Interview - Lisa Becker

About you and the books?

- You probably get this one a lot but, what made you decide to write a book that was told by emails rather than a 'straight' story?

Many years ago, I read a book called e by Matthew Beaumont which tells the story of a fictitious ad agency vying for a big account, with the story all told in emails.  I thought that narrative style would work really well for the story I wanted to tell about the online dating world.  It was a modern way of storytelling that fit the topic and the times. 

- Of all your characters in the world of Click, do you have a particular favourite to write?

But, my favorite character is Shelley.  She’s confident, brash, outrageous and wholly unapologetic for her choices.  She was so fun to write. 

 - Are any of the characters based on your real life friends or yourself, intentional or not?

I most readily identify with Renee.  She and I share a lot of qualities including a self-depreciating sense of humor, fear of flying, motivation in our PR careers and love of baking.  Mark is loosely based on a friend who encouraged me to try online dating.  He’s a terrific guy who is still himself searching for “the one.”   So if you know any nice single girls, let me know.  ;)  As for Shelley, her hilarious habit of giving nicknames to her “man du jour” was inspired by a childhood friend of mine who had a nickname for a guy in college that she admired from across the dorm cafeteria.  She called him Maverick because he looked like Tom Cruise in Top Gun.  Much like Shelley, she is a self-confident, gorgeous, lovely gal and it wasn't long before they met and dated for a spell. 

- How difficult was it to follow up "Click: An Online love story" considering the amazing reviews you had for the first book?

Let me stop blushing here for a moment!  I was so flattered by the response to Click and wanted to create a realistic portrayal of life moving forward to all of the characters.  I tried to be true to who they were but also have them advance in their lives.  We can’t have Shelley continue her escapades well into her 40’s…or can we?  ;)

 - "Click" was very much inspired by your own love story, how much of you is there in "Double Click" and what parallels could you make between your reality and the stories intersecting in the book?

While Click was inspired by my real life as well as stories from friends, Double Click was more of an organic growth of how I felt the characters would grow and mature.  After spending so much time bringing them to life in Click, it was somewhat easy and natural for them to continue to evolve through my fingertips. 

 - My favourite moment in Double Click was the Airport scene at the end. it really moved me because it touched a personal experience (will not go into detail as I don't want to spoil it for everyone else :p). What was the most emotional and involved part of the story for you to write?

The airport scene was certainly emotional for me as well.  I wanted to realistically portray what happens in our 30’s when friends’ lives take different courses and they start to grow up.  I’m so honored to know you found it to be noteworthy. 

 -What's next for you? Do you plan to write more about the adventures of Renee and her friends or something else?

A friend, after seeing the Double Click cover, said, “Can’t wait for part three, Right Click; the story of how Renee becomes a conservative and falls madly in love with a one percenter!"  While I don’t think Renee will become a member of the Tea Party anytime soon, I love the title.  Right Click is a slow-moving work in progress. 

-And if/when you do write something else, would you stick with writing a story by emails or would you try something new?

Right Click will continue the epistolary narrative.  I have another work in progress, which is more of a traditional format about a group of friends who visit Big Bear Lake for a long weekend. 

- Which author(s) would you say is your main inspiration, if any?

I don’t have a particular author that has influenced me.  I really enjoy Jennifer Weiner, Sophia Kinsella and others.  

Random questions

- What's your favourite colour?

Yellow!  It’s bright and sunny, which is how I try to live my life. 

 - Half empty or half full?

If there’s a margarita in there, it’s half empty.  Everything else, it’s half full. 

- If it were possible to visit any other planet you like, which would you choose?

Hmmm.  I have a major fear of flying, so I’m fairly certain space travel is out of the question for me.  That being said, I would probably choose Saturn because those rings sound pretty and I love jewellery.  ;)

- Tea or coffee?

Believe it or not, I’ve never had a cup of coffee.  I tried it once and didn’t like it, so I never tried it again.  I’m not a tea drinker either.  Sadly, I fell in love with chocolate after the first taste, and haven’t stopped.  Again, my thighs can attest to that, believe me.  So, I suppose a hot chocolate with a big dollop of whipped cream would be my go-to choice. 

- Do you have any tattoos?

If yes, what do you have?  No.  I have a strong aversion to pain, so being repeatedly (and voluntarily, I might add) stuck by a needle is NOT going to happen. 

- Can you lick your elbow?

No.  I just tried but sadly it was not possible. 

- Did you just try to lick your elbow before answering?

Ha!  As you can see from above, I did indeed try.  Thanks for the laugh and your continued support/enthusiasm.

Click: An online love story
Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical "B" celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.

Double click
Fans of the romantic hit Click: An Online Love Story will enjoy another voyeuristic dive into the lives of Renee, Shelley, Ashley, Mark and Ethan, as Double Click picks up with their lives six months later. Are Renee and Ethan soul mates? Does Mark ever go on a date? Has Shelley run out of sexual conquests in Los Angeles? Will Ashley's judgmental nature sabotage her budding relationship? Through a marriage proposal, wedding, new baby and unexpected love twist, Double Click answers these questions and more. Readers will continue to cheer, laugh, cry and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends.

About the author
Lisa Becker had endured her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates, many of which inspired Click: An Online Love Story and Double Click. She is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for you!

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