Feature Interview with Author Lisa Lickel

 Wow! It's the kick off of the 'ADULT FICTION BLOG TOUR' hosted by authors from the 'John 3:16 Marketing Network'. First off, let me say Happy Fourth of July to all my American friends! Today I am thrilled to feature author Lisa Lickel. I've gotten to know Lisa through the J3:16 Network, and she is such an encouraging person, full of great ideas and advice. She is also a multi-published author who works in 'the industry' as her day job, too. Here is Lisa's bio:

Lisa Lickel's bio:

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin Magazine and loves to encourage new authors. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer, a freelance editor, an editor at Port Yonder Press, a writing mentor, a hostess at Clash of the Titles.com, and enjoys blogging at theBarnDoor.net and ReflectionsinHindsight.wordpress.com. Find her at LisaLickel.com.

Q: You wear a lot of different hats. How do you manage? 

A: To be honest, a lot of days I don’t do well. I tend toward the extreme on organization, and part of that is doing like tasks together. I also like to work ahead as far as possible, so when I have a group of blog posts ready, I post them up ahead of time. I keep a calendar that I try to fill out regularly—and then look at! If I know I’m going to be busy over a certain period of time, I just say no to other things I know might come up, like book reviews. Since I began to edit, however, I have to be more careful about when to schedule things. When I’m writing, I try to do that early in the day.

Q: Your book Meander Scar has gotten some great reviews recently and is also an award winner. Tell us about how that makes you feel as an author. 

A: Oh, thank you. It’s one of those slow-to-build books, and in all reality, my first “real” book that I took care of all by myself, without an agent or without a larger-name publisher to back me up. It’s been a learning experience, from defending the odd title to what romance is all about. As an author, I’m pleased that the book is getting some recognition, although not much yet beyond what I have to promote myself. When people I don’t know start to pick it up, then I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished something.

Q: I know you've got some new releases coming up. Can you tell us about them?  

A: Thanks for asking! Yes, I’m quite excited to have a book coming out with the publisher of Meander Scar, BlackLyon, as yet untitled, but scheduled for release in October. The book is a twining of four stories, two generations of a family who come home during one unforgettable summer when their farm is threatened. Shellie Neumeier and I wrote it together. It’s part coming of age, part dealing and conquering the past and present, and a lot love story. 

Also, I have at least the sequel to my cozy mystery The Gold Standard scheduled for release in April with MuseItUp, a Canadian publisher. It say “at least” because I just got the rights back for GS, and there may something in the works with a re-release, but there’s nothing definite at this point. The Map Quilt takes place three years after Gold Standard, so if you want to know what Hart and a very pregnant Judy are up to now, and how they’re dealing with Hart’s mom’s love interest, the skeleton in the yard, and the murder of Hart’s boss, along with a great new cat, you’ll get your chance next spring.

Thanks Lisa. Here is a sampling of Lisa's published work:

Buried Treasure cozy mystery series

The Gold Standard originally released in 2009 from Heartsong Presents: Mysteries and was recently picked up by MuseItUp, a fast-growing Canadian publisher. The Map Quilt is currently scheduled for release in April 2012.

The Gold Standard: School teacher Judy Winters sets out to solve the mystery surrounding her only living relative’s murder back on the farm where Aunt Louise grew up. She encounters Hart Wingate, a young man renting the adjoining farm who had helped Aunt Louise with farm chores. Midnight visitors, a job offer, and new friends, along with one special old one—Carranza, the opinionated cat—all figure into Judy’s dilemma. Meanwhile, Judy learns that a former friend of Louise’s father, Bryce, lost a treasure of gold somewhere on the farm. As Judy and Hart look for clues to the cause of Louise’s death and Bryce’s missing treasure they develop a close friendship. As Judy explores the house, she finds and follows clues in Louise’s mother’s diary to unearth the buried treasure. But was it the treasure that might have been behind Louise’s murder?

Meander Scar, 2010

This award-winning romance from Black Lyon books is the story of faith, love, and the importance of family. Ann Ballard’s husband, Gene, has to be dead. After seven years of no word, no clues, she is more than ready to get her stagnant life flowing again in a positive direction. When former neighbor Mark Roth, now a respected attorney, shows up and wants to help with the legal aspects, she wonders if she can accept his attractive offer. Mark has loved Ann forever. She was the only one who supported him when his own family was unavailable. Through gentle wooing, Mark convinces Ann that his dream of happiness for them can come true. Together they face disapproving family members and the legal maneuverings of Gene’s elite family. In a bizarre twist of fate, Ann learns what happened to her husband. How can she tell the truth when it may ruin more lives--hers included? Just when Ann and Mark overcome the last hurdle, their lives hit the hardest rock of all. Now it's Mark's turn to be truthful to Ann, himself, and the faith he professes.

 Buy Meander Scar ! 

Thanks to Lisa Lickel for stopping by 'Expression Express'. Stay tuned for lots more on the tour. You can see my interview at Sid Frost's blog this Friday. (Or check Saturday's 'Week Links'.