Illumination Author Events and Services welcomes Lisa Manifold!
Lisa Manifold is fortunate to live in the amazing state of Colorado with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and one offended cat.
She enjoys skiing and carting kids and dogs to wherever they need to go, and she adores "treasure hunting" at local thrift stores. Her other hobbies include costuming within her favorite fandoms and periods.
She is the author of the Sisters Of The Curse series, based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princess. Her new series, The Heart Of The Djinn, is a trilogy that shows what happens when a free-lancing djinn does his own thing. Three Wishes, the first book in The Heart Of The Djinn series is out now. Book Two will be out soon!
She enjoys skiing and carting kids and dogs to wherever they need to go, and she adores "treasure hunting" at local thrift stores. Her other hobbies include costuming within her favorite fandoms and periods.
She is the author of the Sisters Of The Curse series, based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princess. Her new series, The Heart Of The Djinn, is a trilogy that shows what happens when a free-lancing djinn does his own thing. Three Wishes, the first book in The Heart Of The Djinn series is out now. Book Two will be out soon!
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
Creating my own worlds. I write about the things I like to read, and that gives me great satisfaction.
What genre(s) do you write?
Romance, both contemporary and paranormal, and fantasy with a strong romantic subplot.
What genres and authors would we find you?
Bella Forrest, Chanda Hahn (although mine are not YA) Raquel Lyons
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The middle. I always have a fairly clear beginning, and a definite ending, but sometimes the getting from start to finish presents challenges. I usually have a few ideas, and I see what feels best.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Both. I used to be more of a pantser, but that ends up creating challenges halfway, or two-thirds of the way through. It’s more trouble than it’s worth to just pants your way through. So now, I do a simple synopsis, and print it out, and keep it next to me while writing. If something changes, I make a note of it, and keep going.
Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?
That’s a hard question. I think they’re wonderful. They offer a complete story, and an ending that I find satisfying. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves as a reader – I need to find the ending satisfying for the story. So my goal is not to be anyone else’s pet peeve. But I find that satisfaction from reading other authors, so it’s a matter of choosing many authors, not just one!
What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?
That they like my characters, and they think I’ve done right by them and they close the book with sadness that’s it’s over.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Be true to yourself. Sounds simple, but it’s not.
How long have you been a writer?
I published my first book in May 2015, so not quite a year. I’ve been writing steadily since 2002, but it took a number of years to get to a place where I wrote something I wanted to put out in public.
How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?
I started Thea’s Tale in fall of 2014, and published it in May 2015. So for Book 1, approximately eight months.
What other careers have you had?
I worked as a financial advisor, in retail management, as a sailing instructor, and most recently, as a certified massage therapist. The last one was almost fifteen years.
Do you write under more than one name? Why?
I do. I write spicier romance, and I wanted to have the freedom to write as spicy as I needed without worrying about my kids or my kids’ friends reading it. I also use my pen name to try different marketing strategies, to see what works.
Are any of your characters based on real people or events?
I tend to take experiences of those around me and weave them into the books. Or, things I’d like to see happen, to see how it plays out. But people I know? Initially, no. I have found, though, in one of my recent WIP, I have a character that is actually based on someone I used to know. I didn’t do it deliberately, it just happened and I noticed it in edits.
How would you describe yourself if you were “speed dating” your readers?
Quirky, doesn’t fit in just one box, tends to talk too much when nervous. Likely to knock over the salt shaker.
What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?
That I love to decorate with peacock feathers?
What else would you like readers to know about you or your work?
That they are written with a lot of joy, and I’m always happy to chat with readers. Not just about my work, but anything in general.
What books or authors have most influenced your life?
Jane Austen, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, The Shy One, The Count of Monte Cristo, all of Shakespeare.
How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
They are very supportive. They want me to be not only successful, but to be happy in my career. Writing is a demanding career, but it makes me happy.
Where are you from?
I was born in La Mesa, CA – but I’ve lived all over, as my father was in the Navy. Prior to living in Colorado, I spent most of my time in Annapolis, MD.
How do you come up with the titles?
I start with a working title, and that may change as the book is being written. I find the title, along with a blurb, one of the most difficult things to do.
Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
It’s amazing and incredibly gratifying to be earning while practicing your art. For me, this is creative expression, and the fact that others want to share in that is marvelous to me.
Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I prefer to multi-task. That way, if I’m at a place in a WIP where I’m beating my head against the wall, and considering offing them all just to be done with it, I have something else to focus on. Everyone gets a reprieve!
When not writing, how do you relax?
Read! Working for myself, working at home – it’s made it harder to have designated reading time. So I set aside time to read, because I began writing based on my love for reading.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
The Florida Keys. Anywhere south of Islamorada.
What kind of kid were you in school? Which social path did you take?
“Lisa is a good student, and does great work. She’d really shine if she could stop talking to her neighbors all the time.” Twelve years of that kind of comment, with variations for each teacher’s individual communication style.
Which food could you not live without?
Chocolate. It cures many things, and as my son tells me, is better for a cold than codeine.
Do you have any pets?
Yes. We have two dogs, and a cat. We also have a crayfish and a Plecostomus.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you travel?
All over Europe with a Eurail pass, and the Caribbean in a Hylas 49 sailboat.
Do you have siblings? What was it like growing up with them?
One sister. It was adversarial. We are four years apart, and that meant we were at different places for most of our childhood. But she’s my best friend now, and I’d be lost without her.
What was your first car?
A 1984 Subaru station wagon. I had a very fuzzy steering wheel cover, and my friends called it the Pimpmobile.
Do you have a favorite beverage that you drink when you write?
Flavored water, or hot tea.
Have you ever felt as though you were born in the wrong era? If so what era did you belong in?
I would love to have lived during the Regency era. I love the clothing (some of the least restrictive of historical clothing) and the manners. The problem is that their health, dental, and vision care were the pits – and that convinces me I’m in the right time.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading? Do you have a favorite author?
Historical and paranormal romance. I love Raquel Lyons for the paranormal, and Diana Gabaldon for the historical. Overall, favorite author is Jane Austen.
Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.
I am an avid costumer/cosplayer. My current favorite costumes are the Supernatural Impala, steampunk Princess Leia, and Jason the Condor from GForce.
I taught sailing for ten years. I miss the water terribly.
I was in a sorority (Go AST!) in college.
My favorite shoes are Tieks.
I sing – vigorously – to Bowie while writing.
Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.
I have Book 2 of the Heart Of The Djinn series in the works. Tentatively titled The Forgotten Wish. As well, Book One of the Goblin King series, not titled at this moment.
Where will readers find you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorlisamanifold
Twitter: @lmmanifold
Website: www.lisamanifold.com
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/lisamanifold
Creating my own worlds. I write about the things I like to read, and that gives me great satisfaction.
What genre(s) do you write?
Romance, both contemporary and paranormal, and fantasy with a strong romantic subplot.
What genres and authors would we find you?
Bella Forrest, Chanda Hahn (although mine are not YA) Raquel Lyons
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The middle. I always have a fairly clear beginning, and a definite ending, but sometimes the getting from start to finish presents challenges. I usually have a few ideas, and I see what feels best.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Both. I used to be more of a pantser, but that ends up creating challenges halfway, or two-thirds of the way through. It’s more trouble than it’s worth to just pants your way through. So now, I do a simple synopsis, and print it out, and keep it next to me while writing. If something changes, I make a note of it, and keep going.
Why do you think people should choose your books over another author?
That’s a hard question. I think they’re wonderful. They offer a complete story, and an ending that I find satisfying. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves as a reader – I need to find the ending satisfying for the story. So my goal is not to be anyone else’s pet peeve. But I find that satisfaction from reading other authors, so it’s a matter of choosing many authors, not just one!
What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?
That they like my characters, and they think I’ve done right by them and they close the book with sadness that’s it’s over.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Be true to yourself. Sounds simple, but it’s not.
How long have you been a writer?
I published my first book in May 2015, so not quite a year. I’ve been writing steadily since 2002, but it took a number of years to get to a place where I wrote something I wanted to put out in public.
How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?
I started Thea’s Tale in fall of 2014, and published it in May 2015. So for Book 1, approximately eight months.
What other careers have you had?
I worked as a financial advisor, in retail management, as a sailing instructor, and most recently, as a certified massage therapist. The last one was almost fifteen years.
Do you write under more than one name? Why?
I do. I write spicier romance, and I wanted to have the freedom to write as spicy as I needed without worrying about my kids or my kids’ friends reading it. I also use my pen name to try different marketing strategies, to see what works.
Are any of your characters based on real people or events?
I tend to take experiences of those around me and weave them into the books. Or, things I’d like to see happen, to see how it plays out. But people I know? Initially, no. I have found, though, in one of my recent WIP, I have a character that is actually based on someone I used to know. I didn’t do it deliberately, it just happened and I noticed it in edits.
How would you describe yourself if you were “speed dating” your readers?
Quirky, doesn’t fit in just one box, tends to talk too much when nervous. Likely to knock over the salt shaker.
What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?
That I love to decorate with peacock feathers?
What else would you like readers to know about you or your work?
That they are written with a lot of joy, and I’m always happy to chat with readers. Not just about my work, but anything in general.
What books or authors have most influenced your life?
Jane Austen, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, The Shy One, The Count of Monte Cristo, all of Shakespeare.
How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
They are very supportive. They want me to be not only successful, but to be happy in my career. Writing is a demanding career, but it makes me happy.
Where are you from?
I was born in La Mesa, CA – but I’ve lived all over, as my father was in the Navy. Prior to living in Colorado, I spent most of my time in Annapolis, MD.
How do you come up with the titles?
I start with a working title, and that may change as the book is being written. I find the title, along with a blurb, one of the most difficult things to do.
Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
It’s amazing and incredibly gratifying to be earning while practicing your art. For me, this is creative expression, and the fact that others want to share in that is marvelous to me.
Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I prefer to multi-task. That way, if I’m at a place in a WIP where I’m beating my head against the wall, and considering offing them all just to be done with it, I have something else to focus on. Everyone gets a reprieve!
When not writing, how do you relax?
Read! Working for myself, working at home – it’s made it harder to have designated reading time. So I set aside time to read, because I began writing based on my love for reading.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
The Florida Keys. Anywhere south of Islamorada.
What kind of kid were you in school? Which social path did you take?
“Lisa is a good student, and does great work. She’d really shine if she could stop talking to her neighbors all the time.” Twelve years of that kind of comment, with variations for each teacher’s individual communication style.
Which food could you not live without?
Chocolate. It cures many things, and as my son tells me, is better for a cold than codeine.
Do you have any pets?
Yes. We have two dogs, and a cat. We also have a crayfish and a Plecostomus.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you travel?
All over Europe with a Eurail pass, and the Caribbean in a Hylas 49 sailboat.
Do you have siblings? What was it like growing up with them?
One sister. It was adversarial. We are four years apart, and that meant we were at different places for most of our childhood. But she’s my best friend now, and I’d be lost without her.
What was your first car?
A 1984 Subaru station wagon. I had a very fuzzy steering wheel cover, and my friends called it the Pimpmobile.
Do you have a favorite beverage that you drink when you write?
Flavored water, or hot tea.
Have you ever felt as though you were born in the wrong era? If so what era did you belong in?
I would love to have lived during the Regency era. I love the clothing (some of the least restrictive of historical clothing) and the manners. The problem is that their health, dental, and vision care were the pits – and that convinces me I’m in the right time.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading? Do you have a favorite author?
Historical and paranormal romance. I love Raquel Lyons for the paranormal, and Diana Gabaldon for the historical. Overall, favorite author is Jane Austen.
Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.
I am an avid costumer/cosplayer. My current favorite costumes are the Supernatural Impala, steampunk Princess Leia, and Jason the Condor from GForce.
I taught sailing for ten years. I miss the water terribly.
I was in a sorority (Go AST!) in college.
My favorite shoes are Tieks.
I sing – vigorously – to Bowie while writing.
Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.
I have Book 2 of the Heart Of The Djinn series in the works. Tentatively titled The Forgotten Wish. As well, Book One of the Goblin King series, not titled at this moment.
Where will readers find you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorlisamanifold
Twitter: @lmmanifold
Website: www.lisamanifold.com
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/lisamanifold
In this world there are only two tragedies.
One is not getting what one wants
and the other is getting it.
When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.
~Oscar Wilde~
Prologue
Present Day
Tibby
I walked into the conference room. This would be a piece of cake. The dispute wasn’t all that big of a deal, although our client was making one out of it. Like all Granddad’s friends, everything was a big deal. Probably why they were all, to a man, rich as Croesus.
Maybe I needed to get that mindset.
Then I laughed inwardly and shrugged such a thought away. I’d go insane. Kind of like most of Granddad’s friends. I liked my life, my practice, and the way things in my life were going. I put my general state of satisfaction aside, and focused on the meeting at hand.
“Mr. Barrington?” I held out my hand to the older gentleman in the room. He stood with two younger men, and he turned when I said his name.
“I’m Tabitha Holloway, and this is my partner, Bryant Higgs. We represent—“
“Tibby?”
Two different voices called me by my nickname. Both held tones of shock and surprise. I opened my mouth to respond when I looked, really looked at who was talking to me.
Oh my god. I felt faint suddenly when I realized who they were. Just as suddenly, I looked around for the telltale flash of glitter. I was going to end up back in my room four years earlier. I could feel it. Back to where this began.
One is not getting what one wants
and the other is getting it.
When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.
~Oscar Wilde~
Prologue
Present Day
Tibby
I walked into the conference room. This would be a piece of cake. The dispute wasn’t all that big of a deal, although our client was making one out of it. Like all Granddad’s friends, everything was a big deal. Probably why they were all, to a man, rich as Croesus.
Maybe I needed to get that mindset.
Then I laughed inwardly and shrugged such a thought away. I’d go insane. Kind of like most of Granddad’s friends. I liked my life, my practice, and the way things in my life were going. I put my general state of satisfaction aside, and focused on the meeting at hand.
“Mr. Barrington?” I held out my hand to the older gentleman in the room. He stood with two younger men, and he turned when I said his name.
“I’m Tabitha Holloway, and this is my partner, Bryant Higgs. We represent—“
“Tibby?”
Two different voices called me by my nickname. Both held tones of shock and surprise. I opened my mouth to respond when I looked, really looked at who was talking to me.
Oh my god. I felt faint suddenly when I realized who they were. Just as suddenly, I looked around for the telltale flash of glitter. I was going to end up back in my room four years earlier. I could feel it. Back to where this began.
