Then I’d “re-plan” the event, to find some sort of closure. Sounds a tad Schizo, I know—and agree. Finally, I just started writing it all down. Also, I was really a bit “bored.” My manager, Sandra Siegal along with the coaxing of my sister, Lora Cerasoli, finally told me to get out of their face and go write something (they stated it in a really loving way, of course).

2.    What’s the most important thing I’d like readers to get out of this book?
Well, I’d like them to “get” women. But, seeing as how my demographic is women, maybe they will take away a sense of unity or empowerment, or at the very least hope and inspiration. And if not that, I’d be great if it brought out a few silly memories and some laughs.
I dedicated this book to The Average American Girl because—as over the edge as my lead gets—she simply is “any girl.” She vacillates steadily between every clichéd boundary we’ve been conditioned to define ourselves by: Good girl—bad girl; moron—genius; self-loving—self-loathing, beautiful—grotesque.  

And I wrote this because I don’t believe your sincerely-nice, nonviolently-charged, average woman-liking male really gets that there’s a whole wide world of “dudes,” out there that don’t know how to treat women. And, if you happened to be raised by one of these men, figuring out who you are, what you want, and how you should be treated, gets a little cloudy from time to time. It’s a story of true love, and one of survival. I want people to know both always exist and are within anyone’s reach and everyone’s right. Mostly, if you see yourself in Annie, you’ll know you’re not alone, you’re normal. And you’ll take away a little piece of confidence.

3.    What makes me an authority to write this book?
Why am I an authority on the subject of love, lust, regret, repression, a little molestation, a lot of Catholicism, hate-sex, self-loathing, tequila, boobs (just my own), and therapy? Take a wild guess. 
Okay, so this is where I should quote myself ‘cause Annie, my lead, does a fantastic job of “laying it all out there.” But who do I think I am? Nietzsche? Shakespeare? Gandhi? The Dalai Lama? There will be no quoting of myself.
So let me just say; Annie, along with the other characters, and the story itself are definitely fiction. But, her sense of self (or lack thereof), well, that could be “inspired by.” And I have no problem being specific, if directly asked—which will probably happen…when I’m on Oprah. So tune in!

4.    Any challenges during the writing process?
There was one significant “speed bump” I was given the privilege of enduring throughout the writing of my first novel: It coincidentally coincided with the diagnosis and care-taking of my father, Richard. Three weeks after starting the book, Dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, and asked me to come home. Within forty-eight hours I was there. My mom worked full time; and they needed HELP. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean.
I spent the next nine months pretty evenly divided between caring for him both emotionally and physically, and writing On the Brink… It was weird, horrible, and wonderful. The “wonderful” was a sheer accident—because as I slowly became his biggest supporter, he, too, magically became mine. And this was new for both of us. I can never thank God enough for that final year with Dad. In fact, I have a piece regarding our time together that I wrote for a “Life’s Lessons” contest in Real Simple Magazine. It’s a 1,500 word essay, entitled: You’re So Nice. Check it out at www.LisaCerasoli.com.

5.    How long did it take to write the book?
I wrote my first novel in under four months. How cool is that?? Then, I spent the next two and a half years editing and revising with Atchity Entertainment, Inc. And after that, I did a little of my own rereading and revising. And then two years after that, I hooked up with Five Star Publications, Inc., and we edited a little more!  What have I learned? “It takes a village to write a novel.” (Sorry for the mis-quote, Hillary).

6.    If I were and animal, what would I be, and why?
Yeah. If I were an animal my first thought was I’d be a “hummingbird” because I travel fast. I’m a get-it-done kinda girl. The hummingbird’s wings move at a rate of eighty flutters per second. Sometimes my brain feels like thoughts are bouncing in and out at a comparable rate. My husband, Peter Weaver, however, thinks I’m “a chicken with my head cut off.” And he’s got a point. –Along with my inarguable efficiency, I’m a BIG ole’ klutz, which stands to reason.
We decided to look up some stats on “chickens with their heads cut off.” Apparently, they can run the length of two football fields, and one lived for eighteen months after the event. He’s famous; Mike, the Headless Chicken. Now Pete calls me “Mike.” Thanks, Five Star—fantastic question.

7.    If my book were an animal, what would it be?
Exactly how many “Mikes” can one fit into a book?

8.    Is there a personal story attached to this book? If so, give it up!
There are a series of incidents in On the Brink… that mirror a series of incidents in my life. But again, you’re just gonna have to watch Oprah if you really want to hear me “dish.”

9.    Why will readers like On the Brink of Bliss and Insanity?
The novel is fast-paced. It’s funny with obscure, off-beat “life lessons” buried between the lines. My characters skirt along the edge of being utterly dysfunctional in a truly vaudevillian kind of way.  And just when you think you got Annie figured out, she reveals pain and truths that so many of us never have the gall to say out loud. This book is raw, real, and surreal. It deals with serious issues in such an eccentric manner, you catch yourself laughing when you should be crying and vice versa.
Biting, raunchy, unedited emotions of the human psyche drip from its pages. Like the book says; “Freud threw parties over shit like this.”