ABOUT THE BOOK
Clutch is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit story that chronicles the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer, who goes through a series of unsuccessful romantic relationships she compares to various styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to stand up for the handbag style that embodies what she ultimately wants – the “Clutch” or someone to hold onto.INTERVIEW WITH LISA BECKER
Welcome back to A Blue Million Books, Lisa. How did you come up with the idea for Clutch – comparing men to purses?
When I was writing the Click Trilogy, I was obsessed with NCIS reruns and would have the show on in the background as I wrote. There was an episode when one of the characters mentioned that men were like purses – something useless to hang on a woman’s arm. I started thinking about how men are like handbags and the idea grew from there.
What books do you currently have published?
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 entirely through 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 wades into the shallow end of the dating (cess)pool and endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will cheer, laugh, cry, and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends. And ultimately, they 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. Right Click - Love. Marriage. Infidelity. Parenthood. Crises of
identity. Death. Cupcakes. The themes in Right Click, the third and final installment in the Click series, couldn't be more pressing for this group of friends as they navigate through their 30's. Another six months have passed since we last eavesdropped on the hilarious, poignant and often times inappropriate email adventures of Renee and friends. As the light-hearted, slice of life story continues to unfold, relationships are tested and some need to be set "right" before everyone can find their "happily ever after.Can you share some of your marketing strategies with us?
My background is in public relations and marketing. In fact, before starting a career as a writer, I spent nearly 20 years working at public relations agencies, so I have a natural tendency to plan for this type of effort. Given the significant handbag theme in clutch: a novel, I reached out to handbag designers and am working with more than a dozen on 40+ giveaways of purses in every size and style to support the launch.
How fun! Tell us . . . for what would you like to be remembered?
Aside being a great wife, mom, friend and citizen, I would like to be remembered for writing movies that people love to watch. The book actually started out as a screenplay that was optioned by a production company housed at one of the major movie studios. Unfortunately, it fell out of development. I was eager to have this fun story with some of my favorite characters told, so I turned it into a short novel.
If you had a swear jar, would it be full?
It would be practically empty. Once I had kids – more than 10 years ago, I cleaned up my act.
What is the most daring thing you've done?
I went on a 10-course zip line in Costa Rica (and screamed the entire time!). I was so scared that I would only go in tandem with the guide.
What is the stupidest thing you've ever done?
See above!
Those two often are connected! Have you ever been to a fortune teller? What did she tell you?
When I was a junior in high school, there was a fortune teller at a bowling party I attended. She read my palm and told me I would marry a man named Steve one day. My husband’s name is . . . Steve. Spooky!
What’s the worst thing someone has said about your writing? How did you deal with it?
One of the Amazon reviewers for Click said it wasn’t worth the 99 cents she paid for the book. I reached out and offered her a refund. Then I sat down, cried, and ate some frosting from a can.
What are you working on now?
In addition to promoting the new book, I’m looking into making connections within the motion picture industry to try and get a movie version made. As mentioned, the book started out as a screenplay that was under option at a major studio, but fell out of development. I’m eager to see if there’s interest from someone else on bringing this fun and quirky story to the big screen. So if you happen to be a well-to-do movie producer looking to make a new romantic comedy, please get in touch!
Lightning round:
Cake or frosting? Frosting . . . straight from the can (as noted above). YUM!
Laptop or desktop? Desktop. I’m old school.
Chevy Chase or Bill Murray? Bill Murray all the way.
Emailing or texting? Email. As mentioned above, I’m old school.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Connect with Lisa:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
