Close Encounters of the Literary Kind: Part 12
Isabelle works at a tiny coffee shop in my neighborhood that I walk past daily. She has a very slight frame, which makes it easy for her to squeeze between the espresso machine and the tall standing thermoses behind the counter. Within this narrow space she has just enough room for herself and her Kindle, and with the view of the front door in place, she can easily see when a customer walks up. Cheers to reading while you work!
1. What book has been the biggest influence in your life?
Bad Childhood Good Life, by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. I think so many people (myself included) use their less than perfect childhood as an excuse to live their lives as perpetual victims because it’s easy. When someone suggested that I read it, I was skeptical. Self-help books are a dime a dozen. But I gave it a chance and soon found myself agreeing with what she said. Bad Childhood Good Life showed me that when you’re a victim, the past is in control of your present but when you’re a conqueror…the present is controlled by your choices. It was very inspiring.
2. What author and/or character do you identify with most?
A few come to mind, but I would have to say Marianne Dashwood, from Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
3. What do you think happens to you when you die?
Sleep? I don’t really think about it.
4. Have you ever penned anything yourself? And if so what’s the recurring theme?
I have several drafts on my computer that I’ve been working on and one day hope to self-publish. It’s about growing up with a bi-polar parent, essentially, it’s a book about my life. I’m not writing because there was anything special about my circumstances, but because I’ve never seen any other books written from this perspective. At least nothing for teens and young adults and I think its important for them to be able to relate to something or someone. Just to know they’re not alone. Growing up is hard enough, having to do it amidst chaos is a challenge in itself. I’d like to tell anyone out there going through something similar that it gets better.
5. If you had to re-live your life as a character in a book, what book/character would it be?
Scarlett O’Hara. I’ve always wanted to wear a hoop-skirt on a daily basis. Just don’t tell my husband that.
Due to the candidness of her answers, Isabelle asked that I not post her photo in our blog. I respect her wishes and am thankful for her honesty (and look forward to reading her book).
Thanks, Isabelle!
Inside the Authors Studio: Lisa Logue Interview
Lisa Logue, author of Cursed Secrets
If you’re a BookRix member, you’ve most likely seen Cursed Secrets by Lisa Logue listed in our gallery. This week I had the pleasure of getting to know the girl behind the book through an informal interview. This BA pursuing, Tennessee transplant is as down to earth as she is articulate. Lisa enjoys spending time with her two sons, her boyfriend of five years, family and friends – who describe her as “southernized”. As you may have guessed, she’s passionate about writing, is an avid reader and is a self proclaimed movie buff. What else has Lisa got up her sleeve? Check out our Q&A below and see for yourself.
What inspired you to start writing? And is that what inspires you now?
I’ve accepted the fact that there wasn’t such a thing as one inspiration for me. I’ve been writing since about first grade and the stories were quite graphic. I think I’ve always been compelled to write about reality within fantasy. The most important thing for me has been creating a world with people who seem real, even if they only exist in my imagination!
What would you like readers to take away from Cursed Secrets / Why should people read your book?
Personally, I don’t have a lesson or a moral that I’d like for people to learn. My hope is that readers can use their imaginations and decide for themselves what they want to take from the characters or the story. I’d like to think that Cursed Secrets is a bit of a refreshing twist on the typical books in the fantasy genre right now. Perhaps that’s the main reason it should be read? The characters are different, the relationships are different, even the story has a few interesting twists and turns that don’t normally occur in a fantasy novel.
We’re excited to hear about the sequel to Cursed Secrets! What can you tell us about it?
~The sequel is titled Binding Secrets. There’s a lot of work to be done still, but it’s coming along nicely. I’ve had several people ask about the fate of Lia and Christian and I can say that some of this will be resolved. However, there are still obstacles to overcome. Some new and old characters will surface as Lia embarks on her journey before and after The Council, adding more drama to the already tumultuous situation. No cover available yet, but one should be released in late Summer!
What made you want to self publish through BookRix?
I’ve always liked the community and I’ve met some really great people. Some of the best books I’ve read have been written by indie authors versus traditionally published books. There are so many different genres and options out there for people to write and read, it’s almost impossible not to find it on BookRix. So, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me.
What do you think are the advantages of publishing through BookRix rather than another self publishing site?
As I said before the community is great, as is the support team. I also found that BookRix is more user friendly than Smashwords and I didn’t have to convert the files myself like the pubIt program with B&N. That was the selling point for me!
Cursed Secrets is blowing up on BookRix. Congrats! How do you feel about its success so far?
It’s absolutely surreal! I can’t even explain how it feels, literally coming out of the gate and BOOM I’m selling like crazy. I think I had to catch my breath! But I’m incredibly humbled by the kind words given by those who’ve read Cursed Secrets. It’s definitely wonderful to know that I was able to convey everything in such a way that it was recognized by my readers the way I envisioned it. I can only hope to continue to do the same thing.
- Cursed Secrets on Amazon
- Cursed Secrets on BookRix
Cursed Secrets, by Lisa Logue
I’ve heard people argue that vampire novels are an ending fad. But those words would never spew from the mouth of a true fan. Twilight wasn’t the first fantasy series to grip readers’ interest with its love story between humans, vampires and werewolves. But this classification of written work may have been the introduction to many if you hadn’t previously read or heard of fantasy/fiction before.
This increasingly popular genre has managed to take various age groups by storm. Which is why I was especially interested to see what our indie authors were working on. This week on BookRix.com, Cursed Secrets by Lisa Logue was the first book to display when I selected ‘Books’ from the nav bar. The cover peaked my interest, as did the blurb and tags (Tags: Fantasy, Vampire, Witchcraft). I downloaded it to my Kindle, took a seat in my arm chair and started in reading.
The storyline is stitched together nicely with a good combination of suspense, mystery and love. Well played, Lisa. After reading it myself, I emailed the book link to my old roommate, an avid Twilight/Team Jacob fan, and told her to check it out. Within two days, she responded with a glowing review and enthusiastically asked if the book was part of a series. I’m not certain, but I suspect it might be.
Whether you’re a huge supporter of the vampire/fantasy genre or you’ve yet to dabble in it, try out Lisa Logue’s latest book, Cursed Secrets. And while you’re it, leave her a review! Here’s how to find it:
