About author, Lydia Laceby: Lydia Laceby is the co-founder of Novel Escapes, a chick lit and contemporary women’s fiction review website. Since 2009, she has read and reviewed as much women’s fiction as humanly possible while designing, organizing and expanding the website from two reviewers to seven.
In her spare time, she knits cute baby hats, would pick cheese over chocolate–if she had to choose–and regularly cheats on her allergy free diet.
Lydia has always wanted to write and began her career writing a soap opera at the tender age of thirteen. It never aired. Redesigning Rose is her first novel.
INTERVIEW
Describe yourself in five words: Perfectionistic. Daydreamer. Punctual (ridiculously so). Impatient. Creative.
What would your perfect day involve? Coffee, writing, reading, tea, abstinence from checking my sales numbers, and dinner with my husband and the family we hope to one day have followed by a decadent desert that has no calories and a good night’s sleep.
Tell us about your book, “Redesigning Rose”: Rose Parker thinks she has it all. But what she really has is an immaculate house that is empty and hollow, friends who have vanished, and a lying snake of a husband. When she uncovers her husband’s dirty little secrets, Rose walks out on her shell of a life and when she gradually rebuilds she realizes she had absolutely nothing at all.
Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? I’ve been converted to eBooks! I love having the choice of what to start reading next if I’m out somewhere and finish my book. I also love that when the novel I’m reading (or the odd character on the subway that distracts me from it) sparks an idea, I can flip to my notepad app on my iPad and jot it down.
What was the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? Torture. Fantastic. Time consuming. All consuming. Empowering. Slow. Steady. Energy boosting. Wonderful. A test of my patience. And the patience of everyone around me. The most perfect thing in the world for me. I notice you didn’t ask about the marketing. And for that I am eternally grateful as you probably shouldn’t post the words I’d use.
What are you reading right now? Dangerous Curves Ahead. This is such a cute little book, and I’m loving it. Every woman that has ever been put down by a man should read this, whether it is for her weight or her intelligence, or the plethora of other reasons some very silly men get into their heads to put a woman down, either outright or in the stealthy things they do and say.
Where did you get the idea for “Redesigning Rose”? See the previous question. Seriously though, it spawned from the many lies I’ve been told in my past and morphed into a beautiful and inspiring story about overcoming obstacles, particularly the ones we erect ourselves. Because I don’t plot much, preferring to wing it and see where my characters take me, the only idea I had was one of a woman who needed to learn how to trust again, how to live again, and the rest blossomed from that.
If you could meet another author, who would it be? Jennifer Weiner. Her debut novel, Good in Bed, changed my life. It reignited my long dormant desire to write, and I wouldn’t be here, being interviewed as an author without it. It also caused me to break up with a very bad man who didn’t want me to buy it because I was broke. He never understood my passion for books. So, you see, I owe her a lot and would like to say thank you.
Tell us about your website, “Novel Escapes”: Novel Escapes is a contemporary women’s fiction and chick lit book blog and was born when my sister-in-law/BFF and I decided to bring our constant reading and book discussions to others to help guide their reading choices.
How has social media helped your career? I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. I’ve learned tips and tricks about writing and marketing and publicity. I’ve made connections. I’m even planning a book event in my hometown of Toronto with nine other wonderful authors in November, Book Buzz Toronto! None of this would have been possible without it social media. **Blogger note: Check out Book Buzz Toronto, HERE!
Every writer must have a…: Good pair of walking shoes, a plethora of post it notes and highlighters, and Scrivener.
Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I’m working on another contemporary women’s fiction novel with a heroine who has an unusual way of dealing with conflict. It’s a ticking time bomb that ends up detonating and sending shrapnel flying through her already complicated life.
**Contact Lydia:
Email: lydia.laceby@yahoo.com Blog Facebook Goodreads Twitter