Talk Back Thursday


This week's Talk Back Thursday is with Lisa Becker, the amazing author of the book, "Click" (which we review HERE). See what she has to say about writing, life . . . and upcoming news!

What inspired you to write, "Click"?
My husband and I met online on a popular dating website.  After we married, I was recalling some of the hilarious experiences that I had with both traditional and online dating.  I decided to capture some of them in writing and from there, a novel emerged.   The ultimate goal was to create a fun read for anyone who has ever had a bad date, been in love, been dumped, or is searching for "the one." But, the happy ending is real.  Steve and I have been happily married for nine years and have two amazing daughters - ages 8 and 5.  You can check out the book trailer here

How do you balance work and personal/ family time?
I’m fortunate to have had a series of wonderful careers outside of writing including being a wife, mom, PR professional, college professor, volunteer and Girl Scout troop leader.  There’s rarely a dull moment around here.  But I had always told myself – even as a little girl – that I would write a book one day.  I started writing Click after my husband and I married but before we had kids.  Then I had to take a break from writing due to the rigors of motherhood.  Once my daughters were in preschool, I made the commitment to finish the book.  I wrote in the mornings while they were at school or at night after they went to sleep.  I made it a goal to write – even if only for a half hour – every day. 

What advice would you give to other women wanting to write their own book?
Like all writers, I’ve encountered my share of writer’s block.  My solution:  Chocolate!  No joke, I eat chocolate.  If I’m stuck on a certain section or not feeling motivated to write, I give myself little chocolate incentives to get past the blockage.  Judging by my thighs, I had some serious problems writing this book.  ;)
Click is a self-published novel and I wouldn’t “write off” that option.  I explored the traditional publishing route and got feedback from multiple literary agents. One in particular explained the current economic state of the publishing industry to me. Due to the large investment to edit, produce, distribute and market a work by an unknown author, many large publishers won’t take the risk. Self-publishing is a way to get your work out there and was very easy.  The hardest part is marketing the book and spreading the word about it.  So, I’m especially appreciative to blogs like yours for helping me with that process.  

I'm also reminded of some advice I was once given. I had interviewed Charles Rosen, one of the producers of the original Beverly Hills 90210, for an alumni magazine article while I was in graduate school. And I'll never forget what he told me, "Don't fall in love with your words, because somebody above will probably change them." One of the great benefits of self-publishing is that you can really take control of the process.

Who has inspired you most in writing "Click"?
First off, there’s my husband who inspired one of the major Click characters.  There are some emails from our early dating that are hidden within the book.  There are also, of course, several men who I dated prior to meeting my husband who inspired stories in the book.  In some cases, things are written as they actually occurred.  Other scenarios are exaggerated for entertainment value or comedic affect.  And some scenarios are completely fictionalized. I really did go out on a date with someone I met online who started every story (no joke!) with “My buddies and I were out drinking last night.”  And finally, there is a writer named Matthew Beaumont who wrote the book e, which tells the story of a fictitious ad agency vying for a big account, with the story all told in emails.  I thought that narrative style would work really well for the story I wanted to tell about the online dating world.  It was a modern way of storytelling that fit the topic and the times. 


Is there any exciting news about your writing that you want to share (this could be a new book or anything else)?
I recently finished writing a sequel, Double Click, which picks up with Renee, Shelley, Ashley, Mark and Ethan six months later.   SPOILER ALERTS!!!!  Do Renee and Ethan end up together? Does Mark ever go on a date? Has Shelley run out of conquests in Los Angeles? Will Ashley's judgmental nature sabotage her budding relationship? Double Click answers these questions and more as readers continue to follow the email exploits of Renee and her friends.
I encourage people to join the Facebook fan page here to get updates on when Double Click will be available. 

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