Writers on Wednesday: Lisa Joy
Welcome back to Writers on Wednesday. This week I am lucky enough to be chatting with romance novelist Lisa Joy, whose novel Yes, Chef has caused quite a stir since it was published in July ...
Tell me a bit about yourself …
Originally from
Sydney, I began writing stories in my mid-teens. At 21 I moved to London and
was distracted by the big city, new friends, travelling Europe and discovering
amazing food. I only began writing again 8 years later when I returned to
Australia to settle in Melbourne. My fiancé and I have recently moved from a
one bedroom flat in the city to a nine acre property about an hour outside of
Melbourne. We grow organic vegetables for the restaurant trade and aside from
writing novels I’m also PA to a well-known Melbourne chef and restaurateur.
Thankfully for me he is nothing like the celebrity chef in my debut novel Yes,
Chef!
Tell us about your most recently
published book?
Inspired by
real-life adventures, Yes, Chef! is a deliciously funny and romantic story that
reveals a tantalizing glimpse of the trendy restaurant scene: a world where
chefs are treated like rock stars, and cooking isn't all that goes on in the
kitchen.
Sassy foodie
Becca Stone is over her job taking reservations in one of London's most
successful restaurant empires. So when she is unexpectedly catapulted into
working as PA to celebrity chef, Damien Malone, it seems like the opportunity
of a lifetime.
Becca is quickly
caught up in an exciting whirlwind of travel, reality TV and opening nights,
and even her usually abysmal love life takes a turn for the better. But as
Becca is slowly consumed by the chaos of life in the spotlight, she begins to
lose touch with her friends, her heart and even with reality.
Working with
Damien has its challenges and she is soon struggling with his increasingly
outrageous demands and sleazy advances, all while managing the ridiculous
requests of his self-centered wife.
It takes a disastrous trip to Italy for Becca to realize that she may
have thrown away exactly what she's been looking for all along.
Tell us about the first time you were
published?
Yes, Chef! is my
debut novel. Before that I’d
only written copy for websites and social media campaigns so it’s a little
strange to think in a few days time people all over the world will be able to
read my book. But that’s the beauty of eBooks. When it came to searching for a
publisher for Yes, Chef! I was fortunate in that I didn’t have to look far. I approached Penguin first and they
provided me with some glowing feedback. I was referred to their Destiny Romance
imprint as they were just beginning to publish chicklit alongside their more
traditional romance titles. At first when I discovered my book would be
published digitally and not in print I was a little disappointed. And then I told
myself to get over it – a major global publishing house wanted to publish the
first book I had ever written. It was a pretty great feeling.
As writer, what has been your proudest
achievement so far?
For me, just
finishing Yes, Chef! was a very proud moment. I had been working on a fantasy
novel for about 4 years before shelving it to write Yes, Chef! It turned out to
be the best thing I ever did as just over one year later I had not only
finished a book but was offered a publishing contract.
What books or writing projects are you
currently working on, if anything?
I’ve just begun working
on a new novel. There’s no set title yet but it’s going to be a lush foodie
adventure-romance set in the UK and Italy about discovering what you truly want
from life and then doing everything you can to achieve it, even if it’s not
what others want or expect of you. I’m heading off to Europe and the UK soon on
a research trip. I’m so looking forward to escaping the winter here and feeling
the Italian sun on my face and I’m dying to get back to London again since it
was home for the majority of my twenties.
Which do you prefer? eBooks or Paper
Books? Why?
I believe a
great story is a great story no matter the format, but I do love how immediate
eBooks are. Any time you want a new story all you have to do is press a button
and it’s yours.
Indie Publishing, or Traditional
Publishing?
My only
experience is with traditional publishing so I can’t really comment. Except to
say that I know Yes, Chef! benefitted greatly from all the editorial feedback I
was provided.
Aside from your own books, of course,
what is one book that you feel everybody should read?
The Digger’s
Club - The Australian Fruit & Vegetable Garden. With fresh food shortages
set to become a global issue in the coming years, I believe everybody should be
growing some of their own food. Even if it’s just some rocket or tomatoes on
the balcony.
Finally … is there anything you would
like to say to your readers in Adelaide, Australia?
Thank you and I
hope you enjoy reading Yes, Chef! as much as I enjoyed writing it. Actually,
I’m very much looking forward to returning to Adelaide soon. Back in April 2013
I attended a commercial fiction masterclass with author and Adelaide resident
Fiona McIntosh. She was such an inspiration to me and she completely changed my
attitude towards writing so she’s asked me back to talk about my journey to
publication with her September masterclass attendees.
Links
www.lisajoyauthor.com
www.facebook.com/YesChefTheNovel
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