As promised on last week’s blog, Lisa Kline is giving away her second book in the Sisters in All Seasons series. After she shares her process of writing the series you’ll find directions how to win a personally autographed copy of Wild Horse Spring.
Carol: How did you get the idea for four different locations and four different
animals?
animals?
Lisa: Zondervan bought my novel Summer of the Wolves and asked me to write three more novels with the same
characters. Since the novel takes place when the family takes a vacation, I
thought, what if all four novels take place during vacations? And I started
toying with ideas about places I’d been, places I had memories I could use for
the books. And one of the characters, Diana, has a tremendous affinity for
animals, and so I thought, what if some type of animal is featured in each
book? My husband is a veterinarian, so I knew I could pick his brain! And then
I thought, what if each vacation takes place in a different season of the year?
And from there my editor and I brainstormed the Sisters in All Seasons title.
characters. Since the novel takes place when the family takes a vacation, I
thought, what if all four novels take place during vacations? And I started
toying with ideas about places I’d been, places I had memories I could use for
the books. And one of the characters, Diana, has a tremendous affinity for
animals, and so I thought, what if some type of animal is featured in each
book? My husband is a veterinarian, so I knew I could pick his brain! And then
I thought, what if each vacation takes place in a different season of the year?
And from there my editor and I brainstormed the Sisters in All Seasons title.
Carol: Can you describe the interaction with Zondervan about creating
the series?
the series?
Lisa: I wrote up my ideas, sent them to my agent, and we had a couple of
interactions before I was ready to send the series synopsis to Zondervan. Caryn Wiseman, my agent, was tremendously helpful.
interactions before I was ready to send the series synopsis to Zondervan. Caryn Wiseman, my agent, was tremendously helpful.
Carol: What are your thoughts on writing a series? Would you recommend
it to other writers?
it to other writers?
Lisa: This has been a wonderful experience. To be with your characters
for an extended time like this has been such a gift. There is time to get to know
them layer by layer, so much more deeply. I am also getting to know them over
time as well. When the first book takes place, Stephanie and Diana have just
completed 7th grade. By the 4th book, they are starting
high school.
for an extended time like this has been such a gift. There is time to get to know
them layer by layer, so much more deeply. I am also getting to know them over
time as well. When the first book takes place, Stephanie and Diana have just
completed 7th grade. By the 4th book, they are starting
high school.
I will admit that I was intimidated at first by having to develop and
write three novels in a year and a half. I wasn’t sure I could do it. I did
have to be disciplined. I kept myself to a schedule of about two to three pages
a day, a minimum of ten pages a week.
write three novels in a year and a half. I wasn’t sure I could do it. I did
have to be disciplined. I kept myself to a schedule of about two to three pages
a day, a minimum of ten pages a week.
Carol: I love how your characters grew up as you wrote the series and you got to know them better with each book. Can you give us a sneak peak into the third and fourth books?
Lisa: Sure! In the third book, Blue Autumn Cruise (due out in October, 2012) they go on a cruise for Stephanie’s
grandmother’s 75th birthday. This venue gave me a chance to
introduce members of the girls’ extended family. It was tricky to get an animal
on a cruise ship, though – and I won’t give that part away! The fourth book, Winter’s Tide, (release February 15, 2013) takes place in one of my most
favorite places in the world – near Beaufort, North Carolina, close to where my
grandmother grew up. I just visited the Duke Marine Lab there for research.
grandmother’s 75th birthday. This venue gave me a chance to
introduce members of the girls’ extended family. It was tricky to get an animal
on a cruise ship, though – and I won’t give that part away! The fourth book, Winter’s Tide, (release February 15, 2013) takes place in one of my most
favorite places in the world – near Beaufort, North Carolina, close to where my
grandmother grew up. I just visited the Duke Marine Lab there for research.
Carol: Every writer always thinks into the future. So, what’s
next for you? Do you plan to stay in the inspirational market or write another
series?
next for you? Do you plan to stay in the inspirational market or write another
series?
Lisa: I don’t know what is next. I was working on another novel when
this one sold, and I might get back to work on that. But working on a series
has been great fun and I would absolutely love to do it again. I feel
tremendously blessed to have had the opportunity.
this one sold, and I might get back to work on that. But working on a series
has been great fun and I would absolutely love to do it again. I feel
tremendously blessed to have had the opportunity.
Thank you so much, Lisa for sharing your experiences with my readers. Now, here are directions for winning a copy of Wild Horse Spring. Lisa will also be autographing books this Saturday, June 30, at Park Road Books. She’ll find time to pick this giveaway winner! Contest closes at noon on Saturday–so start tweeting, following, and Facebooking now!
DIRECTIONS:
1. Follow this blog (if you are not following yet), or:
2. If you are already a follower–thank you!–then just post a link on your favorite social network site and,
3. Leave me a comment with your email address indicating which you did.
4. If you do more than one thing (follow and post to a social network site, or post on two different sites) I’ll enter your name TWICE!!
I shared on twitter and google+. I can donate the book to the Concord Public library after I read it, share it with my kids and a good friend of mine! :)
Lisa,Now we all have an excuse for taking a vacation and one in each season. I wish you much success with this series.Carol,I enjoyed this interview very much. I love that you spotlighted a friend and fellow SCBWI member too.
Jean, Your name is in the hat! Linda, would you like me to enter your name too? Thanks to both of you for stopping by!
Great interview! I tweeted it (which I think posts to my FB.) We would share with Metrolina Christian Academy. Blessings!
Well, I thought I commented already. Sorry if it pops up twice!Great interview!!I tweeted your link. It's on my timeline as well.We would share with Metrolina Christian Academy.
Thanks, Kristi. YOur name is in twice!
I enjoyed this interview. I love to realize a book has a sequel or is part of a series. My granddaughter is going into 7th grade and is an avid reader. I think these are going to be on her “must read” list. I'd love to win this book, but if not I think it will be a “must buy” for me. Thanks. I will post this on FB for all my friends to see.
Thanks, Jeannie, for leaving a comment and for the shout out on Facebook! Your name goes in the hat!
Shared twice – Facebook and Twitter. Love these book giveaways. The prizes are some of my favorite reading.
Thanks for entering and sharing the contest!
I facebooked it. If I win, I will (if I can be a nice person) give it to Jeannie for her grand girl who reviewed books for us in the last issue of Talking Story.Of course if I don't give it that means she'll go out and buy it. But knowing, Jeannie, she'll buy the other 3 in the series. So it's all good!
I shared on twitter and google+. I can donate the book to the Concord Public library after I read it, share it with my kids and a good friend of mine! :)
Lisa,Now we all have an excuse for taking a vacation and one in each season. I wish you much success with this series.Carol,I enjoyed this interview very much. I love that you spotlighted a friend and fellow SCBWI member too.
Jean, Your name is in the hat! Linda, would you like me to enter your name too? Thanks to both of you for stopping by!
Great interview! I tweeted it (which I think posts to my FB.) We would share with Metrolina Christian Academy. Blessings!
Well, I thought I commented already. Sorry if it pops up twice!Great interview!!I tweeted your link. It's on my timeline as well.We would share with Metrolina Christian Academy.
Thanks, Kristi. YOur name is in twice!
I enjoyed this interview. I love to realize a book has a sequel or is part of a series. My granddaughter is going into 7th grade and is an avid reader. I think these are going to be on her “must read” list. I'd love to win this book, but if not I think it will be a “must buy” for me. Thanks. I will post this on FB for all my friends to see.
Thanks, Jeannie, for leaving a comment and for the shout out on Facebook! Your name goes in the hat!
Shared twice – Facebook and Twitter. Love these book giveaways. The prizes are some of my favorite reading.
Thanks for entering and sharing the contest!
I facebooked it. If I win, I will (if I can be a nice person) give it to Jeannie for her grand girl who reviewed books for us in the last issue of Talking Story.Of course if I don't give it that means she'll go out and buy it. But knowing, Jeannie, she'll buy the other 3 in the series. So it's all good!