Interviews - Lisa Colodny

I don't ever really remember actually deciding I wanted to write. I've always loved to write whether it was summarizing the daily events of The Young and the Restless or writing short stories about growing up with my cousins. When I was a sophomore in high school, I made an active decision to actually pen a fictional story. It wasn't very good but I did enjoy writing it. Years later when I wrote Town Time Forgot, I used several "scenes" from that story of so long ago.

This is Author Lisa Colodny on when she began writing. Colodnyus tge author of "Yellow River Pledge"

Imagine being Dr Jordan Chamberlain, a successful, beautiful, young medical examiner with the perfect husband, the perfect life, and perfect friends. Somewhat of a whiz, kid, she's younger than most Medical Examiner's and enjoys a bit of glamor whenever forensic data is sent to trial. To an outside observer, she has it all, until that is, her husband, Jason announces one day without warning that he doesn't want to be married anymore. Jordan's perfect life crashes and burns all around, her. She buries herself even deeper into work and embarks temporarily on a career consulting with the FBI's Violet Crimes Division, under the careful eye of college friends turned colleagues, who support her during her time of crisis.

Almost simultaneously Joran connects with an acquaintance from work, detective Sean Logan, the romance that ensues is the most completed fulfilling relationship she's ever known until it is threatened by ties she still has to her ex-husband. As she struggles to find closure for an old life she no longer has and define a new life with Sean, their future together is once again jeopardized as Jordan becomes the next target of the serial killer she's been pursuing through her work with the FBI."

While this novel is a stand alone she is working on a series for middle readers called "Place Where Magic Lives"

The inspiration behind, "Yellow River Pledge", is closure "Yellow River Pledge is about finding closure so that you can move on to the next phase where ever that happens to take you."

With a novel like this one of the most important parts of the story is ensuring that you research. "Since the main character is a coroner. Most of the what I needed to research was forensic test and data. It was all very cool"

Some other projects she is currently working are: "My Second Children's book, Jericho Alley, about a homeless man and his dog is currently seeking an illustrator and hen publisher. I have a third adult fiction, Sanctuary Road in query. I'm about half way through the first book of the Place Where Magic Lives Series. Only pages into the forth adult fiction piece."

Her advice for young writers is very simply, "Write what you like, not what you think will sell."

Interviewer:

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?

Lisa:	I don't ever really remember actually deciding I wanted to write. I've always loved to write whether it was summarizing the daily events of The Young and the Restless or writing short stories about growing up with my cousins. When I was a sophomore in high school, I made an active decision to actually pen a fictional story. It wasn't very good but I did enjoy writing it. Years later when I wrote Town Time Forgot, I used several "scenes" from that story of so long ago.
Interviewer:	Who are your favorite authors?
Lisa:	I read Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier when I was much younger and it blew my mind to find out how much the new husband of the main character actually hated and despised his deceased first wife. I enjoy Janice Holt Giles method of telling a story and how authentic her characters are. All of her books are on my list. Years ago during my divorce, I could swear Elizabeth Berg was bugging my house because so much of what was going on with her character, I was able to relate to. Currently I enjoy all things Jodi Piccoult. Another favorite is Wendall Barry. I love all kinds of books, historical, fictional, Xfiles, and paranormal phenomenon.
Interviewer:	What are your greatest sources of inspiration?
Lisa:	Depends on what genre I'm working in. I've penned dozens of short stories, most of which were inspired by my cousins as we grew up. I store away interesting tidbits of current events or things I read on social media and use them in stories of my own.
Interviewer:	What genre do you write?
Lisa:	Of the two books that are currently available, one is a children's book and the other is adult fiction.
Interviewer:	Do you have any current of future projects?
Lisa:	My second children's book, Jericho Alley, will be available this Summer and another adult fiction, Yellow River Pledge, is currently in final edits. I'm about half way through the third adult fiction, Sanctuary Road, and very early stages of a middle school project tentatively titled, The Place Where Magic Lives.
Interviewer:	Do you have an author website?
Lisa:	Yes: Lisa Colodny! Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon
Interviewer:	Do you have any blogs?
Lisa:	Once my revisions are completed on my website, I think I'll have that functionality.
Interviewer:	Where can people find your work?
Lisa:	Xulon Press for the children's story and Strategic Book Publishing for the Town Time Forgot. Both are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, as well as Books-A-Million.
Interviewer:	If you could feature just one title, what would it be?
Lisa:	Town Time Forgot is centered around a male NY city police detective and a female US Marshall who are thrown together to transport a somewhat notorious criminal from NYC to Washington state. In route, they are intercepted and the prisoner taken by force. Injured and left for dead, aid is rendered by a farmer and his wife. When things settle, they've been transported back in time to 1869 Nebraska. It's long story with three distinct sections settling into life in 1869, returning to present time, and then escaping the killer who was followed them home. I was very pleased with the 4/4 stars it received from onlinebookclub.org.
Interviewer:	Do you have any pseudonyms?
Lisa:	No
Interviewer:	Do you have any hobbies besides writing?
Lisa:	I love watching the landscaping and renovating shows. I think I'd have enjoyed the opportunity to work in that field.
Interviewer:	Tell us something interesting about yourself?
Lisa:	I have a Doctorate in Pharmacy and an MBA. I work in a within the pharmacy of a community hospital. When I'm not at work, I'm working with my daughter's Girl Scout troop, or the Youth groups at church.
Interviewer:	Anything else to share?
Lisa:	I've started a list of people I'm going to "snub" when I'm famous. And I'm an Xfiles expert!

Interviewer:

What made you want to become a writer?

Lisa:	I don't ever really remember actually deciding I wanted to write. I've always loved to write whether it was summarizing the daily events of The Young and the Restless or writing short stories about growing up with my cousins. When I was a sophomore in high school, I made an active decision to actually pen a fictional story. It wasn't very good, but I did enjoy writing it. Years later when I wrote Town Time Forgot, I used several "scenes" from that story of so long ago.
Interviewer:	What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why?
Lisa:	I read Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier when I was much younger, and it blew my mind to find out how much the new husband of the main character actually hated and despised his deceased first wife. I enjoy Janice Holt Giles method of telling a story and how authentic her characters are. All of her books are on my list. Years ago during my divorce, I could swear Elizabeth Berg was bugging my house because so much of what was going on with her character, I was able to relate to. I love all kinds of books, historical, fictional, Xfiles, and paranormal phenomenon.
Interviewer:	Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book?
Lisa:	Town Time Forgot is centered around a male NY city police detective and a female US Marshall who are thrown together to transport a somewhat notorious criminal from NYC to Washington state. In route, they are intercepted and the prisoner taken by force. Injured and left for dead, aid is rendered by a farmer and his wife. When things settle, they've been transported back in time to 1869 Nebraska. It's a long story with three distinct sections settling into life in 1869, returning to present time, and then escaping the killer who was followed them home. I was very pleased with the 4/4 stars it received from onlinebookclub.org.
Interviewer:	Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?
Lisa:	That's kind of like asking you to pick a favorite child. All of the women in my stories are strong, even when their world is falling down around them. Since Devon McKenzie was my first, I'd have to say she's my favorite. I like that she's strong when she needs to be, yet weak (almost child -like) at other times. My favorite trait of hers is that she never gives up on herself or those she cares about.
Interviewer:	Do you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day?
Lisa:	I have a Doctorate in Pharmacy and an MBA. I work in a within the pharmacy of a community hospital. When I'm not at work, I'm working with my daughter's Girl Scout troop or the Youth groups at church.
Interviewer:	Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?
Lisa:	Last year, I published a children's book, Ms Abrams' Everything Garden, which won the Purple Dragonfly Award from Five Star Publications. I have a second children's book, Jericho Alley, which is with the Illustrator right now and another fictional story, Yellow River Pledge, that's being edited. Currently, I'm in the very early chapters of a third fictional story, Sanctuary Road and penned some note for another children's story. I hope to find more time in 2017 to write.