Lissette E. Manning

Did you always know that you wanted to be a singer?

No, but living in Nashville, it would’ve been hard not to fall in love with country music. I started playing the piano and guitar when I was a kid, and it became evident early on that I had a good voice. But football was my first and only love for a long time.

Did you hope to play professional football?

I did, but an injury during college put an end to that dream. It took a while for me to get over it, but eventually I did. That’s when I started to consider music as a possible alternative.

Where there any other career options that you considered?

The logical choice would have been to be a rancher, like my father and grandfather, but I wanted to travel, experience a little more of the world. Being a rancher requires a hell of a commitment. You’re basically bound to your land, 24/7. Most ranchers wouldn’t have it any other way, the land is in their blood, but that just wasn’t the case with me.

Why do you suppose you’ve been so successful when most fail in this highly competitive industry?

First and foremost, I have a great team behind me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. But there are a few other factors, luck, work ethic, belief in myself and my ability. I also write all of my own music, and I’ve been known to put it all out there, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think that has enables fans to relate to me. They see that I’m just a regular guy who makes mistakes like everyone else.

Was there someone who inspired you to follow your dream?

My girlfriend at the time, Sierra, made me believe that I had something special. She had an amazing voice and was a talented songwriter. We collaborated on a few songs, and she convinced me that I had a real shot at making it in this crazy business.

Sierra later became your wife, correct?

She did. We were married for almost ten years.

As it stands, you’re one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Do you think you’ll ever re-marry?

Not likely, but I’d never say never.

You have had a very public battle with alcoholism. Would you care to comment on that?

Let’s just say I’m taking it one day at a time.

What do you like or dislike about being in the public eye?

I knew when I signed on for this gig, I’d be sacrificing my privacy and I’m okay with that, most of the time. There have been a few times throughout my life when I wish I could have been alone to experience loss and grief in my own way. But the flip side of that coin is the out-pouring of support I’ve always received from my fans. No matter how badly I’m portrayed in the media, they’ve always got my back. I get thousands of letters and emails from fans every month telling me they don’t believe the garbage they hear about me. They know that I’m just a decent guy who’s made some of the same mistakes they’ve made. That makes it easier to survive the inevitable mud slinging.

If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

I would have put my marriage above everything else, including my career. I would have fought harder to save it when I realized it was slipping away. Instead, I buried my head in the sand and pretended our problems would fix themselves. I can’t change the past. I can only learn from the mistakes and trust that if I ever got the chance to make things right, I’d be smart enough to make better choices.

Synopsis:

Trey Turner may be topping the country music charts but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five years ago. He’s desperate to make amends for the mistakes he’s made and convince Sierra their love deserves a second chance.

Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time since her divorce. She has a career she loves and a fiancé who loves her. Unfortunately, her fiancé isn’t the only man professing his love. He may be able to offer her safety and security but will she decide to risk everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?

About The Author:

It took me thirty-seven years to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I’d found my calling. In fact, I worked as a nutritionist for twelve years before I finally admitted to myself that while I enjoyed my work, I couldn’t imagine doing it for the next thirty years.

My sub-conscious knew that I wanted to be a writer long before the conscious part of my mind decided to get with the program. While my sub-conscious was hard at work creating character profiles, plots and storylines, my conscious mind was telling me it was crazy to give up a successful business on the off-chance one of my manuscripts might rise to the top of someone’s never-ending slush pile. After years of listening to that negative voice, I was finally ready to stop making excuses, face the fear and follow my dream of becoming a full-time writer, no matter the outcome. I’m so thankful I did.

I love bringing my characters to life and I am so grateful to have readers who love those characters as much as I do.

When I take a break from writing it’s to spend time with my husband (a.k.a. my real life hero), my son, and my writing partner, Tia, a spirited Havanese who enjoys tapping her paw on my keyboard whenever I need a little comic relief.

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