Fiction Friday | Getting to know Lisa Renee & Giveaway

Please Welcome Lisa Renee to our blog today for Fiction Friday

Lisa Renee has a new novel out and at the end of the interview we will tell you how you can win a copy.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m from Western Australia. Married to Dave, who’s way more creative and romantic than me. I have seven biological children, and several of their friends call me, “mum.” We love having youths over, making themselves at home. They also don’t judge me if the house is clean or not, so they are welcome anytime. Those more “organised” friends, need to give me more notice. You can’t have it all together, all the time.

When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?

I’m not sure if I was a big book reader as a kid. When I became a Christian at eighteen, I devoured lots of Christian non-fiction books and even started my own catalogue Christian bookstore. It was called, Christian Essentials and back in the day when ordering online was quite new to Australians. People were still cautious to put their credit card details online. Koorong hadn’t updated their website in two years—well that’s what the footnote stated. So, I paid for a website to be built. Once I fell pregnant with my first child, I sold the West Australian business to my sales rep. The funny thing is, when I owned that business, I stopped reading. Perhaps I had too many choices or too busy to enjoy them.

Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and to write?

I write women’s fiction with a strong romance thread. As I’m contracted for five romance books with Celebrate Lit, I’m increasing the romance element. Usually it’s laced with humour. Good old, Aussie humour.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I thought as a young adult I might write non-fiction, which I plan to do one day with my husband. But I hadn’t planned to write fiction. I just wanted to write my best friend’s sister’s story and so I did.

How did you go about becoming an author?

I joined a critique group and read a lot of craft books. Then, once I’d edited my first manuscript a thousand times, with the help of editors and critique partners, I self-published. I worked on my next book, as well as learning how do market in this industry. I have a strong background in marketing and business, but I needed to learn what worked and didn’t work in book marketing. After many YouTube videos, Podcasts, and experimenting, it didn’t take long to focus that marketing laser to bring effective results.

 If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

I like to work in what I’m interested in. When I was into health and learning about organic living, I started Perth Organics. I love writing, editing, and publishing, so I’d take the direction in publishing. I prefer to helping others self-publish, and that’s why I started The Collaborative Press. We show authors how to “fish”, rather than selling the fish.

Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?

Nature walks and sunshine.

Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?

The South West of WA has a beautiful coastline. We visit coastal towns a few times a year.

If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?

Probably Christian authors, like Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury, and Tracie Peterson.

Finally can you tell us about your latest release. Where can buy the book and where can we find you on the web?

I love to set my books in Australia and my first series showcases WA. Polarized Love starts on Rottnest Island, which is thirty minutes off our coastline. I featured the rare Quokka marsupial which my American audience have enjoyed finding out about them.

Beth has served her family and father’s church faithfully, and now it’s her turn to leave the nest and spread her wings. But does her dad push her into the arms of the right man to launch his daughter into her God-given destiny?

When an American sailor, Nick DeHann, arrives on the shores of the West Coast of Australia, Beth is swept away with the promise of high aspirations. As the rushed relationship unfolds, Beth finds herself torn between following someone else’s dream or settling for the comfort of home and all she’s ever known.

Lachlan Peters, a past crush, returns to San Diego from his time in the Navy and tries to gain his footing in a life that has passed him by. Will Lachlan realize what he’s missing out on before Beth commits to another man?

Chock-full of romantic comedy, fast-paced action, and inspirational romance, Polarized Love offers a life lesson on mental health that you won’t forget.

Website https://www.lisarenee.com. au

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisareneeauthorwriter

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lisa.renee.author/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lisareneeauthor 

Giveaway

Thanks to Lisa Renee for offering an ecopy of Polarized Love to one lucky reader. To enter comment on  this post or on this coming Monday’s new releases by September 20. Check the October new releases to see if you win.  Contest rules are listed here.