Lisa T. Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than 40 books, with over 3 million copies sold. Her time is split between managing home base, writing, and working at Rocky Mountain Rustic, a business she runs with her husband, Tim. Tim’s a worship leader and sculptor/artisan.
In this interview, Lisa talks with us about her latest novel, Estuary, book number one in her new Oceans of Time Series.
FF: What inspired the story in your book?
Readers of my River of Time Series are like none other I have ever encountered. Some re-read the series annually, some tattoo related elements on their bodies, some name their cats and guitars after the characters. They are Passionate. And after hearing from them from years, I felt motivated to give them “the next chapter.” So I picked up with the next generation.
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
Tatiana is the daughter of a She-Wolf, a modern-day woman sent back in time to medieval Italy. Her aunt is a She-Wolf too. So raised by them, she is remarkably different, given opportunity that few women in medieval times would have…and making it really hard to find a husband. Luciana is a modern-day woman, sent back in time with her brother, Domenico, to discover what the power of family really means.
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
Tatiana. I really had to think through the impact of how being raised by modern-day women in medieval times might change you..for the better, and also for the worst.
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
I love fiction because we as readers place ourselves in the characters’ shoes. We can experience their victories and their failures vicariously, and learn from both. In doing so, we also come to terms with their truths and make them our own.
FF: What can readers expect from the rest of this series?
Adventure, suspense, swoony romance, epic battles and heart-felt moments that both take you away from your normal life, but also make you contemplate it.
FF: How do you get into the right frame of mind to write for your genre/audience?
Headphones on, epic soundtrack music on, re-read previous scene with fingers on the keyboard, edit, GO. For me, it’s like re-entering a movie, so I have to review where I left off, then it’s go-go-go from there!
FF: What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?
I want them to have both a break from their real lives as well as a break-through, an a-ha (“Hey, maybe I need to change this…”) in their real life.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in your genre?
Judgement. As a sometimes-fantasy writer, I get some serious side-eye from some people. But I believe that sometimes we need to lean far outside our “normal” if we want to grasp the “abnormal” or supernatural. Different genres appeal to different people. They all count.
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
Frank Peretti. When I was a bartender living in Utah as a ski bum after graduating college, suffering from serious depression, my mom sent me This Present Darkness and Piercing The Darkness and they awakened my soul as to what really was going on in my life. That, in tandem with the Christian music I loved in high school (revisited) led me to my own personal reformation. I left Utah for Israel and returned to find a job in Christian music or publishing, and the rest is history!
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
I want to give the world hope, but I also want to serve up a slice of reality. If we are to be world-changers, Jesus’ first-responders in a world of hurt, we have to be ready to engage the reality that is out there. But I also want readers to remember that we have sanctuary when we need it.
Estuary
Oceans of Time Series #1
Lisa T. Bergren
Enclave
Genres: Time Travel Romance, Historical Romance
Release Date: June 13, 2023
ASIN: B0BNMBSNP5
ISBN-13: 979-8886050462
Book Summary:
Can a family bond stand the test of time?
Lady Tiliani Forelli is the epitome of the She-Wolves who raised her, an adept archer with a mind of her own. It is long past time for her to wed, but she deems each young lord who comes to bid for her hand lacking. With battles upon their border, and rumors of war growing louder on every front, Lady Forelli’s decision could secure her kingdom’s peace…or bring about its destruction.
Centuries later, history major Luciana Betarrini takes a summer job alongside her twin, Domenico, as a period actor at Castello Forelli in Italy. As incoming college seniors, this might be their last chance to spend meaningful time together, so she’s soaking up every minute. But when Nico’s theory that their lost Betarrini relatives have traveled through time becomes potentially real—and they might be able to follow—Luci fears they’ll be forever divided.
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