Interview with young adult author Lisa Orchard

Welcome, Readers.

Today’s special guest is young adult author Lisa Orchard. We’re talking about her young adult romance books in The Starlight Chronicles series.

During her virtual book tour, Lisa will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner's choice) to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Lisa Orchard grew up loving books. She was hooked on books by the fifth grade and even wrote a few of her own. She knew she wanted to be a writer even then. Her first published works are the “Super Spies Series.” These stories revolve around a group of friends who form their own detective squad and the cases they solve. “The Starlight Chronicles,” is the next series that Lisa created with musical misfit, Lark Singer as her main character.

 After graduating from Central Michigan University with a Marketing Degree, she spent many years in the insurance industry, pining to express her creative side. The decision to stay home with her children gave her the opportunity to follow her dream and become a writer. She resides in Michigan with her husband, Steve, and two wonderful boys. Currently, she’s working on the next book in the Starlight Chronicles Series along with a few new ideas that may turn into standalone novels. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, and reading.

Welcome, Lisa. Please tell us about your current release.

Lark Singer is seventeen years old and already on the way to a brilliant music career. But as she and her band, Starlight, gear up for a competition, life seems to be throwing her a few curve balls. The mysteries of her past seem to be unraveling, and she’s no longer certain she wants to know those answers or how knowing about her past will affect her difficult relationship with her mother. And when her best friend, Bean, changes things between them, all her plans for a musical future are placed in jeopardy. How can she balance her complicated personal life to keep her musical goals on track?

What inspired you to write this series?

It’s a funny story actually. My husband and I were watching a documentary about one of our favorite bands, Rush. I have to confess that they weren’t one of my favorites until I watched the show. However, I was so impressed by their musicianship and their commitment to their music that I turned to my husband and said, “I want to be like Geddy Lee.”

This documentary brought back that age old desire to be a rock star. We’ve all had that dream, haven’t we? Anyway, since I’m too old to go down that road now, I decided to write a book about it instead and “The Starlight Chronicles were born.


Here's an excerpt from The Starlight Chronicles series:

Bean touches my hand and pulls me back to a safer place. He gives me a look full of knowing and compassion then squeezes my hand. I look down suddenly ashamed of my emotions.

“She doesn’t have anything on you. You’re a kick-ass guitar player.”

I give him a grateful smile. Bean always knows how to make things right. We finish our lunch in an easy silence that can only be shared by two people who’ve known each other a long time. It’s comfortable, like your favorite pair of sneakers. They’re scuffed and worn, but you immediately feel at home in them.


What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m working on a couple of them. The next story in “The Starlight Chronicles” and I’m also working on a thriller titled “Missing Mia.” I’m pretty excited about both of them.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I knew I wanted to be a writer in the fifth grade. The Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew inspired me and I began writing stories then. It wasn’t until I was home with my own kids, though that I decided to pursue publication. I’ve been having so much fun writing and the ideas just keep coming! I hope they never stop.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I work part time at my kids’ school, but any spare moment I have, I devote to writing or marketing my books. I have two series out. The first one is “The Super Spies” series that’s written for the upper middle grade age group, and “The Starlight Chronicles” that’s written for the upper young adult age group.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmmm…this is a good question. I would say my interesting writing quirk is the fact that I eat chocolate while I write. I know! So bad! But, I have to say sometimes chocolate gives me a mental boost so I can finish the scene I’m working on. It also helps when I get stuck and I can’t go for a hike. A quick bite of chocolate seems to help me through the rough waters.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Well, when I was really young, I wanted to be a detective just like Nancy Drew. However, that changed and I decided I wanted to write books like Nancy Drew.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I love hiking in the woods. It’s a stress reliever and a great way to unravel plot problems when I get stuck in my story. I love the smell of the woods and the peacefulness of nature. It’s very calming.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

The books will be offered as a boxed set for $0.99 during the tour.

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