Lisa Jackson: Trusting Your Instincts

In this episode, I sit down with #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson for a candid conversation about building a decades-long writing career. Lisa shares how she got her start in 1980 after a Time magazine article sparked the idea to write romance with her sister, Nancy Bush—back when manuscripts began on a manual typewriter. Together, we talk about rejection, shifting editors, changing publishers, and the mindset required to keep going when the “wolf is at the door.” Lisa also breaks down her writing approach, why she needs strong character motivation, how she handles editorial feedback without losing her voice, and the best advice she’d give her younger self. Chapters: 00:00 Intro + Lisa’s career longevity 01:10 The Time magazine spark and starting with Nancy Bush 02:28 The typewriter origin story and the first pages 03:22 Rejections, breaking in, and targeting new lines 04:50 Money pressure, the embezzlement irony, and first sale 05:49 40+ years of ups, downs, and persistence 07:16 Advice for new writers: read widely and finish the book 08:22 Lisa’s “two sentences to synopsis” writing method 10:51 Research, time periods, and getting the details right 11:48 Working with editors and navigating story changes 13:55 Idea sparks: Deep Freeze and the power of a simple premise 14:51 Inspiration on the road: the idea that became Without Mercy 16:17 Motivation matters: what makes characters tick 18:44 When things go sideways: contracts, publishers, and pivots 20:28 Names, pen names, and regaining control 24:39 Protecting your process in a changing tech landscape 26:53 What she’d tell her younger self: instincts and trusted partners 29:20 Using trusted readers to evolve a long-running character 31:42 Where to find Lisa online Author’s Website: https://lisajackson.com/ Social Media Links: https://www.facebook.com/lisajacksonfans Author Bio: Lisa Jackson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including Liar, Liar, You Will Pay, After She's Gone, Deserves to Die, Running Scared, and Shiver. She is also the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages. She lives with her family and rambunctious dogs in the Pacific Northwest. Readers can visit her online at LisaJackson.com and find her on Facebook. Book Link: https://lisajackson.com/books/you-will-pay-2/ Love this episode? Rate it ⭐️ Thumbs Up 👍 Subscribe 🔔 Thanks to DELOSound for the great background music. Host Bio: Adrienne Giordano is a certified life coach, USA Today bestselling author, and seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in writing, marketing, client service, and life coaching. She empowers clients through personalized coaching that fosters growth, accountability, and lasting change. As the author of more than forty novels, Adrienne captivates readers with stories in romantic suspense, mystery, and women’s fiction. With a background in managing multimillion-dollar accounts and co-writing multiple successful projects, she blends business expertise with a creative vision. For more information on Adrienne’s coaching, please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com/coachingcorner. #TheWriteFrameOfMind #AuthorMindset #WritingLife #CreativeResilience #CoachingTools #MindsetForWriters #WriterWellness #podcastepisode #podcastguest #authorpodcast #authorsontheair #vidcast #authorinterview #authorssupportingauthors #LisaJackson #LisaJacksonBooks #LisaJacksonAuthor #NYTBestsellingAuthor #ThrillerAuthor #SuspenseAuthor #RomanticSuspense #MysteryThriller #CrimeFiction #Bookstagram #BookTok #ReadersOfInstagram #ThrillerBooks #SuspenseBooks #MysteryBooks #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #AmReading