Book Review: He Who Sings Last + Author Interview: Lisa Laird DiRosso

He Who Sings Last by Lisa Laird DiRosso
Release Date: July 28, 2009

Publisher: Tate Publishing
Purchase here: Amazon.com

Summary: Just how far will one fan go to prove her loyalty? In her novel He Who Sings Last, Lisa Laird DiRosso expertly knits a blanket of obsession laced with suspicion and murder in a suspenseful crime novel centered on has-been celebrity Jimmy Covelli. He leads a quiet, post-fame existence until some ghosts from his past come back to haunt him after nineteen years, when an unsolved murder case is reopened by a zealous New York detective. Covelli charms and harms wherever he goes, and in his destructive path, he leaves behind a host of resentful family members and brokenhearted fans. Will the detective catch him and be able to prove his guilt? Find out in He Who Sings Last.
My Review: He Who Sings Last is an interesting book. Lisa had a refreshing idea about using fan obsession with celebrities, which I haven't seen done yet. After I read the book, I went online to see a couple of reviews that were not the nicest, to be honest with you I did not think it was that bad. I like books that keep me interested from the first page, and Lisa did just that. Their were twists and turns in the book but sometimes it was a little predictable. The only negative thing about the book was the ending, it was a little too open ended for me, but then again the cliffhanger could possibly mean a sequel? Overall, the book was not bad, I got the gist of all the character's personalities. Some of the characters I felt sorry for and some just got me plain mad, so I like the fact that my emotions came out as I read it. If you like crime and mystery novels, then you should read He Who Sings Last.
My Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Author Interview: Lisa Laird DiRosso of He Who Sings Last

Lisa Laird DiRosso is the author of He Who Sings Last which will be released on July 28, 2009, but it seems Amazon.com has it for sale now. This book is her first suspense crime novel. Thank you Lisa for taking the time out to do this interview, I look forward to reading more books from you.

1)Lisa, when was the first moment you knew you wanted to become a writer? I began writing poems as a teenager to express my feelings and attempt to figure out myself and the world around me.

2)What inspired you to write He Who Sings Last? I was looking at an old photograph of myself with my former teen idol. I thought about how each fan is merely one of a million others in the eyes of a particular celebrity. I wanted to turn the tables around and have the celebrity desperately needing the fan he once ignored.

3) Are the characters in the book based on someone you know? A few of the characters’ personalities were created using traits of people I have known in my life, myself included. Their characteristics were exaggerated and expanded upon to flow with and enhance the storyline.

4) What was the hardest part of writing He Who Sings Last? I became stuck at the part where “Miranda Madison” met her former teen idol, “Jimmy Covelli,” after almost twenty years. I did not know how she would feel about him at that point. As fate would have it, my own teen idol was scheduled to perform, his first after many, many years. The moment I saw him, I knew exactly how to proceed.

5) If you had to describe He Who Sings Last in one word, what would it be and why? The one word I would use is fragmented. Many lives in the story have been fragmented due to a chain-reaction of people and surrounding circumstances.

6) Why did you pick 'He Who Sings Last' for your book title? The title changed names several times until I was satisfied. I chose the title because the reader does not know if the suspected murderer, who is a singer, will be caught and convicted or go the distance and emerge the victor.

7) Are there any new authors that have sparked your interest? The author that has sparked my interest is Debra Thomsen with her novel “Highland Mystique.” I enjoyed reading it and am hoping for more books from this author.

8) What book are you currently reading? At the moment, I am concentrating on writing the sequel to He Who Sings Last. I have been told by several readers that they are anxious for its release. Therefore, “Idol Threats” is in the making, as I want to exceed my readers’ expectations and do so in a timely fashion.

9) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? “Curiosity did NOT kill the cat; conventionality did.” I believe we must always do our best to follow dreams. When people say, “You’re out of your mind,” they are really saying, “You broke out of the mold the rest of us are trapped in.” So keep going. The strength and determination are inside of you; don’t fear courage.

10) Tell us something about yourself that no one knows about. - Once in a while I will walk into a park and head straight for the swing set. I will swing as high as I can, while looking into the sky. It makes me feel limitless and optimistic about the future. I eat leftover pizza right out of the freezer and think the best food ever is a Big Mac!