LAKESIDE REUNION - Lisa Jordan - Free Book

Bio: Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories that feature those comes naturally to her. She has been writing contemporary Christian romance for more than a decade. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, will be released in November by Love Inspired. Her second novel, Lakeside Family, will be released in August 2012 by Love Inspired. Happily married for over twenty years, Lisa and her husband have two young adult sons. When she isn’t writing or caring for children in her in-home childcare business, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction. Visit her at www.lisajordanbooks.com to learn more about her writing.

Welcome, Lisa. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I’m not exactly sure how much of myself is written into the books. When my characters go through trials, I try to think about how I reacted in those situations and draw on the attached emotions to write a scene that will resonate with readers.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wanted to write when I was 16, but I realized I could be a writer when I completed the rough draft of a novel during Nanowrimo almost a decade ago.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love contemporary romances, romantic suspense, women’s fiction. I love happily ever after endings and stories that fill me with hope.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I’ve lost my sanity a long time ago. J Having a supportive family and taking time out for myself helps me to stay focused when I need to be.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I created Lindsey and Stephen so long ago that I’m not really sure where their names came from. Lindsey’s original name was Ivy, but I couldn’t get the character to open up, so I changed her name. I like to check meanings of names, too and make sure they fit the character.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

So hard to say—I’m proud of my young adult men for being kind and respectful. I graduated college at the age of 40. Publishing my first book at 42 was fun too.

What is your favorite food?

Lasagna. Mashed potatoes. My mom’s stuffed pork chops. Hubby’s rotisserie chicken.

Tell us a little about your journey to publication.

I wanted to write since I was 16, but didn’t become serious until just over a decade ago. I spent years working on my craft, and then finaled in the 2009 Genesis contest. In 2010, I signed with Rachelle Gardner, who submitted my manuscript to Love Inspired. I received “the call” in January. Lakeside Reunion was released on November 1. Lakeside Family, my second book, will be released in August 2012.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I struggled with flat characters, but Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck taught me how to get to the core of my characters’ motivations.

What advice would you give to others who are trying to get their first book published?

Allow God to guide your steps, believe in yourself and the talents God has given you, listen to the experts, but find your own voice, and don’t rush to get published. 

Tell us about the featured book.

Lakeside Reunion: Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake. Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again. Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion

Please give us the first page of the book.

Any moment now, Lindsey could put the car in Drive, touch the gas pedal, drive past the green-etched Welcome to Shelby Lake sign and return to her past. Another hundred feet and she would be back.

Visitors traveled to the northwestern Pennsylvania lake-front community to get away. She escaped to put her life back together.

Center Street unfurled like black satin ribbon under a canopy of evergreens and multicolored maples and oaks that would take her right down memory lane. Past the elementary school where Mom taught kindergarten. Past Aunt Claire's sewing shop. Past Mrs. Lawson's pink-sided house with the plastic yard goose she dressed each holiday. Past the church where Lindsey almost said "I do."

Mom, why did you have to fall down the stairs?

Lindsey gripped the steering wheel, pressing her forehead against the powder-blue fuzzy cover. Maybe banging her head against it would knock some sense into her brain. She'd made promises that never, ever, not in a thousand years would she return to Shelby Lake.

But promises didn't account for widowed mothers who might slip on a dirty sock on the stairs to the laundry room.

Next to her, on the seat of her friend's borrowed Taurus, her cell phone chimed. She read the display. Perfect—Granddad checking in. He probably expected her to hedge at the city limits, weighing the pros and cons.

Like for the past half hour.

She answered the call. "I'm on my way, really."

"No doubt in my mind, sweetness. Your mama's been taken to X-ray. She's asking for that quilt—you know, the one with all those circles—off the recliner near the davenport. Could you pick it up on your way?" Granddad's voice betrayed an edge of stress—playing family watchdog for the past five years whittled any visible panic from his voice. "Can you hurry?"

"Yes…sure. I'll be there in about twenty minutes or so." She ended the conversation and clenched the phone.

Quilt with circles, Granddad had said. The wedding ring quilt on the recliner near the couch. Dad's recliner. Closing her eyes, she could picture him sitting there—feet crossed at the ankles, hands tucked behind his head. An ache pinched her chest. But she would do it. For Mom.

She imagined her mother, fragile, her eyes wide with pain, maybe even fear as she lay puddled at the bottom of the stairs, or trying to drag her broken body toward a phone. If Lindsey hadn't swept the Shelby Lake dust off her feet, she might have been there. Might have heard her cry out. Or rather, might have been the one carrying the laundry downstairs.

She glanced at the sign again and released a loud sigh. Okay, so the town had fewer than five thousand people. Entering city limits didn't guarantee she'd see him. Or his son. Or run smack into the humiliation of being left at the altar.

It felt that way. Come on, who calls off a wedding a week before the big day?

Wow! Interesting. How can the readers find you on the Internet?

Email: lisa@lisajordanbooks.com

Website: www.lisajordanbooks.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisajordan

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaJordan

My Book Therapy: http://mybooktherapy.ning.com/profile/LisaJordan

I blog at MBT Ponderers: www.mbtponderers.blogspot.com

I blog at WordServe Water Cooler: www.wordservewatercooler.com

Thank you, Lisa, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

Lakeside Reunion (Love Inspired)


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