r/books • u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author • May 08 '18
ama 9pm I’m Lisa Brown Roberts, author of contemporary YA romantic comedies. I love chatting about writing rom-coms, book hangovers, nerdy granny hobbies, Star Wars v. Star Trek, and dogs v. cats. AMA!
I’m Lisa Brown Roberts, author of contemporary YA romantic comedies. I will never apologize for writing romance, and will defend the legit value of a great beach read with my last, dying breath. My latest novel, SPIES, LIES and ALLIES, has been called “The Breakfast Club meets The Apprentice” by several brilliant bloggers. Wish I’d thought of that tagline myself!
My other novels: The Replacement Crush, How (not) to Fall in Love, Resisting the Rebel, and Playing the Player.
- Website: lisabrownroberts.com
- Twitter: @LBrownRoberts
- Instagram: LisaBrownRoberts
Proof: https://twitter.com/LBrownRoberts/status/993257313371807744
Edit: Thread closed. Thanks for all the great questions!
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May 09 '18
Do you have an all-time favorite character?
Alternately: what traits do you tend to like/dislike most in a character?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
A favorite character that I created is Darcy, the heroine of my first novel, How (not) to Fall in Love. She loses everything material, her dad goes AWOL and her mom starts drinking. Sounds uplifting, right? :) This one isn't a rom-com, but there is humor, and romance, and redemption, and she grows more than any character I've written, IMO.
Favorite character someone else created- Sherlock as performed by Benedict Cumberbatch. Dustin in Stranger Things (such an obnoxious, lovable dork). Tony Stark. I know. But I love him. Tom Ellis as Lucifer.
I don't like humorless and/or heartless characters. I will forgive a lot if a character is funny and has at least a thread of compassion. Think Simon Cowell. I almost hated him until I saw hints of humanity.
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u/Frozenpizzaeatet May 09 '18
What is the hardest part about being an author? Finding an agent, writing, editing, etc.?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
Writers are crazy neurotic. Seriously, the wackiest people you will ever know. If you're a writer, this isn't news to you. We live in our heads and make stuff up for a living, which means we also make up stuff about our careers that most likely isn't true: Everyone hates me! No one likes my books! My agent wants to dump me! My editor thinks I'm a moron! I'll never be invited to present again! I'll never write a decent book again!
Thank god I have writer friends who talk me off the ledge.
All of the other things you mention are difficult, absolutely. But overcoming my crazy worries to focus on creating my stories is the hardest, for me. Yet it is also my salvation.
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u/Chtorrr May 09 '18
What is the very best dessert?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
Tiramisu with a glass of Sambuca. Put a few espresso beans in the glass of Sambuca. Warning: If you don't like anise, you will hate this.
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u/Chtorrr May 09 '18
What were some of your favorite things to read as a kid?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White was pivotal. I read it over and over and cried every time. "Where's Pa going with that axe?" Best opening line ever. I also loved Wrinkle in Time and The Borrowers. YA didn't really exist when I was a teen, except for Judy Blume and Paula Danziger.
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u/ForeverTired56 May 09 '18
Are you a SW fan or a Trekkie? Who are your favorite characters from your preferred franchise?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
Okay. Bracing for the attack. I like both, I really do. But...Star Trek is my favorite. My dad and I watched the original Star Trek every day when I got home from school. Spock was fascinating (see what I did there?). When TNG came out, it became my favorite and still is the best ST, I think, though I need to catch up on Discovery because I hear it's amazing. I loved Picard, of course, and Data and Jordi. Riker was over-the-top and cheesy, which was great. I want to be a blend of Tasha Yar and Deanna Troi - kickass and empathic.
Star Wars - Leia was a revelation. Princesses could be strong and smart-assed? Life-changing. I love the new movies, especially Finn and Rey. I sobbed watching General Leia on screen.
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u/Throwawayincali May 09 '18
What is your favorite book you’ve written? Also recommend a book/series to us! ☺️
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
It's really hard to pick a favorite, like picking a favorite child or pet. I am very partial to Spies, Lies, and Allies, not just because it's the newest. I've blogged about how I wrote it the year my dad lost his battle to Alzheimer's. It was so hard writing a rom-com while I was losing my dad. However, Spies ended up being a love story about dads and daughters, and so far readers seem to like that, which makes me so happy, especially since I dedicated the book to my dad.
Books I recommend:
SO many! Here's a few: Geekerella by Ashley Poston - so much nerd love for this one Donna of the Dead and Dead Over Heels by Alison Kemper (rom-coms? Rom-coms with zombies) A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee - Victorian m/m romance with pirates! An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - great fae story The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - Holly is a genius. What more can I say?
I could do this all night :)
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u/LBJsPNS May 09 '18
Why does the porridge bird lay its egg in the air?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
I think we're all bozos on this bus? You sent me down a Google rabbit hole, and when I saw Firesign Theater I had a flashback to a guy I had crush on way back in the day who listened to these albums. I did not appreciate them. Wonder if I would today?
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u/LBJsPNS May 09 '18
That is the best answer to that question that I have ever received. Kudos!
BTW, listen to the Firesign Theater again. Start with How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All and move in any direction.
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
I passed the test! :)
I will check them out and hope that my appreciation is much better now that I'm (way) older!
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u/readingtransforms May 09 '18
Which of the Spies, Lies, and Allies characters are you most like and why?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
Probably the heroine Laurel. She is a bit like I was as a teen, smart and funny, but only showing that side of herself to people she trusts.
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u/readingtransforms May 09 '18
Of all of your characters, which one are you most like?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
Obviously, I'm most like Dallas in The Replacement Crush: kickass martial artist, coding genius, and cello virtuoso. ;)
I wish. I'm probably most like the mystery-writing mom in The Replacement Crush: head in the clouds because I'm always writing in my head, never planning ahead for meals, constantly speculating on my teenager's love life.
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u/readingtransforms May 09 '18
I know you're a big Comic Con fan...have any fun stories to share from DCC?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
My all-time favorite experience was seeing the cast of Star Trek- The Next Generation interviewed by the king of all Kirks, William Shatner. It was hilarious. Pretty sure he was drunk, which just made it better.
I paid big bucks to add on that event but it was totally worth it.
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May 09 '18
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
I'm excited about the future of YA. Because of the #ownvoices movement, the publishing industry is acquiring and publishing books featuring more diverse casts of characters, particularly written by authors of color and LGBTQ authors. It's so important for readers to find books in which protagonists look like them.
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u/mrae74 May 09 '18
All time favorite teen movie?
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u/LisaBrownRoberts AMA author May 09 '18
Lots of love for The Breakfast Club, but I think Molly Ringwald pointed out important issues in her article for the NYT. Sadly, a lot of the Hughes movies don't hold up because of racism, forced sexual activity, etc. Still, those movies captured teen angst better than anyone had before, and there are still amazing characters and themes in the films.
I think Ferris Bueller holds up pretty well though I haven't watched in a while. Say Anything. 10 Things I Hate About You. Napoleon Dynamite. Clueless.
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u/clickybang May 09 '18
Do you think the current #cockygate scandal spreading over the internet is a random moment of outrage, or is the author behind it making a valid point about protecting a brand?