Lisa Colodny Interview Published on: 18, Dec 2018

What is the first book that made you cry? What books have influenced your life the most?

Lord of the Flies was the first book I remembered affecting me to the extent that I cried.

I’ve been influenced by a lot of books. Growing up, Rebecca was a big influence. When I was going through my divorce, I think Elizabeth’s Open House, saved me life.

I like a variety of genres and authors.

When you were young, did you ever see writing as a career or full-time profession? What inspires you to write?

As a youngster, I dreamed of writing but when the time came to make an adult choice, I chose a career that I thought was more of a “sure thing.”

I love telling stories. Some of my best memories are being gathered around my grandfather as he entertained me and my cousins with stories of the “old” times.

I am inspired by life around me.

What makes this particular genre you are involved in so special? In which genre do you enjoy writing the most - crime fiction or romantic suspense?

I write in 2 genres, my younger books are centered around the mystery and magic around growing up. I loved spending time at my grandparents with my cousins. It was always an adventure.

The adult stories are usually topics closer to home, marriage, divorce, adultery, living, dying, etc. I love a good mystery and I love writing these types of stories.

How hard was it to sit down and actually start writing "Sanctuary Road?" How many hours a day do you write?

Of all the adult stories, this one was the easiest to write. I had so much of it planned and in my head. It was just a matter of telling it on paper. My writing schedule is mercurial, it’s up and down. There are weeks I don’t write a word, other weeks I’m writing in a whirlwind!

What made you shift from being a graduate with a Doctorate in Pharmacy to being an author? Share your favorite memory from attending the University of Kentucky.

I’ve always written stories, mostly short stories about growing up in a small, rural town. I started considering it more seriously in 2011 after my father passed away. I spent that year considering the company complexity of life and how easily it slips by you. I didn’t want to spend a big portion of my life wondering if I could have made it as a writer. I didn’t want to die still wondering, what if?

My best memory of UK is the first Christmas I was away from home. I was terribly homesick and missing everyone. My cousins hung stockings and started having a secret angel visit every night while I was sleeping. I will never forget decorating our tiny artificial tree to the Partridge Family’s Rockin Around the Christmas Tree.

What has your non fiction publishing experience taught you? What, according to you, is the hardest thing about participating in healthcare related speaking events?

To check my facts and assume nothing. I think having that structure helps me in doing research for the fiction stories. Everyone has a medication question they want to ask, sometimes they just aren’t sure how to.

What inspired you to start writing "Place Where Magic Lives: Into the Woods?" What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?

Place where magic lives was inspired by times spent at my grandparents. I swear sometimes I thought his barn really was magical. My cousin and I would be in there for hours, imaging we were pirates, cowboys, etc.

There are 9 more books planned. I just sent the final manuscript for book 2 to my publisher, Kingston.

What is the significance of the title, "The Town Time Forgot?" Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

I love both of these characters, but the female is probably my favorite. She is a strong character but has an incredible soft side too. One she views as a weakness because of her profession. I started thinking how a story might go if a strong, competent woman of modern times found herself trying to survive in the times of the old west. It sparked a lot of discussion about the changing times.

You have written a children's book, "Ms Abrams Everything Garden", about a teacher investing in the lives of her students. What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good children's books?

I think the child has to be able to identify with the story and characters. That is specifically why I didn’t put a name to the child who is the main character. I wanted the child to see themselves in the story.

What were the key challenges you faced when writing the book, "Journeys?" Is the character of Caren Rivers based on anyone you know in real life?

Journeys was a very different book for me, it was a way for me to use a lot of my short stories. Most of the stories are very personal and I think that is evident in the story.

Every day I interact with the same little woman who mans the tollbooth near my home. I’d been thinking about how she probably became peripherally familiar with a lot of drivers but probably didn’t actually engage. If started me to thinking that there were probably times her assessments were right on and other times, she couldn’t have been more “off.”

How do your characters Dr. Jordan Chamberlain and Dayna Myles differ from each other? If they were to meet, what kind of exchange do you think would take place?

They are both strong women. Whereas Dayna is aware of that from the get go, Jordan’s strength evolves throughout the development of the story.

I think they’d be friends, good friends.

What is your take on the importance of a good cover and title? Have you ever designed your own book cover?

The cover is so important! It has to scream at potential readers to get their attention. I’ve been fortunate to have people create amazing covers for me. I wouldn’t even try to design but I do work with publishers for what I envision the cover to be.

If you could describe your journey as a writer in 5 words, what would they be?

Always looking, growing, evolving.

What do you think the future holds for writing and the book publishing industry?

I think the future is open for writers. There are so many resources. It’s a great time to be a storyteller.

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