Award-winning Christian Fiction/Romance author Lisa Washington is a Detroit native and currently residing in Georgia with her family. Lisa Washington earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Averett University in Danville, VA. It wasn’t until she suffered from the stresses of a Ph.D, program that she decided, if she had to write 75-page papers, they would be something she truly enjoyed writing.
Two years later, Lisa Washington was accepted into the Master of Fine Arts program for creative writing at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. She applied with a terrible first draft of her first published novel, “When You Least Expect It”. She completed her program in 2016. After two years of peer reviews and a year of learning how to self-publish her novel, she went on to win the 2018 African American Literary Award Show, Best Christian Fiction Award for “When You Least Expect It”.
Lisa Washington also served several years in the US Navy before attending college. She credits having a strong faith in God and trusting He had a plan for her life. Her faith is also what drives her to write Christian fiction and romance. She is often quoted saying, “If it were not for God, I don’t know where I would be today.”
Lisa Washington and her husband are the co-founders of The Washington Way LLC, which includes Washington Way Financial, Washington Way Publishing, Washington Way Travel, and Ms. Lisa Weddings.
Where available:
www.authorlisawashington.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Washington/e/B079FSMLY5/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
www.thewashingtonwayllc.com
www.mslisaweddings.com
www.washingtonwaytravel.com
What sets your books apart from all others?
I write Christian fiction and romance. I enjoy writing stories about people in everyday life circumstances and how they seek God and their faith to get them through. My stories are important to me, because I get to tell the stories I enjoy reading and hope that others will enjoy as well.
Who is your target market, who should be reading your books?
My target audience are people of faith who enjoy stories they can relate to and stories that they can dream about.
What authors inspired you most and how so?
I am a romance junkie and I enjoy reading: Brenda Jackson, A.C. Arthur, Rochelle Alers, Diamond Delaney, Taylor Love and many more. They each have a distinctive way of sharing their romances.
What advice do you have to offer in support of other authors?
Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box. And be open to receiving constructive criticism.
What is your genre of choice and why?
I write Christian fiction because I believe the gift I have comes from God and I want to make sure I give God honor and I celebrate the gift He entrusted to me.
How’d you come about discovery of your writing talent, gift or ability?
A high school teacher recognized my gift first. Then through the years, I learned more, experienced more and finally stepped out on faith.
What are your future writing endeavors? What’s next on your authorship agenda?
I have approximately 24 novels on my to-write list. I will be busy for while.
Is writing for you synonymous with living and breathing, or just something you do as a hobby, and how so and why?
Writing is my passion. I wish I could write more, but I enjoy taking my time with the writing process. I average 2 books a year.
What do you feel we need to hear or read more of, that is rare today in a book?
I write for entertainment with faith elements included. As a believer in Christ, I feel we should see him in everything we do, including the books we read.
Indie/Self-Published Author and/or Traditionally Published? What do you favor more and why?
I am a self-published author. I couldn’t see myself giving control of my stories to anyone who couldn’t see my vision or understand my passion. I write for myself with hopes that others will enjoy the stories as well.
What’s the greatest compliment that you ever received regarding your literary accomplishments and what did this remark do for you, how did it transform your life or your writing?
My professor, who is not a man of faith, told me my first story had potential to be published. That was all I needed.
What have you gained from writing, how has it rewarded you personally?
I have gained a new appreciation for the process of writing and publishing. But most importantly, I am rewarded with every story I complete. That is the biggest accomplishment.
