Today, I'm excited to share an interview with
Lisa Swinton, one of my fabulous writers group friends. Her first novel, Fallen Angel, just came out last week. If you love Italy, drama and romance, then you should definitely
check it out!
Book Blurb
Antonio does not believe in love at first sight until he sees her fall into a street in Milan and get hit by a motorcycle. Compelled to know if she can return his affection, he becomes Renatta’s hospital volunteer only to learn that the accident erased her memory. Together they must discover her past, present and future. In the way of happily ever after stand her opera career, tyrannical mother, and fiancé.
Antonio must win Renatta’s heart before she bends to the will of her mother and marries Marcello.Failure means a lifetime of loneliness, for love at first sight never happens twice.
About the Author
Lisa Swinton caught the romance bug early by way of fairy tales and hasn’t been able to cure it since. Instead, she feeds her addiction with romance novels and films. In between being a doctor’s wife and mother of two, she occasionally puts her B.A. in Musical Theater to good use via community theater, church choir and teaching the art of singing. In her elusive spare time she enjoys researching her family tree and baking (especially with chocolate). She loves to travel, Jane Austen, and all things Italian. In her next life, she plans to be a professional organizer.
The Interview
What is your favorite type of romance story?
Clean romance is my favorite but I'm happy to read romance in any genre or age, time place. Minus erotica of course.
If you had to summarize the book for readers, it would be . . .
Antonio falls in love at first sight with rising opera star, Renatta, but most overcome her memory loss, family and fiancée in order to gain her heart and happily ever after.
Tell us about the hero and the lucky lady.
Antonio is a down to earth level headed car designer on vacation who doesn't believe in love at first sight until it happens to him and turns his world upside down. He is a gentleman and when he loves, he loves fiercely.
Renatta sees the good in everyone and never makes waves. The accident reveals her true strength and she tackles her family issues and determines to make her own future.
If your characters could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
Antonio would save Renatta from the motorcycle.
Renatta would never let Elisabetta go.
What scene did you have the most fun writing? Why? (include short blurb)
One of the scenes I had fun writing is when Chiara (Renatta's sister) and Stefano, (Antonio's BFF) meet. Chiara idolizes Stefano's work as a fashion photographer and so she completely freaks out in an embarrassing way when she meets him. It was fun writing their introduction and having a Beatles like moment to lighten things up.
Chiara’s eyelids fluttered open; she looked disoriented for a moment, then her eyes focused on Stefano’s face. “What happened?”
Stefano broke into a wide grin of amusement. “You fainted.”
“I did?” Her voice was soft and slightly breathless.
“Si.”
“Antonio caught you and I carried you in.”
“You did?” Chiara’s disorientation faded away as a deep red blush raced up her neck and cheeks. “You are Stefano?”
“The one and only.”
She closed her eyes and groaned. “This is officially the most embarrassing moment of my life.”
Stefano chuckled. “Well, I am happy I got to be a part of it. Do you feel well enough to sit up?”
“I think so.”
Stefano eased her up on the bench beside him and kept one arm around her for support.
Chiara covered her face with her manicured hands and asked, “Could we start over? You know, pretend I never fainted, but presented myself as a calm collected and mature young woman instead of a fanatical teenager meeting an idol?”
Who would you cast in the role of your characters if your book was optioned for a movie?
No one in Hollywood. I'd need some undiscovered actors from Italy for this. Guess we'll have to travel to Italy and have a casting call. Who wants to go?
What are you currently working on? Do you have any other releases planned for 2014?
I'm not. I've been busy getting this book ready to publish. But I have several characters clamoring to have their stories told. Ivy and Sam (a high school romance I'll probably title Ivy Climbs) and Maren and Zane (professionals in their early twenties in NY titled The Guy on the Corner).
I plan to release Ring on Her Finger in fall of 2014. You can check out the first chapter at the end of Fallen Angel.
The Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
