Melissa Roske author

Melissa Roske - author of Kat Greene Comes Clean

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Teacher’s Guide

Ask the Author: Lisa Schmid

June 17, 2019 By Melissa Roske Leave a Comment

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: Lisa Schmid, author of OLLIE OXLEY AND THE GHOST: The Search for Lost Gold (Jolly Fish Press, June 18).

What is your idea of perfect happiness? A happy and healthy family. A day at the beach. A good book.

What is your greatest fear? Where to begin? I am a bit of a scaredy-cat. But I think my greatest fear is someone I love getting sick or hurt. My son rolls his eyes at me whenever I tick off a list of things to look out for as he heads out the door to play.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I am a worry wart. It’s wired into my DNA. Right now, I am worried about my answers to your questions.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Bigotry, hate, entitlement. I know that’s three, but they are all connected.

Which living person do you most admire? Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is a trailblazer, a role model, and quite simply, a living legend. The world is a better place because of her.

What is your greatest extravagance? Books. I buy lots and lots of books. They are stacked all over my house. I love that so many of the authors are my friends.

What is your current state of mind? I have a ton of nervous energy. So much is happening this year with the release of my debut novel.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Humility. Sometimes it’s okay to toot your own horn, especially if you’ve worked really hard.

On what occasion do you lie? When I tell myself I’m starting a diet the next day. I have good intentions until I see a potato chip, then it’s adios calorie counting… hello crispy, salty goodness.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Whaaaaat?!” I recently caught myself saying this several times during a lunch conversation with two fellow debut authors. I decided right then and there to knock it off. So annoying. I hear my son say it when he’s playing XBOX. I’m not sure if I picked it up from him or vice versa. Either way, no bueno.

Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? I’d love to play the drums. When I’m driving, and I hear a song I like, I always start playing the air drums.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? My son, Oliver. He is sweet and kind. I am so proud of him. Just the other day, the yard-duty lady pulled me aside to tell me how kind Ollie is to other kids. That’s my boy!

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A person. Someone cool, who could play the drums and eat tons of potato chips without gaining a pound.

What is your most treasured possession? It may sound hokey, but I love my son’s artwork. I have it displayed all around my house.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? A life without friends and family.

What do you most value in your friends? Kindness. If you are not kind, hit the road. I don’t want you in my life.

Who are your favorite writers? C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl, L. Frank Baum, and Jonathan Stroud. I am a kidlit fangirl at heart.

Who is your hero of fiction? Lucy from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I love her spunky personality and courage. Also, it’s pretty cool she’s a queen of Narnia. When I was a kid, I so wanted to be her. (I secretly still do.)

Which historical figure do you most identify with? Rosa Parks. I admire her conviction and courage. I try and teach my son by example to stand up for what’s right, even if there are those who vehemently oppose you.

What is your motto? “Never give up. Never surrender.”

LISA SCHMID is an author, a stay-at-home mom, and a pug wrangler. When she’s not scaring up ghostly adventures, she’s most likely scaring up fun with her husband and son. She lives in Folsom, California, home of the 1849 Gold Rush. Learn more about Lisa on her website and follow her on Twitter.

Filed Under: Ask the Author

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Melissa Roske on Facebook Melissa Roske on Twitter Melissa Roske on Good Reads

Categories

  • Ask the Author
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015