Lisa Watson: What's That Whisper You're Hearing About Your Writing?

Everyone's Story welcomes multi-published author Lisa Watson. When Lisa contacted me to ask about appearing on this blog and I saw that she wrote romances (her guideline is creating a story that her mother would enjoy reading) and novels with a Christian bent I couldn't wait to host Lisa. In addition to writing, Lisa's exciting background includes hosting a radio program and a co-publicist for RT BookReview Magazine's annual RT Booklovers Convention. Lisa shares her beginning adventures into the world of writing, and offers a fun BookGiveaway. We're both looking forward to hearing from you.

Book Giveaway:
Lisa is offering several different Giveaways to  randomly chosen commenters: a choice between 1 autographed copy of HER HEART'S DESIRE or a Kindle download of either HER HEART'S DESIRE or LOVE CONTRACT to 2 lucky readers. The winners will be announced here on Friday, August 29th, between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. Thanks!

Be still…be open…be listening by Lisa Watson

I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t completely in love with reading, and writing. In fact, my journey from aspiring to published author can literally be summed up in four words: Right place, right time. In 2002, I was a stay-at-home mother of two small children. A closet writer, it was my love of the popular 1980’s television series, Remington Steele that prompted me down the road to publication. Discovering several websites where people wrote original fan fiction based on the characters from the show was like finding an unlimited supply of pancakes—and I love pancakes. Something clicked inside me, prompting me to write my own stories, put them on the Internet and see what happened.

What happened next scared me to death. I began receiving emails from readers all around the world that were enjoying my stories, and prompting me to continue writing them. I was stunned that people were not only reading what I had to say, but also eagerly awaiting my next chapters. During that time, I also stumbled across information on the Romance Slam Jam Writers convention. I’d never gone to a conference before, but couldn’t ignore my sudden and overwhelming urge to attend. When I discussed it with my husband, he said go, have a good time. What!? That’s when I knew there was more to this than my husband’s surprising thumbs up. This gentle prompting must’ve been Heaven sent.  

It was one of the best decisions I’d ever made, and it changed my life. Aside from having the time of my life and soaking up as much knowledge as I could, I met other aspiring writers, published authors that I’d always read, but never dreamed I’d meet. I learned valuable ways to improve my craft, made lifelong friends, I was given the opportunity to write a novella for an anthology that would later be published.

Sometimes the path you’re supposed to take, or the gifts you’re meant to receive don’t arrive with large fanfare, flashing lights and hoopla. Sometimes it’s a subtle whisper in your ear, a thought that pops into your head, or a gut feeling. It’s these moments where you have to be still…be open…and be listening.

We all have spiritual gifts. Whether we use them is up to us. The key is to be open to what comes your way, and to have a positive attitude. When you’re open and receptive to life’s possibilities, everything falls into place and there are no limits to what you can do. Each blessing I’ve received has been about my being in the right place, right time. I’ve trusted that if it was presented to me…I was supposed to go with it.

When my agent asked if I wanted to write Devotionals for the popular Guideposts publication, Mornings with Jesus 2013, I had a moment of panic because I’d never written devotionals before, but I realized that I was supposed to accept it, and I did. I trusted that when the time came, I would be guided to write what I needed to and from the heart … and I was.

For the last ten years, I’ve been the co-publicist for the RT Booklovers Convention. In this capacity I’ve been surrounded with people I never imagined I would meet and yes, I still get star struck when I meet authors that I’ve been reading since I was a teenager. My dream of writing for Harlequin has come true, I’ve become the new host of Reader’s Entertainment Blog Talk Radio show, and my newest novel, Her Heart’s Desire hit Number One on Amazon.com’s bestsellers list and I know this is just the beginning of my blessings.

My advice to aspiring authors? Surround yourself with like-minded people. Go to writers conventions. There are plenty to choose from, and some may be coming to your area. There are workshops, meets and greets, book signings, agents, editors, publishers that attend that are always looking for new talent. Editors are not going to come knocking on your door for you to give them your manuscript to publish—you’ve got to go to them. 

Be still…be opening…and be listening.

Lisa's Ah-hahs To Tweet:

Meet Lisa Watson: a multi-pubbed author who followed God’s nudging. (Tweet This)

#BookGiveaway of Lisa Watson, author of Harlequin’s #Kamani line. (Tweet This)

What advice does Lisa Watson, co-publicist for RT Booklovers Convention, have for authors? (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:

A native of Washington D.C., Lisa Watson writes multicultural novels.  Having her debut novel nominated for Best Contemporary Fiction, sparked Lisa to continue creating engaging storylines, strong characters with universal appeal, and a keen sense of humor. 

Lisa loves traveling, so weaving beautiful destinations into the pages of her novels as lush backdrops, or the heritage of her characters is not uncommon.

Lisa's first series for the Harlequin's KIMANI™ line, The Match Broker series, introduced readers to Love Contract, and matchmaking guru, Norma Jean Anderson, aka The Love Broker.  Her goal is to have her son, Adrian, and everyone in his immediate circle of friends, happily married—period.  Book two in the series, Her Heart’s Desire, was released in May 2014, and hit #1 on the Amazon Bestseller list.  Look for book three, Love by Design in October 2014.

   

Lisa works at a technology-consulting firm, is the co-publicist for RT BookReview Magazine's annual RT Booklovers Conventions, and the host for Reader’s Entertainment Radio show.

Married for eighteen years, with two teenagers, and a Maltipoo, Brinkley, Lisa lives outside Raleigh, NC and is avidly working on her next series.

Places to connect with Lisa:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Pinterest