Best-selling Vancouver author Lisa Jackson is master of suspense

OCT. 31, 2008 — Vancouver author Lisa Jackson gets embarrassed reading from her books, so instead she’ll give an informal talk at the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation’s upcoming benefit.

“I won’t know until that day” exactly the topic of discussion, Jackson said. “I kind of run by the seat of my pants.”

Jackson has more than 75 books to her name, many of them best-sellers.

Her latest novel, “Left to Die,” debuted at No. 7 on the New York Times’ paperback mass market-fiction best-sellers list on Aug. 17. It spent four weeks in the top 20.

Over the years, Jackson has established herself within the romantic thriller genre.

In a recent interview, Jackson gave a taste of what those who attend the Nov. 10 benefit can expect to learn about her past and upcoming projects, and how her Northwest background influences her writing. Here’s what she had to say, edited for length and clarity.

You’ve published novels taking place everywhere from Baton Rouge to San Francisco. Have you written any books set in your own backyard, Clark County?

Not yet, but I plan to in the next couple of years. It’s more difficult and more painstaking to research a place that you’ve never been or you don’t live in, as opposed to a place where you’re familiar with streets, the landmarks, weather, traffic patterns, the ambience of the city, the cultural and historical markers of the city. It’s easier when you are a part of the city.

I did write a book with two other people, “Most Likely to Die,” which was set mostly in the West Hills of Portland. And I wrote “See How She Dies,” which was set in Portland. Then there was one, “Final Scream,” set around Estacada, Ore., but I didn’t call it Estacada. I called Prosperity, Ore.

“Deep Freeze” was set in Falls Crossing, a fictitious town near Hood River, Ore.

My most recent book, “Left To Die,” is set in Grizzly Falls, a fictitious Montana town, but it’s modeled after Oregon City, Ore. A fictitious town is easier to write about. I have my own police department, I have my own roads.

My sister and I wrote a book, “Wicked Game,” which is coming out in February and is set in Beaverton, Ore., Portland and on the Oregon Coast.

The reason it’s all Oregon is I’m rather new to Washington. I grew up in Oregon and moved to Washington five or six years ago.

How does living in the Northwest influence your writing?

I use Northwest locales because I’m familiar with them. I’m familiar with the seasons here, and I like the seasons here. I’m comfortable with how the culture works here. When you’re in New Orleans or Los Angeles, there’s a different feel to the place. I’m more comfortable with the feel of the Northwest.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a book called “Malice.” It’s my next hardcover and it comes out in April of 2009. It’s the sequel to “Lost Souls.” It’s got the continuing character Rick Bentz. He thinks he’s being haunted by the ghost of his dead ex-wife.

Your writing takes you down dark paths, into the world of serial killers, mental institutions and secret cults. Where do the ideas come from and what research do you do into subjects such as psychoses and police procedures?

I get ideas out of newspapers or online. Just a germ of an idea. I put it in an idea file. Then it might be eight years after that that I think this is the Jennifer Bentz ghost story. This is the martyred saints story.

I have a library of books, but books become quickly outdated, so I do much of my research online. I research the books as I write the synopsis, then I do research as I go along. Yes, it’s really dark. And what’s really creepy is trying to get in the heads of the killers. You have to feel what they feel in order for the book to be believable. It’s intense. You have to be able to turn it off. Right now I’m working on a scene from the killer’s point of view. When I’m finished, I’m going to go for a walk, take the dog to the dog park, maybe go grocery shopping.

With all your success, are you able to maintain your anonymity when running errands around town?

I try my best. It’s not like I’m Jennifer Aniston. Nobody recognizes me, unless I go to an event.

Do you ever think about switching gears and writing lighter fare?

I think about writing a lot of stuff, but if anything, I think it would be even more intense. It’s just my style. I can’t do light, I can’t do fluffy. I do humor, but it’s usually dark humor. Growing up, I read everything, but suspense was my favorite. I love suspense. I like horror, but it scares the pants off me.

Mary Ann Albright: maryann.albright@columbian.com, 360-735-4507.