Chat With an Author

All Spell Breaks Loose Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Chat with Lisa Shearin

Today, we have Lisa Shearin over as our guest author, here for a chat about the latest and ultimate book in her Raine Benares series, All Spell Breaks Loose. Lisa was one of the very first authors we interviewed on The Book Smugglers – and now, four years later, we are honored to have her over to discuss the end of Raine’s adventures.

Give a warm round of applause for Lisa, everyone!

The Book Smugglers: Welcome back to our humble adobe! We interviewed you back in 2008 – in fact, yours was one of our very first author interviews! Back then we talked about the beginning of the Raine Benares series. Now, four years later, you are 6 books deep and wrapping up Raine’s adventures! How does it feel to be a more established author, completing your first series?

Lisa: It feels amazing! Back in 2007 when I started the series with MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND, I never imagined that the Saghred storyline would stretch to six books. I thought it would be three books, four max. But the sub-plots with the various supporting characters—and the characters themselves—kept growing and expanding in complexity, so it ended up being their stories as well that I was telling in addition to Raine’s. As to feeling like an established author, the more books I write, the more I discover that I need to learn. That’s one of the wonderful things about writing—you never stop learning and growing in the craft.

The Book Smugglers: Now that Raine’s story is finishing up, you can spill – who is your favorite character in Raine’s world, and why? (Personally, we’re fans of Sarad Nukpana. And Tam.)

Lisa: I love Sarad Nukpana. His scenes with Raine all but wrote themselves. What can I say, it’s fun being bad. ; ) I also have a soft spot for Piaras and Talon, and Vegard, and Mychael, and Tam, and . . .

The Book Smugglers: Did you have an overall plan or outline for the series, and did the books go according to your initial vision? Did anything change or take you by surprise as you wrote deeper into Raine’s story?

Lisa: Nope, I didn’t have an overall plan for the series. I knew that the Saghred would eventually be destroyed, but I didn’t have any clue about how I’d get there. With each book, I planned less and less, until with CON & CONJURE and ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE, I was writing completely by the seat of my pants. It’s called “pantster” by writers. And after writing six books, I now know enough about how my mind works to trust that the story will come. With the new urban fantasy series that I’m starting, the only thing I have for a plot is teaser-type copy that you’d find on the dust jackets or back covers. It’s really fun to have complete freedom with the plot. I know how they begin and end, but the rest is up in the air. When I first started writing, that’d make me panic; now, I think it’s fun.

The Book Smugglers: In your author’s note regarding All Spell Breaks Loose and the conclusion of Raine’s story, you mention that you want to return to Raine’s world in the future. If you did write a spinoff series, whom would the series follow? And would this hypothetical new book be relayed in the first person, as with Raine’s charming narrative?

Lisa: There’s a possibility of a book (or maybe even a series) with quite a few of the supporting characters. I’d actually like to do all of them eventually. Of course, there’s Tam now that he’s back in the seething politics at the goblin court. And it’d be fun to follow Phaelan on a couple of his adventures. And then there’s the new young cadets coming into the Guardians, now that girls can train to become Guardians, and there will also be goblins coming from Regor. The possibilities are endless with any of those spinoffs.

The Book Smugglers: While it’s so sad to say farewell to Raine Benares, we are excited to hear from you about new characters and worlds! Do you have any upcoming projects on the horizon that you can share?

Lisa: I’m working on a proposal package for a new urban fantasy/thriller/comedy series. I can’t wait until I can share details with everyone, but I have to sell it first. 😉 Then I’d like to dive into a spin-off from the Raine books.

The Book Smugglers: Your favorite five fantasy novels of all time are:

Lisa:

1. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (and the entire Dresden Files series)
2. The Belgariad series by David Eddings
3. Magician by Raymond Feist
4. The Shannara series by Terry Brooks
5. The Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman

The Book Smugglers: We Book Smugglers are faced with constant threats and criticisms from our significant others concerning the sheer volume of books we purchase and read – hence, we have resorted to ‘smuggling books’ home to escape scrutinizing eyes. Have you ever had to smuggle books?

Lisa: I’ve considered it, but I just wouldn’t feel right smuggling in books under my hubby’s nose. I kinda feel guilty about how many books I buy. He doesn’t mind me going into a book-buying frenzy—one, they’re mostly tax deductable; and two, they make me happy, and Derek wants me to be happy. 😉

Lisa Shearin currently works as the editor at an advertising agency. She has been a magazine editor and writer of corporate marketing materials of every description. Lisa enjoys singing, reading, writing novels, and fencing (foil and epee, as well as rapier & dagger dueling). She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two cats, two spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and a Jack Russell terrier who rules them all.

You can read more about Lisa on her website, or follow her on her blog and on twitter.

THE GIVEAWAY:

We have ONE copy of All Spell Breaks Loose up for grabs! The contest is open to addresses in the US only and will run until Sunday June 17 at 12:01am (EST). To enter, use the form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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18 Comments

  • Lisa Shearin
    June 7, 2012 at 5:18 am

    Ana & Thea, thank you so much for having me again at The Book Smugglers! You ladies are simply the best! 😀

    Lisa

  • Thea
    June 7, 2012 at 5:45 am

    We are so thrilled to have you over, Lisa! Thanks again for the (second) interview!!! :mrgreen:

  • Linda W
    June 7, 2012 at 7:05 am

    Oh gosh. I am totally giddy over this interview. I so love this series. I hate to see it end, but I’m so glad Lisa has another series that she’s thinking about. Yay! That gives me some hope.

  • Irma S Dean
    June 7, 2012 at 9:45 am

    http://goo.gl/eI8KK

  • Lisa Shearin
    June 7, 2012 at 10:19 am

    I’m so glad you love the series, Linda! And rest assured, I am working on a brand new series; plus,I have a Raine’s world spin-off brewing in my head.

    Lisa

  • Linda W
    June 7, 2012 at 10:52 am

    Yay!!!

  • erinf1
    June 7, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    thanks for a fun interview! I’ve definitely heard such wonderful things about Lisa’s series. Congrats on the newest release!

  • Liz
    June 8, 2012 at 6:32 am

    I was so happy with this book, thanks for doing such a great job wrapping up such a wonderful series! I am already dying for a spin-off though. Do you know who it will be on? I could really use some more Talon and Tam in my life… Although meeting the rest of the Benares family could be incredibly interesting.

  • Bookish news and publishing tidbits 11 June 2012 | Read in a Single Sitting - Book reviews and new books
    June 10, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    […] An interview with Lisa Shearin: “I [write] completely by the seat of my pants. It’s called “pantster” by writers. And after writing six books, I now know enough about how my mind works to trust that the story will come. With the new urban fantasy series that I’m starting, the only thing I have for a plot is teaser-type copy that you’d find on the dust jackets or back covers. It’s really fun to have complete freedom with the plot. I know how they begin and end, but the rest is up in the air. When I first started writing, that’d make me panic; now, I think it’s fun.” […]

  • MishimaNakamura
    August 19, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    I have just gone through a difficult break-up a few months ago. Every thing was upside down. I had been dating a girl for about seven months who I thought was the greatest person I could ever be with. When we broke up she said she was unsure of whether I was the one. I felt like my whole life is over but as I was searching for help on the net I found one forum, which recommend prophetharry@ymail.com. I was skeptic at first but I just decided to give it a try, holy molly the results were more than I expected. Here is what happened, instantly girlfriend called on phone and after 1 week she came back to me in tears and promised never to live again since then i have feel so relaxed and forget my pain. I’m freaking happy
    MishimaNakamura Kitakyushu, Japan

  • jennifer
    August 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    i and my lover had some misunderstanding 3 months ago and he left the house with no tress, there was no way i could contact him, i searched for him i could not find him, i was desperate to get him back, crying every hour became my duty, so when i told a friend what had happened, she told me she had similar problem but a spell caster helped her, so he directed me on how to contact this spell caster, she gave me this email address prophetharry@ymail.com, so i contacted prophet regarding my problem and he said he could help me, i gave him the necessary informations which he required for and after three days of his spell was casterd, my lover who left the house came back and confessed to me that he was having another affair with another girl, he fell on his knees while begging that I give him a second chance and also apologized never to cheat on me again, so we reconciled together . The scene was unbelievable, especially from him who is a such a proud man usually! thanks to prophetharry@ymail.com for giving me all I asked for, My spells seems to work in the most powerful way.
    Jennifer, USA

  • SUSAN
    February 27, 2013 at 3:35 am

    my name is Susan i want to thank my friend for showing way to
    drmarkrobbinspellhome@gmail.com where all my sorrow was turn to joy, i was
    in a relationship for 2years and suddenly a mistake came into it from my
    side but i tried to beg my man but he refuse to listen to my apologies,
    until my friend told me about a spell caster that help her when she was
    also in a problem but i did not believed in her cause i dont also beloved
    in spell caster until i chose to give him a trial. this man told me what i
    need to do so that my man will come and after doing them my man came back
    to me to apologize the way this spell caster told me, so my people out
    there i am using this opportunity to inform you all that this is the best
    caster that you can ever contact and trust in him cause with him all your
    problems, please contact him through his email address:
    drmarkrobbispellhome@gmail.com

  • SUSAN
    April 6, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    my name is Susan i want to thank my friend for showing way to
    drmarkrobbinspelltemple@yahoo.com where all my sorrow was turn to joy, i was
    in a relationship for 2years and suddenly a mistake came into it from my
    side but i tried to beg my man but he refuse to listen to my apologies,
    until my friend told me about a spell caster that help her when she was
    also in a problem but i did not believed in her cause i dont also beloved
    in spell caster until i chose to give him a trial. this man told me what i
    need to do so that my man will come and after doing them my man came back
    to me to apologize the way this spell caster told me, so my people out
    there i am using this opportunity to inform you all that this is the best
    caster that you can ever contact and trust in him cause with him all your
    problems, please contact him through his email address:
    drmarkrobbinpelltemple@yahoo.com

  • Victor Andre
    May 6, 2013 at 5:52 am

    HI My Name is Victor Andre,
    I wish to share my testimonies with the general public about what this man called Dr Gazaza of Gazazaspiritualtemple@gmail.com has just done for me , this man has just brought back my lost family time, i was married to this man called Tony we were together for 3yrs and we loved our self’s but when i was unable to give him a child, he left me and told me he can’t continue anymore. Ever since then I’av been looking for ways to get him back until a friend of mine told me about this man and gave his contact email Gazazaspiritualtemple@gmail.com then you wont believe this when i contacted
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  • Jessica Cris
    July 1, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Am Jessica Cris from Canada After a 8 months relationship with my boyfriend, he changed suddenly and stopped contacting me regularly, he would come up with excuses of not seeing me all the time. He stopped answering my calls and my sms and he stopped seeing me regularly. I then started catching him with different girls friends several times but every time he would say that he love me and that he needed some time to think about our relationship. But after l contacted Dr. AGUBA of agubaspelltemple@yahoo.com he cast a love spell and after a day, my boyfriend started contacting me regularly and we moved in together after a few months and he was more open to me than before and he started spending more time with me than his friends. We eventually got married and we now have been married happily for 3 years with a son. Ever since Dr. AGUBA of agubaspelltemple@yahoo.com helped me, my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before. is Facebook address is agubaspelltemple@yahoo.com.

  • Kayla
    August 21, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    my name is Kayla
    i want to tell you about my past and how blessed i am today. please i understand how it feels to be heartbroken.i have a 5years relationship with my boyfriend not until when he brought me an invitation letter that he was getting married to somebody else because i love him so much and we promise to live our lives together ever since my life have been filled with pains,heart break and i almost took my life because of him.A friend of mine told me how DR OLOKUN helped her to get her husband back together after 3year,before i contacted dr olokun(priestolokun1@yahoo. com)call number tel.+2347051841955 is the spell caster who cast a spell in two days my boyfriend and i are back together.i am so happy for what DR.Olokun had done for me and my family too it a miracle for me, life have changed for the best.i dont need to explain it more than this but for you to contact him and your life will change for the best i promise you.

  • Divyanka Ahuja
    February 19, 2016 at 2:19 am

    My self Divyanka Ahuja. I Beleaves Once i did a spell to sweeten ones heart towards me, the spell worked and we got a little closer. We never crossed the line of friendship, and now we are good friends and chat from time to time. So the spell worked, i am happy with the result, Now My Love Life Is Very Special For Me Thanks For Love Spell.

  • dana wills
    April 4, 2016 at 7:09 am

    It is really very nice stuff. I enjoy the reading. Love spell is really very great. I am learning Numerology. It is said that numerology is based on many things, your date of birth, time of birth and also the current year. Can you please guide me related to numerology.

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