Author Takeover!
Wolf Mother by Lisa M. White
We have no excuses. This summer has turned out to be way busier than the rest we were assuming we’d get. Now we’re realizing something had to fall through. Turns out it was our blog. Go figure. (sorry to everyone that we’ve missed)
We’re getting it back together now.
Back to author Takeovers, so sorry for the confusion, we love and appreciate everyone that is part of this, and we are trying to do better!
Lisa M. White
Introduce yourself, who are you, what do you do for work, what are your current hobbies, and what is your favorite color?
Hello, I’m Lisa M. White. I’m currently a stay-at-home mum and when I’m not writing, I’m driving my kids to school and sport, tidying up, dealing with our cute but naughty cat, and cooking. My favorite colour is…so hard to choose because it depends on my mood, but if I had to pick just one, I’ll go with purple. As for hobbies, I’m currently a little obsessed with home organizing videos on YouTube. I’m also trying to learn how to do 3D drawings (but I’ve only just started, and I’ve got a long, long way to go).
Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I live in Adelaide, South Australia. It can get pretty hot in summer, but I love it here.
What prompted you to become a writer? Is it something you’ve always known you would do or was it something you fell into?
I’ve always loved stories–reading, watching, and writing them. I wrote my first fantasy story when I was 7 (and a non-fiction book about frogs when I was in grade 1). I always wanted to write but ended up studying science in university (and then naturopathy in my late 20s) under the assumption that it’d be a more stable career than writing. So, for a long time, I wrote a lot of beginnings, but it wasn’t until I was 25 that I started finishing the novels. The whole process of storytelling and painting pictures with words fascinates me. The thing I love most about it is that once you start writing, you’ll spend the rest of your life learning.
About the Book
Elevator pitch your book to us in 50 words or less!
Ooh…. Okay… here goes:
When frazzled, mother of two, Gillian Campbell discovers she’s going through early menopause, she expected things to get hairy (but not inside-knowledge-of-the-world-of-werewolves-and-upset-the-locals kind of hairy). Unfortunately for her, it’s all that, and more. And worse? She can’t tell her husband – the one person she’d vowed to never keep secrets from
A WEREWOLF TALE WITH A TWIST
If you like tales of motherhood, quirky friendships, and a touch of fantasy,
then you will love Lisa M. White’s feel-good werewolf story.
What genres do you like writing?
I’m currently writing a blend of Women’s Fiction with magic (one is Women’s Fiction with Urban Fantasy and another is Women’s Fiction with Contemporary Fantasy/ Magical Realism elements). I love writing stories about women and the issues they face. I’m also writing a middle-grade fantasy series for my children.
Tell us about your writing, what have you currently published, and where can readers find it?
I’ve currently published a novel called Wolf Mother
(I’ll begin work on the second one in September)
Later this year, I’ll be releasing A Touch of Magic
I’m also co-writing a fantasy novel called Poles Apart
Tell us about your inspiration behind your first novel. What inspired the characters in your story?
I’d been a fan of Urban Fantasy for years, loving TV shows like Buffy and True Blood, and reading series like Laurel K. Hamilton’s, but as I’d gotten older, and had children, I found it harder to relate to the younger characters in the newer Urban Fantasy. Because I enjoyed the Women’s Fiction genre, I thought it would be fun to merge the two genres and I had a quirky idea about an Urban Fantasy style story, featuring a frazzled middle-aged mother who discovers the world of werewolves. Partway through writing the first draft, I discovered I was going through early menopause, and the metaphor of menopause and werewolf transitions were just too hard to ignore (hot flushes, hormonal mood swings, random issues with hair…) and so that was incorporated into the story, and from there, the story about these characters in this fictitious country town in South Australia became so vivid, I just had to start writing it.
All The Rest
What genres don’t you like?
I’m pretty eclectic however, I tend to shy away from horror as my imagination is active enough as it is, and I don’t need some of those images in my mind when I’m trying to get to sleep!
What is your favorite book?
Oh, there are so many books! When it comes to fiction stories, I loved Chocolat by Joanne Harris, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward, the Throne of Glass series (and pretty much anything written by Sarah J. Maas). I also love Pride and Prejudice… It’s so hard to choose just one
What does your writing process look like?
My writing process has changed over the years. My current process begins with the spark of an idea. The idea usually dances around my mind for a little while before I put my fingers to the keyboard and I don’t usually start writing until I know how the story will end (not necessarily the specific scene, but the “end vibe” and where my characters will be at the end of it), as well as what the major turning points through the story are, and then I start writing. I usually show my first draft to trusted “alpha” readers and I’ll send it to my editor for a manuscript assessment. Once I’ve applied the relevant advice, it’s ready for a copy edit and then a proofread. I don’t write daily unless I’m working on a first draft or editing, and I tend to enjoy the downtime between projects. I used to prefer writing at night, and then, in the morning, but over the last year, I’ve started writing in the afternoon.
Tell us about some of your goals as a writer!
After having a few health problems over the years, and burning out at the end of 2015, my main goal for the last few years has been to declutter my space and lifestyle, so I can get to the point where I can write consistently and weather the curve-balls life throws a little better (because if you don’t have your health, you can’t write anyway). Ultimately, I want to continue learning about the writing craft, and one day I’d like to send off a manuscript to one of the bigger publishing houses.
What is a book everyone should read?
In my twenties, I read: Women who run with the wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes and that left such a strong impression.
What advice do you have for new writers?
When you’re just starting out, it’s so easy to be overwhelmed by all the things – from marketing to the actual writing of your book. My advice is to prioritize working on the craft by reading craft books, reading fiction books (published by the big publishing houses, as well as other indie authors), and writing. You’ll learn so much about your own writing when you get your writing edited by a professional editor, too.
Thank you to all of the authors and readers that have been patient with us. I promise we are trying to get back on schedule, so just bare with us while we learn to balance everything.
As always, find Chloe and Dana with the links below, and keep an eye out for some exciting announcements coming soon!