Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: The Flirts! by Lisa Scott

Today we're welcoming author Lisa Scott to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her short romance anthologies, "The Flirts!". These are delightful stories and so well written. You can see our review of "Fairy Tale Flirts!" here.

Lisa is giving away a $10 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter. So comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

I grilled Lisa with some "must know" questions, and she has graciously responded. Take it away, Lisa!

Why short stories?

I suffer from new-idea-syndrome. I'm an idea junkie. Writing short stories is an easy way to bring many of my ideas to life quickly. If I'm strict with my schedule, I can write a short story collection in two months. Then I need another month for betas to read it and then for editing and formatting. I couldn't write a novel in that time. I'm hearing from more US readers who are just discovering and really enjoying short stories. I think it's a more common thing in the UK. My books sell really well in the UK itunes store.


How do you come up with the inter-connected stories for your anthologies?

Connecting the stories happened by accident. In my first volume, Flirts!, I had one story ending at a charity event, and another story starting at a charity event, and I thought, 'Dang, I can't do that.' Then I thought, 'Wait a minute...' Now when I start writing a volume, I think about the theme and where it's happening. Usually, it's friends and family members connecting the stories. In Fairy Tale Flirts! it was the residents of Grimm Towers who connected the stories. Right now, I'm working on Wedding Flirts! and it's the venues, attendants, and wedding professionals that will connect the stories. It's so much fun for me to find ways to drop characters in other stories, and look for unique ways to connect them. I think when you finish reading one of my collections, it feels like you've read a longer work, and not just five short stories. (Even though the shorts are stand alone reads as well.)

What's a normal day like for you?

I work from home as a voice actor, so I usually do any urgent voice work once the kids are at school, (you wouldn't belive how many people need a commercial done NOW!) Then I try to spend an hour or two writing, then it's back to more voice work and editing. When the kids get home and all bets are off. Once they're in bed, I try to get back to writing. It's nice to have two creative endeavors to balance my work day. I don't think I could spend all day just writing. I get burned out. I do love working from home. Some days I don't change out of my PJ's. In the summer, I can go outside and sit by my koi pond to relax and recharge. Every day feels like a vacation!

Do you ever plan on writing a novel? Why or why not?

I wrote my first novel, No Foolin' and it will be released by Bell Bridge Books this November. I'm working on book number two in that series, Man of the Month. I also wrote a middle grade novel, Tomboy Beauty Queen, that is currently on submission with my agent. Romance and children's books, what a match, right?

Any odd quirks you'd like to share?

Besides my fear of spiders, heights, and dentists? Not really. But I do find I need to take a long walk before starting a project. That's when I get my best ideas. I've accepted that I have to carry a story around in my head for a while before I can start writing. I have to understand my characters and where I'm coming from first.

What are the pros and cons of being self-published?

I feel like I've got the best of both worlds being self-published and working in the traditional publishing world. I have total control with self-publishing, and I can get my work out there quickly. But on the down side, it is hard doing all the marketing yourself. It can be tough to get noticed and stay noticed.

What's coming up from you that you'd like to share with our readers?

Wedding Flirts! will be released this April, and in March, look for the first short story from my Willowdale Romance series--southern romantic comedy. "A Fine How-De-Do" introduces us to the characters of Willowdale. (I'm self-pubbing the short stories to precede the release of the novel with Bell Bridge. Their idea; pretty cool.) Then No Foolin' comes out in November. A small town girl poses as a movie star's girlfriend to hide the real reason he's in town. The only thing harder than convincing the press that they're in love, is fooling each other they're not.

Any questions you'd like to ask our readers?

Have you ever tried short stories? Who's your all time favorite romance hero? What's your all time favorite romance title?

What are The Flirts! about?

Every volume of the Flirts! Collection features five sweet, funny romantic short stories, linked by a loose thread. It all ties up in a fab, fun ending, bringing together characters from all the stories in that collection. Each short story is 8,000-12,000 words long--the perfect length to squeeze in during your lunch break or kids' practices. Sometimes you need a little love!

Lisa Scott is a former TV news anchor who now enjoys making up stories instead of sticking to the facts. The first book in her Willowdale Romance series will be released by Belle Bridge books in November 2012. In the meantime, she'll be releasing short stories linked to the Willowdale series, in addition to her Flirts! collections.

When not begging her husband and two kids for a few minutes of peace to write her stories, she works as a voice actor and putters around in her koi pond and garden in upstate NY.

http://readlisascott.com
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