Fall Into Fantasy Event: Lisa Desrochers Interview

This is part of the Fall Into Fantasy Event put together by The Bookish Type!

I want to thank Lisa Desrochers for joining us today!

Amanda: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Lisa: I write books. I wrote Personal Demons. I also wrote Original Sin. I’m writing Hellbent. The rest it pretty boring. =)

Amanda: When did you start writing?

Lisa: I started writing two years ago. If you’d asked me before that if I thought I’d ever write a book, I’d have laughed in your face. HA! ßLike that. But my oldest daughter devours books, so one day I got the crazy notion to write her a book for her birthday. And I did! I caught the bug and couldn’t stop myself. I wrote Personal Demons in February of 2009.

Amanda: Who are your biggest influences (literary, personal or other)?

Lisa: Melissa Marr recently said that Luc reminds her of Irial (from Ink Exchange). I was flattered she’d think that, and it makes sense because she’s been my biggest literary influence. Others are Kristin Cashore, John Green, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and the Bronte sisters.

In life, my biggest influences are my family. My kids inspire me to be a better person.

Amanda: Do you have a favorite literary character or one that you identify with more than others?

Lisa: I can think of at least ten that I would love to be, but none that I really identify with. I’d love to be Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter—all that magic at my fingertips. And, Luna sees all the possibilities. I also wouldn’t mind being Aislinn from Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely. Very cool powers with two hunky guys to choose from? I’m in. Course, Frannie’s spot isn’t so bad either ;p

Amanda: Where did the idea for Personal Demons come from?

Lisa: I was listening to Saving Abel (one of my favorite bands) and reading a bio where they said they got their name from a biblical quote: “there was no saving Abel.” That got me thinking about the story of Cain and Abel, and I was mulling over ideas for a book when a name popped into my head. I thought to myself, Lucifer Cain, what a fun name for a demon. That was the beginning of Luc and Personal Demons.

Amanda: Can you tell us about Personal Demons?

Lisa: It’s the story of Frannie Cavanaugh, a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak and a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. She finds herself caught between Lucifer Cain, who works in Acquisitions for Hell, and Gabriel, the angel sent to protect her, and it isn’t long before Luc and Gabe find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

Amanda: Was there a scene that was particularly difficult for you to write?

Lisa: Honestly, in Personal Demons, no. Some of the scenes where Frannie reflects on her loses are a little emotional, but everything flowed pretty easily and I felt really good about where it was going. Original Sin is another story. It also flowed, and went where it needed to go, but not where I would have taken it. There were some emotionally tough scenes to write it that book.

Amanda: What are you working on now?

Lisa: Two things. One is the final book in the Personal Demons trilogy and the other is a new and super fun project that I’m not talking about yet.

Amanda: Are you going to be making any appearances in the near future?

Lisa: I’ve got several in the next few weeks. I’ll be signing at the Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach, CA Nov. 20^th from 7-9pm, at Copperfields Books in Napa, CA on Nov. 26 from 1-3, and at Borders in Pleasant Hill, CA on Dec. 4 from 4-6. Then I head to Texas. Check my blog or website for updates.

Amanda: Since this is the Fall Into Fantasy Event, what is your favorite thing about fall?

Lisa: My girls’ birthdays are both in the fall. Other than that, I’m a total summer girl =)

 

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