Liliana Hart Speed Date Interview
Readers: Here is your chance to ask Author Liliana Hart two questions. She will be
around during the day to answer the questions you post. Personal and
inappropriate questions may not be answered at the Authors discretion.
Ask an Author two questions and be entered to win in our monthly
giveaway.
Bio
Liliana Hart spent five years teaching music in the public education system. She molded America’s youth, busted kids for smoking pot in the restrooms, and broke up illicit affairs behind the stage on a regular basis, so she finally decided to hang up her hat and let someone else have all the fun. (Liliana’s Addison Holmes Mystery Series, about a small town teacher who gets into a whole lot of trouble, is somewhat autobiographical, but she won’t confess to which parts).
Liliana began reading romance novels with all her new found free time, and when she ran out of things to read, she decided to write her own novels. The result was a 150,000 word thriller–a dazzling adventure–where the heroine was a thirty-year-old virgin assassin (Yes, you read that right). She couldn’t imagine why people weren’t knocking down her door to read it, but she persevered and began writing a second book. She finally got the hang of things, and eventually learned that losing one’s virginity wasn’t all that romantic after all. All of her books involve some kind of suspense (she just can’t help herself), laughter, and a lot of steamy sex.
Since the failure of her first attempt, Liliana’s books have won awards such as: The Daphne Du Maurier, The Suzannah, The Linda Howard Award of Excellence, The Maggie, and many others. Her affiliations include Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America. Liliana loves to cook, and is addicted to reading, Internet Boggle, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company.
J.J. Graves has seen a lot of dead bodies in her line of work…
She’s not only in the mortuary business, but she’s also the coroner for King George County, Virginia. When a grisly murder is discovered in the small town of Bloody Mary, it’s up to J.J. and her best friend, Detective Jack Lawson, to bring the victim justice.
The murders are piling up…
The residents of Blood Mary are dropping like flies, and when a popular mystery writer shows up on J.J.’s doorstep with plans of writing his new book about the Bloody Mary Serial Killer, J.J. has to decide if he might be going above and beyond the call of duty to create the spine tinglers he’s so well known for. It only clouds the issue and puts her reputation on the line when the attraction between them spirals out of control.
And passions are rising…
J.J and Jack are in a race against time. They discover each victim had a shocking secret, and the very foundation of J.J.’s life is in danger of crumbling when it turns out she’s harboring secrets of her own—secrets that make her the perfect victim in a deadly game.
You can read chapter one here : http://www.lilianahart.com/dirty-little-secrets/
website : http://www.lilianahart.com/
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/people/Liliana-Hart/100002543194607
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Liliana_Hart
August 23rd, 2011 at 6:36 am
what part of a book do you find the hardest to write the begining ,middle or end.also do you belive all romantic books should end in a happily ever after.
August 23rd, 2011 at 6:45 am
Peg360-
I find the first 1/3 of the book is the hardest for me to write. I’m not a person who writes to a synopsis, so I’ll get an initial idea (usually a character, followed closely by a scene where they’re in a bit of a pickle) and just start writing. Once I get past that scene, I have to stop and think, “now what?” But eventually I figure it out and the rest of the book goes smoothly.
That’s kind of a trick question (are you trying to stump me so early in the morning?) I believe that all “romance” novels should end in happily ever after. Even after all the years I’ve spent reading and writing romance, my favorite part is when I get to the end and have that wonderful sigh that fills the heart. I don’t believe that all “romantic” books should have a HEA. Take Shakespeare. Or Nicholas Sparks. Though they’re both men, and everyone knows a man’s idea of romance and a woman’s are different, which is an entirely different topic:-)
August 23rd, 2011 at 7:33 am
Hi Liliana -
I’d like to know what is your favorite thing about being an author, and what’s the first romance novel you read?
~Lindy
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:06 am
Lindy,
My favorite thing about being an author is that I’m getting to do my dream job. I love every aspect of writing, even when I’m on a deadline. I can wake up at 5am with a story in my head and then take a nap in the afternoon, or pretty much write whenever I need to. My husband just shakes his head at me because I take my netbook with us wherever we go, and I’ll whip it out while we’re waiting for a table at a restaurant or stuck in traffic.
The first romance novel I ever read was TRUST ME, by Jayne Ann Krentz. I was 17 years old, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:33 am
Hi Liliana. Fun interview.
How long does it take you to write a book and does anybody read your book while you’re writing it…for instance a critique partner or beta reader, or do you keep your story to yourself until it’s finished?
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:40 am
Hi, Liliana!
I love your cover. My question: how did you research your heroine’s job as a coroner?
My second question: how long does it take you to complete a book, from first idea to final edit?
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:53 am
Hi, Liliana!
Great interview. Do you plan more stories for J.J. Graves?
August 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 am
Liliana, that is a great excerpt. I love it. I was interested to see you find the first 1/3 the hardest to write. For me, it’s the ending. In the beginning, anything is possible. At the end, you gotta deal with this story. lol
August 23rd, 2011 at 9:28 am
#5 Theresa-
My first draft (for a full length novel) usually takes anywhere from 3-6 weeks, depending on how crazy life is at the moment. So a draft clean enough to turn into my agent usually takes between 6-8 weeks.
After my first draft, my husband does a read because he’s really good at catching the obvious stuff. After he gets through with it I have two beta readers I send it to to get more input on plot holes or just writing structure issues.
#6 Regina-
I love doing research for the J.J. Graves books, which makes me a little weird, I know. I hung out at funeral parlors, did interviews with medical examiners, watched an autopsy, studied crime scene files and hung out with a pal of mine who’s a crime scene detective.
It takes about 8 weeks for me to finish a book from idea to final edit.
#7 Kathy-
Yes, I do plan more for the J.J. Graves series (1 book a year). She and Jack were left in a rather tenuous position at the end of book one, and I wouldn’t leave you guys hanging like that:-)
#8 Carly,
I love the ends! When you can feel that part in your gut that everything is working the way that it should and your characters are getting the ending they deserve.
August 23rd, 2011 at 9:52 am
Lilian this books sounds great. I will be putting on my list of book of new to me authors and books
1. What was the reason you became a teacher?
2. What is your spare time like?
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:24 am
Kathleen,
To be completely honest, I became a teacher because I was at loose ends. I was in college and I had no idea what direction I wanted to take my life, and both my parents were teachers so that’s what was familiar to me. I knew I liked to write, but I had no clue how to turn that into a college education. I was also musically gifted, so music education seemed the natural direction to go. I didn’t feel like I truly was doing what I should be with my life until I quit teaching to write full time.
LOL! Spare time…Well, I have four children and a husband, so my spare time is pretty minimal. I’ve finally trained everyone in my family to recognize that writing is my career and a full-time job. If I’m writing, they know not to bother me. But now that school’s started back up I start early in the morning and try to finish by 4 when everyone gets home. The evenings and weekends are pretty much taken up with soccer, ballet, piano, and all the other things the kids are involved in. My free time is pretty much limited to the hours of 10pm to midnight when I get in bed with my Kindle.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:49 am
Liliana,
Who designed your cover and how involved is your agent with your indie published books?
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Christy,
I actually do all my covers. I think it’s fun!
My agent was the one who suggested I go the self-pub route. She truly felt like there was a market for my full-length novels. I just had the unfortunate luck of having them submitted around November of 2008 when the recession hit. She’s very supportive, and I have two sets of writing goals–my self-pub projects and then the projects I send to her for submission.
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Hey, I didn’t know you were a music teacher! I just went back to music after 7 years in the classroom (elementary level).
The book sounds great!
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:37 pm
MJ,
Yep, I taught high school band for five years, and then decided it might be nice to see my kids every once in a while.
August 23rd, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Who are some of your favorite authors? Did any of them influence your writing?
August 23rd, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Carol,
Gosh, I have almost too many to mention. I fell in love with books at a very early age. I remember reading Mary Higgins Clark in the 3rd grade and Dean Koontz in middle school, so books definitely had an influence on my writing from early on.
My absolute favorite author is Diana Gabaldon. I’m completely in love with the Outlander series and envy her writing ability. I also love Jennifer Crusie, Elizabeth Haydon, Lee Child, Terry Goodkind, Laurell K. Hamilton, Julie Garwood…
The list can go on forever. I learn something from a book every time I read it, so I’d definitely say I’m influenced by these authors. EX: No one can write dialogue like Jenny Crusie. I read her books over and over again to study the flow of her dialogue. Every book is a master class.
September 1st, 2011 at 3:43 pm
# 3 Lindy Says – you were randomly picked from the Speed Date Interviews in August. What do you win? Two books from the RJ book vault. Email chaoscat @ romance junkies.com with your snail mail contact info
September 1st, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Thanks so much, Cat, and thanks to Liliana for the interesting answers to our questions!
September 10th, 2011 at 7:06 am
This was a great writing, thanks a bunch. I added a link to your page on my site: http://www.onlinedutyfreeshop.com/featured.php, Keep up the great writing
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