#ScriptFlip featuring Author Lisa Suzanne

Neon nails and Vintage by Lisa Suzanne #currentobsessions

I will admit, what first drew me to this next series was the covers. THEY'RE GORGEOUS, and thankfully, they perfectly fit the words in these books. If you liked my Night Fever Serial, I think you should pick up Vintage. Not that the series have a ton in common, but the dark undertone, strong female lead and element of suspense give them a similar feel. This isn't necessarily a feel-good romance, although the theme of love is strong throughout. It's got some grit, and the sensuality is kiiinda off the charts.

From my review: "Roxy and Parker fall for each other fast, but the suspense that threads the story is a slow-build that had me flipping pages like crazy to find out how it would all come together."

JH: I'm beyond thrilled to welcome author Lisa Suzanne to the blog today & to have the chance to ask her some questions about her latest series, Vintage (Vols. 1 & 2). Lisa, thanks for indulging me! Have you always written fiction, or did something in particular spur you to write and publish your first series, the He Feels Trilogy?

Lisa: I’ve always written fiction—at least back to high school. I think the first book in the He Feels Trilogy goes back probably fifteen or so years. It wasn’t meant to be a trilogy, but after I published the first book, I had to explore what happened to Travis! And so the series was born.

JH: In your other life, you’re a high school English teacher. What’s your favorite book to discuss with your classes? When kids enter your classroom, what hashtag pops into their head?

Lisa: My top favorite is probably The Great Gatsby, but I also love teaching Into the Wild! As for a hashtag, probably something like #figureitout or #sheisobsessedwithherdog.

JH: Ha! Roxy Price is a complex, layered character. Which of her qualities do you admire most?

Lisa: I love her ability to bounce back. She’s been through a lot, but she’s tough even when she doesn’t want to be. I also love how grounded she is. She could easily get caught up in the world around her, but she remains true to herself.

JH: Completely agree—grounded is a great way to describe Roxy. During both books, I felt like I was right there on tour with Black Shadow. What kind of research went into creating that experience for the reader?

Lisa: I’ve always loved music and attending concerts. I’ve been lucky enough to get front row seats and meet & greet opportunities with some amazing artists. But the one piece of research that stands out the most happened last summer. I scored VIP passes to the Uproar Festival in Tucson from a new member of the band Seether. He and my brother played in a band together in high school, and he not only took us backstage, but he took us on his tour bus. To see a huge tour like that from behind the scenes was an amazing experience that I knew would end up in a book.

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JH: Aside from the explanation in the books, any personal significance to the names Roxanna Cecilia “Jimi” Price and Parker James?

Lisa: There really isn’t! For some reason, Roxy never felt like a Roxanna to me, but when I tried to change her name, I couldn’t. It’s who she is. But just like she doesn’t like her name, the nicknames fit her a little better. I liked the name CC because my favorite show is New Girl (and Jess’s best friend is CeCe). (JH: I love New Girl too! My goal in life is to marry a man named Nick so we can be Nick & Jess. Ha!) As for Parker… I couldn’t figure out his name. I have a slight obsession for Parker Hurley, so I stuck the name “Parker” in there as a placeholder, and it just fit.

JH: Ahh. Parker... Hurley... I'm envisioning him with black hair, maybe a tiger tattoo, and... uh, where were we? Oh, yes. You and I share a fantastically-talented cover designer (Louisa of LM Creations), and she hit the nail on the head with Vintage. Did you know right off the bat what you wanted on the cover?

Lisa: Louisa is AMAZING! I love her!!! I really didn’t know what I wanted on the cover. I knew I wanted something sexy and different, and when she sent me that mock-up, it was the most perfect representation I could have possibly imagined. It just fit the characters and the whole feel of the book to perfection. 

JH: Rock music is front and center in these books. Favorite rock artist or album?

Lisa: I love all different kinds of music. My favorite bands are Matchbox Twenty, Maroon 5, and Imagine Dragons, which are all on the more mellow side of rock. I also love bands like Metallica and Mötley Crüe, classic bands that have lasted through the years.  

JH: Did you write the lyrics for Vintage and what was your process with that?

Lisa: I did write the lyrics. I think because I’m such a music junkie, I’ve studied lyrics and I try to write it like a poem. I try to sing it in my head a certain way to see if it would work as a song. If I like how it sounds in my head, I hope someone else will, too.

JH: That's amazing. Lyrics aren't easy, I'm sure. What’s the scoop on your current work in progress?

Lisa: I’m working on a romantic comedy that is set to release August 27! Not Just another Romance Novel is about Piper, a woman working toward her master’s degree in Psychology. She comes up with a project where she combines her love for romance novels with her passion for psychology. Her social experiment is to date all of the stereotypes in the books to find out which one will lead her to her happy ending. My beta readers are just starting to get back to me with feedback, and so far I’m hearing awesome things! I can’t wait to share this one!

JH: That sounds like fun—to write & to read! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview and for bringing us Vintage. The series was just what  I was looking for.

Guys, if you haven't yet, pick up copies of the completed series, Vintage (Vol. 1) and Vintage (Vol. 2) now. You can also stay in the know about Lisa Suzanne's upcoming releases by signing up for her mailing list. Be a good groupie and stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.

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