Press Release - The House Bast Made -available June 15th!
The
House Bast Made is an adventure where a young archaeologist, Reid Cannon,
learns myths need not be fairytales.
The
story is set in modern times with a bit of paranormal drama to keep Reid and
his friends hopping.
My
hope is you will enjoy your time in the Valley of the Kings and join Reid next
time when he travels to South America!
What inspired you to write this book?
I have a deep and abiding love for all things
ancient Egyptian. When I was little I found a book about the country and I
still have it to this day. I would go out in the yard and do my own excavations
and try to find bits and bobs of interest. I was never very successful, but in
my mind I was great archeologist. I think writing Reid Cannon gives me the
opportunity to vicariously live out the fantasy of being an archeologist
How did you come up with the title?
The title comes from the concept of home or
dwelling. In The House Bast Made we see two different ways that the goddess
Bast uses the concept of house for those who are evil and her followers.
Is there a message in your novel that you want
readers to grasp?
That friendship and doing the right things are more
important than professional gain.
How much of the book is realistic?
The book is set in modern times with computers,
tablets, satellite phones, even the XBOX game Halo. The book is very realistic
until you get to when the gods and goddesses come out to play. From there on I
would call the book paranormal, because fantastical things start to happen to
Reid and his friends.
What were the challenges (research, literary,
psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
The concept of bringing a pantheon of gods and
goddesses together did require research and planning. I didn’t want any of them
to act in a way counter to standard interpretation of Egyptian mythology.
What is your favorite book to read?
What an unfair question to ask a writer. I guess my
Kindle isn’t what you were looking for in an answer. Hmmm…my mom and Sunday
school teacher would want me to say the Bible, and it is a beloved book.
However I would actually have to say the Oxford English Dictionary. Not what
you expected, huh? LOL! I fell in love with words and the dictionary as a kid.
My all-time favorite present my parents ever got me was a huge navy blue
unabridged Webster’s.
What book are you reading now?
The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that
really strikes you about their work?
Right now, Susan Kaye Quinn—her books are
innovative. She is doing some amazing things with format, like her Debt
Collector books. It was published as a serial and has a stunning audio version.
But the best part is she shares of herself with other writers who are on the
road to publication. Her Indie Author Survival Guide should be required reading
for anyone thinking of self-publishing or going Indie.
Did you learn anything from writing your book(s) and
what was it?
This story is the culmination of fiddling with the
plot and characters since 2013. My takeaway: some stories need time to
marinate. I had finished the story by the beginning of last year, but I wasn’t
happy with the ending…it needed something. One day, out of the blue in Jan
2015, I had an epiphany about the ending and wrote it up in three days. At that point
I followed my standard advice to other writers which you can read below. The
version I published of The House Bast Made is draft number four.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
First drafts are where the writing happens, but
editing is where the authoring happens. So many writers think each word perfect
must be perfect, editing as they go. The problem is nothing is ever perfect,
even in Pulitzers you will find grammar errors or misused wording. What is the difference
between a writer and an author? Authors finish. Churn out that first draft,
don’t worry, no one has to read it but you. Editing is where the magic happens.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say
to your readers?
My genre is speculative fiction, and I mostly write
science fiction or paranormal. Dictionary.com defines speculative fiction as: A
broad literary genre encompassing any fiction with supernatural, fantastical,
or futuristic elements. In this genre I can write a love story, a mystery, a
court drama, or anything really, and then add all the futuristic and
fantastical elements that excite my imagination. The main thing I like about
that freedom is my stories do not have to be bound to what society calls real
life. I can be as audacious or daring as I want!
There are tons of books out there about real life or
some snazzed up version of real life. I read books, watch movies, and play
video games to escape reality. I want to see new worlds, meet new types of
people, to “Go boldly where no one has gone before!” I want adventure and
excitement, not day-to-day fiction based on everyday life. I know that there
are other readers out there who feel the same way I do. I write for them. I
write so that maybe for a few hours out of the day my readers can relax and
feel the wonders of the universe—to see something new that sparks joy in their
soul.
All About Lisa M. Collins
Lisa M. Collins has always been interested in Outer Space, Adventure stories, and Southern culture.
She was born in Dixie and has always lived south of the Mason Dixon Line. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in history with specializations in American and Russian history. Lisa lives in central Arkansas with her husband and an adorable cat, Baby Girl, who believes she is Lisa’s co-author. Lisa has one adult son who is married to his high school sweetheart.
Lisa’s non-fiction has been published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. . She copy edited and researched on Understanding Global Slavery by University of California Press. Her science fiction story, The Tree of Life, is in the 2013-2014 anthology by Holdfast Magazine. These days she edits for Metahuman Press, and is an upcoming creative contributor with Pro Se Productions and Mechanoid Press. She is a Sally A. Williams Grant winner from the Arkansas Arts Council for writing.
Readers can find out more about Lisa M. Collins and where they can buy The House Bast Made by clicking on the links below.
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