Lavrisa’s most recent release

I am thrilled to introduce Lois Lavrisa, a personal friend and a talented and successful author. Lois has just released “Homicide by Hamlet,” the third book in her Chubby Chicks Club series of cozy mysteries. You can order your copy at http://amzn.com/B019IVCPVI and find out more about Lois at her website http://www.loislavrisa.com.

Q: Where are you from and where do you live now?

A: I am from the rough and tumble, low middle class, Southside of Chicago. Right after our wedding honeymoon, my husband Tom and I moved to Sweden and lived there for two years, after that we moved to Atlanta. For the past 22 years I have lived in beautiful warm Savannah, Georgia with my hubby and four children.

 Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and about your life?

A: How long do you have? I’ll try to give you the condensed version.

Growing up on the south-side of Chicago provided me with an abundance of story ideas. Throughout high school and college, I waitressed to support myself and paid my own way through college. Earning both my Master and Bachelor of Science degrees in Journalism and Communication with minor in Public Relations-provided ample opportunity for a lot of writing. After completing my Masters degree, I had many jobs including writing training programs for a Fortune 500 Company and teaching many years as an adjunct professor. My fifteen minutes of “fame” came when I was a professional cheerleader for the NBA Chicago Bulls. I’ve been married to my aerospace husband Tom for 25 years and we have four children- two sons and two daughters (and two cats who think they are my kids.)

Q: When and how did you discover you were creative?

A: I do believe that everyone is creative. Perhaps not in the outward way of creating a sculpture, painting or drawing a picture, writing songs or other artistic expressions. Each and every one of us every day has to be creative, as least in the Merriam Webster definition of creative: the ability to make or think of new things. Don’t we all have to? As simple as finding another route to work after you see delays due to construction. Perhaps discovering you are out of your usual breakfast so you use what is on hand to whip up a new meal. See? Everyday in many ways we all are creative according to the definition “the ability to make or think of new things.” You could probably think of hundreds of more ways too.

Book Two of the Chubby Chick Series

Q: What are your creative outlets/projects?

A: Many. I’ve painted, did ceramics, made my own organic natural lotions and other creative projects. But my main outlet is telling stories. Making up stuff. After all, writing fiction is what I do for a living.

Q: Can you describe your creative process for us? Where do you get your ideas?

A: My creative process is usually inspired and driven by what story idea is calling my name, tugging at my thoughts, filling my dreams. It could be a character or a plotline. It could be something that I read or heard then I thought “what if?” and ideas start percolating. Maybe I overhear a conversation (I promise I am not a stalker, but it’s not hard to eavesdrop everywhere you go) and I begin to formulate more ideas.

I do a lot of self editing which means deleting, rewriting, changing and so on. Actually, the first manuscript I completed, well over 300 pages, I “shelved.” It was an incredible learning experience and that journey taught me that, yes, I could write a book. If you count that shelved book, I have completed five books, four that are published. I’ve been a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines. My favorite form of creativity though is writing full-length stories.

Q: What do you do when you’re not feeling creative?

A: Phone a friend or meet up with one for coffee or lunch. Seriously. All of my friends are creative, and just being around their energy and being with them sparks my joy too. Their enthusiasm either by just being themselves, or by them supporting and encouraging me has been a creativity life saver.

Q: Do you have any creative tips for others?

A: Trust yourself, trust your journey. It is so easy to get caught up in following what works for some one else. And trust me, I used to do that, but their journey is not yours. Listen to your gut, your instincts. It will not lead you astray. Even if you do make mistakes, re-group, understand what happened, and move forward. Forward momentum is so important. Do not stagnate. Whatever creative outlet you have, do it or think about it every day. I’m a believer the more you do something (as long as you learn along the way) the better you get.

The first book in the Chubby Chick Series

Q: What artists/creative people inspire you?

A: Wow there are so many I love. But I will try to name some. As far as painters, Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh, Mary Cassatt, Picasso, Mary Stevenson Cassatt, Georgia Totto O’Keeffe. Music, wow I can go from classical to rock to country to jazz – way too many to name. Writers? Agatha Christie, Stephen King, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemmingway, JK Rowling, Sue Monk Kidd, and many many more.

Q: What is your next creative project?

A: My next and fifth book, KILLING WITH KINGS, which is the fourth in my cozy mystery series. There will be a total of five books in the Chubby Chicks Club cozy mystery series set in Savannah Georgia. They are centered around a group of four friends who get thrown into solving a murder. They are fun, fast paced mysteries full of southern charm.

Q: How do you juggle multiple creative projects?

Lavrisa’s first release

A: Truth be told, I don’t. Although I constantly take notes and ideas about many stories/projects, I only work on one manuscript at a time. With four children, one hubby, many friends and a lot of commitments – that is all I have time for. Bottom line, I love what I do for a living, and I feel honored beyond compare that this is my career

Q: Where can we find out more about you and your work?

A: You are always welcome to visit my website where you could also sign up for my newsletter too, www.loislavrisa.com, my author Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/authorloislavrisa/ or twitter @loislavrisa. I am also on Instagram @loislavrisa and pinterest at Lois Lavrisa.

ORDER HER BOOKS HERE:

Homicide by Hamlet http://amzn.com/B019IVCPVI

Murderous Muffins http://amzn.com/B00MT79E0Y

Dying for Dinner Rolls http://amzn.com/B00EXZQAHK

Liquid Lies http://amzn.com/B007GQ10WS