transformative for me . It pushed me to look within and sparked my imagination . I think I would have gone stir crazy if I had not focused my energy on something creative and productive during those months . Returning to my “ hometown ” of Stillwater , a place I loved growing up in , prompted me to create stories that are something like an homage to a town that I find unique and inviting .
There is nothing more exhilarating to me than a well-crafted ghost story . I love a good scare ! So , writing paranormal mystery was a natural world for me to enter when I got serious about writing something I could actually publish . The Shadows of Camelot Crossing series is inspired by my actual , quirky neighborhood . The haunted house on the cover of Red Water was inspired by the home my family lives in , although ours is sadly not haunted , nor as fantastical as the fictional Weizak home .
We were unloading our belongings into what we call the “ Shrek ” house on a rainy day and I couldn ’ t ignore the eerie ambiance our new surroundings exuded . I began to daydream about a spirit who would linger in the house and the surrounding woods and the story evolved rather quickly . Mini-catastrophes such as a family of raccoon in the attic , a bridge collapse , a crack in the swimming pool , my Alexa going rogue and the odd appearance of hundreds of ladybugs helped build the story as they unfolded in my reality .
Believing I heard our kitchen door open in the middle of the night led me down the tangled path of the Deep Water story and my teen years in Stillwater set the scene for my current WIP and third ( likely final ) book in the Camelot Crossing series . All of the stories are sprinkled with varying degrees of my own “ real life ” experiences and moments .
Writing Deep Water and the upcoming Muddy Water has been cathartic for me and has allowed me to hopefully put to rest some of the lingering effects from considerable adversity I experienced as a child and young adult .
I am also working on a short story / reader magnet to explain why the residents of Camelot Crossing are so tormented by restless ghosts . It combines my Irish roots with the roots of Stillwater itself , bringing together the history of the Oklahoma Land Run and Irish piseog ( an evil spell or curse .)
the next phase , I had put so much time and effort into the book I couldn ’ t imagine giving up on it in the face of the daunting next steps .
But being open to the process and soaking up as much wisdom and information as I possibly can has definitely made me a better , more thoughtful author . It is a journey that is full of amazing moments and tremendous growth that I know will never stop evolving .
Also , hire an editor ! Do not skimp ! Editing has got to be the single most important step in self publishing . There is nothing more off-putting than reading a book by an indie author that is riddled with clumsy writing and errors . Having a great cover and great editors are essential to producing a successful book .
Is there anything we haven ’ t asked but that
you ’ d like to add ?
Be bold , assertive and think outside the box when promoting your books , as challenging as that may be . I reached out to the book club at our local high school , and they chose my first book as their reading selection one month . I got to visit the group , answer questions and discuss the creative process with some excited young readers and writers and it was amazing . Donate copies of your books to local libraries . Mine are in the Stillwater Public Library , as well as the libraries at our local high school , junior high and middle school . Drop copies of your books in Free Little Reader boxes ( a wonderful idea I got from an author friend , E . M . Chaffin .) The more people who lay eyes on your books , the better .
Deep Water - Shadows of Camelot Crossing , A Haunting in Stillwater Book 2 is available in all major online book retailers , Bliss Books and Bindery , and the Stillwater Public Library . Find out more about Lisa at her site lisacourtaway . com .
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STORY PROVIDED / PHOTOS PROVIDED
What tips do you have for other authors working on their books ? Things you ’ ve learned
that you like to share with newer authors ?
Be prepared to cram your brain full of more learning than you ever thought possible . I am constantly turning to my wonderful editors , newly established author friendships , YouTube , books , the internet , etc . for more and more knowledge .
I was so naive when I set out to write my first book . In some ways that uncorrupted mindset was a good thing . By the time I finished my first draft and started
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