Summary of Welcome to the Neighborhood:

Moving to a new town is hard enough to navigate even without the challenges of the tween years, the mean girls, and the helicopter neighbors.

When single mom Ginny remarries and moves with her quirky daughter from Queens to a leafy, beautiful suburb in New Jersey, she has no idea what she’s getting into. Though she’s never been impressed by material things, she is thrilled that getting a second chance at love comes with the added bonus of finally giving eleven-year-old Harri everything she never could before.

And then she meets the neighbors. Including the woman who has her eye on Ginny’s new husband…

Mary Helen Sheriff: When did you become interested in writing? Did something or someone, in particular, spark your interest?

Lisa Roe: I come from a family of writers and artists, so scribbling stories and writing plays for my siblings to perform are part of my DNA. As I got older though, all that got away from me—set aside for friends and college and career and kids. Technically, I was a professional writer (advertising copywriter) for many years. But I didn’t write fiction again until my children were older, and I felt like it was finally time to get back to writing my own stories.

Sheriff: Tell me about your publication journey.

Roe: Welcome to the Neighborhood is my fourth novel, but my first one published. It was a long road of pushing that boulder up the hill, with lots of learning, a few tears and many, many rejections. After 87 rejections with what I swore was going to be my last try, I signed with a dream literary agency who sold my book quickly… by publishing industry standards. It was another 18 months before my book was launched—everything in publishing is fast and SLOW. Still, my dream came true and I became a debut author at 62! (You’re not too old, and it’s not too late.)

Sheriff: What advice do you have for writers looking to publish their first book?

Roe: ABC. Always Be Crafting. Write the thing. Then write the next thing. Be willing to make mistakes. Be willing to learn. Be willing to fail. (But always get up again!) If you are looking to be traditionally published, when you finish your book and while you are querying, write the next book. If the first book doesn’t land you an agent, the next on might, so get it ready to go! (Once you are published you will always need a next book anyway.) And mostly, be patient—with yourself (you are a WIP!) and with this industry (the road is long and as I said, often slow—but never give up!)

Sheriff: How did you discover Bookish Road Trip? What attracted you to it?

Roe: My dear friend, Barbara Conrey invited me to host “Author Take The Wheel” shortly after Welcome to the Neighborhood came out. I had the best time! The members were so engaged and lovely. When you interviewed me, I felt as if I’d been talking to a lifelong friend. When I was asked to “come aboard,” I was delighted to join The Bookish Road Trip as an admin!

Sheriff: Tell everyone about your new role in Bookish Road Trip.

Roe: I’m the Social Media Graphics Manager which means I get to play on Canva and make many of the graphics you see on our Facebook page. Most of my work is behind the scenes but you will see me pop on here and there to join in on the Road Trip Journey fun!

Lisa Roe graduated from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and spent many years as an advertising creative director and copywriter in New York City until she accepted the tougher job of stay-at-home mom and turned to writing fiction — mostly to entertain her kids, but then to tell her own stories. A classic first born, reluctant empty nester, Dr. Doolittle wannabe, and the author of WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, Lisa lives in New Jersey with her husband and three incorrigible dogs. She’d love you to visit her at lisaroe.com and on Instagram at @lisaroewrites.

Lisa spent many years as an advertising creative director and copywriter in New York City until she accepted the tougher job of stay-at-home mom and turned to writing fiction — mostly to entertain her kids, but then to tell her own stories.

Find out more about Lisa Roe: lisaroe.com.

If you enjoyed this interview, then check out this one featuring author Hope Gibbs.