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About The Author :Lisa Laird DiRosso obtained her BA from Molloy College in 1989. She was employed for more than ten years in the health care field. She is a columnist (Lisa’s Lair by Lisa Laird) for IPS Features; many of her human interest articles have been published in the chattanoogan.com. Her first novel, HE WHO SINGS LAST, is scheduled for release on July 28, 2009. Lisa is a native New Yorker and lives on Long Island with her family.
Interview :
It was exciting for me to interview DiRosso, especially since it's been a small world and we're both from Long Island, New York. It's always nice to meet new people from my area of the world, especially people as nice as DiRosso, who was extremely helpful in giving me everything I needed to make this the best post possible for my readers.
1. First off, I have to know, what inspired you to write He Who Sings
Last?
This is an easy one! I have a treasured photo of myself with one of my teen idols taken back in 1983. One day, back in 1995, I was looking at the photo and it begged to tell a story. I took the celebrity-fan concept and toyed with the idea of turning the tables, whereas the celebrity would desperately need his fan at a pivotal time in his life.
Last?
This is an easy one! I have a treasured photo of myself with one of my teen idols taken back in 1983. One day, back in 1995, I was looking at the photo and it begged to tell a story. I took the celebrity-fan concept and toyed with the idea of turning the tables, whereas the celebrity would desperately need his fan at a pivotal time in his life.
Photo Courtesy of Lisa Laird DiRosso - "Johnny and Lisa : Westbury Music Fair, 3/13/1983"2. Who was, or still is, your celebrity crush, and why?
My biggest celebrity crush was Johnny Contardo, formerly of the band, Sha Na Na. From the moment I first heard him singing “Those Magic Changes” on the GREASE album I bought as a kid in the late 1970s, I was hooked!
3. If you could be dropped into any book, which book would that be, and
why?
I would definitely choose The Bridges of Madison County to be dropped into. I would have altered the ending by running as fast as I could to the man I loved, my soul mate. I believe when that kind of rare and undeniably pure love comes along, we must embrace it as tightly as we can.
4. Would you say that you relate to any of your characters, and can you
explain?
I can definitely relate to Miranda Madison. She has many of my characteristics and thinks as I do. She follows her heart, no matter where it leads. “An uncertain possibility sparks more hope than any certain probability ever could.” I can also relate to Detective John Vintoni; he represents the detective in me. I am a huge fan of crime shows: Forensic Files, Extreme Forensics, First 48, The New Detectives, to name a few. I am fascinated with forensic science.
5. Miranda Madison's favorite restaurant is Joey Q's, what would you
say yours is?
Let’s see. For fast-food, it is definitely McDonald’s; I am addicted to Big Macs. My favorite sit-down restaurant is the Outback Steakhouse; I can’t get enough of those baby-back ribs!
5. I see that you are a resident of Long Island, I myself just moved
from Suffolk County about 2 years ago. If you could choose to live
anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why?
I would live in Florida, right near Disney World for the winter and spring. I can never get enough of the theme parks; they really are magical! And I enjoy the warm water, as I love to swim. For the summer and fall, I would like to live in the New England area; I am partial to the cobblestone roads and city names I having trouble pronouncing. I had traveled to Salem, Massachusetts, one Halloween and it was awesome! Something everyone should experience.
6. How long would you say it took you to write He Who Sings Last?
I started the novel in 1995. There were many starts and stops over the years due to life changes and bumps in the road. I became totally stuck in 2005. I wasn’t sure how Miranda would feel after finally meeting Jimmy after almost twenty years. As fate would have it, I had the chance to meet one of my own former teen idols. At that moment, I knew just how I wanted to proceed and kept going until I finished the entire novel.
7. Do you have any new novels in the works, possibly a sequel, and can
you give us a brief synopsis?
My biggest celebrity crush was Johnny Contardo, formerly of the band, Sha Na Na. From the moment I first heard him singing “Those Magic Changes” on the GREASE album I bought as a kid in the late 1970s, I was hooked!
3. If you could be dropped into any book, which book would that be, and
why?
I would definitely choose The Bridges of Madison County to be dropped into. I would have altered the ending by running as fast as I could to the man I loved, my soul mate. I believe when that kind of rare and undeniably pure love comes along, we must embrace it as tightly as we can.
4. Would you say that you relate to any of your characters, and can you
explain?
I can definitely relate to Miranda Madison. She has many of my characteristics and thinks as I do. She follows her heart, no matter where it leads. “An uncertain possibility sparks more hope than any certain probability ever could.” I can also relate to Detective John Vintoni; he represents the detective in me. I am a huge fan of crime shows: Forensic Files, Extreme Forensics, First 48, The New Detectives, to name a few. I am fascinated with forensic science.
5. Miranda Madison's favorite restaurant is Joey Q's, what would you
say yours is?
Let’s see. For fast-food, it is definitely McDonald’s; I am addicted to Big Macs. My favorite sit-down restaurant is the Outback Steakhouse; I can’t get enough of those baby-back ribs!
5. I see that you are a resident of Long Island, I myself just moved
from Suffolk County about 2 years ago. If you could choose to live
anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why?
I would live in Florida, right near Disney World for the winter and spring. I can never get enough of the theme parks; they really are magical! And I enjoy the warm water, as I love to swim. For the summer and fall, I would like to live in the New England area; I am partial to the cobblestone roads and city names I having trouble pronouncing. I had traveled to Salem, Massachusetts, one Halloween and it was awesome! Something everyone should experience.
6. How long would you say it took you to write He Who Sings Last?
I started the novel in 1995. There were many starts and stops over the years due to life changes and bumps in the road. I became totally stuck in 2005. I wasn’t sure how Miranda would feel after finally meeting Jimmy after almost twenty years. As fate would have it, I had the chance to meet one of my own former teen idols. At that moment, I knew just how I wanted to proceed and kept going until I finished the entire novel.
7. Do you have any new novels in the works, possibly a sequel, and can
you give us a brief synopsis?
I have the sequel, Idol Threats, already in the works. To say any more would be too revealing to those who have not yet read He Who Sings Last.
He Who Sings Last will be released on July 28, 2009. You can Pre-Order your copy today at Amazon.com.
Also, read my review of He Who Sings Last here.
Also, read my review of He Who Sings Last here.
2 comments:
Excellent interview! I love the title of the sequel. Also, I wonder if Johnny Contardo knows he inspired a murder mystery. :)
Tried to post this last night, but it didn't show up. I love this interview and put a link to it on my review of the book.
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