Q: Is ALIENATED your first book?
A: Yes, however it wasn’t the first to sell. I wrote ALIENATED during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in 2009, but I made a ton of newbie mistakes and had to rewrite it five times before it was fit for consumption. While taking a break from the manuscript, I wrote an adult contemporary romance under a pen name. It sold quickly in a three-book deal with only five months between each release, so even though ALIENATED was my first book, it was the fourth to publish.
Q: Where did you get the idea to write ALIENATED?
A: Inspiration usually strikes when I’m in the shower, driving alone, or taking a quiet walk. In October of 2009, I was driving down the interstate thinking, “If I’m going to do this whole ‘NaNoWriMo’ thing, I need a plot. What am I going to write about?” Several ideas came to mind, but I dismissed them because they were boring or clichéd. Then—out of nowhere—I thought, “What if a high school senior had to host an alien exchange student?” Boom! I fell in love with the concept, and the rest is history.
Q: Can you send me a review copy?
A: Sorry, but no. I only have a few ARCs and they’re earmarked for giveaways. As for electronic galleys, I don’t distribute those. If you’d like to request an advance review copy, you’ll need to contact my publisher. But don’t worry—they don’t bite…hard.
Q: How can I get autographed copies of your books?
A: I’m glad you asked! You can order a signed copy from my local indie, The Bookshelf, but DON’T try to place an order on their site—the book will ship directly to you before I can autograph it. Instead, call The Bookshelf at 513-271-9140 or email them at bookshelf@fuse.net
Q: I just finished a manuscript. Can you read it for me?
A: Congratulations on your achievement! Finishing a book is definitely something to celebrate. But unfortunately, no, I can’t read it for you. That would take time away from my own writing, which is already in short supply. I suggest you visit the Absolute Write forums to find a beta reader or critique partner.
Q: Was ALIENATED made into a television show on the CW network?
A: No, you’re thinking of Star-Crossed. The two are totally unrelated—they’re both human-alien romances, but that’s where the similarities end. However, I think ALIENATED would make an awesome movie, don’t you? I’d love to see Aelyx on the big screen. ::dreamy sigh::
Q: How can I read your books for free?
A: Check them out from your local library. If the book you want isn’t in the system, you can request that your library purchase it, and usually they will. But please don’t download my books from the internet. This is stealing, and it hurts my career. (I’m not being dramatic here. Piracy results in thousands of lost sales, and if I don’t sell books, I don’t get to keep writing books.) Library sales are an enormous source of income for authors, so there’s a huge difference between borrowing a copy from your local branch and downloading a stolen copy from a file-sharing site.
Q: Will you donate signed books to my charity event?
A: Because I receive hundreds of donation requests, some of them fraudulent, I have to ask that all requests be made in writing on the letterhead of your charitable organization, and mailed to the address listed on my “contact” page. I will no longer accept requests via email.
Q: Will you visit (or Skype with) my school/library/book club?
A: Perhaps. However, publishing in two genres while raising a family is a juggling act, and I’ve had to become protective of my time. For this reason, I require an honorarium or minimum number of guaranteed pre-orders to compensate for the missed work day. If you’d like more information, contact Lisa McClatchy at hyperionvisits@aol.com.
Q: How many books are in the Alienated series and the Starflight series?
A: The Alienated series is a trilogy that includes a bonus (online-only) short story. The series order is as follows: Alienated, Until Midnight (free short story), Invaded, and United. My second series is a duology, consisting of Starflight and Starfall, in that order. Both series are complete and available for your binge-reading pleasure!
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