Ask the Author: Lisa Heidke
Answered Questions (3)
Lisa Heidke
Hi Susan,
I am very slack at checking my Goodreads questions, so big apologies for the delay.
Great question. Because I am writing contemporary women's fiction, the characters have to be realistic, everyday, relatable women. That doesn't mean that all readers are going to identify with the characters or even like them, but I think the characters have got to be plausible - although with much better comebacks in argument scenes than I could achieve in real life.
Vital element - realistic, plausible characters
The main character is on a journey - generally on the first page my character is faced with a crisis that she's going to have to overcome over the next 350 pages. The crises and conflicts are going to escalate and therefore that character is going to be pushed to consider her morals, relationships and other long held beliefs.
Vital element - personal growth - the character, because of what happened on page one is a different person to the one she'll be on page 350.
Vital element three for me is humour. I don't mean laugh out loud gags every paragraph, however I am not writing a tragedy. I see enough misery on the evening news. yes, I am writing about real women facing infidelity, career slumps, broken romances, naughty children, addiction etc but even in those situations, I think there can be lightness, even gallows humour!
Thanks for the great question. It really made me think.
x
I am very slack at checking my Goodreads questions, so big apologies for the delay.
Great question. Because I am writing contemporary women's fiction, the characters have to be realistic, everyday, relatable women. That doesn't mean that all readers are going to identify with the characters or even like them, but I think the characters have got to be plausible - although with much better comebacks in argument scenes than I could achieve in real life.
Vital element - realistic, plausible characters
The main character is on a journey - generally on the first page my character is faced with a crisis that she's going to have to overcome over the next 350 pages. The crises and conflicts are going to escalate and therefore that character is going to be pushed to consider her morals, relationships and other long held beliefs.
Vital element - personal growth - the character, because of what happened on page one is a different person to the one she'll be on page 350.
Vital element three for me is humour. I don't mean laugh out loud gags every paragraph, however I am not writing a tragedy. I see enough misery on the evening news. yes, I am writing about real women facing infidelity, career slumps, broken romances, naughty children, addiction etc but even in those situations, I think there can be lightness, even gallows humour!
Thanks for the great question. It really made me think.
x
Lisa Heidke
Hi Maureen, I have had another reader say that her copy hasn't arrived either. Which country are you in? There was a slight delay in sending them out to the USA as the first print run sold out but if you haven't received your copy by the end of the week, please let me know and I'll post another out to you. Sorry for the inconvenience. Lisa
Lisa Heidke
Hi Liz, I hope it hasn't accidentally been SHIPPED to you! There was a delay with getting copies - the first print run sold out. Could you wait till the end of the week and if it still hasn't arrived, I will send another to you. Sorry about the inconvenience. Lisa
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