fancy (and order the wrong coffee at Starbucks–I hate you, accidental decaf Americano!) after an overheard snippet of conversation sparks a new story idea. Or we walk around sporting togas after viewing an especially good episode of Rome. Just for instance.

No seriously. What I encounter/learn about/fear often makes its way into my books. That’s the truth. That’s why I’m always writing about super studly, ultra successful men. They’re all around me! Adoring me! I can barely swivel my office chair! (Abrupt movement startles the hunks into dropping their peppermint foot-massage lotion.)

No. Even more seriously (for real), that life-bleeds-into-fiction effect is why my heroines are often unsure of themselves, feel like a fish out of water, or make jokes to get through a tough situation. They’re a lot like me, in big and small ways. Some of them share my obsession with cute handbags. Some of them are determined to blaze their own path. Some of them even learn to love football. (Go Eagles! Go Seahawks! Why oh why do I always seem to root for the underdogs?) All of my characters grow and change over the course of a book…exactly like me. Which is, for better or worse, one of my very favorite things about the writing life.

Till later,
Lisa

I’m working on some new story ideas right now. It’s an exciting time. I’m totally blissed out. I’m in the creative zone, tossing off demo versions of witty repartee for my characters, envisioning juicy plot complications for them, and becoming deeply impressed with my own sparkling writer-style mad skillz.

No wait! I can’t lie to you. That’s not entirely true. New-idea-brainstorming time (aka NIB) is actually a scary time. And a thrilling time. What NIB most reminds me of is when I was a kid learning to roller skate. Everyone else made it look SO easy. They cruised around the roller rink, looking tres cool…sometimes even going backwards. They made it look so simple, in fact, that pretty soon I strapped on a pair of roller skates myself and–with a big grin on my face–clump-clopped my way to the crowded rink floor…

…where I immediately splatted butt-first, then wobbled like crazy, and very quickly realized that the only way to stop was to crash headfirst into the wall beside the snack bar. Ugh. Skating was not as easy as it looked.

Neither is coming up with new ideas. Or, more accurately, good and complete new ideas during NIB time. Transitory flashes of inspiration? I’ve got a million of those. I’ve got files, notebooks, scribbled notes and (lately) a personal wiki devoted to those tantalizing it-might-be-a-book story ideas. But fleshed-out scenarios with interesting characters and the sort of comedic premise I love? Not so much. Those take work, and that means sitting down and writing. Plain and simple.

My brain doesn’t turn on until I get near a pen and paper. All my synopses are written in longhand first–a weird and inconvenient quirk, akin to using your new Kitchenaid coffee grinder to wallop whole beans by hand until they’re suitable for making a nice latte, instead of putting in the beans and buzzing them into powdery oblivion like a normal person. But as you’ve probably guessed by now, writers don’t always behave like normal people. Sometimes we do things the hard way.

Will I come up with an idea I love? YES. No question. Partly because I do love to write books. It’s my passion, my dream, all I ever wanted to do when I grew up. So there’s no way I’m letting a teeny, insignificant thing like the challenge of it keep me down. Even if there aren’t baskets of gigantic cupcakes at the end of the road, like I sometimes wish there were.

So stay tuned! I’ve got several ideas down already, with a few more to go. Which ones will (eventually) make it into print? It’s anybody’s guess!

Okay. You got me again. Actually it’s all my editor’s decision. Please send helpful karmic vibes toward NYC!

Till later,
Lisa