Lisa J. Lickel Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I’ve recently moved from one side of Wisconsin to the other. I guess it’s been almost two years, now…still settling in, meeting the neighbors and figuring out light switches in the new home we built. I love our peaceful rural setting and our new community. My husband and I enjoy our six grandkids, ages 5 and under, and love to watch the deer, turkeys, numerous birds and occasional other creatures that surround us.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. Although I always enjoyed writing, it wasn’t until I reached my forties that I saw an ad for what was then the Christian Writer’s Guild, and took the plunge. I thought the least I could do was treat myself to the course and see if it was something I could do.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. I had nearly completed the guild course, which was a two-year on-line series of go at your own pace lessons with feedback when I learned about the Operation: First Novel contest. I entered and placed in the top ten of nearly 400 entries that first year. Another year passed and I signed with my first agent and got my first sale with Barbour books. I’ve been publishing ever since, and have ventured into small presses as well as learning DIY. I’ve become an editor and writing coach with Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp, and love mentoring writers.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Meow Matrimony?
A: The book is part of a cozy mystery series which feature Egyptian Mau cats, and will also introduce other rare cats. The cats don’t actively solve the mysteries, but they are the inspiration for the main character, Ivy, who sees plenty of action in her adopted home town of Apple Grove, Illinois, where mayhem, murder, and mix-ups occur on a regular basis. This time her mix-up involves receiving the wrong wedding invitations which she graciously decides to return to their proper owner. Upon knocking on the door of the new morning radio DJ who is getting married the week before Ivy, Ivy finds foul play. Ivy is soon accused of the dastardly deed, and the race is on to clear her name in time to head up the aisle for her long-awaited wedding.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Meow Matrimony?
A: While the stories are stand-alone, there is a progression of events. Because there is a bit of romance involved, it was natural to have Ivy get married. Since Ivy is a bit klutzy and stumbles into issues, it was fun to set up a roadblock to her wedding. The Meow mysteries were a challenge to myself to learn how to write in first person, and tackle the cozy mystery format after my first series with Barbour’s mystery club concluded. I had fun researching the cats, which I love but cannot keep as pets due to family allergies; designing Apple Grove; and coming up with a host of friends for Ivy to know and love.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: I hope they’ll remember that going out of your way to help someone who needs it shows true character.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. With each completed challenge, be it novel, short story, article, edit, or lesson or speech, I get a bit of a thrill—sort of like my own source of endorphin. I can’t imagine running out of ideas, but there’s simply not enough time in the day to read all the books I’d like or help everyone who asks or write fast enough to be able to get to the next story.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. Sure! After completing the four Meow mystery which involves Ivy taking on the plight of itinerant coffee workers, I’m now working on a second story following UnderStory, a novel released by Pelican Ventures in 2016 which just came out in audio, by the way. UnderStory featured racism and prejudice, sex trafficking and a cold case murder. UnderCut, the current title, is a tale of the underworld of black market human organs. I’m shocked that it’s still a huge and horrifying problem, though I guess I shouldn’t be. I write light and sweetly romantic to the dark thrillers, with even a few historical children’s early readers in between.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. Read, read, read, watch movies, go for walks, listen to the coyotes, travel, play with my grandkids and spend time with family. How about all of you?