Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "crooked-moon"

I'm thrilled to be introducing you to my guest today, author Lisette Brodey. I met Lisette on Goodreads about 2 years ago, maybe more. We have also connected on MySpace and numerous other social networking sites. She has become a good friend. It's a hectic life being a self-published author and doing your own promotion, but Lisette always finds time to drop me a line every month or so to check up on me and see how I'm doing. I have found her to be very caring; a really genuine friend.

As well as being a fabulous person, she is also a very talented author. I fell in love with her book Crooked Moon, and am eager to find time to read her other novels (Squalor, New Mexico, and her latest -- to be published towards the end of this year: Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!).

In addition to answering my interview questions, Lisette has very generously agreed to give away a signed, personalized ebook copy of Crooked Moon or Squalor, New Mexico. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below. We'll do a random draw on 25th April 2011, and contact the winner directly! Also, at the end of the interview, Lisette has given details of promotional codes you can use to purchase both of her books on Smashwords for just $2.99 each, until 1st May 2011!



Here are Lisette's replies to my interview questions:

When did you first discover your love of writing?

As early as I can remember. My first recollection of writing was a song I wrote at the age of five or six. Throughout the years, I wrote poetry, short stories, and random essays. Interestingly, poetry, short stories, and essays are things I never write now.

Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

Absolutely. Build a network. Don’t wait until your book is published. That’s way too late. It’s very important to remember that building a network means supporting other authors’ work.

If you are planning to self-publish, don’t be so excited that you rush to publication without taking the necessary steps. I can’t stress the importance of getting your manuscript professionally edited. Many writers have little or no budget so they often skip this step. Don’t do it. Just look around. There are many competent editors who will work for a very reasonable fee. Looking for an editor ahead of time will greatly increase a writer’s chance of finding a competent professional.

Take the time to have a great cover done. There are many artists looking to build a portfolio who will do work very reasonably or perhaps even barter services. Although it may be true that you cannot judge a book by its cover, books are indeed judged by their covers every day.


I have read and enjoyed Crooked Moon, in fact it’s one of my favourite ever books. The characters all seem so real.  I especially liked the way you portrayed the relationship between Frankie and Callie. Do you ever base characters on people you know, or are they always entirely fictional?

Most of my characters are hybrids of people I know or have known, or types of personalities that I am familiar with. Frankie Cavalese, one of the two main characters in Crooked Moon, is based on someone close to me, but she is NOT that person. Even if a character is not based on someone I know, it is important for me to have a visual of the person on which I can build a character of substance.



Who do you relate to more, Callie or Frankie?

Interesting question. While there are parts of me that relate to each woman, overall, I would probably say Frankie.

I’m hearing some good things about your young adult book, Squalor, New Mexico.  Firstly, lets deal with that title, it’s quite unusual, how did you come up with that?

All throughout my life, whenever I heard someone described as, “living in squalor,” it always sounded like a place to me. One day, I had a vague idea of writing a book and making the first line “My aunt lived in Squalor.” Years later, I was finally ready to get to work on this idea. I wrote the first line, which became: “My aunt Rebecca lived in Squalor.” Then, around that one line, I built the story of a family and their secrets, encompassing many layers and many years.



What is Squalor, New Mexico about, and how does writing a young adult novel compare with writing an adult novel? Are there any tips you can give to writers of the genre?

Squalor, New Mexico is the story of Darla McKendrick, who, at nine years old, overhears her mother and her aunt Didi talking about their sister, Rebecca. Darla is intrigued by the mention of this mysterious aunt and immediately has questions for her mother. It isn’t long before Darla realizes that while no one wants to tell her the truth about Rebecca, they seem to talk about her quite a bit, especially when they think Darla is out of earshot.

The book covers Darla’s life beginning at age nine until the age of sixteen; it is the evolving story of her discoveries and simultaneous coming of age.

It’s funny you should ask me about tips for writers of the genre. I’ll share a secret with you: I had no idea I was writing a young adult book. I set out to write a coming-of-age story that was shrouded in family mystery. It naturally fell into that genre. My advice would be that if you are writing about teens, listen to teens. Remember your own childhood. That was key to me in writing this novel.

Crooked Moon is an adult contemporary fiction book, Squalor, New Mexico is a young adult book, and your new book, due to be released later this year, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!, is a women’s fiction novel.  That’s quite a diverse range of writing.  Does that reflect your own reading tastes?

Crooked Moon is closest to my own reading tastes by a landslide. I wrote each book for a very different reason. My fourth novel will likely be closer to Crooked Moon. Since publishing my own books and meeting so many fellow authors, my reading of other genres has expanded. I just love a good story with believable characters that is well written and pulls me in. The genre is secondary to good writing.


Which one of your books was the most fun to write?

I don’t have an answer for this. I only remember how much I enjoyed writing certain parts of certain books, either because they were emotional, poetic, funny, absurd, or shocking.


How long does it usually take you to write a novel? And which book took the longest to write?

If I could just focus on the writing of a novel itself, I might finish one in six months time to a year. The book that took me the longest is my upcoming third novel, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! The reasons for that are many. First, when I wrote Squalor, New Mexico and Crooked Moon, it was a very different world. There were no social media and no networking to worry about. It was much easier to just write.

I began writing Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! in 2006 because I saw that women’s fiction and chick lit were popular genres. When I discovered in 2007 that self-publishing was feasible for me, I put Molly on hold to publish my two already written books. In 2009, I went back to the half-written Molly manuscript, and it was quite a job to make every nuance of the character and the storyline current in my brain. Although this book is a comedy/drama and more lighthearted than the first two, it has more small details, and it was not easy to write.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

My favorite books have been the ones that I have seen as literary masterpieces: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and many other writers.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

With so many books to read, I don’t believe I have ever read one more than once. That said, there are so many I would love to read again. It’s all about having time. With time, I would read everything!

What was the last book you read?

David Copperfield.

Are you reading a book at the moment?

The Language of Trees by Ilie Ruby

What do you think of ebooks?

I think ebooks are fabulous, but I don’t want to see paper books disappear from our lives. I think that the ease of reading ebooks and the pricing make it so much easier for authors to get their work read. I read books on my Kindle and my phone, but I also hold paper books in my hand. There is no substitute for the warmth of a room filled with shelves of books, or for browsing through an old bookstore or physically picking up books in one’s personal library to find one that suits your mood.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

They are very important because they give prospective readers an idea of what other people are thinking. I take into consideration that taste is subjective. There is no one book that everyone loves. Reviews are also important to me because I learn a lot about what readers took from my work. I’ve learned a lot from reading the way different people describe my work; it helps me know my audience, too.


How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?

For Crooked Moon, I was set from the beginning on showing the Philadelphia row houses in which the two main characters, Frankie and Callie grew up, as it is also the home where a great deal of the story continues. After taking photographs of houses that matched the ones in my story, an artist then turned the photograph of my choice into an illustration, adding the elements that made it come alive.

For Squalor, New Mexico, which has such an unusual title, it was important give the reader a clear picture of what the book is about. That is why I ultimately decided to show Darla peeking around a door, listening to her mother and aunt whispering secrets.

With Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! I described Molly in depth to the artist (Goodreads author, Megan Hansen), and she brilliantly drew the character as I had envisioned her.

You’ve recently launched a blog for your new women’s fiction book titled: Molly Hacker Is Too picky!.  I understand that the blog will be written as if by your character, Molly, rather than by you.  This is a fun idea, how did you come up with it?

A friend of mine, who is an author and author success coach, gave me the idea. She suggested the blog would be the best way to build a book platform and introduce Molly Hacker to the world before the publication of her book.

Summarise your book, Molly Hacker is Too Picky!, in three or four sentences.

Molly Hacker is a 32-year old snarky, overanalytical, and husband-seeking reporter working for the Swansea Herald, a newspaper covering an old-money bedroom community of New York City. Molly battles interference from friend and foe alike in her search for true love.



Where can people buy your books?

The paperback editions of Crooked Moon and Squalor, New Mexico can be purchased on Amazon.com.

The ebook editions of these novels can be purchased through most major retailers, including Amazon, BN.com, Smashwords, and OmniLit.


Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?

My general website is Lisette Brodey

My Facebook Author page is Facebook. On this page, I have the most up-to-date announcements on everything that I am doing.

My Goodreads.com profile also has lots of information about my books and is linked to my blog. Lisette Brodey

Readers can meet my character, Molly Hacker, at Molly Hacker. Molly blogs every Monday.

Molly also has put out her first video, which can be seen on YouTube: Molly Hacker on YouTube, as well as on Molly’s blog site.

And, of course, there are numerous reviews of my work on Amazon.com.

Thank you for answering my questions, Lisette. I understand that you would like to offer promotional codes to readers of my blog for a limited period, can you tell us more about that?

I am offering a special promotion to all readers of this blog. From now until May 1, both of my novels can be purchased at Smashwords for only $2.99 each.

Please use the following promotional codes:

CROOKED MOON: RY75D
SQUALOR, NEW MEXICO: RN83N

Thanks, Lisette!

Remember, to be in with a chance of winning an ebook of either Crooked Moon or Squalor, New Mexico, leave a comment below.

Good luck!!

Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! Will be available to purchase later in the year. Follow Lisette's dedicated blog for more information.

My latest interview can be found by clicking on the following link:

Molly Hacker's blog

I'm also giving away one paperback copy of my latest novel,The Dream(It's an international competition). Leave a comment on Molly's blog to enter!



Molly Hacker is a fictional character created by the author Lisette Brodey. Lisette has appeared on my blog in the past talking about her books. I am a fan of hers. If you haven't read her book Crooked Moon, you must go and buy it now! It's excellent.



Lisette's novel, 'Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!' is due to be released later this year.

Followers of my blog may remember that I interviewed author,Lisette Brodey last year about her book Crooked Moon and her latest novel,Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!.
I thoroughly enjoyed Crooked Moon, and it's one of my favourite books ever, so I was looking forward to readng another of Lisette's books. I recently found time to read Squalor, New Mexico. After reading that, I invited Lisette back here to talk about it. She is an author who deserves to be read. She has the rare talent of being able to create many varied and realistic characters in her books. Her stories are modern, but the messages contained within them are timeless. It's a pleasure to welcome her back here.




Here is the interview:

The main characters in Squalor are teenagers and I thought that they were all very realistic as if you'd really got into the mind of a teenager when writing the book. In particular, the narrative is in the first person and Darla, the protagonist is telling her story; I could really feel her passion and frustration coming across in the way the story was told. What kind of research did you do into teenage behaviour? Or was it a matter of recalling your own teenage experience?





Hi, Maria. Thanks so much for having me as a guest again on your blog. It’s great to be here.

The writing of Darla’s character came from my own childhood. Like Darla, I was very determined and didn’t give up easily, though I would not say that I am Darla. Nor is her story mine.

When Darla was nine years old, after overhearing a conversation between her mother and her aunt, she learned that they had a sister she had known nothing about. I think that most people would be curious to learn of a “mystery relative.” When Darla asks her mother about Aunt Rebecca, she is given a bare-bones answer, just enough to satisfy her. But as time goes on, things happen, and Darla becomes painfully aware that her mother is being less than forthcoming. It was really important to me to show Darla’s frustration, coupled with her growing pains and the desire to do right by her parents while standing by her individuality.

Many of the crazy teenage stunts in the book are quite reminiscent of my own childhood.

This is a silly question, so bear with me. What does 'skeive' or 'skieve me out' mean? Your character Melanie uses it a lot!

That is a very good question. “Skieve me out” was a common expression when I was growing up on the East Coast of the United States meaning “gross me out.” “Skievy” meant vile, disgusting or unnaturally uncomfortable. Some people spell it “skeeve.” As you know, Maria, although the book is titled Squalor, New Mexico, it takes place in East Coast suburbia in the 1970s and has nothing to do with New Mexico. That said, I have come to find that the word is regional and not known by all. I first learned that when a woman who grew up in California asked me what it meant. Not sure of the origin, but that’s what the word means to me.

Darla meets an elderly woman, Victoria, in a care home when her cousin May takes her to visit. Victoria is one of my favourite characters in the book. She is so wise. Again, I was impressed at how you really seemed to be writing her dialogue from the perspective of someone with over 70 years of life experience. There are real lessons to be learned from what Victoria says. How did you go about creating that character?

Victoria, like all of my characters, is a hybrid of people I have known. Prior to writing the book, I was visiting an 87-year-old friend of mine, Marjory, in a rehab facility. She was a very sharp woman and we had much in common. She didn’t live in the facility, but during her stay she had a lot of the same complaints as Victoria: being served dinner at ridiculously early hours, being talked to as if she were a child, and so on. My feelings about the place and my memories of what she told me were a contributing factor, but Victoria’s character just came to me, and as many characters do, she told me what she had to say and I simply typed out her words.

Although classed as a Young Adult book, I understand that you prefer to think of Squalor as general fiction, and I agree. I think it's suitable for all ages. The thing that struck me most about it is how many diverse characters there are in the book. There are teenagers, parents, drug addicts, loose women, elderly people, eccentrics, drunks. All are well drawn and believable. Having also read your first novel, Crooked Moon (which is one of my favourite books), I have noticed that you seem to have a real talent for being able to portray different types of people realistically and with an almost extraordinary insight into human nature. How do you go about creating each character? Are they based on people you know?

First, let me address your question about the genre of the book. You are correct. I really don’t think of Squalor, New Mexico as a Young Adult book. I think of it as general fiction where the main character happens to be a teenager. It was very important to me in the writing of this book not to side with either Darla or her parents, but to show the frustration on both sides. I don’t like to tell my readers how they should feel. Real conflicts between people are ones that don’t always have a definitive answer and that are multilayered. To me, this novel is the story of a family. I wanted to show how easily it was for a family to fracture, as sadly, this is a far too frequent occurrence for many. People everywhere are estranged from loved ones and many can’t even tell you why. It’s very sad.

Thank you for your kind words about my diverse characters. I have always been a people watcher. Shortly after high school, I moved to New York City for ten years. But more than just watching people on the street, I have always had a keen interest in human behavior. For years, I watched talk shows to try and understand the motivation behind people’s outrageous behavior. I am a good listener and have heard myriad stories from friends and seen much in my own life.

Squalor is set in the 1970s before the introduction of the internet and mobile phones etc. This meant that solving the mystery of Darla's estranged aunt Rebecca was made all the more difficult. I'm writing a book at the moment where part of the story is set in a time when not everyone had a mobile phone so I know that it can be hard to avoid slipping and accidentally making one of the characters pick up a mobile. How did you go about avoiding such mistakes?

You ask great questions. The easy answer to this is that I wrote this novel in 1996. The more complicated answer is that I was quite the sleuth in my youth. (No rhyme intended! ) If I say so myself, as a teenager, I came up with brilliant ways to seek out information in an age with no computers or cell phones. I just put myself in Darla’s shoes and asked myself what I would have done.

Your character Darla has many vivid nightmares in the book. You have described some of those in detail. I loved the way her nightmares would relate back to experiences she'd had in the day in a sometimes comical, if frightening way. Have you ever suffered from nightmares?

Oh, yes! I have had quite the bizarre, and I do mean bizarre, dreams in my time. I’ve always found it interesting how some people have very ordinary dreams and others do not. Our dreams are comprised of symbols. Water, for example, is a symbol, but it means different things to different people. If you have a recurring dream of being in a swimming pool that suddenly loses all water, if you are a swimmer, that dream may indicate that you are frustrated and feel you cannot move ahead. If you cannot swim, that dream may indicate that you feel you have been rescued.

I am fascinated by how the mind works and interprets our life while we are asleep.

I understand that you're currently at work on a fourth novel, which is something you began writing when you were 17. How is that going and can you tell us a little about it?

Yes, that is correct. When I was 17, I was attending college in New York. My grandmother came to visit one weekend, and after a special outing in with her, I was inspired to write a short story. I never got very far with it. Years later, while living in New York, I asked my roommate at the time if she would photocopy it for me at work. She forgot to do so and eight years later, when I was living in Los Angeles, mailed me the story I had forgotten about. It was like being reunited with an old friend.

I was so happy to have the story back and quickly turned it into a one-act play. Years later, I expanded it into a two-act play. Long story short, the characters have been with me a long time, and the novel will explore a great deal more than is in the play. This, like Squalor, New Mexico, is a period piece and will take place in the 1980s. No cell/mobile phones in this book, either!

Do you have any upcoming events or news you'd like to share with your readers?

I am currently promoting my latest/third novel, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! It is a romantic comedy and the most lighthearted of my three novels. As you know, Maria, for a year prior to publishing this book, I blogged weekly as Molly Hacker at www.mollyhacker.com and conducted interviews (as Molly) of my creative peers. You, of course, were one of Molly’s very delightful guests. I’m still interviewing lots of great people in 2012, but on a semiregular basis. Readers can keep up-to-date with my latest news on Molly’s site as well as my Facebook author page: www.facebook.com/BrodeyAuthor. I also have a profile here on Goodreads.com.



I do have some surprises in store, but they’re secrets for the time being. Thanks so much for having me as your guest, Maria. It’s been a true pleasure. You’re a great support to your fellow authors.


Thank you, Lisette, and good luck with your future writing and promoting. I look forward to chatting with you again soon.

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This month, I have chosen a wonderful novel, one that I absolutely fell in love with. The characters are so realistic and the story had me hooked.

Crooked Moon by Lisette Brodey



Every once in a while you read a book and know it will be lifelong favourite. 'Crooked Moon' is one of those books for me. I also love the cover art.

Here's the review I wrote after I read it:

I really enjoyed this book.
Frankie and Callie were childhood best friends, more like sisters than friends, living next door to each other in Rainytown, a less than desirable neighbourhood. Their friendship was something that helped them through life's hard lessons. When Callie moved out of the neighbourhood she left her friend behind and always regretted doing so. Her life had changed and her social circle was not one where her friend would have felt comfortable. Twenty three years later, Callie is back in Rainytown after her Aunt's death, and the two girls meet again. Whilst Callie dearly wants her best friend back in her life, Frankie is bitter and resentful about the way Callie had written her out of her life years before. We follow their turbulent struggle to get their friendship back on track, and encounter many colourful and believable characters along the way. It's a very entertaining read and in parts is unputdownable. The ending is very moving.
All of the characters seem so real, it almost feels as though you are watching them living their lives as you read the book. By the end of the book I felt as if I really knew them.
The book is very well written. There is one small issue that was slightly distracting for me: when the author is describing characters' movements she does like to say 'left hand' or 'right hand', 'left foot' or 'right foot' when it really would suffice to say 'a hand' or 'his foot'. There are quite a few occurrences of this, e.g. 'he placed his right hand on her left shoulder' - too much information, sounds a bit clumsy and only slows down the action, in my opinion. But this is a very minor issue.
To sum up, this story is about everyday people and everyday lives and deals with subjects to which we can all relate; friendship, trust, loyalty, family secrets, bereavement, forgiveness.
Lisette Brodey has painted the characters in her novel like an artist with a brush, breathing life into them so that they come off the page. There is depth and insightfulness in her writing. There are many thought provoking passages throughout this fabulous work of fiction. I would highly recommend the book to lovers of great fiction.


I hope you'll give it a try!

I know it's only November, but it's the time of year when we think about buying gifts for friends and family.

I thought it would be nice to make a list of some books I recommend. Hopefully it'll help and save you hours of browsing and getting a headache because there are so many choices out there!!

I've read and enjoyed all the books in this list. They're my favourites.

Books make wonderful gifts. They entertain and last a lifetime.



Julie Elizabeth Powell, has written lots of books and they're all excellent, in my opinion. If you know someone who likes fantasy books, you could buy any one of Julie's books for them. Take a look at her author page on Amazon. She has written something for all tastes. http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Elizabeth...

Her books range from Children's books to Horror. Julie is one of the most imaginative writers I know. I'd recommend any one of her books as a great gift, but I've chosen Gone because it's the first one of her books I read and was one of the books that made me start reading fantasy again.



J. Michael Radcliffe, like Julie Elizabeth Powell, is also one of my favourite authors and I've read all his books and would recommend them all as great gifts. He writes fantasy, too, but the difference is that his books usually contain dragons! I love his Beyond the Veil series. You can buy it as an omnibus edition, which I think is nice as a gift, or you can buy each book in the series individually. http://www.amazon.com/J.-Michael-Radc...



Darcia Helle is a very talented author, another one of my favourites, and I have read most of her books. Every one of them is fabulous, so it's hard to choose only one as a recommendation. I'm highlighting her Michael Sykora series because it comes in a box set, which is perfect for a Christmas gift, but I could have recommended many others, especially, Into The Light and The Cutting Edge
http://www.amazon.com/Darcia-Helle/e/...



Helle Gade is a talented poet and photographer, and her books combine the two with stunning photo art and passionate poems. I must admit that before reading Helle's poems I never liked reading poetry. Helle Gade has changed the way I view poetry. Her verse expresses feelings in a way that really touches the heart. All her books are excellent. With Northern Whispers she has collected together all three of her poetry/art books. It would make a lovely Christmas gift.

http://www.amazon.com/Helle-Gade/e/B0...

I'm going to recommend a book series that I have contributed stories to, as well. I think The Mind's Eye Series is a wonderful project, and because it contains photography and stories/poems would make a great Christmas gift. It's also available in paperback and the paperbacks look great. I love them. There are two books available at the moment, which contain stories by Darcia Helle. J. Michael Radcliffe, Jason McIntyre, and myself. Book 2 also contains poetry from Helle Gade and Ben Ditmars. The photography for the series is by Martin David Porter and Helle Gade.

Perspectives: http://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Mi...

Reflections: http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Min...









Geoffrey David West's Jack Lockwood Mystery series is compulsive reading. I've read the first two books, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide and Doppelganger - I'd recommend them both. I'm currently reading and enjoying the third book in the series, Sheer Fear. An excellent choice for a Christmas gift for the Crime Fiction fan in your life.

http://www.amazon.com/Geoffrey-West/e...



Mark Rice's Metallic Dreams is the perfect present for the rock/metal fan in your life. It contains humour, fantasy, and romance. I think it's fantastic. (over 18s only).

http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Rice/e/B00...



Quentin R. Bufogle is a talented writer and this is a laugh out loud book that also has a deeper story that many will relate to. It would make be perfect gift for those who appreciate comedy and great fiction.

http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Latitudes...



Terry Tyler is a prolific writer of contemporary fiction. I've read You Wish, Round and Round, and The Other Side, as well as her collection of short stories, Nine Lives, and they're all brilliant. They are the kind of books that contain realistic characters and true-to-life situations. You Wish stands out as my favourite of hers so far; I love the humour. She has a list of books that the fiction fan in your life will love. Check out her Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Terry-Tyler/e/B...



Lisette Brodey produces great books consistently. I have read all of her books and love them all for different reasons. I'm highlighting Crooked Moon as it's my favourite, but any one of her books would make a lovely gift for someone who likes fiction with depth and meaning. Her books are also very entertaining and well written.

http://www.amazon.com/Lisette-Brodey/...

I'm going to stop there, even though there are probably loads more books I could recommend!

I hope I've given you a few ideas for Christmas gifts :)

I have been a fan of Lisette Brodey's books for a few years now. Lisette is a talented author who has written many novels. I've particularly enjoyed her novels Crooked Moon and Squalor, New Mexico.






("Squalor, New Mexico" is currently on sale at 99c until 1st July 2016)

Whether she is writing Young Adult fiction, Chick Lit, or general fiction, Lisette's books are always full of realistic characters, and her writing is entertaining and thought-provoking.

She recently joined us as a contributing author for the Mind's Eye series. Her short stories in Triptychs are fantastic.

I always know when I start reading a book by this author that it will keep me interested. I've read most of her books and each one has something special.

I invited her here for a chat about her writing.

INTERVIEW WITH LISETTE BRODEY



Hi Lisette, welcome to my blog! Thanks for joining me here. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Lisette Brodey. I’m the multi-genre author of six books: Crooked Moon; Squalor, New Mexico; Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!; and The Desert Series, a YA Paranormal trilogy that includes: Mystical High, Desert Star, and Drawn Apart.

Originally, from a suburb of Philadelphia, I have lived in New York City and now live, for the second time, in Los Angeles. (It’s a long story!)

Are there any characters in your books that are based on real people?

There isn’t one character in any of my books who is based on one specific person. There are many characters who have the traits of people I know or who are hybrids of real people and/or my imagination. Even if I were to start a book and write a character as a specific person, it wouldn’t be long before the character would take over and his or her unique personality would emerge.

When writing a novel or story, do you think word count is important? If so, what is the ideal length?

I’m glad you asked this, Maria. Like many areas of publishing, proper word count is one area in which there are many opinions and no definitive answer. I believe, for the most part, that a story is finished when the author is done telling it as it should be told. I’m not a fan of arbitrary word counts: If a book is in X genre, it should be X number of words. Yes, there may be suggested word counts that serve as guides, but I’ve seen so many cases where an author was told to cut 20K from a book not because it was long and rambling, but for the sole purpose of being X number of words.

I totally agree, Lisette.

Do you have a preferred writing space?

Yes, it is up on a mountain in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is beautiful, quiet, and there is nothing to interrupt my thoughts or tangle with my creativity. Even when the gulls pass, they just wave and keep going. Unfortunately, this is my preferred spot and it does not exist in my life.

Hahahaha! I would like that spot too!

I write at my desk in the living room. However, I often take my laptop to a quieter place where I don’t see anything but the screen. Often, this does help me to focus much better.

Tell us about your latest book.

My latest book is Drawn Apart. It’s the third book in The Desert Series. While this series is classified as YA Paranormal, I see it more as a coming-of-age series (spanning six years) with paranormal elements. The stories deal with real-life issues (bullying, parental abandonment, mental illness etc.). Each of the three novels can be read as standalone books, although they are written to be read as a series.




Drawn Apart is the most romance-oriented book in the trilogy with themes of friendship, true love, soulmates, poetry, and past lives.

Each novel is published separately, but The Desert Series is available as a boxed set on Kindle, too.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

First: Write the story you really want to tell. Don’t write for a particular market because it’s “hot” right now. Write your passion.

Second: Don’t show your WIP to everyone you know. Why? You’ll get so many different reactions that it will confuse you and very likely mess with your confidence. If you are a person who likes to share as you write (which I’m usually not), be judicious.

Third: Do not rush to publication! Take the time to make your work the best it can be. Don’t skimp on editing, proofreading, or cover design. Even on a next-to-nothing budget, there are ways to make things work. By networking with other authors, reading blogs, and being active on social media, you can get a lot of terrific advice.

Great advice, Lisette.

What type of music do you prefer to listen to?

My favorite genre of music is R&B. There’s no one I enjoy more than Marvin Gaye. I also listen to a lot of show music, pop/rock, and sometimes classical. I also love a lot of music that is outside of my usual genres. For example, I just love listening to Evanescence with Amy Lee. That said, I do not listen to music while writing. Once in a while, if I have to drown out noise around me, I can write with classical music playing.

Where are your books on sale?

All of my books are on Amazon.com. Additionally, they can all be read for free for members of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Maria.

It's been a pleasure, Lisette!

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Author links:

Website: www.lisettebrodey.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisettebrodey
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrodeyAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/lisette...
Molly Hacker website: www.mollyhacker.com