Mr. Charismatic by Lisa L. Feggans-Odom
If it seems like something is off, it probably is.
That’s something to keep in mind now more than ever, especially in these days of online dating and friend requests on social media. In Mr. Charismatic, the latest psychological thriller from Lisa L. Feggans-Odom, popular social media influencer Latavia discovers to a dangerous degree just how much something can be off — and how much somebody can conceal.
In this recent Q&A, Feggans-Odom discusses the background for Mr. Charismatic, where the story and characters originate, and her journey into the world of writing in this genre.
Q: Where did the idea for Mr. Charismatic come from?
A: Okay don’t laugh at me, but the initial idea came from me meeting a man one day for the first time. He was tall, handsome, athletic but there was something about him that made me say to myself, “now he’s a beautiful killer.” He wasn’t my type, but it was my first thought — because he reminded me of a character straight out of a Lifetime movie. Maybe God was telling me that should be the foundation of my next book. So that was the initial rough draft.
Q: Would you describe Mr. Charismatic as a mystery novel, romance, cautionary tale? Some combination of that and/or anything else?
A: Love that question, yes, it’s a combination of all of that. Because what I have learned is that some people want to put you in a box and tell you it’s unacceptable to have all these ingredients mixed into a specific genre, and I say why not? It’s called creativity for a reason. I love a little bit of this and little bit of that. I purposely wanted to capture all those elements. A mystery because all I do is watch crime documentaries, I love them, a romance because who doesn’t like a little romance? And a cautionary tale because it touches on bringing awareness to possible dangers of online dating.
Q: You create an intriguing leading man, Liam Rodriguez — late fifties, mysterious, attractive, used to getting what he wants. What makes him tick, and was this character inspired by anyone in particular?
A: Let me just share with you that, Liam Neeson is my favorite actor, love him. I must have watched the Taken series six times, so the character’s name Liam was inspired by him. As for the character’s personality, people sometimes want you to be so nice and so safe, and I say boring.
When writing my first book The Urban Panic, I was really playing safe, I was afraid of being judged for the use of salacious language or sex scenes. But this will showcase my inner bad girl, I didn’t hold back, and I’ve broken out of that safe zone. It’s storytelling, you can’t hold back your creativity.
So, Liam’s a little dark, he’s a narcissist, he has sex addictions, he’s a manipulator, he’s arrogant, prideful, egotistic. But the most intriguing part of Liam is that he’s so damn sexy and he knows it, and he makes some of these women feel passion beyond anything they’ve ever imagined. This makes him feel entitled to says things to strange women that no sane person would ever say out loud, because he thinks he can. He’s got some issues. Most women see the surface-level aesthetics, but Latavia is the only one who sees beneath the surface.
Q: Tell us about how his persona changes when he meets Latavia.
A: Liam was used to wearing a mask, it’s all he knew. He’s a player who counts on his good looks to attract women. He’s used to playing his dark games. He’d never met a woman like Latavia, he was so used to meeting women who would give him anything. Well, that changes when he meets Latavia. And he did fall in love with her in his strange way. And she showed him unconditional love. But he wasn’t ready. To him she was like no one he’d ever met before. She challenged him, talked back, stood up for herself, didn’t fall all over him like the others. She led mostly with her integrity, and I think her transparency intrigued him to some degree. Latavia pulled off his mask and it scared him.
Q: Is there a fine art to writing a psychological thriller? What kinds of factors do you have to consider?
A: My favorite author of all time is Sidney Sheldon. I remember reading my first Sidney Sheldon book, If Tomorrow Comes. I remember how he’d have these little twists and turns and he’d go in and out of a scene and it pulled you in — he was my greatest inspiration. I don’t profess to know if there is a fine art; however, I write from my heart, I go with how the character is being developed and I just let it flow. And I don’t believe one size fits all.
Q: What’s the one thing you could say to readers that will convince them that they must read this book?
A: Although this book is fictionalized, it could possibly help someone who’s dating online. Although anyone you meet online has the potential to be dangerous, it’s a common occurrence these days, and although people do accept the risks that it could be dangerous, they still pursue it. So, I’d say if anyone has had to deal with the consequences of dealing with a man whose dark personality matches Liam, then it’s a must read. As a writer it was important for me to not be afraid to be expressive. I wanted my imagination to go deep and not apologize for it. For me I always make it a point to bring awareness to my main subject, In Urban Panic it was kidnapping, and in this case it’s online dating.
Q: What is your next project?
A: I really need to turn off those murder mysteries, LOL! But I do love them. So, up next is another psychological thriller, entitled Green Eyes.
About Lisa L. Feggans-Odom:
Lisa L. Feggans-Odom is a smash hit writer, gifted author, business visionary and local of Philly. She is naturally aesthetic and imaginative which started her on a divine path to writing. Check out her skills in her debut novel The Urban Panic. In the wake of being additionally enlivened by a poem, she penned. The story is set in a neighborhood near the one where Lisa grew up and, despite the way, fiction reveals insight into the risks to our youths and to our neighborhood.Lisa is also the Co-Author of the newly released best-selling book Surviving Shocking Situations, and Mr. Charismatic: He’s Not What You Think is available now.
Publish Date: July 23, 2022
Author: Lisa L. Feggans-Odom
Page Count: 178 pages
Publisher: PPA Creations, LLC
ISBN: 9780989919111
