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| Bio and pictures courtesy of her website and/or blog. |
Today I have the absolute pleasure of interviewing Lisa Desrochers author of Personal Demons published by Tor Teen.
Lisa can be found on her website, blog, facebook, goodreads, and twitter. And the review I did on Personal Demons can be found here.
Bio from her website:
I live in central California with my husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that I can be found without a book in my hand, and I adore stories that take me to new places, and then take me by surprise. Books that changed my world include JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Contemporary authors that I can't get enough of include Melissa Marr, Kristin Cashore, Jay Asher (write something else, Jay!), and Suzanne Collins.
I have a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and my day job is my full time PT practice. Growing up all over the United States has inspired wanderlust and I love travel, which works out well, because my weekend job is lecturing internationally on a variety of health care topics. But, one day not long ago, for no apparent reason, I decided I needed another job and started a night job—writing. Personal Demons is my first novel.
1. Where did the idea for Personal Demons come from? Specifically the tagging for Heaven and Hell, which by the way is a great concept.
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.
The tagging thing came from Luc. I don’t write with an outline. I just take dictation. So, when Luc told me he was at Haden High to tag a soul for Hell, I just wrote it down.
2. Why angels and demons?
Well, with a name like Lucifer Cain, it was pretty obvious Luc was a demon. And, where there’s a demon, there needs to be an angel. :p
3. Why did you choose to write in first person with alternating POVs instead of third person?
Again, it’s all how the story comes to me. I know it sounds crazy, but my characters have conversations in my head or tell me things, and it’s always in first person. It would be a little strange (okay…stranger) if they talked to me in third person. Honestly, I’m not sure how anyone writes like that. It takes more talent than I have.
4. Why doesn’t Gabriel have his own POV?
He didn’t want one. Luc and Frannie talk directly to me, but Gabe always comes through them. Additionally, it makes sense because he can read Frannie’s mind, in which case the reader would have known too much too fast from his POV. But, really, I like that he’s a little mysterious. For those of you who are Team Gabe, never fear. He’s demanding a POV in book three. =)
5. Can you give a little hint at what the sequel is going to be about? (We won’t tell. We promise. ;) ) And how in the world do I get an ARC ;) ?
ARCs for Original Sin will be out in December. All I can say is that there are more angels, more demons and neither side is willing to give in. Frannie also begins to solve some of the mystery of her family. Oh…and someone dies. (insert evil laugh here)
6. How many books are planned so far for the series? Is it just a trilogy or do you expect there to be more?
It’s a trilogy. I’m currently writing Hellbent, which is the final book in the series. Team Luc or Team Gabe? This is your last chance to get your two cents in. =)
*I actually have a ton more questions about the book, but I can’t ask them or I’d give away spoilers for the book. * sigh *
7. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I didn’t. I just started writing one day two years ago, never really meaning to be a “writer.” My daughter loves to read, so I thought it would be a unique gift to write her a book for her birthday.
8. Why did you start writing Young Adult books?
Again, I started writing for my daughter, who was 14 at the time. Everything I write is for her.
9. What is the hardest part of writing YA in your opinion?
Writing YA, for me at least, is much easier than writing adult. Where most people my age are trying to get in touch with their inner child, I’m still looking for my inner adult. I sometimes need to ask my daughter for the right lingo, but other than that, I love everything about writing YA. I get to relive my misspent youth vicariously through my characters. ;p
10. Can you tell us how long it takes for you to write a book and what your work schedule is while writing?
When I’m in writing mode, my characters are in my head 24/7 and I can’t write fast enough to keep up with them. I write ever second I can find, working around my full-time day job, my family and my weekend job. Personal Demons took six weeks to write. Original Sin took eight.
11.What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That other people like them O_O
12. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
A horse.
*Well, that's better than me! I wanted to be a unicorn. :p
13. What’s your favorite book you haven’t written?
One? You’re joking, right? Sorry, you’re getting the list.Graceling and Fire by Kristin CashoreLord of the Rings by JRR TolkienInk Exchange by Melissa MarrDreamland by Sarah DessenAnd a million others.
14. Which of your characters is your favorite?
That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. I love them all.
*That's a very good point. LOL.
15. Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Yes and yes. There’s nothing like reading a great review for your book. When a reader really gets what I was trying to do, and I see it reflected in their review, it’s the best feeling. Reviews that point out issues in the book can be very helpful if they’re written in a constructive manner. I’ve made some small changes to Original Sin based on review feedback from Personal Demons.
16. Which question are you most sick of answering in interviews?
None! It’s always fun to see what interviewers come up with =)
And our most important question, if you were trapped on a deserted island which author would you most like to be trapped with?
John Green. He’s cute and totally hysterical. I’d love to write a book with him where we each do every other line. Just ad lib it and see where it went.
Book Cover and blurb for Personal Demons
Frannie Cavanaugh has always been a bit of a loner. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance, even her closest friends. That is, until Luc Cain enrolls in her school. He's hot, sarcastic, and dangerous—and Frannie can't seem to stay away.
What she doesn't know is that Luc is on a mission. Because Frannie isn't exactly ordinary. She possesses a skill so unique that the king of Hell himself has taken notice, and he's sent Luc to claim Frannie's soul. It should be easy: All he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come.
Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and he's just started making progress when the angel Gabriel shows up. Gabe will do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for, and his angelic charm might just be enough to keep Frannie on the right path.
It isn't long before Luc and Gabe find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie's soul. But if Luc fails to win her over, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.
Book Cover and mini-blurb for the sequel, Original Sin.
When secrets and old histories come to light, Frannie realizes that nobody is who she thought they were. Hell won't give up and Heaven won't give in. Some are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell's grasp.
Thanks for joining us Lisa. We wish you luck with Personal Demons and the entire series!
Great interview! This series sounds pretty cool. :)
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