Author Interview with Lisa Becker + Giveaway!

Hi, Lisa! Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview with me. Could you tell us a little about your debut novel, Click: An Online Love Story?

Click: An Online Love Story follows the dating (mis) adventures of Renee Greene, who is fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, without even a prospect or a house full of cats. She reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal retentive Mark, the overly-judgemental Ashley and the overly-sexed Shelley), as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical "B-list" celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD'S and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.

I loved Click: An Online Love Story. I could't stop reading it! Where did you get the idea for Click: An Online Love Story?

Thank you! That is so nice to hear. My husband and I met online on a popular dating website. After we married, I was recalling some of the hilarious experenices that I had with both traditional and online dating. I decided to capture some of them in writing and from there, a novel emerged.

I loved that all the characters were so different from each other. Shelly is such a funny character and so fun. I loved the way she give all her "conquests" nicknames and there was many of them. Are these characters of pure imaganation or have you been inspired by any real life people to inspire your characters personalities?

While all the character's are fictional, some of their qualities and characteristics are inspired by real people I know. I think I most identify with Renee, but my favourite character is Shelley too. She's confident, brash, outrageous and wholly unapologetic for her choices. She was so fun to write. Her hilarious habit of giving nicknames to her "man du jour" was inspired by a childhood friend of mine who had a nickname for a guy in college that she admired from across the dorm cafeteria. She called him Maverick because he looked like Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Much like Shelley, she is a self confident, gorgeous, lovely gal and it wasn't long before they met and dated for a spell.

The book is set out in email's between all the of the characters which I love. I find it easier to read for some reason and with todays society we do communicate alot though email. Would you think of writing any more of your novels in this format?

Based on the reader and reviewer response so far to Click, I have started jotting down notes for sequel and have a working title, Double Click. I would love to incorporate reader feedback. So if someone has an idea of what they would like to see happen next to Renee, Shelley, Ashley, Mark and "the cuddler," please stop by the Facebook Fan Site and post suggestions.

Are you currently working on any more projects at the moment?

Aside for Double Click, I'm a full time mom and wife to the best family ever; part time public relations professional for an International PR firm; part time professor of public relations courses at a state university in California; and I'm bringing to market a children's education product that I've invented. Needless to say, there's never a dull moment around here.

Would you like to try any other genres, i.e. fantasy, sci-fi, even YA?

I would consider writing a book in another genre if I had a story that I felt needed to be told. So far, I haven't been inspired in any of those areas.

Do you like reading yourself/what sort of genres do you like reading?

I love to read. Always have. Always will. My favouite genre is chick lit, which is probably why I felt compelled to write a novel the way I did. Sadly, I've been so busy writing my book, I haven't had much time to read lately. But, I've got a vacation planned his summer and top of my list of The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I'm hoping to finish it before seeing the movie.

Do you have any advise for aspiring authors?

Don't write off self-publishing. I explored the traditional publishing route and got feedback from multiple literary agents. One in particualar explained the current economic state of the publishing industry to me. Due to large investment to edit, produce, distibute and market a work by an unknown author, many large publishers won't take the risk. Self-publishing is a way to get your work out there.

I'm also reminded of some advice I was given once. I had interviewed Charles Rosen, one of the producers of the oringal Beverly Hills 90210, for an alumni magazine article while I was in graduate school. And I will never forget what he told me "Don't fall in love with your words, because somebody above will probably change them." One of the great benefits of self publishing is that you can really take control of the process.

Click: An Online Love Story is avaiable now:

PRINT VERSION LINK

https://www.createspace.com/3565336

KINDLE LINK

http://www.amazon.com/Click-Online-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B004UI6IJ0/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1302391148&sr=8-4

You can also check the Click: An Online love story Facebook page !

                                                         Giveaway Closed!

Enter to win an Ebook (Kindle OR Nook) of Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker

*This books contains some references to Sex but is a great read, if you don't mind some sex references enter away!

*To Enter, you must be a GFC Follower

*Answer this questions: Click: An Online Love Story is a perfect summer read. What book is a perfect summer read for you?

*Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win

Extra Entry:

*Comment on my review of Click: An online love story: My Review! +2 (Tell me you commented to gain the extra 2 entries!

-Giveaway ends 12th July 2011

-Giveaway is sponsered by Lisa Becker