Welcome, Lisa Hahn and thank you for taking part in Book Talk. Book Talk is a series of questions designed to showcase authors and their novels. We’ve pulled the curtain back to allow readers the opportunity to get to know authors and their characters and what goes into making them who they are.

Enjoy!

1.      If you could spend time a character from your book whom would it be?

Cat (the heroine) and her best friend Abby are cool girls. When they hang out, they keep things quiet and low key. That’s what I like.

2.      What character in your book are you least likely to get along with and why?

Marcy is the resident mean girl in the Bretton Falls Ballet Company. I had little tolerance for girls like her when I was dancing.

3.      Tell us about your book cover and how it came about.

My sister-in-law designed the cover for me. I typically have a difficult time picturing what I’d like on the cover, so I give the artists I work with a fair amount of freedom.

4.      How do you choose the names of your characters?

I almost always consult a census to be sure the names are appropriate for the time period. Ultimately, I try to pick names that reflect the characters and the families they came from. After all, in the real world, their parents would likely be the people responsible for naming them.

5.      What book do you wish you could have written?

I’m finishing Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Boys series right now, and I often find myself feeling envious of her beautiful prose.

 6.      If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?

Questions like this are always so difficult to answer because I know so little about pop culture and contemporary Hollywood. Milo Ventimiglia or Kit Harrington would be good candidates for Dmitri. I’m stuck on who would play Cat. The actress would have to be quite petite, as Cat is a waiflike woman who barely clears 5’0’’. I know Natalie Portman has already played a ballerina, but maybe she’d be interested in giving it another go.

 7.      Do you use beta readers if so, why or why not?

I like to have critique partners look at my work as I go. I’ve never used a beta reader once I’ve finished, but I would be interested in giving it a try. It’s hard to find people who have the time and desire to help.

8.      What is your writing Achilles heel?

My early drafts are very wordy. I’ve been working on being more concise and even so it’s surprising to see how many extra words I can put in a sentence.

9.      How do you get over writer’s block?

I push through and/or take some time to work on something else whether it be a different manuscript or a chapter for someone in my critique group.

10.  What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Probably registration fees for the Romance Writers of American national conference. I always learn so much there that I always feel like a new writer by the end of the week.

11.  Do you plot or outline?

I’ve been trying to plot more because I find it really helps clarify character goals and conflicts for me. I can’t outline, though. That seems too rigid.

 12.  Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?

Rie Langdon edited this book, as well as a few of my others. When I was looking for an editor, I asked Rie to do a quick sample edit for me. I really liked her supportive style and have found we work well together.

About Lisa Hahn

Lisa Hahn writes romance novels across multiple sub-genres. She’s interested in stories that take place in either small towns or strange worlds, and she strives to create honest, passionate characters her readers can relate to.

Currently, Lisa and her husband live in northern New Jersey with their two dogs (Jonas and Cassie) and their cat (Blueberry). When she’s not writing, Lisa can be found reading, practicing yoga, working out, watching professional wrestling, stitching a piece of embroidery, making/eating vegan food, and rooting for the Seattle Seahawks.

Connect with Lisa: Twitter | Website | Facebook

Title: Sweet by Lisa Hahn
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Cat Brown spends the first six years of her career as one of the lowest-ranking members of the Bretton Falls Ballet. Despite the dancer’s undisputable talent, artistic director Lillian Smith insists Cat is too short for a leading role. When Lillian is forced to retire, world-renowned ballet dancer Dmitri Fedorov takes over and casts Cat as the premier performer in his first production with the company. Cat struggles to fend off a host of distractions as she prepares for the most important role of her career: the most insurmountable of which is her instant attraction to the new boss.

Dmitri, once known for his theatrical performances and womanizing proclivities, disappears into seclusion after a horrific car accident shatters his knee and renders him unable to dance. Looking to escape the constant reminders of how far he’s fallen, Dmitri escapes to Bretton Falls in hopes of elevating the small ballet company there to international prestige. The task proves to be more challenging than Dmitri had bargained for when his surprising interest in Cat Brown becomes fodder for gossip among the company.

Cat and Dmitri both have a lot riding on their upcoming production of The Nutcracker, knowing that their careers depend upon the outcome. However, the biggest challenge they face will be staying away from one another.

Purchase on Amazon