Ask the Author: Lisa Y. Potocar
Answered Questions (11)
Lisa Y. Potocar
I am fascinated with everything to do with Merlin, King Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table. Walking a million miles in Merlin's shoes as protectorate of King Arthur would be SO WICKED COOL!!!
Lisa Y. Potocar
Sorry I'm late to the plate on this question (how appropriate to say, since I'm in the thick of watching the MLB playoffs--GO YANKS). My summer 2019 reading comprised mainly books to do with my research for the third novel in my "Glory: A Civil War Series". They provided some good ammunition for inclusion into my main plot and were:
1. Rebel Gold: One Man's Quest to Find the Hidden Treasure of the Confederacy by Warren Getler and Bob Brewer
2. Thirty-Six Years in the White House by Thomas Franses Pendel
3. The Treasure Train: The Story of the Confederate Gold by Bob Young
I think you can obviously predict what the third book in my series will involve--LOL!! Although, it will involve a missing army payroll versus Confederate treasure.
1. Rebel Gold: One Man's Quest to Find the Hidden Treasure of the Confederacy by Warren Getler and Bob Brewer
2. Thirty-Six Years in the White House by Thomas Franses Pendel
3. The Treasure Train: The Story of the Confederate Gold by Bob Young
I think you can obviously predict what the third book in my series will involve--LOL!! Although, it will involve a missing army payroll versus Confederate treasure.
Lisa Y. Potocar
This was my first horror story, and I found it to be a very fun exercise. I hope you enjoy my two lengthy sentences--LOL! Here they are:
To a familiar voraciousness behind the paws padding across the kitchen linoleum, I dried my soapy hands, fetched a bone-shaped biscuit from a canister, and said, “Trick or Treat,” as I turned to hold out the cookie. I let out a guttural scream to match the ferocity of the growl when in my cuddly canine’s place stood my also once-cuddly but long-dead canine, his mouth salivating blood and fur and his savage eyes feasting upon my hand—the one void of a dog treat.
To a familiar voraciousness behind the paws padding across the kitchen linoleum, I dried my soapy hands, fetched a bone-shaped biscuit from a canister, and said, “Trick or Treat,” as I turned to hold out the cookie. I let out a guttural scream to match the ferocity of the growl when in my cuddly canine’s place stood my also once-cuddly but long-dead canine, his mouth salivating blood and fur and his savage eyes feasting upon my hand—the one void of a dog treat.
Lisa Y. Potocar
Thank you for this fun question and allowing me to entertain you--I hope--through the following story, which is definitely going to sound whacky perhaps to even those of you who believe in the supernatural. But I assure you it's true, based upon solid corroboration.
When I was in my teens, I had just shut out the light from studying for an exam the next day, and I was wide awake reviewing some of the material when an apparition came to me. (I would describe its appearance more like the static that you'd see on a blank television screen versus the white transparent wispiness we all associate with ghosts). Although its face was unrecognizable, it clearly had blond hair and wore blue jeans & a yellow T-shirt. It kept calling out my name as it sat down on the bed beside me and began stroking the back of my hair. Needless to say, I was so freaked out, I let out a shriek and turned away from it until I felt my mattress fluffing back up. When all quieted, I turned back once to find the apparition still standing there gazing upon me, and the next time I turned away and back, it had disappeared. I tried calling out to my twin, who was sound asleep in her adjacent bed, but my voice was frozen. The next day, I told my boyfriend all about it; my adamancy and vivid description made him a believer. (Actually, this same boyfriend married me, and we've been together for thirty years--proof he didn't think I was nutty--LOL). Other than my twin sister, I never shared this occurrence with anyone else until. . .
. . .fast-forward to two years later. I was in college when my boyfriend/ husband, apart from me in distance, was speaking with this relative about an out-of-body experience they once had (when they lived far away from me) in which they stood outside of my house desperately trying to get inside to warn me that Armageddon was nearing and to be with me for those final days on earth. My boyfriend recalled my experience and mentioned it. (Remember that the apparition was faceless, so I would never have known who visited me on that night to have ever spoken with them about it). When he corroborated the date, day of the week, and hour of my relative's occurrence, it matched my timeframe exactly! My relative and I could remember the date with such precision because we both had significant events happening in our lives that coming weekend, such as a wedding for me. Also, remember that the apparition had blond hair, and this relative does!
But there is one last tidbit to this story that my relative and I believe might've linked us on that particular night. I've always been all about being well-rounded in subjects, from which to farm ideas for stories. Although, I'm not particularly religious, at the time of this supernatural experience, purely out of curiosity to learn, I would read several passages in the Bible before I shut out the light. At this same time, my relative was troubled and had turned to the Bible for guidance.
Okay, so what about a story? Without giving away too many of the details, for years, I've been churning over an idea for a YA contemporary story that revolves around my supernatural experience and twins (actually, triplets) since I am a twin, who was supposed to be a triplet--believe it or not, there is a real mystery around that discovery as well! But that's a story for another day.
For now, though, I'm drawn to writing YA historical novels set during the American Civil War. Who knows? There just might be a way to set the supernatural twin plot into an antebellum setting.
Anyone else have a story like mine to share? I'd love to hear from you!
When I was in my teens, I had just shut out the light from studying for an exam the next day, and I was wide awake reviewing some of the material when an apparition came to me. (I would describe its appearance more like the static that you'd see on a blank television screen versus the white transparent wispiness we all associate with ghosts). Although its face was unrecognizable, it clearly had blond hair and wore blue jeans & a yellow T-shirt. It kept calling out my name as it sat down on the bed beside me and began stroking the back of my hair. Needless to say, I was so freaked out, I let out a shriek and turned away from it until I felt my mattress fluffing back up. When all quieted, I turned back once to find the apparition still standing there gazing upon me, and the next time I turned away and back, it had disappeared. I tried calling out to my twin, who was sound asleep in her adjacent bed, but my voice was frozen. The next day, I told my boyfriend all about it; my adamancy and vivid description made him a believer. (Actually, this same boyfriend married me, and we've been together for thirty years--proof he didn't think I was nutty--LOL). Other than my twin sister, I never shared this occurrence with anyone else until. . .
. . .fast-forward to two years later. I was in college when my boyfriend/ husband, apart from me in distance, was speaking with this relative about an out-of-body experience they once had (when they lived far away from me) in which they stood outside of my house desperately trying to get inside to warn me that Armageddon was nearing and to be with me for those final days on earth. My boyfriend recalled my experience and mentioned it. (Remember that the apparition was faceless, so I would never have known who visited me on that night to have ever spoken with them about it). When he corroborated the date, day of the week, and hour of my relative's occurrence, it matched my timeframe exactly! My relative and I could remember the date with such precision because we both had significant events happening in our lives that coming weekend, such as a wedding for me. Also, remember that the apparition had blond hair, and this relative does!
But there is one last tidbit to this story that my relative and I believe might've linked us on that particular night. I've always been all about being well-rounded in subjects, from which to farm ideas for stories. Although, I'm not particularly religious, at the time of this supernatural experience, purely out of curiosity to learn, I would read several passages in the Bible before I shut out the light. At this same time, my relative was troubled and had turned to the Bible for guidance.
Okay, so what about a story? Without giving away too many of the details, for years, I've been churning over an idea for a YA contemporary story that revolves around my supernatural experience and twins (actually, triplets) since I am a twin, who was supposed to be a triplet--believe it or not, there is a real mystery around that discovery as well! But that's a story for another day.
For now, though, I'm drawn to writing YA historical novels set during the American Civil War. Who knows? There just might be a way to set the supernatural twin plot into an antebellum setting.
Anyone else have a story like mine to share? I'd love to hear from you!
Lisa Y. Potocar
This is a great question! My favorite couple is probably the same as for many other readers: Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. These characters are so well developed that the reader feels their every emotion as they struggle to overcome their pride and prejudices against one another, and although their clashes due to their societal class differences are set in a bygone era, they are still identifiable to and thrilling for the contemporary reader.
Lisa Y. Potocar
My advice for aspiring writers will sound like a scratched 45 (record) skipping along until the operator nudges the phonograph needle. Now, that you know my approximate age, here it goes. . .here it goes. . .(nudge) here it goes:
1. Learn the craft!!!!!! Read the genre in which you wish to write, including how-to books, and most importantly attend writers' conferences and workshops.
2. Find a critique group or a writing coach.
3. Understand that your manuscript/project will probably need many, many edits beyond the first draft.
4. Write every day!!! I don't necessarily mean committing words to paper or computer because there will be many days when you can't do that, but in your head you can be working out creative bumps or plotting out a new chapter or practicing writing a character or scene by describing an observation in real-time or getting a jumpstart on your study of the market to find the right agent or publisher or setting up your social media platform.
I'm sure there's more, but I'll leave it at that--for now.
1. Learn the craft!!!!!! Read the genre in which you wish to write, including how-to books, and most importantly attend writers' conferences and workshops.
2. Find a critique group or a writing coach.
3. Understand that your manuscript/project will probably need many, many edits beyond the first draft.
4. Write every day!!! I don't necessarily mean committing words to paper or computer because there will be many days when you can't do that, but in your head you can be working out creative bumps or plotting out a new chapter or practicing writing a character or scene by describing an observation in real-time or getting a jumpstart on your study of the market to find the right agent or publisher or setting up your social media platform.
I'm sure there's more, but I'll leave it at that--for now.
Lisa Y. Potocar
The fastest, easiest, and most fun way for me to deal with writer's block is in brainstorming with my husband and cuddly keeshonds while we're hiking in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. If that doesn't do the trick, I return to my research to pan for gold. One time, it took me an entire month before I struck upon a notion around which to craft the missing piece of the puzzle. I additionally benefitted because I farmed new ideas for stories, which I'm preparing to write soon!
Lisa Y. Potocar
The best (most glorious) thing about being a writer (of historical fiction novels) is in the magic of story-building. Whether it's at the end of a productive writing day or the entire story, it's thrilling to look back and see the twists and turns in the metamorphosis of an original idea to its final state. Also, it's thrilling when I'm able to weave in the exciting morsels that I've exhumed from my research.
Lisa Y. Potocar
What am I currently working on? YIKES! A few things:
I'm definitely working on:
1. A one-hour presentation that correlates to the theme of my recent release and sequel to Sweet Glory, Train to Glory, about women's suffrage and equal rights. The impetus behind this project roots from invitations for a repeat performance at historical venues where I presented about women soldiers in the American Civil War.
I have loosely sketched ideas for the following:
1. The salvaging of a full-length YA historical (Civil War times) novel that I wrote some time ago and that I used as a stepping stone/practice for the writing of my first publication, Sweet Glory. It's challenging to meld new ideas into old ones.
2. Another YA historical (Civil War times) novel that has me really excited! Its story spawns from my research during the writing of Sweet Glory about women soldiers in the American Civil War.
3. A third book in the Sweet Glory/Train to Glory series--the idea of which I can't seem to shake from my head!
Since I'm generally not one to work on more than one story at a time, I'm not sure which of the above will win out for my next writing venture.
Whew--my head is swimming just telling you about my projects--LOL!
I'm definitely working on:
1. A one-hour presentation that correlates to the theme of my recent release and sequel to Sweet Glory, Train to Glory, about women's suffrage and equal rights. The impetus behind this project roots from invitations for a repeat performance at historical venues where I presented about women soldiers in the American Civil War.
I have loosely sketched ideas for the following:
1. The salvaging of a full-length YA historical (Civil War times) novel that I wrote some time ago and that I used as a stepping stone/practice for the writing of my first publication, Sweet Glory. It's challenging to meld new ideas into old ones.
2. Another YA historical (Civil War times) novel that has me really excited! Its story spawns from my research during the writing of Sweet Glory about women soldiers in the American Civil War.
3. A third book in the Sweet Glory/Train to Glory series--the idea of which I can't seem to shake from my head!
Since I'm generally not one to work on more than one story at a time, I'm not sure which of the above will win out for my next writing venture.
Whew--my head is swimming just telling you about my projects--LOL!
Lisa Y. Potocar
I get inspired to write by reading other great works of historical fiction, and when through my book or road research, I exhume some really exciting morsel that I can weave into my stories. Also, my most favorite hobby is hiking, which I often find tremendously rejuvenating, especially when it helps to clear my mind of writer's block.
Lisa Y. Potocar
The idea for my new book, "Train to Glory", spawned from the first book in this two-book series. After "Sweet Glory's" release, readers began suggesting that I write a sequel; I had no choice but to develop a storyline that could logically follow the point in Civil War history where "Sweet Glory" ends. I discovered in my research that activists for women's suffrage and equal rights had decided to halt their campaign during the Civil War in order to put all of their efforts into the abolition of slavery and providing for the soldiers. I figured that when the war started to wind down, they would have hopped on any means by which to re-ignite their movement. Who better to turn to than a woman soldier, who could prove that if they have a mind to it, women should be granted the chance to tackle anything a man can? And the rest is--as they say--history (pardon the pun)!
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