Ask the Author: Lisa Daily
Answered Questions (5)
Lisa Daily
Good question! In summer especially, I love to read beachy, funny, romantic books. The books on my summer reading list this year are: Same Beach Next Year by Dorthea Benton Frank, Indian Summer by Marcia Willett, Indigo by Charlaine Harris, The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green, Small Admissions by Amy Poepple, Secrets in Summer by Nancy Thayer, The Young Wives Club by JUlie Pennell, First Comes Love by Emily Giffin, and Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay by Jill Mansell
Lisa Daily
I'm almost always inspired to write. I think maybe writer brains are different than normal human brains -- even though I'm a very positive person, I'm always thinking "What would be the worst thing that could happen here?"
When my first book, STOP GETTING DUMPED was released, I met the lit agent for THE RULES, a very popular dating book, whose author just happened to be going through a divorce. What's the worst thing that could happen to a relationship guru? She goes through a divorce. And not just a divorce, but a really public, nasty one where not just her relationship, but also her life's work are on the line. (And the idea that as much as we'd like to sometimes, we have absolutely no control over what other people do.)That idea became FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME, my first novel. And because I believe there is always something inherently funny or absurd in all of life's disasters, most of my fiction includes a lot of comedy. My upcoming book, SINGLE-MINDED is about woman marries her childhood sweetheart and has her entire life planned to a tee -- and then finds herself divorced at 31, having never ever been on a date. Madcap comedy ensues.
When my first book, STOP GETTING DUMPED was released, I met the lit agent for THE RULES, a very popular dating book, whose author just happened to be going through a divorce. What's the worst thing that could happen to a relationship guru? She goes through a divorce. And not just a divorce, but a really public, nasty one where not just her relationship, but also her life's work are on the line. (And the idea that as much as we'd like to sometimes, we have absolutely no control over what other people do.)That idea became FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME, my first novel. And because I believe there is always something inherently funny or absurd in all of life's disasters, most of my fiction includes a lot of comedy. My upcoming book, SINGLE-MINDED is about woman marries her childhood sweetheart and has her entire life planned to a tee -- and then finds herself divorced at 31, having never ever been on a date. Madcap comedy ensues.
Lisa Daily
Usually I just work on one thing at a time, but lately I'm just overflowing with ideas. My agent is currently pitching a new non-fiction book about divorce and all the fun that goes along with that. I just finished plotting a new funny romance/summer beach read that came to me in one fell swoop in the bathtub one night when I couldn't sleep. (It's the same genre as my upcoming book SINGLE-MINDED.) I'm also working on a YA series (my first series!) I've been thinking about for a while. My agent Stephany is on fire about the idea, which is pretty cool. Usually I just work on one new thing at a time, so this is a bit unusual for me.
Lisa Daily
Readers, because my readers are THE BEST. Every single one of them is smart, witty, charming, and far better looking than average. :-)
All the cool stuff my readers make for me. :-)
Free books (Woohoo!)
The cool fact that most of my friends are other writers, generally a smart and interesting group of people.
The fact that I get to work in my pajamas, or in a swim suit, with my toes in the sand at Siesta Key Beach.
The fact that I'm living my dream.
Mostly, the best thing about being a writer is that moment when you've just finished writing a book you're really proud of.
All the cool stuff my readers make for me. :-)
Free books (Woohoo!)
The cool fact that most of my friends are other writers, generally a smart and interesting group of people.
The fact that I get to work in my pajamas, or in a swim suit, with my toes in the sand at Siesta Key Beach.
The fact that I'm living my dream.
Mostly, the best thing about being a writer is that moment when you've just finished writing a book you're really proud of.
Lisa Daily
Such a great question! I used to say, ridiculous things like "I'm a professional, I have to write to eat, blah, blah, blah" which was true for about 15 years until I went through some really brutal life stuff and suddenly found myself struggling to write, my WIP was wayyyyyy past deadline, something that had never happened to my before. I had this existential crisis of, "if I don't love writing anymore, who the hell am I?" because it's always been such a huge part of who I am as a person. Another writer asked me this same question, because she was just paralyzed with writers block, and she asked me how I got it back, my love for writing, and I told her I did lots of other creative stuff (I made a sparkly shell chandelier, some cool pillows with ball fringe, and FINALLY figured out the purpose for weird triangle shelves on my kitchen island -- they're posted on my instagram @authorbythesea if you're interested.) I helped some other writers, which helped me stay connected. And I fell for a hilariously funny and unbelievably talented writer, and tried to out-charm and out-funny him. That last one seemed to do the trick.
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