Literary Journeys - Women's Fiction

Although my first published book was a Romance (a novel where the main plot consists of a love story), these days I'm writing Women's Fiction (stories that deal with all aspects of a woman's life and all of her relationships). Because I'm the married mother of two young children it's not surprising that my heroines are also married mothers dealing with marriage, children, friends, extended family and all the sticky fodder that comes with being in the middle of so many different relationships.  Even though I'm no longer writing pure romance, one thing I'll never change is the happy ending.  In real life we're not guaranteed a satisfying resolution, no matter how tough our challenges or how hard we work to overcome them.   I believe good fiction owes us camaraderie, catharsis, and optimism, and that is what I aim to impart in each of my stories.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS She couldn't fool everyone... Who would have thought than beneath her severe business suits and proper demeanor, lawyer Caris Johnson wore sexy lingerie and indulged in romantic fantasies. Certainly not her clients and co-workers--the people on whom her partnership depended. And she intended to keep it that way. But after being assigned to a case in the Texas hideaway of Navarro Island, it was getting harder and harder to keep her dual identities separate. Perhaps it was the heat...the lush vegetation...Or maybe it was suave and sexy Alex Navarro bringing out the worst--and the best--in her. REVIEW:  An attorney must close a million-dollar deal in order to achieve her dream of becoming a partner in her law firm. Unfortunately, her attraction to the darkly handsome owner of the valuable property complicates the delicate negotiations in Smoke And Mirrors (4 - Excellent). Talented new author Lisa E. Arlt deftly blends a strong plot with a swirl of secrets and interesting secondary characters to create a super romance indeed. -- Ranae Dryer, Romantic Times Magazine, April 1998 My first published book.  I had a blast writing it and enjoyed being part of the Harlequin family of Authors.  Although it's now out of print you can still find English-language copies in used bookstores or order one from Amazon.com here. Smoke and Mirrors was translated into several languages and you can purchase a new copy of the Spanish-language edition here.

GREETINGS FROM PARADISE

When Manhattan-ite Janie Sullivan moves with her husband and two sons to the remote Caribbean island of La Isla Paraiso she anticipates a grand adventure and respite from dealing with the impending death of her best friend.  However, the island offers challenges of its own.  Their home is a dilapidated villa with erratic electricity, a crocodile in the backyard and a purported pirate ghost.  Her children are miserable and fight constantly and Janie fears her workaholic husband is having an affair.  Unable to face reality, Janie deludes herself into thinking she can fix everything by restoring the villa, teaming her sons up for treasure hunting and hosting a lavish reception for her husband’s business contacts. But when her eccentric, psychic housekeeper predicts skeletons in the closet, and Janie discovers a skeleton in the garden, Janie realizes she must resolve her past before she can enjoy her future. Greetings from Paradise:  Life is not a postcard. I began this women's fiction manuscript in Belize, and finished it four years, one baby and three international moves later.  I am currently submitting it to agents and editors for publication.

Work-in-Progress -- ANGEL'S WINGS
	Despite their differences, three generations of women band together when the baby of the family is diagnosed with developmental delays.  Angel’s Wings – Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be perfectly happy. Women’s Fiction manuscript due to be completed Spring, 2010.

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