Author Crush Friday with Lisa Brown Roberts

Thanks for having me today! I’m excited to be part of Author Crush Fridays.

GLITTER: For those who haven’t read your work yet, how would you describe your writing style?  

LISA: Mostly romantic comedy- light and funny, with a dash of angst to keep it interesting. I love writing teasing banter between my hero and heroine, and friendships are very important to me, too, so those play a big role in my books as well.

GLITTER: What is the main plot of The Replacement Crush?

LISA: The heroine Vivian is a romance book blogger who’s recovering from a broken heart. She decides to take a Spock approach to love and makes a list of “safe crushes,” intending to keep her emotions (and hormones) out of the equation. But then she meets Dallas, the new guy in town, a hot nerd who throws her plan (and her hormones) into chaos. He thinks her replacement crush mission is ridiculous, since he’s the obvious choice to be the replacement, but Vivian is determined to stick to her plan. Shenanigans ensue, naturally, but eventually they get their happily ever after.

GLITTER: What one message would you like readers to walk away with when they’re done reading The Replacement Crush?

LISA: It’s hard to pick just one so I might cheat and pick two messages: One: the importance and power of friendship- between girls, between girls and guys, and bromances, and the way the best type of romantic love grows out of friendship. Two: the importance of standing up to jerks, especially when bullies clearly have the upper hand physically.

GLITTER: What book of yours do you hope to see on either TV or as a movie and why?

LISA: All of them! A person can dream, right? When I write my books, the stories unfold like movies in my mind and the challenge for me is conveying these vivid scenes on the page- the setting, the dialog, and the emotions- because I want readers to experience the stories viscerally, like a movie.

But okay, if I can only pick one I’ll go with Playing the Player because of the funny escapades with the little kids and the scenes set at some of my favorite places in and around Denver, my hometown.

GLITTER: What genre do you prefer writing?

LISA: I love romance, specifically romantic comedy. I used to try to write more literary, angst-driven books but my natural writing voice is more comedic, though I still like to add in a bit of angst for depth.

GLITTER: Who inspires you?

LISA: So many people: other authors, readers who tell me how much they love my books, everyone involved in the hard work of turning the germ of an idea into a finished book.

Beyond that, I’m inspired by my family, particularly grandparents and great-grandparents who are no longer here. I’m keenly aware of the sacrifices they made and the difficult lives they lived. My life is luxurious in comparison, and I feel that I owe it to them to make the most of my opportunities.

The Replacement Crush is dedicated to my grandmothers, both of whom worked incredibly hard to keep their families solvent, and somehow maintained their senses of humor. Their one escape was romance novels, so I had to dedicate this book to them. I like to believe they’re both smiling in approval from the next life.

GLITTER: What is one thing fans might not know about you?

LISA: This is where I wish I had some secret talent, or that I spoke a half dozen languages fluently. Sadly, I’ve got nothing. Hmm…I do love animals and have acquired at least four pets without prior approval from my family. If I lived on a lot of acreage, I’d probably have a dozen dogs and cats. This is also why you’ll find animals playing a role in my books, too.

GLITTER: You tackle issues of bullying in this book and it’s the perfect book for teen girls to read because of that. Plus, the hot boy, but also the sensitive issues you manage to tackle. What one piece of advice could you give any teen going through difficult times now?

LISA: To tell someone they trust about what’s happening. It’s terrifying to be on the wrong side of bullying or stalking, especially if you’ve been threatened to stay quiet or else. Friends, family, teachers, counselors, religious leaders- find someone you trust. Also, I’m keenly aware that sometimes it’s the people in positions of power who are the perpetrators, so consider bringing a trusted friend or adult with you when you decide to report it.

Some resources:

http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org

http://safe2tell.org/resources

I’ve experienced bullying both as a victim and as a parent of a victim. In some of those circumstances, someone else saw what was happening and reached out. Maybe you can be that person for someone else, standing up to bullies directly, making sure your friend isn’t alone, going with them when they decide to tell someone what’s happening.

GLITTER: What are you currently working on?

LISA: I’m working on another YA contemporary rom-com for Entangled that will release next fall. It features an awkward, Darcy-ish hero and a go-getter heroine who’s unimpressed by the arrogant new guy. I’m also working on a couple of shorter category YA romances for Entangled’s Crush e-book imprint.