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Friday, April 14, 2023

Author Interview Mid-Flight by Lisa Wilkes #Sci-Fi #Thriller #Romance


- What is your “day” job if you are not a full-time author?

Hi, I’m Lisa Wilkes, a 38-year-old flight attendant, licensed social worker (LMSW), animal rescuer, and indie author. Technically, my “day” job is my airline gig, although it would be inaccurate to say that I work days! Most of the time, my work hours stretch far into the night. Sometimes we land at two or three in the morning. But I enjoy it. I’ve been flying for 13 years, and the job still excited me. I love the thrill of traveling to new cities and meeting new people. There’s never a dull moment in the airline industry, that’s for sure.

I am not compensated for my animal rescue efforts, but they consume as much of my time as a paying full-time job. There are so many animals in need; I’m happy to help whenever/wherever/however I can. Currently, I serve on the leadership board for my airline’s animal transport team, SWATT. We fly rescued dogs and cats to their new homes around the country. I also partner with several local nonprofits in Tampa, FL, to pull animals from the euthanasia list at the animal shelter. Sadly, Florida has a huge animal overpopulation problem, so a lot of heathy pets are routinely euthanized. I’m working with Rags to Riches Animal Rescue, Inc., and The Barn Rescue, Inc., to end this tragic cycle. I also plan to start my own nonprofit someday.

- If you wrote a book about your life what would the title be?

I’ve often considered this! I struggle to name my books. It’s funny how I’m able to compose multiple novels with 75,000 words or more, yet a two- or three-word title really trips me up.
I’d go with something that hints at the die-hard optimism which has kept me going during exhausting animal rescue missions, piles of rejection letters from publishing companies, and difficult social work cases that feel like a lose-lose.

Maybe something like“Love, Lisa,” which was the title of my original travel-themed blog, several years ago. Or possibly “With Heart.” See? I warned you I was terrible at coming up with titles!

- What is the hardest thing about being an author?

This feels like a loaded question! Let’s see, everything about being an author is pretty hard, right? It’s funny: the only aspect that seems to come easily is the part where we write books. That part is great. It’s the best portion of this writer lifestyle. It is the reason we tolerate the ongoing nightmare of publication, right?

People don’t usually realize how hard it is to get published. I think most folks expect that when you write a book, BAM! The book is printed, you’re famous, everyone buys your novel at the closest bookstore, you are interviewed by Good Morning America, and you live out the rest of your days doing massive book signings at arenas. This is the dream, admittedly. But it’s not how things work in real life, at least, not from my experience.

I struggled for years to get published. My first novel, Flight Path, was published in 2020, and my second book, Mid-Flight, was released on March 31, 2023. However, I have been writing full-length novels since age 19. That means I’ve spent half my life composing books. And none of them caught the eye of an agent/publisher until I happened to get lucky with Flight Path, the thirteenth book I had completed.

I gave up for several years, focusing on song lyrics and short stories instead. The disappointment was too much to bear, so I focused my energy on other activities. When I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press in 2019, I was elated. I had begun to believe, wholeheartedly, that day would never come.

Getting published is hard. Making a name for yourself as an indie author, in a saturated market where the scales are tipped, feels nearly impossible. I’d say that, of all the hardships involved with being a writer, marketing/PR is probably the most difficult aspect. I had to learn to navigate all different online platforms when Flight Path was published. Three years later, there’s still a lot I don’t know! This time around, I have an incredible PR team helping me, but it’s still very time-consuming (and costly, and confusing) to build a reader base and establish a presence online. That’s part of the reason I’m so thankful for book bloggers like yourself who allow writers to share their stories, goals, and motivations with the world.

- What is the best thing about being an author?

Connection. I’ve always believed there is no greater privilege than seeing your book resonate with someone. I am enamored with the written word because of its potential to unite, inspire, and connect people. Books have taught me so much about this world. They’ve also reminded me exactly what it means to be human. I am forever indebted to the authors whose books I’ve cherished, and I can only hope my readers find my novels equally riveting and evocative.

- Have you ever been star-struck by meeting one of your favorite authors? If so who was it?

I’ll never forget meeting Meg Cabot at a writer’s conference in my early twenties. I was a nobody, a recent college grad with wild dreams (and now idea how cruel the industry would actually be). 

The conference was packed, so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to meet Meg. She patiently chatted with each fan, signing books and taking photos before greeting the next admiring follower. Eventually, I got to the front of the line with her newest novel tucked neatly under my arm. 
She signed the book, then asked about my writing goals. I was shocked that she cared! She listened to the entire plot of the novel I was writing. I was debating the ending to my book, so I asked for advice. Meg told me the world is rife with unhappy endings, but our writing does not have to echo that endless heartache. Some authors feel compelled to write a tragic conclusion, and if that was the case for me, then I should follow my gut. But if I wasn’t absolutely convinced that the book needed a sad conclusion, then a happily-ever-after would be the best way to incite hope among my future readers.

Since I had been on the fence, I opted for a heartwarming ending. And that has been the case since that magical day I met an author I deeply admire.

- What books are currently in your to-be-read pile?

I stumbled across the show “Three Pines” by accident, and really enjoyed it. The series follows a Canadian detective solving murder cases. Inspector Gamache is a likable character, so it was easy to get hooked.

When my friend, award-winning author Anita Kushwaha, mentioned that the show was derived from a popular book series, I immediately ordered the first three books in the series. I have finished the first novel during a long-haul cross-country flight. The author is very descriptive and sentimental, with an eye for detail. I’m excited to read the next two books. 

- Which do you prefer ebooks, print, or audiobooks?

Interestingly, I’m not a fan of audiobooks. Since I’m a visual learner, I only enjoy a novel if I can read it. Paperbacks and eBooks hold equal weight, in my opinion. However, I must note one added perk to eBooks: they don’t take up additional space when I’m traveling. In 2010, when I became a flight attendant, my suitcase was always heavy because I typically had multiple novels tucked inside. Once I began to download books onto my phone/iPad, my suitcase became considerably lighter and less cumbersome.

In terms of the novels I’ve written, paperbacks hold a special place in my heart. There’s nothing quite like holding your book, a physical manifestation of all your sleepless nights, endless rounds of editing…and big, vibrant dreams.

Thanks for hosting me. Happy reading!



Mid-Flight
Lisa Wilkes

Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller/Romance 
Publisher: Extasy Books 
Date of Publication: 03/31/23 
ISBN: 978-1-4874-3651-3
Number of pages: 270
Word Count: 78,451
Cover Artist: Extasy Books

Tagline: She failed to save her brother and her best friend from destructive forces. Could she topple the most sinister villain of all time?

Book Description: 

2037 was a really bad year.

Lexi Brennan’s best friend was killed in a plane crash. Two weeks later, an intergalactic crisis threatened the fate of humanity. Authorities responded by launching a genocide.

Lexi opposed this vicious attack. Then again, what could she do? An eccentric flight attendant drawn to glamorous trysts, she felt powerless to incite change. 

Until tragedy struck close to home. Suddenly, Lexi was forced to acknowledge the widespread atrocities. She uncovered a network of lies along with an opportunity to restore basic human rights. To protect others, Lexi would have to launch a movement that could destroy everything important to her, including her promising new romance.


Amazon

Excerpt:

Wordlessly, Lexi grabbed her purse and darted for the exit. She needed to see it. She had to know for sure.

The midnight sky was pierced by jagged red veins. A thousand burgundy fingers tore through the stratosphere like lightning etched in the wrong color. Puffs of smoke dotted the horizon, mushroom clouds rising toward the ominous red ether. From the descriptions and images in Lexi’s VirtuAlarms, it appeared Santa Fe had gotten off easy. Other cities looked like they’d been struck by an atomic bomb.

The world was blazing. The sky was breaking apart in pieces.

AutoScan—Jorge Rodrigues, I didn’t see your texts ‘til just now. They’re grounding all planes immediately? Scary stuff. Wish I was there with you. Where’s your plane landing?

With a rapid-fire double blink, Lexi sent the message.

Jorge’s response flitted across Lexi’s cornea. His words felt frantic. Can’t get down. Capitol Hill is burning. Dense population, nowhere to land. 80 miles from Dulles Airport. I don’t think we’ll make it.

Lexi read the last sentence and crumbled. She fell to her knees on the hot New Mexico concrete, sirens blaring in the distance and meteors crashing to the ground with a fiery scarlet vengeance.

“No,” she begged the universe. “Please, no.”

Her vision blurred. Lexi ached to rip her skin off her body, inch by inch, melting into a heap of exposed veins. It was so enticing. She wanted it so badly. It was what she deserved, truly.

She should’ve been on that airplane with Jorge. Self-reproval flitted through her mind on an endless loop. Should have, should have, should have, you worthless idiot.

She gasped for air.

AutoScan—Colin Brennan, dial right now, she instructed, calling her brother via electrical impulses connected to her cranium. Five beeps sounded in her ear, then the line went dead.

Tears rolled down Lexi’s cheeks as she mentally composed another note to her best friend at SkyLine.

AutoScan—Jorge Rodrigues, don’t talk that way. You will land safely. Reagan International probably has space for diverted aircraft. You’ll be fine. I promise.

As she waited for Jorge’s reply, she dug her nails into her leg, reopening the wound on her thigh.

She picked at it, forcing the gash to widen. It was the size of a dime, then a quarter. She kept pulling, peeling, exposing her insides. She wanted her entire soul to leak out.

“Don’t leave me, Jorge,” she whispered. “Don’t you dare leave me.”

Colin tried to leave all the time. Lexi couldn’t handle another loss. She needed Jorge. He was her partner in crime, her other half. He was the best thing about being a flight attendant.

Words appeared in front of Lexi’s eyeball. Her chest tightened.

I don’t think we— Jorge began.

“What?” Lexi murmured aloud. Her hands fell to her sides, limp. “What is it, J.R.?”

Lexi craned her neck toward the red-streaked sky. She shouted, pleaded, implored her buddy bidder to write back. She wanted to hear details about his safe landing, after the pilots found an open runway someplace in Maryland.

Arms clasped around Lexi’s waist, dragging her back into the restaurant. She kicked and screamed, fighting to stay outside. She wanted the sky to collapse on her and drag her into the deep black unknown. She didn’t deserve the safety of four solid walls and a roof. She didn’t deserve to be in a city that had received minimal damage from the celestial hellfire.

Lexi began to chuckle as she was forced back inside the restaurant. She could barely breathe from laughing so hard. Through narrowed eyelids, Lexi saw customers and staff staring at her in disbelief. She continued flailing her limbs. She laughed with all her might, a deep guttural guffaw that echoed through the bar.

When a VirtuAlarm informed Lexi that two planes in the Northeast had been struck down, she was convinced she’d dreamt the whole thing. The aircraft she was supposed to be on that night had not burst into flames. No way, no how. Jorge was not dead. Lexi would wake up soon, she knew. She would call him. They’d talk about her silly nightmare, her tendency to imagine the worst possible scenario, her bizarre fear of erupting into laughter during a moment of crisis.

Lexi would wake up and chat with Jorge for hours. And she would not swap out of their next scheduled airline trip.



About the Author:

Lisa Wilkes has spent 13 years as a flight attendant, jetting across the globe and collecting inspiration for her writings. Her debut novel, Flight Path, is a fast-paced romance laced with serendipitous encounters. This book follows a daydreaming stewardess as she learns to navigate a new terrain: unconditional love.

In her second novel, Mid-Flight, Lisa transports readers to the year 2038. A flight attendant begins to unravel after her best friend is killed in a plane crash. In the throes of unspeakable grief, she uncovers a political ploy to decimate one-fifth of the population. To combat this sinister plan, she must risk everything. Including her breathtaking new romance.

Lisa’s writing is provocative and timely, with a focus on societal issues and powerful internal conflict. Flight Path’s readers will appreciate Mid-Flight's emphasis on hope and redemption, while newcomers to Lisa’s work will be drawn to the power of her storytelling.



 






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