Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

Welcome to Author Lisa Mangum

Bio:
Lisa Mangum has loved and worked with books ever since elementary school, when she volunteered at the school library during recess. Her first paying job was shelving books at the Sandy Library. She worked for five years at Waldenbooks while she attended the University of Utah, graduating with honors with a degree in English. An avid reader of all genres, she has worked in the publishing department for Deseret Book since 1997. Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville with her husband, Tracy.

Interview:

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Anything with chocolate.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Homemade pancakes. Oh, but I also like cinnamon swirl French toast.

Skittles or M&Ms?

M&Ms.

What's your favorite season/weather?

To quote a line from one of my favorite songs, “Sunny with a high of 75.”

Favorite places to travel?

I love to go to Disneyland. My husband and I have gone at least one a year for the past 12 years, and it never gets old.

Favorite music?

I like a wide variety of music—but mostly rock and pop. Some of the recent live shows I’ve seen include Rush (twice), Dilana, Guster, Inverse, Danielle Barbe, Paramore, Barenaked Ladies, Dar Williams, and The Gracious Few.

Night owl, or early bird?

Night owl, though oddly, I do my best work in the morning.

Pet Peeves?

I hate unnecessary quote marks on signs. I cringe at the expression, “I seen . . .” And I shudder at the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard.

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

I’ll admit it: I’ve seen every episode of Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. All three seasons. And the “Where are they now?” special. And the follow-up show, Life As I Know It. (I’m not proud of this fact, but there you have it.)

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

Now that the Hourglass Door trilogy is finished, I’d like to work on a contemporary YA novel about sisters. And I have another fantasy story in mind staring faeries.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

One thing that has been surprisingly rewarding is hearing from readers that my books helped inspire them to want to write a book of their own. I think everyone has a story inside them that only they can tell, and I’m touched every time I hear that someone has started on their journey of storytelling because of something I wrote or said.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

I have a special place in my heart for The Secret Garden, since it was one of the first books I read with my mom. I also loved Dragon’s Blood by Jane Yolen; it was one of the first books that got me interested in reading fantasy. But to be honest, I was a voracious reader as a child and I read just about anything I could get my hands on.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

I can’t wait for Dance of Dragons by George R. R. Martin.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?

Too many to include! But some of my favorite authors include Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Tad Williams, George R. R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, Jane Yolen, Melanie Rawn, Toni Morrison, and Neil Gaiman.

What is your favorite Quote?

I found this quote during one of my trips to Disneyland (credited to a Disney Imagineer): “Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. Don’t stop.” I love it because it reminds me not to hurry through the writing process. Take time to develop characters, plot, and setting. Learn the craft. Don’t be in such a rush that I miss the moment. And don’t worry if I don’t get it right the first time. Don’t worry what other people think or say. Justdon’t stop.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Finish your manuscript. Whatever it is you’re working on—finish it. Even if it’s the stupidest ending in the world—finish it. You’ll learn so much from the process of writing a book start to finish that you can’t really learn any other way. (And once you’re done, you can always go back and change the ending if you really want to.)

What do you do in your free time?

What free time? (grin) I am an editor by day and a writer by night, so what little free time I have goes to spending time with my family, going to the movies, and trying to catch up on my laundry!

The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

The future is uncertain. The battle to control the past has begun. The final book in the riveting Hourglass Door trilogy begins when Abby steps through the black door, and she doesn't dare look back. Though it means leaving Dante—wounded, bleeding, and possibly blind—she knows it is the only way to save her family and stop Zo from manipulating the river of time and throwing the future into chaos. In the end, Abby must face a final confrontation that will take her to the very origins of the hourglass door.

Giveaway Details:
1 copy of The Forgotten Locket
Open to US only
Ends 7/20/11

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