A New York Times bestselling author and Edgar award-winning author of 18 novels, Lisa Scottoline has more than proven herself to be a captivating and inspiring writer. She is President of Mystery Writers of America, as well as a columnist with her daughter Francesca Serritella for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lisa will share her time and her thoughts with the Centre County community during the 2nd Annual BookFestPA on July 16.
Town&Gown recently got to know Lisa a little better by finding out how her writing has progressed over the years and what really pushes her to keep on writing.
T&G: How long does it take you to complete a novel from start to finish?
Scottoline: It takes me a full year from the initial kernel of an idea to the last edit. Of course, the writing is the main part of it, but I also want my books to ring true, so research is very important to me. I don’t do my research ahead of time. I do the research as it naturally comes up while writing the book, and I like to do hands-on research at the source. So, for instance, for SAVE ME, I spent a few days at an elementary school, a day at a firehouse, and a day at a potato chip factory.
T&G: How has your writing changed since Everywhere That Mary Went was published in 1994?
Scottoline: I’ve learned a lot along the way, and I’m constantly trying to improve. I’m also very grateful to my readers, because I learn so much from them. I made a rookie mistake in Everywhere by killing off a beloved character, and I had some harsh language in my earlier books that I’ve now completely eliminated. That came directly from my readers. I want them to know that I appreciate their taking the time to write, and I do listen. All of my books center on ordinary women who discover just how strong they are when faced with extraordinary situations. Many of my earlier works surrounded an all-female law firm, but lately, I’ve been really exploring the idea of what it means to be a mother and the limitless of a mother’s love. I have a feeling that has to do with the fact that I’m an empty-nester, what do you think?
T&G: Where do your book ideas come from?
Scottoline: I get my ideas from everyday life. I start with just one thought and a book grows from that premise. The idea for SAVE ME came from a conversation I had with my friend. She was telling me that she was faced with a difficult decision when she was asked to take another young child home from the baseball field. It wasn’t until she got to the car that she realized she only had one car seat, and her child needed one, and so did her friend’s child. She had to decide which child to give the car seat to. I thought this was an idea for a book. What would happen if you were caught in a fire and you had to decide whether to save the child standing next to you, or your own child down the hall? We are often put in split-second, no-win situations, and although you make the best decision at the time while under pressure, it is likely to come with consequences and second-guessing.
T&G: Are you solely a writer now or are you still working in the legal field as well?
Scottoline: I have not worked in the legal field for about 17 years. I am a full-time novelist, but I also write a weekly column with my daughter, Francesca Serritella, for the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer titled “Chick Wit.” Those columns have also been published in two collections, Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog, and My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space.” The third collection, Best Friends, Occasional Enemies, will be out in time for Christmas. For several semesters, I taught a class which I developed called “Justice and Fiction” at my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania Law School. I can tell you that being a teacher is one of the hardest and most tiring jobs of all.
T&G: What goals do you have for your writing career?
Scottoline: My goal for writing has not changed since the day I started writing. I just want more people to read me. It is such an honor to be read, and I think reading connects us as people. I always say a book is never really finished until it is read. That is because the readers bring so much of themselves to the book, and although the experience is different for everyone, it connects us soul to soul.
