New York Times bestselling suspense
novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in
food service, but after setting her hair on fire, she took the hint and focused
on writing instead. With 20 million copies of her books now in print--plus a
2010 win for Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers for The
Neighbor--she's glad she did.
On your nightstand now:
Robert Dugoni's Murder One (available June 2011). Holey-moley, does this plot fly, and the main female character is smart, sexy and dangerous. Love it!
Favorite book when you were a child:
Jamberry by Bruce Degen. I'm from Oregon, we're into berries. Not to mention the words of the tongue-twisting rhyme dance when you read them out loud. Makes you feel happy all over.
Your top five authors:
Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jayne Ann Krentz, Karin Slaughter, J.R. Ward, Joe Finder, Suzanne Collins, Kresley Cole, Charlene Harris, Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, Kristin Hannah.... I'm sorry, what's the limit again?
Book you've faked reading:
What kind of woman do you think I am?
Book you're an evangelist for:
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I think Katniss is one of the single best protagonists ever written. You feel for her, root for her, and are stunned by her. I have author envy.
Book you've bought for the cover:
The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose. Actually, I love the packaging for the entire trilogy. Beautiful books, beautifully written. What more can a reader want?
Book that changed your life:
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Made me totally rethink World War II and what it means to sacrifice for your child. Sometimes, as a working parent, I get a bit overwhelmed by the daily demands of modern life. Then, I read that novel, cried like a baby, and remembered everything I'd been taking for granted. I've been gifting it to all my female friends ever since.
Favorite line from a book:
Any line written by Elmore Leonard. He can do more with three words than most of us can do with an entire novel.
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
Rainwater by Sandra Brown. A moving story of a time, a place and a woman. Slow Heat in Heaven remains one of my favorite suspense novels from Sandra Brown, but Rainwater touched my heart.