Straight Chatting from the Library: Lisa Beth Darling

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READ THE INTERVIEW

What is the favorite book you remember as a child?

I had several favorite books as a child - James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl was definitely among them and I still have that book along with the Big Golden Book of Poetry that my grandfather used to read to me. But, there was one book my mother used to read to me, The Pretty Little House that Found Happiness by Eleanor Eisenberg; it's an adoption story and since I am adopted I found it particularly delightful.

What is your favorite book today?

I think, as an adult, my favorite book will always be The Stand by Stephen King.

Tell us about your current book in 10 words.

It's a heartwarming and often heart wrenching inspirational family drama.

E-Reader or print? and why?

Definitely print, I don't even own an e-reader. I love the weight of a book in my hands and on my lap. I stare at a computer screen all day long either for my day job or for writing and I'd much rather have printed paper in my hands for leisure time.

One book at a time or multiples?

I'm a great multitasker when it comes to my job or the house or the family but when it comes to entertainment I like to take things slower. I wouldn't watch two movies at once so why would I read two books at once?

Dog-ear or bookmark? (don't worry—Librarian Judith won't hold it against you—much)

Since I generally buy hard covers, I use the flaps to mark my pages.

Favorite genre?

Pretty much anything on the darker more adult side of life, I love a good horror story and a hot romance. I'm not one for flowery fluffy things.

Do you loan your books?

No, not anymore. I stopped lending out my books years ago when it became hard to get the books back from those I'd loaned them to because they'd gone and loaned them to someone else without even asking me first.

How do you keep your books organized?

I have several large glass and wood antique bookcases where I store all of my favorites along with the books of monetary value. The back of my clothes closet is stuffed with my mother's books; I just couldn't throw them away.

What would make you not finish a book?

Poor writing, a lousy storyline, and predictability are all turn-offs for me. I won't stop reading a book just because something happens within a story that I don't like or particularly agree with; for all I know, whatever that was comes into play again later on in the story. I'll stick it out in any instance that merely makes me uncomfortable but if the author could have used a larger vocabulary or the characters are flat and I can see where it's going after the first 3 chapters, I'll put it down.

READ THE BLURB

As Hannah recovers from emergency brain and heart surgery, memories of the past overtake her dreams with such clarity they cannot be denied. As the last of the painful family secrets come to light it's up to her brother, Doctor Richard Mason, and his unconventional methods to help her confront the ugliness.

READ AN EXCERPT

Running a hand over the side of his close-cropped gray head Frank tried to keep his cool as he pled his case, "Look, I just want to see Hannah, are you going to let me in there or not?"

Mason seemed to think about it for a second even though he really wasn't. "Ummm…not." He said finally. "She doesn't want to see you."

"She told you that? I don't believe it."

"Well, you could go and ask herself…oh, wait, that's right…you can't go in there. Guess you'll just have to take my word for it."

"Yeah, like that's worth anything."

"Some people think it is." Mason retorted as he held out his cupped hands, "Some people put their lives right here. Crazy, right?" From the look on the man's face Mason thought he'd stand there and bitch all day long. "While you're waiting for noon to come around, why don't you do Hannah a favor?"

"What's that?"

"Tell me about the two years between her accident and the birth of my pre-maturely deceased nephew." He watched Frank's mouth drop open. "Take a load off." Mason said and gestured toward the chair opposite his desk. "In fact, why don't you just tell me everything you know?"

"She told you about Little Ricky?" Frank asked as he leaned forward but the question was more directed to the air than anyone in the room. "She's never spoken about him…ever."

MEET THE AUTHOR

It was in the 4th grade when Lisa Beth Darling discovered she was a naturally gifted writer. For her very first creative writing assignment, the teacher asked the class to pen a story about a baby bird's first flight and read them to the class. Putting pencil to paper, Lisa was instantly whisked away by a force she couldn't explain. When they were finished, all of the children read their happy stories to the class. Not Lisa. She got up and told of how the baby bird flew too high, hit a plane, crashed to the ground and died. She told of how the mama bird and daddy bird cried of how even God was upset sending the rains pouring from the sky. The class was speechless when she finished all they could do was stare at her. The teacher kept her after class told her the story was very good but it was different from the others. She asked Lisa if she'd ever heard of Icarus and had she based her story on him. Lisa had yet to encounter Greek Mythology or hear a whisper of Icarus. As Lisa left the classroom the teacher again told her how good the story was but suggested she might want to write something happier next time. Perplexed, Lisa turned and asked her teacher: "Why?" The teacher had no answer. Luckily for us, Lisa never took that teacher's advice.

Today she brings us complex multi-layered stories rich with the trials and tribulations that make up the world in which we live. Not one to be pigeonholed into any single genre, Lisa's stories revolve around the intricacies of couples from range the intimacy of lovers, to mothers and sons, and brothers and sisters.

Lisa Beth Darling is 49 years-old, lives in her hometown of New London, CT with her husband of nearly 30 years, Roy. She is the author of more than fifteen novels along with several short stories and non-fiction books.

Website: http://www.lisabethdarling.com
Blog: http://lbdarling.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lb_darling
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lbdarling
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1577311.Lisa_Beth_Darling

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