Saturday, August 21, 2010

Liza O'Conner Interview

Please welcome Liza O’Conner to Nocturnal Nights.


Are you aware of any themes that run through your stories? If so, what are they?



I’ve noticed several disturbing themes in my work. Ever since the guy I thought my soul mate for life informed me he wanted to see another woman, but asked me to continue sleeping in his bed while he decided which of us he preferred, I began writing novels where my heroine has multiple partners (in one case twelve men). I dumped that boyfriend. So not surprisingly, I also have the habit of dumping the first guy the reader meets for someone else. And then there is the evil mother or mother-in-law character that preys upon my heroines. I’m certain if I ever get mental therapy, my characters will settle down. But where is the fun in that?

What would you like readers to take away from your stories?




I wish to be so disturbing that they still think about my people months after they read me. Many complain they do, so I’m happy.

What inspires your stories?




My bizarre life and my demented dreams are fodder for my odd stories. My brain seems to tell me stories throughout the night like a possessed TV that you can’t turn off.

What is your writing schedule?



I write or re-write every single day, seven days a week from 10 a.m.-7p.m. then walk my dog, return alive (so far) and do crittering (I made that word up) from 8-12 midnight.

Do you have any other passions besides writing?


I have a ton of them: music, acting, art, thrill-seeking sports, gardening, naming fish that keep changing their colors, hiking with my dog.  I try very hard to enjoy every day of my life.

What is your favorite comfort food?




popcorn cooked in olive oil, sprinkled with curry and doused with Smart Balance butter. I delude myself into believing it’s good for me.

What relaxes you?



Raspberry vodka does an amazing job at relaxing me. Hot baths with bath salts will as well, only I just have to make sure I haven’t taken option one first or I will be DOA from DOD (dead on arrival from drinking and drowning).

What was your favorite vacation?




I took a six month  vacation to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, trying to experience every way to almost-but-not-quite-kill-oneself. Let me assure you there is no group of land masses more willing to almost-and-sometimes-actually-kill-you than that set. I dove with great whites, rafted down a 21 foot waterfall and spent 7 days on a class five river nearly dying every five minutes, swam with a giant pod of overly aggressive dolphins in sub-freezing water, played with seals totally unfamiliar with humans, traveled into the hot center of Australia with a psychotic guide who kept leaving me in deserts, hiked the beautiful New Zealand mountains during a major flood which almost took me out in a mud slide (escaped on a trail three feet under water), went on a helicopter thrill ride and a speed boat ride that should have been illegal due to excessive danger, and learned to hang-glide off beautiful mountains and crashed into sheep during my landing. (My trainer promised they would get out of the way….they didn’t.)

If you had another career, what was it?


I have been a terrible waitress, a drive time radio DJ (even had my own stalker who wanted to kill me when I rejected his declaration of love), the retail manager of a greenhouse (next job I took had air-conditioning), a journalist, a night security guard for a chicken processing plant (I was more frightened than the chickens), a stock broker for Bear Stearns, a strategist for a Fortune 500 company, and a business improvement consultant.

If you didn’t write, what would you do instead?




I would compose music and paint bizarre looking art. Or perhaps I would just go mad with characters waking me up four in the morning telling me their stories.

Are you a cat or dog person? Do you have any pets and if so, please tell us about them.


My dog, Jessie, wants to answer this. She says I am a one-dog person. However, Jessie likes cats. The only problem I have with that is she likes to eat them. I am slowly rehabilitating her from this attitude. Now I realize that authors are predominantly ‘cat people’ and won’t like my flippant attitude over Jessie’s affection towards cats. Rest assured, she has harmed no cats since she became mine.

Please tell us about your most recent release and where we can purchase it.


My latest book was released Aug 8. All my books can be found at www.BloodyGoodRead.com. Three current novels are under the name Liza O’Connor and 6 Victorians are under Caroline Adams. For those who like Sherlock Holmes and humor, I would recommend my Xavier Thorn series. If you prefer current humor, then go for The GhostLover. My new novel has characters from two series of books joining forces. It’s called The Dazzle of Innocence. Here’s its blurb:

Damion Santiago has no interest in acquiring a wife. He came to England in a desperate attempt to save his sisters from being sold into white slavery. Meriden Ford is searching for an interesting, educated, young husband who will recognize her superiority and become her decoy while she runs the family fortune. At their very first dance, they promise not to fall in love. However, their mutual admiration ensures a strong friendship. When bombarded with tribulations that would destroy most people, they survive by pulling strength from each other. Yet even as they realize their true feelings, others work to tear them apart forever.

Are experiences in your book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?



Given at least one of my family members gets pissed after any book I

write, I will have to say yes. According to them (based on the drunken messages they leave me at two in the morning), I only remember the horrible, outrageous things they do. I now wear a t-shirt that says: “Be warned. You may end up in my novel.” If they still choose to do or say stupid things, they’ve been fairly warned.

Thanks you so much for talking with me Liza. It was a joy to have you and I wish you the best of luck on your new release.


Tabitha Blake

4 comments:

mikatemple said...

That was a fun to read interview!

Tabitha Blake said...

Glad you enjoyed it. Liza is such a card.

jcdeacons said...

Awesome. :)

brenda said...

LOL, Liza. I looooove your humor. I enjoyed getting to know you better. You're are such a character, lol. Also, you are a very talented writer.
Excellent interview.