by Carole Brown
It’s such a privilege to host Lisa Lawmaster Hess today. I hope you enjoy her interview and check out her books. (I’ve scattered pictures of her books throughout the interview.) I think you won’t be 
disappointed! Read on to find out a little bit about her:
Dealing with the complexities of marriage life is something that is presented in both your novels. Is this a topic that’s dear to your heart?
Wow—I never really thought about it that way—what a great question!
Marita was the first character I created, and my desire was to write a good single mom—one who had made mistakes, but had gotten her priorities straight. Then came Jim, and I guess he brought the complexities of marriage along with him! Once parenthood enters the picture, the complexities of marriage are pretty much inevitable, even if everything was smooth sailing before then. Ooh, Carole, now you have me thinking!
Lol. That’s a good thing, isn’t it, Lisa? Has writing made you pickier in your reading choices?
Oh, I am MUCH pickier in my reading choices! Sadly, even some of my favorite authors
disappoint now because I read as a writer and hold them to a higher standard. A good story is no longer enough for me, and I leave many more books unfinished than I used to. In fairness, though, some of the books remain unfinished because I don’t have as much time to read as I’d like and there are a LOT of good books out there.
Give us some fun things about yourself. Choose 3 please:
- Favorite season: Fall, hands down. My allergies hate fall, but I love the temperatures,
the smells, the colors. I grew up in New Jersey and have lived in Pennsylvania most of my adult life, and fall is beautiful in both of those places. My daughter is now attending college in Connecticut and I can’t wait to see fall up there. - Favorite music and how it affects you. My taste in music is eclectic and mood-driven. I like anything from classical music to contemporary Christian, to a capella groups to top 40, rock and oldies. I’ve seen Billy Joel (my all-time favorite artist) in concert twice at Madison Square Garden and I’d go again tomorrow if I could.
- Favorite shows, and why? Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, The Big Bang Theory — anything that revolves around relationships and complex characters. I also like political satire, but will refrain from naming names as I don’t want to offend anyone.
- Favorite quotes? “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” (Eleanor Roosevelt
)
That’s a great one. I love quotes! If there would be one thing you could change in the world today–what would that be?
Our willingness to criticize, point fingers at and judge others without considering their perspective.
What’s next for you? Do you have another book being written now? Do you 
care to give us a hint?
- I’m currently working on another Marita/Angel/Charli book, something I never intended. Casting the First Stone was supposed to be a standalone book, but I had so many people asking me if I would be writing a sequel that I eventually did. Now that I’ve written two books, the characters have become very brazen and they’re telling me what they want to have happen next.
- In addition, I’m revising a novel that’s been sitting in my drawer for a decade. It’s mu
ch too long and needs to be cut by at least a third. The characters and story are different, yet the themes are similar enough that I don’t think readers of Casting the First Stone and Chasing a Second Chance will be disappointed. - Finally, I have two short non-fiction books in the works, one of which ties directly to my Organizing By STYLE blog and STYLE Savvy posts at CatholicMom.com. But, since I’m teaching three classes this semester, finding time to make progress is a bit challenging.
Thank you so much for having me, and for asking such fun questions!
Marita Mercer has no intention of losing custody of her daughter to Jim and his perfect little wife. So what if Charli’s father is successful, established and respected? Does that make up for the fact that he never wanted their daughter in the first place? But in the battle of Marita the single mother vs. Jim and his perfect little church-going wife, Marita is almost certain she will lose.
Angel Alessio is about to get a second chance at the family she’s always wanted. But things aren’t going according to plan, and she’s afraid that once again, following the rules won’t be enough to save her family.
a Lawmaster Hess is a transplanted Jersey girl who has lived in Pennsylvania for most of her adult life. She is the author of two non-fiction books (Acting Assertively and Diverse Divorce) and two novels (Casting the First Stone and Chasing a Second Chance). In addition, she has written columns for local publications and articles for national and online publications. Most recently, her work has appeared in Pediatrics for Parents, Faculty Focus, Teachers of Vision and Today’s Catholic Teacher. Thanks for joining me today, Lisa. It’s been a pleasure, and you’re welcome back anytime. Blessings in your future career as an awesome author!
Word Sharpeners 