Looking Out The Window: Award-winning Author Lisa Lickel Talks About Centrifugal Force, The Second Book In Her Forces Of Nature Series. Gives Away Coupons.

A Warm Welcome to Lisa Lickel

Lisa's a Grace Awards Winner for Meander Scar, the first in her Forces of Nature Series and a Jade Award Winner for The Saxon Boy: The First Children of Farmington. 

She will give away one FREE Smashwords coupon to one winner and 99-cent coupons for everyone else who leaves a comment saying why they'd like to read Centrifugal Force. 

To enter be sure to comment below and tell Lisa why you want to read the book and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

First, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a writer and editor from Wisconsin who enjoys a great relationship with a southern writer, Gail, who’s teaching and reminding me to mind my p’s and q’s in my manuscripts. I love all kinds of writing, and have been fortunate to publish in a variety of genres and methods, from large publisher, agented, to indie to DIY. I write mysteries, romance, and suspense. I enjoy mentoring writers and editing, and giving workshops. I share a lot of information on my website. My husband and I have two grown sons and five grandchildren.

I'm so glad to have made my Wisconsin connection, Lisa! Tell us about your latest book.

Centrifugal Force is the second book in the Forces of Nature series and follows Meander Scar a year later. It’s set in 2011, about the time the European Union was in the early economic crisis, and features a fictional scenario in which Germany is threatening to leave the union. Meander Scar is about Ann Michels, a woman who has a grown son, a husband who's been missing for a number of years, and a wonderful younger friend from the past who helps her out. Ann’s sister, Rachel, has a troubled young adult daughter, Maeve. Nothing is mentioned about Maeve’s father, but we meet him in Centrifugal Force and hear their story.

Where do you get ideas for your books?

In this case, around the time Meander Scar came out (Black Lyon Publishing, 2010), I read the obituary of an intriguing international personality. He had such a fascinating history, and I felt he was truly the basis for Maeve’s father. I worked with my critique group to come up with a plausible story arc, which was a lot of fun.

What themes do you write about?

While I write in different genres, I find them mostly dealing with the theme of family—what makes a family, what happens when others don’t respect the family, what results might occur when the family is damaged in some way. Relationships, perceptions, prejudice, I guess, at the deepest level. How we treat each other because of what we believe.

What are you working on right now?

Well, I’m glad you asked! I’m working on the third book in the series, Parhelion. I started with a natural phenomenon dealing with river courses in Meander Scar; the perceptual phenomenon of a created condition when circular path and speed combine. Now I’m heading off the planet toward the sun with Maeve and her love interest because planetary safety and the end of human existence on Earth is a real possibility. I don’t know what will happen yet, as I never intended to do more than consider a potential removal from Earth, so this will be a true test of my ability to create a realistic scenario. With the help of my friends, of course.

More About Centrifugal Force

Former lovers attempt to rectify the past to save their children and preserve the fragile world in crisis.

Rachel Michels made a poor choice which resulted in her biggest blessing, her daughter, Maeve. When the father of that blessing returns decades later, she knows he wants something she’s taken from him. Rachel has lived in near seclusion and mistrust, fearful of losing the one person who’s kept her life from coming unglued.

Professor Gervas Friedemann returns to Wisconsin, seeking a missing ancient artifact, along with help for his oldest daughter who is suffering from a rare genetic blood disorder. With the European Union at stake, blackmail could negatively impact a crucial vote in the German Parliament unless Gervas recovers an irreplaceable relic he left in the United States on a lecture tour a lifetime ago. He knows who took the piece of history he once flaunted—the woman who had stolen his soul. He only hopes she still has the ring.

Lisa Shares A Recipe 

Maeve is kind of a natural, whole-foods nut. She made up a gluten-free pancake recipe for a healthy breakfast.

Gluten-free, Vegan Pancakes
Makes about 4

1 cup ground oats (you can buy oat flour or grind your own quick oats in a food chopper)
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 T. ground flax seed (can substitute a whole egg or 2 egg whites is preferred)
1 cup milk (can use almond or rice or other liquid, like apple juice, if preferred)
1 T. oil (melted butter, shortening, applesauce or yogurt)

Opt: ½ tsp. cinnamon

Blend well, adding more liquid if desired, or more ground oats to keep batter thicker.
Pour onto hot griddle, flip when bubbly, but don’t let them get too browned.
Double or triple batter as needed.

Yum!

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