Interview With Lisa
The lovely Lisa has dropped by to have a chat about her novel The Elemental! Here's what we had a chat about...
1. The Elemental is your debut novel; can you tell us a little bit about it?
Well, an author friend of mine said it's Sex and the City meets Charmed, hahaha. So that's the book in a nutshell. But to elaborate, the book is about Catherine and her friends. In daily life she looks and behaves like any one of us, but she is gifted. She is an Elemental, which basically means she can control the elements. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. She has a very strong sense of obligation to make the world a better place and that's what she's trying to do in both her private and professional life. Until disaster comes our way and her powers are put to the test.
2. What was your inspiration behind this book?
Placebo. Not the medical term, the band. Or actually, the lyrics from their Battle for the Sun tour, to be precise. I saw them live at Pinkpop festival in 2009 and while they were playing 'Come Undone' under a purple coloured sky, images floated before my eyes of The Elemental. I realized this much later of course, but that's when the seeds for the book were planted. I think it was two years later when those images came back to me in a dream and I decided to take it as a sign from the Universe to pursue a career in writing.
3. Catherine is a really interesting character; did you base any of her characteristics of your own?
Well, I'm certainly no Elemental and I think Catherine is more laid back about life in general. When faced with global disaster, I would probably freak out and blow the place to kingdom come by mistake, but we do have some similarities. We both play the harp for example and I'm a massage therapist myself. I could just as well have made her a banker, but I know absolutely nothing about finance, so I stuck to what I'm familiar with.
Then again, it's no secret I'm a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, so any mention of meditation or ritual is based on the real deal :-)
4. Do you have a strict writing routine?
God, I wish! No, there's a lot of sighing, screaming and the occasional throwing of iPad or laptop. Thankfully, the good days outweigh the bad ones and on those days I go to my favourite coffeehouse Barista Café and write for up to three or fours hours. They keep an eye on me as well and are constantly nagging me about my deadline. Bloody annoying, but quite effective. I love that place. Most of The Elemental was written there.
5. What do you love most about writing fantasy fiction?
So that's what you call it! I'm still struggling with the genre, you see. Hmmm, what I love about it? I guess I love to make Catherine's world more common to people. What she and her friends are doing, is really not that scary and I'm trying to show the world that gifted people are just as normal as you and me. There's nothing to fear. Well, not more than from your average person. Anybody can choose to lift you up or bring you down. Yes, one could argue that Catherine or one of her friends could do more damage, but that applies to doing good just the same. I'm hoping that people will read the book and think: "I would love to be friends with her." That would really make me happy.
6. Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on at the moment?
I'm currently very busy writing part two of The Fire Trilogy, The Empath. It is basically the same timeline as The Elemental, but from Tristan's point of view. So we learn a lot more about his motives and The Company he works for. It also creates a larger world than The Elemental. There are some new people and people you already know, like Alan, Charles and Roy. It has a different ending though, but you'll just have to wait and see :-)
Quick-fire:
What is your…
favourite colour? Blue at the moment, but it varies
favourite song? Blind by Placebo
favourite book? Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
favourite word? Light
favourite food? Sushi
favourite season? Spring
favourite TV show? I can pick only one? Uhm... Right now, Elementary.
favourite author? JK Rowling. Forever in her debt for creating the world of Hogwarts, love her for it!
favourite animal? Our dog, miss Ginger Rogers. But I love horses as well.
favourite day of the week? Friday! Then you have the whole weekend ahead of you!
Thanks so much for having me Laura, I really enjoyed your questions!
Thank you, Lisa for dropping by! It was lovely to chat with you!
1. The Elemental is your debut novel; can you tell us a little bit about it?
Well, an author friend of mine said it's Sex and the City meets Charmed, hahaha. So that's the book in a nutshell. But to elaborate, the book is about Catherine and her friends. In daily life she looks and behaves like any one of us, but she is gifted. She is an Elemental, which basically means she can control the elements. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. She has a very strong sense of obligation to make the world a better place and that's what she's trying to do in both her private and professional life. Until disaster comes our way and her powers are put to the test.
2. What was your inspiration behind this book?
Placebo. Not the medical term, the band. Or actually, the lyrics from their Battle for the Sun tour, to be precise. I saw them live at Pinkpop festival in 2009 and while they were playing 'Come Undone' under a purple coloured sky, images floated before my eyes of The Elemental. I realized this much later of course, but that's when the seeds for the book were planted. I think it was two years later when those images came back to me in a dream and I decided to take it as a sign from the Universe to pursue a career in writing.
3. Catherine is a really interesting character; did you base any of her characteristics of your own?
Well, I'm certainly no Elemental and I think Catherine is more laid back about life in general. When faced with global disaster, I would probably freak out and blow the place to kingdom come by mistake, but we do have some similarities. We both play the harp for example and I'm a massage therapist myself. I could just as well have made her a banker, but I know absolutely nothing about finance, so I stuck to what I'm familiar with.
Then again, it's no secret I'm a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, so any mention of meditation or ritual is based on the real deal :-)
4. Do you have a strict writing routine?
God, I wish! No, there's a lot of sighing, screaming and the occasional throwing of iPad or laptop. Thankfully, the good days outweigh the bad ones and on those days I go to my favourite coffeehouse Barista Café and write for up to three or fours hours. They keep an eye on me as well and are constantly nagging me about my deadline. Bloody annoying, but quite effective. I love that place. Most of The Elemental was written there.
5. What do you love most about writing fantasy fiction?
So that's what you call it! I'm still struggling with the genre, you see. Hmmm, what I love about it? I guess I love to make Catherine's world more common to people. What she and her friends are doing, is really not that scary and I'm trying to show the world that gifted people are just as normal as you and me. There's nothing to fear. Well, not more than from your average person. Anybody can choose to lift you up or bring you down. Yes, one could argue that Catherine or one of her friends could do more damage, but that applies to doing good just the same. I'm hoping that people will read the book and think: "I would love to be friends with her." That would really make me happy.
6. Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on at the moment?
I'm currently very busy writing part two of The Fire Trilogy, The Empath. It is basically the same timeline as The Elemental, but from Tristan's point of view. So we learn a lot more about his motives and The Company he works for. It also creates a larger world than The Elemental. There are some new people and people you already know, like Alan, Charles and Roy. It has a different ending though, but you'll just have to wait and see :-)
Quick-fire:
What is your…
favourite colour? Blue at the moment, but it varies
favourite song? Blind by Placebo
favourite book? Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
favourite word? Light
favourite food? Sushi
favourite season? Spring
favourite TV show? I can pick only one? Uhm... Right now, Elementary.
favourite author? JK Rowling. Forever in her debt for creating the world of Hogwarts, love her for it!
favourite animal? Our dog, miss Ginger Rogers. But I love horses as well.
favourite day of the week? Friday! Then you have the whole weekend ahead of you!
Thanks so much for having me Laura, I really enjoyed your questions!
Thank you, Lisa for dropping by! It was lovely to chat with you!