Hi guys! Today I am really excited to welcome back author L.A. Witt. She is here today to talk to us about her new book with Riptide Publishing and has brough a great giveaway.
Hi L.A.! Welcome back to Joyfully Jay! We had such a good time when you were here last and I am so excited to have you back today to talk about your new release, A Chip on His Shoulder. I just loved this book and reviewed it here yesterday.
Glad you enjoyed it!
A Chip on His Shoulder is a bit of departure from most of your books in that it is a futuristic, science fiction type story rather than a contemporary. What inspired you to create this world and this story?
This story just kind of…evolved. Believe it or not, it started out in my head as something in a medieval type setting, then somehow morphed into this futuristic cyberpunk fiasco. Stories tend to do that. They start out as a nebulous idea, seem like they’re going one direction, then suddenly veer off in another direction and turn into something else entirely.
And I am starting to dip into non-contemporary genres these days. I actually cut my teeth writing epic fantasy, though none of it’s ever been or ever will be published. While I love contemporary and will continue to write it, I’ve been drawn back to SFF for a long time. That, and with as much as I write, it’s really easy for me to get bored. Though my contemporary stories are all pretty different from one to the next, sometimes I just get that itch to throw something else into the mix.
In the future, readers can probably expect a pretty wide variety from me. More steampunk, more cyberpunk, more paranormal. Maybe even some historical fiction. And of course, there will be plenty of contemporary.
Liam in such an interesting character. Cyber-modified, vampire assassin sounds like a hard sell as a romance hero, but he comes across so likeable (and hot) in the book. Was it hard to get that mix of loveable and badass?
He was a tough one. I’m all for anti-heroes, but a paid killer is difficult to sympathize with, you know? Once I got a better feel for his motives and his history, though, he wasn’t quite such an unsympathetic character. He wasn’t proud of his profession, and he had a great deal of empathy for the people living in the Gutter. That said, there were times I wanted to throw him down an elevator shaft because he was being an insufferable butthead, but that happens with a lot of my characters. Brats, all of them…
I also really loved Daniel and his sort of futuristic Robin Hood vibe. He is a good match for Liam with a bit more earnestness and more of a conscience, but still pretty badass himself!
Daniel was crazy fun to write. I really never knew what to expect with him, and he threw me as many curve balls as he threw Liam. The story was very loosely outlined, so I kind of followed the characters as they went, and Daniel surprised me from the moment he walked on-camera. As soon as he was face to face with Liam, and not the least bit surprised or scared, I knew he was going to give me a run for my money. And my God, he did.
You have said that the story will have a sequel (and I for one can’t wait!). Can you tell us more about the next story? Will we learn more about Daniel and what set him on such a divergent path from his father? Any good details you can spill?
The boys are being a little tight-lipped about a few things—they haven’t even told me much at this point—but the sequel will delve a little deeper into Daniel’s history as well as Liam’s. Rumor has it, Liam’s family will come into play too. I’m hesitant to say much more about it, simply because if it’s anything like its prequel, it’ll start out one way and end another (the original outline of Chip is way different from the first draft, and the first draft is a far cry from the final version). So anything I say about it today might be completely irrelevant once I actually start writing it.
That, and a lot changes during editing. As editors, Rachel and Aleks are…how can I put this delicately? They’re…a little demanding? They challenge me? They’re brimming with suggestions at every turn?
No, screw that. Those two are effing brutal. The edit on this book was a colossal bloodbath the likes of which I’ve never experienced. You should have heard Rachel’s sadistic cackling and seen Aleks grinning while he charged up the cattle prods and sharpened the pointy things! It was insanity!
And in the end, Chip is a much better book for it. So I fully expect the sequel to get the same tender loving care as the first one…which means who knows how it’ll end up?
(And for the record, I am not complaining about the way those two edit. It’s so brutal I was tempted to classify it as hazing, and I’m reasonably certain it was in violation of the Geneva Convention a time or two, but I will gladly subject my work and myself to that again.)
I know you write like crazy and always have a million books in the works. What else are you working on now? Anything else coming out soon?
Since I’m still working on relocating from Japan to the Midwest, I haven’t been writing as much as I’d like. As such, my list of upcoming releases is thinner than I’d like it to be, but rest assured, there is plenty of stuff in the works! Right now, I’m working on Where There’s Smoke, a contemporary M/M romance set during a political campaign. I’m also working on a couple of SFF stories, the second Tooth & Claw book, and God only knows what else.
As far as upcoming releases, Search Me (the third in the Cover Me series) will be out December 7th. (For those who liked Nick and Andrew in book #1, they’re taking center stage again in this book!) My first vamp/were novel, The Given & The Taken, will be out January 3rd from Samhain. This is the first in the Tooth & Claw series. After that, in mid-late January, I have a steampunk novella coming from Carnal Passions called Noble Metals.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer all my questions! If folks want to know more about you or your books, how can they find you?
Plenty of places to find me!
- Website: http://www.loriawitt.com
- Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com
- Twitter: GallagherWitt
Updates are a little slow these days while I get my carcass relocated and settled in, but they’ll be fast and furious once I’m in Nebraska.
Thank you so much for coming! You know you are always welcome back here at Joyfully Jay!
Thanks for having me! I’ll be back soon, I’m sure! 😉 [In fact, L.A. will be back next Tuesday to talk to us about her other new release, Search Me!]
L.A. was nice enough to bring along a great giveaway with her today. Leave a comment below to win one of her backlist books (excluding A Chip on His Shoulder). The contest closes Monday, December 5 at 11:59 EST.
- By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay and leave your email address if it is not in your profile.
Thanks again to L.A. for coming to join us today!
>You can really tell from this interview how serious she is as an author and how fun she is as a person. Sounds like she has all these ideas and characters bouncing around in her head and waits for them to tell her about who they are. She must have a huge imagination! I laughed out loud when she was talking about her editors! Love her sense of humor. I have this book on my TBR list, but may have to move it up now. Great interview!
>What made *me* laugh was that it sounds like she's exaggerating, but she wasn't. But the edits were a loud of fun, too, Lori is *great* to work with.
>Oh wow, I didn't know "Aleks" was you, Aleksandr! Cool meeting you here.
>I was totally not exaggerating. LOL Those edits were a freaking bloodbath. But the story was better for it, so I will gladly subject myself to it in the future.
L. A.
>Great interview! Sounds like is pretty hectic inside your head while you are working 🙂
I wish you all the best with your new work…it goes straight to my TBR
>I've been following your work for awhile now and I have to say that I am always sucked into your stories. When I heard you were working with Riptide I was a little nervous as this was the first non contemporary title I've seen by you. After I read Chip In His Shoulder I have to say that I love is as much as your other stories if not more. Keep up the amazing work and I can't wait to read your future work.
sabrinayala at gmail dot com
>Matt — Being an author is about the only thing I take seriously. Everything else…well…hehehe not so much. 😀
Connie — It's madness inside my skull, believe me. My friends and family wonder about me sometimes.
Bookishly Awesome — Thank you!! There will be some more non-contemporary stuff coming out, but rest assured, there will also be plenty of contemporary! 😀
Thanks everyone for stopping by 🙂
L. A.
>Wow big change from Japan to Midwest. Lol. Good luck. Thanks for the interview. Love your books and look forward to more.
>I LOVE the sound of this book and it has many elements that are amongst my faves. I definitely have it on my Santa wishlist.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
>This sounds like SUCH an interesting read. I'm gonna have to add it to my TBR list.
Great interview, Jay & LA!
>I'm so glad to know you will be branching out into the far flung reaches of your imagination more. I do enjoy the contemporaries, but usually grab the PnR and SFF first. This one sounds like you wrote it just for me!
>LA I have ordered A Chip…over at Riptides–can't wait to read it–it's sitting on my kindle waiting for a few hours!! Best of luck with your move!
Sammy
>I enjoyed both the post and the excerpt; both were great reads. I look forward in reading more of L. A. Witt's works.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
>Really enjoyed the post.
Ah! And so eager to start reading Chip. I just got it and really so excited to start reading!
Also looking forward to Search Me! I LOVED the first two.
So many amazing works coming. I am really excited to get to read them all soon.
Good luck with your move!
All the best,
Judi P
arella3173_loveless@yahoo.com
>Japan to the Midwest, oh!! it's a big change in your life.
You're a prolific author ^_^
mariaml254 at yahoo dot com
>Hello L.A. & Jay,
Thank you Jay hosting L.A. on your Blog today, the Interview was Great as always….& Thank you L.A. for taking time out of your day to share so much with your Fans.
"A Chip on His Shoulder" sounds like such an exciting read, it's different with its futuristic, sci/fi twist that's definitely more than peaked my interest, and it’ll be on my TBR List.
I Look forward to seeing you next Tuesday on Jay's Blog to chat about your new release, "Search Me". I can't wait to read more about Nick & Andrew, I'm glad you’re continuing the "Cover Me Series". I was soooo thrilled to hear about your upcoming vamp/were novel, "The Given & The Taken", the 1st in your "Tooth & Claw Series", Jan. 3rd won't come soon enough. 🙂
Take Care L.A. & Jay & Happy Writing,
Renee' S.
paranormalromancefan@yahoo.com
>LOL! Very entertaining interview 🙂 It's always fun to get inside the author's head and learn how the characters/story came about.
smaccall AT comcast.net
>I envy those authors who immediately have characters speaking in their heads. Mine don't generally speak to me quite that way.
adara adaraohare com
>Matt – Yep, that's me. I do come round here quite often, actually. I do like this blog, I just don't always comment. 🙂
Lori – Also, you're a joy to work with. Some edits can leave you exhausted, but this one was high-energy, high-enthusiasm all the way.
>Aw, thanks Aleks!
>LOL. From what I hear from different authors, editing at Riptide sounds like a sadomasochistic process, editors being the sadists and authors the masochists. *grins* I'm glad to know that all parties are enjoying it!
Thanks for the interview! 🙂
japoki at inbox dot lv
>Aija — I can definitely vouch for that. Though Rachel and Aleks might tell you *I* was a bit sadistic too. There was some "You know, Daniel and Liam aren't suffering enough"/"OKAY I WILL MAKE THEM SUFFER MORE BWAAAHAHAHAHAHA" going on. But generally speaking, yes, they were the sadists, massacring my precious golden words while I said "thank you sir may I have another?"
Gotta love it. 😀
L. A.
>Aleks — Thanks! It was definitely a bloodbath, and there was some swearing and muttering and pill-popping on my end, but I've suffered more at family gatherings. Yes, there was a lot of work to be done, and it was NOT easy, but none of it was unreasonable or "hahaha we're just going to change this because WE ARE THE EDITORS". No complaints here.
L.A.
>L.A. is one of my favorite authors, Can't wait to read "Search Me". Really enjoyed the interview!
lkbherring64@gmail.com
>Great interview! I love your style of writing and this book sounds really good! Count me in!
>I enjoyed the interview too! Please sign me up.
lacrimsonfemme at gmail dot com
>Count me in please. I really like the L A Witt books.
chellebee66 AT gmail.com
>Looking forward to your new release
Sarah S
Sarahs7836(at)gmail(dot)com
>Looking forward to reading Chip…love your work!
yratpatrol@aol.com
>Still new to reading sci-fi and would love to read this! Thanks for the chance!
ssalvc126@rogers.com