Monday, March 10, 2014

[Book Tour] Picture Me Naked by Lisa A. Olech #interview


Z. Z. LAMBERT wasn't born uptight, but someone needed to be the adult. Zee's a "color-inside-the-lines" artist with a hippy mother, a mostly dead grandmother, and a cat named Isabella Rossellini. Add to her life's palette a stunning new life model, Jagger Jones. Is it just her, or does all the air leave the room when he shows up? Good thing he's just passing through. This is no time to fall in love, especially not with her model, no matter how perfectly knee-melty he may be.

Australian JAGGER JONES is a rolling stone. Living with nothing to tie you down takes talent. Posing without your britches is a piece of cake. He's three years into his walkabout with only his dead father's ashes for company.

But Z.Z. Lambert stops him faster than a croc in the mud. Her paintings of him are incredible. She sees past all of his posturing, past the flesh and bone and uncovers his heart. Zee understands the promise he made his father, and comes to love him enough to let him go. But does she love him enough to let him stay? His only other choice is a future without her. And he can't picture that at all.



What is your writing environment.
I have a wonderful writing area, but in the winter it’s drafty and frigid (old house syndrome), so during the cold months I’ll float to anywhere in the house that’s quiet and has a comfy chair. Add my laptop, a cup of extra-strength coffee, a snuggly afghan and a cat…writer’s heaven!

Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
I start with very brief character sketches and they develop from there. Occasionally, I have to ‘quiet’ one of them down, but I love when they surprise me.

Who are your dream dinner party guests?
Living or dead? Please let me invite Cary Grant!  Do I need to invite any more? Couldn’t it just be me and Cary?!?

Most _Invisible_ in high school. (popular, nerdy, sporty…) Why?

For many of my friends, this will come as a huge shock, but I was horribly shy.  

Top three things on your bucket list.
Spend a night in the Ice Hotel in Sweden and see the northern lights. ((Another shocker considering I loath winter!))
Learn how to blow glass
Tour Scotland and sleep in a haunted castle. ((funny, this won’t shock my friends at all!))

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

I’ve always been an artist, but I was never fortunate enough to go to art school. Over the years, I’ve taken numerous classes in mediums that interested me; i.e., art history, glass, pottery, etc. However, I will always regret not getting my art degree. So several years ago I began attending life drawing classes held at a college nearby. I believe figure drawing is basic to an artist’s education, kind of ‘Artist101,’ and I’d never had the opportunity before. I loved it. I worked in charcoal, pencil and chalk. For me it was getting back to my roots with shape and form and play of light.

As the weeks went on, I became fascinated with the models. (No, not like that!) I mean there is something in their brains that is SO not in mine. A freeness and complete lack of self consciousness. You couldn’t pay me enough money to bare my body to a room full of strangers and yet here they were totally comfortable, artist in their own right, wonderfully confident people. That’s where the idea began. I started tossing a story line idea around. I interviewed six or seven of these models, and Jagger Jones was born!! 

If you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?
I’d love to have Jagger’s confidence. He’d so free spirited. He’d not afraid to put himself out there (wink, wink). He’s not worried about what people think of him. He has a strong faith in his future, and he’s motivated by a deep sense of love, honor and loyalty. I’m smitten, can you tell?

What’s your favorite body part of the opposite sex?
Believe it or not, I’m really into hands. If eyes are the mirror of your soul, your hands have to be the novel of your life. They can tell so much about a person, what they’ve done, the life they’ve touched.

What does love feel like?
Love feels like knowing you’ve picked your best friend to spend the rest of your life with, and trusting no matter what life throws at you, he’s there and he has your back.

When was your last kiss?
Five minutes ago!

What’s an absolute no-no in a relationship?
Dishonesty and infidelity are definite deal breakers!

How did you meet your significant other?
I only tell that story after a few drinks at parties! 

Flirting Quickies:  

Boxers or Briefs?  Boxers

Facial hair or clean shaven? Depends on the face!

Alpha or Beta? Beta

Planner or Panster? Panster

White wine or red? Whichever is uncorked!

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Vanilla or chocolate? Vanilla

Sweet or salty? Sweet

Sleep in or get up early? Insanely early

Laptop or desktop? Laptop
Beach or mountains? Beach
Winter or summer? Fall J
Cat or dog? Cat
Twilight or Fifty Shades? Is there a third choice?
Spotlight or In the Shadows? Shadows
City or Country? Depends on the city!
Clubbing or candlelight dinner? Candlelight dinner….with Cary Grant!
Backpacking or luxury hotel? Hotel, definitely!
Morning or night person? Insanely early, remember?!
Christmas or Halloween? How about April Fool’s Day?
Optimist or pessimist? Optimist

Bio: Lisa is an artist/writer living in her dream house nestled among the lakes in New England. She loves getting lost in a steamy book, finding the perfect pair of sexy shoes, and hearing the laughter of her men. Being an estrogen island in a sea of testosterone makes her queen. She believes in ghosts, silver linings, the power of a man in a tuxedo, and happy endings.


Links (website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, book buy links, etc.):
Twitter - @LisaOlech
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Lisa.A.Olech.Writer
Barnes&Noble - barnesandnoble.com/w/picture-me-naked-lisa-a-olech/1118414244?ean=2940148301752


5 comments:

  1. Great interview, Lisa! I also start with brief character sketches and allow them to grow through the novel. I think it's the best way!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Aubrie! Glad to know I'm not the only one whose characters run wild!

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  2. Lisa,
    I absolutely LOVE the unique concept/hero in this novel. It's a must-read for me! Another TWRP author who prefers vanilla to chocolate, likes autumn best, is a pantser, adores Beta heroes... Your blog made me smile :-)
    Wish you the very best!

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    1. Diane, perhaps we were separated at birth?! Glad to make you smile. Hope you like the book! Thanks for the comment!

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  3. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!!

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