Questions and Answers
What are you currently working on?
LISA:
Well, I'm currently working on two manuscripts, one of which is fantasy and will, I hope, be my magnum opus! It will trace events occurring in the future in the world of Naruihm, but I'm going for a more high fantasy feel with this book; none of the characters from Morevi or Morevi and its neighbours will be involved, though. The second one is well, I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's about family, or more accurately the phenomenon of 'spreading' where most families, particularly Asian ones, are becoming dispersed over a number of countries. Living in Australia I've come across so many families where the mother and one or two of the children are staying in Sydney or Melbourne, while the father and the rest of the family are living in Indonesia, for example. It's a situation that's not really been documented, and for the most part the so-called 'legal' migrants would rather keep a low profile, particularly in the present climate and with the furore over Australia's tough refugee policies.
TEE:
**WOAH** And I thought I was taking on a lot!!! Currently, I have my first solo novel in the works -- BILLIBUB BADDINGS AND THE CASE OF THE SINGING SWORD. It is a 'film noir fantasy' or better described as a chapter of LORD OF THE RINGS if written by Mickey Spillane. It's been a blast to write and hopefully I can find a home for it once it is finished.
I'm also toying around with an idea for a FARSCAPE tie-in novel, an inspiration after meeting actress Virginia Hey at Toronto Trek 16. It's current working title is Echoes of Blue but I'm only a few chapters into that. I will finish BILLIBUB BADDINGS first, then see if there is an interest in the FARSCAPE novel.
Also, Lisa and I have begin development of a sequel for MOREVI. We're both thrilled with the early reviews and feedback from those who have read it, and our publisher does seem interested in a follow up. Hey, twist our arms...*ow-ow-ow-OOOOWWWWW* Okay-okay-okay...*sigh* I'll do it! I'll do it! I'll write with Lisa...AGAIN! ;^)
Who (Fact or Fiction) would you most like to meet, and what would you ask them?
TEE:
Hmmmmm...that's a tough one. There are so many people on that list. I got Kenneth Branagh, J.K Rowling, Alan Rickman, Errol Flynn, Bruce Lee, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Duncan MacLeod, Moya's Crew, James Bond...I could go on and on, both in fact and fiction...
But if I were to pick one...it would be Lisa, my partner. A glass of wine for her. A glass of scotch for me. Or maybe a couple of mugs of hot chocolate, and either a pair of laptops or our notebooks. Lisa and I can come up with some pretty amazing stuff over the phone. In person...all I can do is smile like the Chessire Cat to think of what we could create!
LISA:
Yes, being able to meet my writing partner in the flesh for the first time would be on the top of my list! Perhaps in the not too distant future.
Is there a book or story you wish you had written?
LISA:
Smilla's Sense of Snow, by Peter Hoeg. Great character development. And of course Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. I am in awe of her!
TEE:
Well, I can't say there is a book I wish I have written because the stories and books I've read have all played a part in shaping the style and approach to how I write a story or play a role (as an actor). Without those writers in the way they defined a genre or told a story, I wouldn't have those influences. A writer has to have influences and inspirations. Shakespeare had them. So did Tolkien. Far be it from me to tamper with a formula that worked for the masters.
What was your first professional sale? How did it feel when you received the acceptance?
LISA:
That would have been 'Morevi.' We'd waded through our fair share of rejections, as most first time authors do (I don't see why the publishing industry is so closed against new authors! There are many people out there with writing talent who can't get through because they don't know how the industry works, and of course there's the plain fact that unsolicited manuscripts go straight into the 'slush pile'. It's just plain waste, speaking from a recruitment perspective). When Tee e-mailed me with the two offers we received, I was elated. It was validation, at last. I still couldn't believe it a month later when we were closing the deal with Dragon Moon.
TEE:
I remember when Lisa and I were on the phone discussing the offer from Dragon Moon Press. We were tossing it back and forth on "the next step". By that time, we had caught the eye of four small presses, and two large publishers. Lisa and I were debating about whether or not we should go for it or wait for a large press to take it on. The more we thought about going with Dragon Moon Press, the more it appealed to us. I'll never forget when we agreed to do it, I felt a little dizzy. Then there was sending the contract to Lisa for signing. That was one LONG wait. When it arrived, I did a little happy dance, signed it, and then sent it off to Dragon Moon Press.
The rest is history. Well, a historical-fantasy epic.
If you could give one piece of advice to a would-be author, what would it be?
TEE:
While you should work on your craft, I would recommend you also take classes in or teach yourself principles of graphic art and website design.
Knowing these skills and having a proficiency in software like Dreamweaver or PageMaker will only benefit you in making smart decisions on the layout and look of your work, the sharpness of your query and proposal, the website promoting your work, and even something as simple as creating a good look for business cards.
Also, enjoy life. It is hard to write if you don't get out and experience some of the wonders around you. Take a day's hike somewhere and just enjoy a view from a mountain. Sit on a beach somewhere and watch a sunrise. Try a cuisine you've never had before! Nothing contributes to good writing better than good living!
LISA:
Don't lose faith in yourself. Don't take every rejection as a rejection of YOU as a person. Remember that out there somewhere are people who do want to read your story or hear what you have to say. Remember that JK Rowling had heaps of rejections before her manuscript was accepted, and look where she is now.
When did you first feel that you were an author?
TEE:
That's easy...when I first held MOREVI in my hands. I was smiling so wide, my face hurt. I just kept staring at our names on the cover and still I couldn't comprehend that I held in my hands my first novel.
There was a twinge of guilt, thought, that Lisa couldn't be there to enjoy it with me. MOREVI is OUR work, OUR world. We are still working on getting the book in Australia, But I wanted Lisa to know that it was not a dream but very, very real. I regret not being there when Lisa first saw the book. To be a fly on the wall when she opened that envelope! :^)
LISA:
As my friends could tell you, I had a smile on my face that wouldn't go away. I was grinning like an idiot all the way from the post office to home. But I think the real moment came when I had a friend over to my place one day. She was looking through the books on my bookshelf, picked out a couple then exclaimed, "Hey, isn't that YOUR name on the back of this book?"
Are you a music fan? If so, what?
TEE:
Music has always been a part of my life. For over ten years, I played the trombone. As a student of jazz and classical music, I nurtured a diverse taste. I listen to Limp Bizkit, Frank Sinatra, Tchikovsky, Dean Martin, Queen, Moby, Paul Oakenfold, Sumi Jo...I'm all over the ball park.
But I think I will always have a passion for movie soundtracks. I love movie soundtracks. My first album was a soundtrack...STAR WARS. (Shocker! ) I love to write to movie soundtracks! My favorites to write to are CUTTHROAT ISLAND, LORD OF THE RINGS, HARRY POTTER, and GLADIATOR.
LISA:
Back in my little hometown in Malaysia, music was for me a window onto the wider world. And it still is. I think I'm a real romantic at heart, and a really good piece can make me cry, for instance the soundtrack from THE PIANO. In fact, I find I write better while listening to music, to set the mood, so to speak. I like music I can associate to different moods, for instance if I'm getting ready for a night out on the town : Sophie Ellis Bextor, Jamiroquai etc. For writing emotive scenes: THE PIANO, LES NUBIENNES, the BRAVEHEART soundtrack, most things by Delirium. And of course, for battle scenes etc all the movie soundtracks: THE MATRIX, BRAVEHEART, even STAR WARS. Yes, Tee, even STAR WARS. **LOL**
TEE:
Can I help it that I'm a fan of STAR WARS before the last two movies.
Heck, I was a fan of STAR WARS when it was the "not-so-special-edition" and when it was called "STAR WARS"...not EPISODE 4... **easing back into his chair** Okay, I'm feeling a rant coming on so I'll just sit here and be quiet. **sticks his tongue out at Lisa** LISA:
**scrunches up nose as she gives Tee a look**
Do you enjoy book signings/conventions?
LISA:
I'm mortally afraid of them! *LOL* To tell the truth, Tee's the veteran of conventions. There aren't too many of them happening in Australia, and I'm still trying to get over the 'disabilities' that being relatively young and not having my book out here yet have left me with!
TEE:
Worry not, Lisa...we're going to make it happen! And remember what I told you, we're BOTH new at this. ;^) And you learn a lot going to these conventions.
So far I've attended four conventions, and I've been very, very lucky to meet the people I've met. I'm just hoping I've not put that "fear" into Lisa from some of my horror stories. Sure, I've met my fair share of "rude-and-nasties"; but for every "r-and-n", I've met a wide score of extremely cool people! I've been having a ball at these cons, but I feel a little twinge when people ask me one of two questions:
1. Where is Lisa?Yeah, I'm having a ball at these cons...but I can only imagine how much fun it would be giving a panel with Lisa there with me! I also love the cons because it's a learning experience for both of us. If I pick up a new tip or come across something important, I'm immediately sending Lisa an e-mail recounting what I picked up. You can actually read about my experiences at the cons by going to http://www.morevi.com/cargo/tour.html for stories, pictures, and QuickTime clips.
2. When are you two going to meet?
Do you use myths and ancient religions for inspiration?
LISA:
I definitely use them as a basis for the belief systems that we have to come up with as fantasy authors. In large part it's what I like about writing fantasy: that you create a world from scratch. I draw largely on Asian mythology, but there are 'concepts' in fantasy that I think have been deeply rooted already that I feel no qualms about using: for instance the concept of 'elf' has been so deeply entrenched in the Tolkien vein that to use anything else seems almost sacrilegious to me! (I know I'm going to be criticized for that remark, but in self-defense I will say that my second book is going to put a new twist on that).
TEE:
Hey, nothing wrong with stirring things up a bit. We're not slamming Tolkien, just willing to offer an alternative...or risk offering an alternative, as some would look on it.
I would have never considered researching Asian myths and religions as a base for a Fantasy novel. I would have never considered that route as a majority of Fantasy is based in a Celtic or European-style setting. Nothing wrong with that, but the genre is saturated with these settings. Lisa brought e into shades of her culture, her world. It was a wonderful ride,and I learned a great deal from Lisa. As I was her guide through Tudor England (an era of history I've grown to enjoy and appreciate after spending several seasons at the Maryland Renaissance Festival), she was my guide through this rich, intriguing world based on Asian societies. It was a great ride, working with alternative myths and religions...
...and now, it is something I'm being asked to speak on at the Library of Congress and upcoming cons. Umm, Lisa...HELP ME!!!
What are your thoughts on writing for shared world series such as Dragonlance and Star Trek?
TEE:
I know some authors don't believe these authors do any "real" work, but I disagree. I think it's harder to write for established characters because you have to give another author's creation your voice. It's a form of collaboration, and collaboration is not always easy.
Okay, Lisa made it easy. But that's not my point...
When you work in an established series, you play another author's rules. That is a challenge. More so when you're a fan of the series. As I mentioned earlier, I'm developing a tie-in novel for FARSCAPE, and I am a huge fan of that show. (Something I learned at Toronto Trek 16 -- it's okay to be a professional writer, and be a fan.) Even in these early stages of building an outline and developing plotlines, it's been getting harder and harder to write it as the series' plotlines, characters, and situations change every week! Still, I love the challenge.
LISA:
I have to admit that at one stage I used to write a lot of fan-fiction. *OK, people, don't throw tomatoes at me*
What book are you reading at the moment?
TEE:
I'm currently reading YESTERDAY'S DREAMS by Danielle Ackley-McPhail.
It is a fantastic read. Iif I were to describe her style and approach to writing, it is warm and rich. She's weaving several stories around this one commonality and I am really enjoying the read. She's got a lot of heart.
LISA:
THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco. An old book I unearthed in a friend's place. But this man is brilliant. Murder, theology, intrigues with popes and kings and the ever-present argument of whether too much knowledge can be a bad thing. It's like Cadfael taken into a whole new dimension.
Do you enjoy collaborating?
LISA:
I think writing with someone else definitely helped me actually finish the book. Ideas go round in my head faster than I can flesh them out, and I have more unfinished stories in my 'script drawer' than I have finished ones. Tee was the grounding force in this whole enterprise, and he made writing FUN. I loved the way we were constantly tossing ideas at each other, basically saying 'Run with it!', and that's how we fleshed out many of the plot twists that are in Morevi, and which I think keep up the tempo of the story. A lot of it was spontaneous; we wrote the way we would have written a role-play, without much behind-the-scenes discussion between authors. I know it's unorthodox, and messy (many loose ends to tuck in after), but we generated ideas we probably wouldn't have otherwise, and we really couldn't have mixed King Henry's England with Morevi so well otherwise!
TEE:
I've been enjoying the ride immensely with Lisa! I consider myself very fortunate to have met Lisa and take this "leap of faith" with her. I know there was a level of uncertainty and some severe apprehension from both of us. And I was really, really flattered that Lisa, who has always wanted to be a writer, found me "up to her standards" because I am still astounded at her level of excellence. And when you find a partner in any craft that you share a chemistry with, it's just something to relish! When I hear people say "This book was a blast!" I am elated because they experience a bit of what it is like when Lisa and I work together! It's a hoot!!!
What's the most memorable thing said in a review of your work?
TEE:
We've had terrific feedback from both readers and critics, and we always get a kick when reviews comment on how they cannot tell when I'm writing and when Lisa is.
But out of all the comments I've received, my favorite was from this Second Degree Black Belt that I train with at Wargo's Martial Arts. She came up to me with a big smile and said "I finished your book! It made me cry!" There was a hint of satisfaction that I could get this "tough-as-nails-lightening-quick" Black Belt a little teary-eyed. Then she said the comment I'm hoping Lisa and I hear often -- "I kept reading, thinking 'I don't like fantasy, but I love this book!'." It has always been my hope that MOREVI will appeal to Fantasy fans and people who don't normally read Fantasy. Hearing her say that was a real boost!
LISA:
First and foremost I have to say that I'm a worrier. I worried about whether MOREVI was good enough, whether our distinct voices were making the manuscript patchy, whether there would be a market out there for a book that wasn't high fantasy, wasn't quite romance, wasn't a normal novel.
Well, all the people who gave us feedback have helped stamp down the worry, particularly when they praise the way the book's message gets through. I love it when people tell us that they like the politics; we worked hard on that.
Is there something you are particularly proud of?
TEE:
On so many levels. Lisa and I created something unique, something original, in a genre that many people -- readers and reviews both -- think have very few avenues left to explore. We accomplished to write an epic story influenced by our favorite authors, not trying to mimic or copy our favorite authors. Together, over the long distance, we wrote, marketed, and sold a novel, a novel that many publishers and agents said we couldn't get published or sell because it wasn't adhering to the formulas of Fantasy. And finally, we beat the odds. To meet at random, create something from scratch, and turn it into a historical-fantasy epic, all through e-mail and ICQ chats. It still surprises me, and I consider myself blessed that I 'met' Lisa when I did.
LISA:
I'm proud of what we've achieved with MOREVI because we did a lot of it ourselves. Our publisher worked tirelessly with us, but we all had a lot to do Tee particularly in the marketing area. We've gotten a lot more hands on experience than most authors; so when Tee told me about some of the snubs that authors signed with bigger publishers had given him at conventions, all I wanted to do was laugh. We work harder than any of them, and I think we learned more. MOREVI itself is just the beginning.
Many Thanks, Lisa & Tee!
Relevant Links
Lisa Lee Main Bibliography
Tee Morris Main Bibliography
Lisa Lee & Tee Morris's Morevi Website
Dragon Moon Press