How long have you been
writing?
I started writing in
February of 2013 and have four completed novels published on Createspace and
Kindle in a series called The Emrys Chronicles. My books are about
immortal beings, dragons, and the fight between light and dark inside each of
us and around us.
My new release is a story
about sisters (one of whom is a witch), called Switching Lives. I have
several vampire stories in the works and even a few short stories. I go where
my mind takes me. I love writing.
Have you always wanted
to be a writer?
On a whim, an idea came
to me. I never even played with the idea to write before, but I spent plenty of
time dreaming up fantasies once my head hit the pillow at night. It was time to
write them down.
How do you come up with
your ideas for stories?
Anything and everything
inspires me. I take inspiration from the scriptures, TV shows, books I’ve read,
and dreams I’ve had. When I started my books, I was on a LOTR marathon and
received most of my inspiration from those movies. Many of my characters are
based off LOTR.
Now that I’ve been
writing for four years, the ideas keep coming and I cannot write fast enough. I
hope that as my writing improves the process goes faster.
Do you have any other
careers besides writing?
I used to be a labor and
delivery nurse, so I’m able to draw on those experiences for my novels. Since
my series involves multiple generations instead of staying with the same
characters, the stories tend to always have someone pregnant or having a baby.
Often the pregnancies or deliveries have to do with the plot, so I’m really
grateful for my knowledge.
Let’s talk more about
your new release, Switching Lives.
Give us a Synopsis for
the book:
Sisters should love each
other, not covet each other’s husband.
Lexi Dahl wants to
smooth over issues with her husband, Derick, during a weekend vacation, but a
blissful night of making up turns to disaster when Lexi wakes and life is
upside down. Derick thinks he’s married to her sister, Abby, and Lexi’s poor
girls somehow believe Abby is their mother. At least her brother-in-law, Ben,
knows he’s Abby’s real husband.
While Lexi and Ben sort
out the marriage mix-up, evidence points to the impossible—a spell was cast.
Even though Ben is sick of Abby’s lies and can move on with his life, he helps
Lexi patch up hers. She’s determined to break the spell, but as secrets unfold
and she and Ben draw closer, Lexi’s heart is divided between her old life and
new possibilities—because finding her true self and true love could be just a
botched spell away.
What was the inspiration
behind this story?
I honestly can’t
remember where the idea came from. Pretty sure it started out as a hazy dream,
and the story evolved from there.
Tell us about your main
characters:
Lexi Dahl is a happily married mother of two. In her
eyes, her husband Derick is the ideal husband. “Life is perfect in all its
chaos, and that’s what it is with two- and four-year olds.”
Derick Dahl is a hard-working trauma surgeon. His little
girls are his world. “Lexi takes great care of [the girls]. I know she’s given
up a lot and lost herself in motherhood, but I love her all the more for it.”
Benjamin Lindsey designs office spaces for upscale clients. He
and his wife of five years wish for children of their own so they can emulate
the perfect family that their in-laws Derick and Lexi have. “I didn’t think it
would be this hard. Abby is certain [starting our own family] will only be a
matter of time.”
Abigail Lindsey is a former registered nurse at the renowned
National Cancer Institute. “We just need to simplify our lives. A baby will
come along before Ben and I know it.”
Which is your favorite
minor character and why?
I particularly like Ben.
He has a biting personality and doesn’t take crap.
Your character is at a
bookstore. What book is in his/her hand right now?
For a while Lexi was
reading everything she could on witches so she could break the spell on her
family, but she favors Scottish romances.
Of all the books out
there, why should readers choose this one? (What makes your book stand out from
the rest?)
This story has a
contemporary feel even though it is technically a paranormal romance. I just
loved playing up the dynamics between the two main characters Lexi and Ben.
They start out as brother- and sister-in-law, helping each other out after a
spell has been cast on them. Some crappy things happen to them, and they learn
to lean on each other. Despite the novel’s paranormal bit, the premise feels so
real. It’s real life, with all the nit and gritty. Readers will be able
to relate to Lexi’s and Ben’s issues, while enjoying a bit of the paranormal,
without being in a crazy world of vampires and werewolves.
Let’s shift gears and
talk more about your writing.
What is your favorite
music to listen to while writing?
I don’t write to music,
but I take breaks and listen to music in between scenes and depending on the
mood and tone, it will influence my writing.
Have you ever named a
character in honor of someone you know?
Not really in honor of
someone, but I steal names from everywhere. Most of my names for my emrys
series are taken from Welsh names. I wanted names that were unusual. A few of
my friends harped on the pronunciations, but I prefer my readers to say the
names how they feel. That’s what I do with novels I read.
At what moment did you
feel as if you could say, “NOW, I'm an author?”
When I opened the box
with my first proof copy. As soon as the physical book was in my hand, that
made all the difference in the world.
What is one of your
favorite/go-to writing resources?
I have copied and pasted
so many documents and writing notes off the internet that I’ve made my own Writing
Your Novel from the Beginning guide. It takes me step-by-step through the
writing process.
What other project are
you working on now?
My garden changes every
year. I have raised veggie beds. So far, I’ve been able to keep a lemon and a
lime tree alive for over three winters. I’ve already harvested some of the
fruit!
I’m really involved with
my church. I teach the women’s Sunday school lessons on occasion, and help new
converts learn about my faith.
And the latest side
project—I’m creating a version of the Game of Life based on the TV show Grey’s
Anatomy. It will be tragic. Let’s just say those with the least about of
negative points will be the winner because this game of life has tons of
disasters just like the show.
What book are you
currently reading?
The Change (Unbounded Series Book 1) by Teyla Branton.
Fantastic story and fantastic author.
Do you write/read every
single day?
I have every intention.
I write during the day and read at night.
Do you have any furry
writing buddies? (Or scaled or feathered?)
I have gone through tons
of cats, and right now, I am catless. They’re all buried on the mountain in,
what my parents have, a thriving pet cemetery. The last cat I lost was the
hardest, and because of my husband’s allergies, we can’t have anymore.
Lisa Rector, thank you
for joining us today and for sharing your stories and your writing experience!
–Julie L. Spencer
Author Bio:
Lisa Rector is a
Maryland native and can’t imagine living anywhere else. And no, she doesn’t
like crabs or Old Bay Seasoning. A mountain girl at heart, occasionally, every
so often, she drifts down to the coast and floats away on the beachy breezes.
She married her high
school sweetheart for time and all eternity in the Washington D.C. Temple after
she fell in love with his endless sense of humor. She enjoyed a short stint as
a labor and delivery nurse before becoming a stay-at-home mom for her two
beautiful daughters. In addition to her newfound love of writing, her passions
are gardening, yoga, and her faith in Jesus Christ. Her favorite delights are
decadent homemade cakes, cookies, or brownies—never store-bought.
She has four published
romantic fantasy novels. The Emrys Chronicles. Her novels are an
ingenious look at the power of divine light inside immortals and humans, the
ability to harness the energy, and the choices a person must make when darkness
interferes.
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Check out other books by Lisa Rector
Switching Lives
The Emrys Chronicles:
