Lissa Oliver
Location: Kildare
Facilitates workshops.
Speaks at events.
Speaks to writer groups.
Speaks to book clubs.
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Bio
Lissa’s first novel was the award-winning fictionalised biography of the Roman Emperor Nero, but since then she has written four thrillers, set in the horseracing world in which she has worked all her life. Chantilly Dawns and Gala Day were Number One and Two in the same bestseller list for a period and Chantilly Dawns was a No.1 Bestseller on Amazon. She is an award-winning racing journalist, specialising in staff and horse welfare, and was Editor in Chief of the magazine Racing Certainty. Lissa teaches Creative Writing with the ETB and Irish Wheelchair Association and is heavily involved in encouraging new writers. She was a past Chairman of the Irish Writers’ Union, and is on the Board of Directors of the Irish Copyright Licensing Agency and also the Irish Writers Centre. She dabbled briefly in writing for the big screen when Nero The Last Caesar was optioned by a production company, and has lived in Kildare for nearly 40 years with her husband and pets, who include a retired racehorse and a bullock!
Books
Chantilly Dawns
When top jockey Marcel Dessaint loses his racing licence, his whole world falls apart. Accused of deliberately pulling up healthy horses, Marcel is passed a verdict of ‘Gross Misconduct’ and forced to face the enmity of his peers. With a famous face and nowhere to hide in Chantilly, Marcel becomes an outcast in the only world he knows.
With The Derby now out of his reach, he struggles to overcome his own self-doubt, while battling to uncover the truth behind the horses’ defeats and clear his name.
As he gradually fears he may have been betrayed by one of his closest friends, he discovers all too late that it’s not just his licence on the line. Lives are at stake…
Sainte Bastien
Pain, fear, ambition, love and loss form a maelstrom, as widowed trainer Nick Marchant loses control of his troubled teenage son and must choose between protecting the family name or those around him.
“Enough to inspire a casual reader to take more interest in the sport.”
The Racing Post
“A fantastic thriller, can be enjoyed by the die-hard racing fan or by someone with little or no interest in racing, thanks to Oliver’s ability to hook the reader from the outset. Is Lissa Oliver Ireland’s Dick Francis?”
The Irish Field
“Ireland, a country with an honourable heritage in the Sport of Kings, has finally found its own Dick Francis.”
Crime Always Pays
Nero - The Last Caesar
Nominated for the James Tait Award, Longman History Award and Orange Prize for Fiction in 2002.
A modern story set in an ancient world, sometimes shocking, often erotic, but ultimately moving.
Born Lucius Ahenobarbus, Nero became heir to the Roman empire, receiving a new name and all the pressures of public life, in exchange for his childhood,
At 15 he presided over major court cases, at 16 he became emperor of Rome.
Dominated by his mother and controlled by the senate Nero fought to retain his dedication and enthusiasm, only to be worn down and broken by the politics of Rome.
Adored by the people, revered by foreign statesmen, but loathed by his peers, Nero ended his short life a sad and lonely outcast.
But his reputation lives on, epitomising the wealth and decadence of ancient Rome.
Gala Day
Pete Allen is a thirty-something jockey whose once glittering career is now faltering. He yearns for the success and respect of his past and hopes his new job as jockey to Sebastian Churchill will restore his reputation. But owner Walter Casburg prefers betting coups to honesty and expects Pete to ride to orders.
Pete must also shake off the demands of his bookmaker if he has any hope of salvaging his career and integrity, but when the chance to clear his account goes awry he finds himself deeper in debt and the stakes are suddenly much higher.
When threats follow demands and Pete’s career is on the line he no longer knows quite who’s pulling the strings. With a dubious journalist and Sebastian’s sister his only allies, dragging his enemies out into the open seems like a good idea. But who are they and has he underestimated how far they’re prepared to go?
The disappearance of Sebastian with the takings of a charity gala day appears connected and his links with a German drug dealer suddenly raise the anti way above the mere grievances of an illegal bookmaker. Pete must dig deep and ironically live up to his shady reputation in full if he is to redeem himself and save the people he loves…
Tales Of The Turf And Other Worlds
A collection of humorous short stories, opening with a selection of Tales Of The Turf…
A host of entertaining characters take the reader on a humorous tour of their unique world!
…& Other Worlds
Introduces the reader to such diverse yet loveable characters as pop stars, vampires and serial killers!
All of whom are guaranteed to raise a smile and make this the ideal bedside and travelling companion.
Grey Motive
A cosy crime introducing DI de Freitas. Jack is failing at school and the Racing Futures Programme is his final chance. Chris and Terry have a potentially champion racehorse that they can’t afford to keep. Joy finds herself the prime suspect when money goes missing from a betting office. Three different problems, but can DI Les de Freitas find a common link in a seemingly motiveless theft? As their lives intertwine against a backdrop of a once-in-a-lifetime Triple Crown bid, who will be the first to crack under the pressure…
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