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Q&A with Lisa Jackson, author of WILLING TO DIE
When did you first start writing?
I always liked to write, even in grade school and I used to write poetry and short stories, but it wasn’t a driving passion, just the thing I liked and did well at in school. It wasn’t until my sister, author Nancy Bush, suggested we try our hand at writing romance novels (which I scoffed at, because we’d never even read a romance novel!) did I actually get into it, and by that time I was mother of two boys who were both still in diapers.
What drew you to writing thrillers specifically? Was that always a genre you loved?
Yes. I’ve always loved suspense and thrillers, so I was over the moon to start writing them about twenty-five years ago after cutting my teeth on romance fiction. When my editor said I could do what I wanted to the book, there were little restrictions, I jumped into suspense. I’d spent about ten years writing category romance with very precise rules, so I felt like a horse who’s seen the sun for the first time upon bolting from the barn. It was and still is very exciting!
How are you able to tap into people’s greatest fears?
We all have fears and they are usually pretty basic, even primal. What I try to do is scare myself in a suspenseful scene, fall in love in a romantic scene and get angry in an intense scene. It’s all about imagination, I guess. I think there’s not just a fine line, but maybe a major gulf between a scary scene and a bloody scene. Suspense does not equal gore in my estimation. Suspense equals fear . . .oh, well, maybe a fear of gore! I just roll with what scares the devil out of me!
What do you do when you need to lighten things up?
Personally, when a scene is too intense for me, as the author, I finish it and LEAVE the computer. I go out for a walk, do a cross-word puzzle, play with the dog, go see a friend, do anything to take a complete break from what is going on in the book. To lighten things up within the pages, if that’s what you mean, I change point of view. I start another scene where the characters haven’t yet learned of whatever dastardly event has taken place in the intense scene. It’s to give the readers a break. I think not only the author needs a little breathing room, but the readers, too. It’s all about peaks and valleys or, maybe, more like a lie detector test print out . . . calm, calm, a twitch, oh, my intense swings, a twitch or two, calm, calm . . . that kind of thing.
How do you research your books?
I turn to different consultants when researching my books. Usually friends who are professionals in the field, lots of doctors/nurses and a couple of cops. One of my favorite characters is Officer Larry Sparks of the Oregon State Police in my books DEEP FREEZE and FATAL BURN and guess what? That guy just happened to marry one of my best friends in real life. He’s retired from the OSP now, but he’s still my “go to” guy. Sometimes he shows up at my local signings and the fans love it.
Do you have a series that you like writing the best?
I love writing books for the “To Die” series set in Grizzly Falls, Montana. Detectives Regan Pescoli and Selena Alvarez are two of my favorite characters! I love throwing “life” at them. I was a single mother of two teenage sons, so I can definitely empathize with Pescoli! Now that she’s married, I thought I’d throw her a curve ball with her pregnancy and “advanced maternal age” as it’s known, new life after the death of her mentor and friend—the circle of life. In WILLING TO DIE she’s not only dealing with having just given birth to her son, but also trying to take care of her job/husband/kids. It’s a tough balancing act.
You are a voice for a number of charities, including Molly Bears, Raphael House, SEVA Dog, the Humane Society and more. How did you choose these charities, and why are they important to you?
I work with a number of charities, but those found on my website, www.lisajackson.com are the nearest and dearest for a variety of reasons. My compassion for animals led to my decision to put up the Southwestern Washington Humane Society and Equine Outreach listed on the site. These are only a couple of the organizations dedicated to the rescue of animals I support. As for Raphael House, it’s a Portland, Oregon based shelter for women and children who need a safe refuge from abuse. Though I’ve never been involved in an abusive relationship, I feel deeply for those who are threatened/abused by loved ones, the very people who vow to keep them safe! I can’t tolerate that kind of cruelty, nor abuse of animals.
As for Molly Bears, this is a wonderful organization which puts teddy-type bears, made individually, into the arms of grieving parents who have lost an infant. As my family has experienced this kind of tragedy, I know personally the importance of the support for the pain that is almost a taboo topic. Therefore I’m a huge supporter of Molly Bears and the M.I.S.S. Foundation. I encourage everyone to donate or volunteer to the cause of his/her choice. It’s important.
Is there a woman who has really inspired you?
There were many, of course. I come from a long line of independent women, my mother and grandmothers being my strongest influences. My grandmothers were both intelligent, hard-working, happy women who were born around the turn of the last century and raised their families through the Great Depression and World War II. They saw their sons go off to war, watched their daughters join the workforce, never complained and were rock-steady in their work ethic, humor and ability to make something out of nothing. My mother, Betty, went to college, supported my father while he finished school after World War II, and taught my sister and me to be independent, to rely on ourselves. She used to say to me, “The person you have to face each day is that woman staring at you in the mirror.” And she was right. In times of hardship, I look into that mirror and give myself a pep talk, then tackle the world. Thanks, Betty!
To connect more with Lisa, visit her website. And to get your own copy of WILLING TO DIE click here!