Tell us about yourself and your books.:
I've been crafting stories and writing them down since I was a child, but it was only in 2022 that I wrote my first romance novel, and since then, I haven't looked back! I love to read and write in many different genres (including sci-fi, mystery, and horror), but the overlap between them all is that one of my favorite things to read about is a great love story. My favorite thing about writing is getting to see the characters who have been pestering me in my head finally come to life on the page.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I used to be fussier about needing the right space and music, but since I became a mom, I take whatever time I can get! Early morning, late night, when I'm sitting in the DMV — whatever time I can get!
What authors have influenced you?
Jane Austen is my favorite author of all time; I can return to her books again and again and always find something new. There are so many writers who have influenced me, but some recent favorites include Suzanna Clarke, Juliet Marillier, Margaret Atwood, Suzanne Collins, Kazuo Ishiguro, Rachel Harrison, and Isabel Canas.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sometimes marketing can destroy your love of writing if you let it, but remember it's just one part of the process. If you're writing only to sell books, you're setting yourself up for failure, but if you're writing to tell stories, keep that as your focus and don't let anything else diminish it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
"Write the next book."
What are you reading now?
I always have a few books I'm reading at the same time so I can read based on what mood I'm in, but at the moment I'm reading Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton, Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm, and Paradise Lost by John Milton.
What’s your biggest weakness?
Taking things too personally. Taste is subjective!
What is your favorite book of all time?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I read a lot and have been really influenced by many authors and books, but I'm also massively influenced by the TV shows and films I'm watching. I grew up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The X-Files and I really loved the way they both played with genre and took their characters on such big arcs. That's the kind of writing I most want to do!
What are you working on now?
I am working on the sequel to my sci-fi romance novel, Down to Ursa, and I'm loving where things are going! These characters really take me by surprise.
What is your method for promoting your work?
The spaghetti method – throw everything I can at the wall and see what sticks.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I'm hoping to continue to build my existing series (I have a contemporary romance series and a sci-fi romance series) and I'd also like to more fully jump into horror. (I've written some stuff under a different pen name, but I'd like to find a way to bridge romance and horror in some fun and unexpected ways!)
How well do you work under pressure?
That's the only way I know how to work. 🙂 I have a full-time job, some side gigs, a kid, and I'm publishing 2-3 books a year, so things stay busy! I try to be very organized and deliberate with how I use my time.
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
Each story is going to have its own feeling, especially taking into account the point-of-view character(s) and the personality they bring to the story. The genre combined with the characters really decides the tone of the story for me — how do these two concepts intersect with each other?
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Lissa Sharpe Website
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