Interview with Author Lisa Tortorello

Interview with: Lisa Tortorello

Author of: Mark the Missing Moose, The Moose at the Manger, and My Hero, My Ding

http://markthemoose.tateauthor.com/

I am so excited to introduce this wonderful person to you, Author Lisa Tortorello. I’ve read all three of her books and they all left me feeling happy and at awe.

I first fell in love with Lisa’s writing when I read her book My Hero, My Ding, which is a beautifully written, heartwarming story of a special bond between a girl and her grandfather.
I caught myself smiling so many times while reading this wonderful book. Some of it reminded me of the silly things my grandfather and I used to do.
Ms Tortorello did a great job describing all the nice places she and her family had visited. I felt as if she were sitting right next to me, with a cup of tea or coffee in her hand, smiling while reminiscing about all the silly things her grandfather used to do. My favorite one was the icy window scene, ha-ha! Or, the golf ball / microwave incident…

Click here to read my take on My Hero, My Ding!

Her next two books are children’s stories that are just as interesting, fun and inspiring as My Hero, My Ding is.

I was thrilled when Lisa agreed to give me an interview and I can honestly say she is as fun and as interesting as her books are. Here, see for your self.

Why don’t you begin by telling us a little about yourself?

First off, I’d like to thank you, Sanela, for having me as your guest. I am Lisa Tortorello. I have lived in Chicago all of my life. I am a teacher by day and an author by night. I don’t require a super cape, just a bunch of pens and paper. I have a wonderful husband, Charlie, and we will be celebrating our silver wedding anniversary this coming spring.

It is my pleasure to have you as a guest, Lisa. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to quiz you for a change, haha! No, seriously, ever since I read your book My hero, My Ding, I felt like I’ve known you forever. I guess it’s the way you wrote it; you put so much love into it that a reader can’t help but relate to you and fall in love with your wonderful grandpa.

Tell me more about yourself. Do you have another job besides writing?

I do have another job besides writing. I am a grade school teacher, or as many are saying these days, a glutton for punishment. This is my 24th year of teaching and, unfortunately, the face of education is changing, and it’s not a pretty one.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What type of books did you enjoy reading?

I was an avid reader as a child. A favorite memory is going to bookstores in the summer and being able to pick out my own novels. I read a variety of books by many different authors, but I must say a childhood favorite was Judy Blume.

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.

Mark the Missing Moose is a children’s book that was inspired by a parent of a former student of mine. After her stepson committed suicide, she reached out to me to write a story about a child who loses something very important and has to cope with that loss. The hope for Mark the Missing Moose is for children to learn how to open up and speak to others about how they feel and what they are thinking. In this digital world, kids are “well-connected” but often are not saying much to others.

Who are your literary heros and why?

I would have to say Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. He had it all – patience, knowledge, kindness, honesty, and wisdom. He had a great relationship with his kids, he always stood up for what was right, and he led by example. He was a truly upright man.

If you could have any vice without repercussions, what would it be?

Eating dead cow everyday and lots of it! If they ever stop “growing” cows, I am going to starve!

What is the funniest/most embarrassing/scariest story from one of your books signings or events?

A man came to my outdoor booth at a fest in Indiana. He asked me to personalize a copy of My Hero, My Ding to “Bo”. When I asked him if he would like a special message inscribed, he said it really didn’t matter because Bo was his dog.

If you could have been the servant to any famous person in history, who would that be and why?

I would have to say Jesus. How interesting it would have been to physically follow in his footsteps.

Tell us five random things about yourself.

One of my biggest fears is being bored.

I hate to exercise, but I do it because I hate to shop for bigger size clothes even more.

At the moment, we have 266 moose in our house and they have their own room.

My favorite color is green.

Perfect weather for me is 76 degrees and partly sunny.

What other types of artistic talents do you have?

I like to draw, sing, and play guitar. A fun time for me is hanging out with my husband “pickin’ and grinning” (playing guitars and singing).

When do you get your best ideas and why do you think this is?

My husband and I always joke that the best ideas always come from the bathroom. I believe it happens that way because there is not much else to do in there besides think.

What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Read, re-read and re-read again. It’s amazing how our minds fill in words and “auto-correct” mistakes.

Do your pets help you with your writing?

The Moose at the Manger If stuffed animal moose can be considered pets, then YES, they definitely inspire my writing. Each of our moose has a name and their own personality. They’ve helped inspire my stories and they definitely display their talents on their very own moose blog.