Author Interview: LISSA MATTHEWS

Good morning, reader-friends! Today we welcome to the blog Lissa Matthews, who has one of my favorite author taglines: wickedly sweet, deliciously naughty. Ms. Matthews is here to talk to us about her sizzling Blue Jeans & Hard Hats release, Sweet Caroline (coming April 27th from Samhain!). Welcome, Lissa! (Applause!)

What inspired you to write your current release?

An episode of Glee. I don’t watch it on a regular or even semi-regular basis, but a friend told me I needed to see it at least once. I did and it was the Mash-Up episode and one of the guys sang Sweet Caroline. I’ve heard the song a million times, but seeing this kid on Glee do it, just sparked something and I began writing.

If one of your characters came knocking on your door, how would you react?

Would depend on who it was. If it were Jane from Sugar Rush, I’d duck and run for cover because I think she’d punch me. If it were Elise from Simple Need, I’d invite her in and beg her to dish on Vinter. If it were Angel from The Demon is an Angel, I’d run for cover from her, too. Now, if any of my hero’s showed up…well, y’all wouldn’t hear from me for quite some time…we’d be busy!

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be? (Note: this does not have to be your day job if you have one; it can be anything from flapper to astronaut to crime-solving paleontologist.)

You want the list? Pastry chef, owner of a Bed and Breakfast, Christmas Tree farmer, Principle Flautist in an orchestra, archeologist, and a mom (am already a mom)

How would you like people to remember you as a writer?

Honest and real.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since getting published? Are there any writing realities that have surprised you?

Patience. I’m working on it. Perseverance. Even when I want to quit, there’s this drive in me that won’t let me. Friends. I have found some very amazing ones and it’s sad to admit, but most of the time, I don’t even realize how special they are and how much they care about me.

What three things do you absolutely need in order to write?

A drink of some sort (non-alcoholic I mean…), my MP3 player and headphones, and in the last few months, my gray Kyle Busch zipper front hoodie. If you’ve ever seen Wonder Boys and the pink housecoat, you’ll understand the hoodie.

What book is your comfort read?

I don’t have a comfort read. I have comfort movies. Wonder Boys, Something’s Gotta Give, Notting Hill, the Wedding Date, LOTR, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride and Prejudice, and tons more.

What’s next for you/what are you working on now?

I am currently working on the second book in the Blue Jeans and Hard Hats series and X Marks the Spot about the tattoo artist mentioned in Simple Need and Carnal Ecstasy.

Thank you, Lissa! Today one lucky commenter will take home a download of one of Lissa's available titles. Good luck!