Open Book Interview: Lissette Decos
Lissette Decos is a Cuban American executive television producer with over fifteen years’ experience in reality TV formats of the love-wedding-relationship-disaster variety. Shows such as TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, 90 Day Fiancé, and Bravo’s Summer House have helped mold her skills in telling an engaging and oftentimes unconventional love story. In addition to her stint in the “unreal” world of reality TV, Lissette also spent a decade in New York as a staff producer for MTV, which helped hone her expertise in all things pop culture, while searching for love in the big city. You might say she’s got the story and the soundtrack for romantic angst down.
Producing reality TV has definitely shaped my writing. A lot of the same things are important; antagonists, story arcs, cliffhangs. TV also helped prepare me for the amount of editing that has to happen in a book, and to not be so precious about things. My first job out of college was as a Production Assistant at MTV Latin America. I remember hearing a story about a musician falling for the producer who was interviewing them. Or maybe it was wishful thinking as we were about to interview Dave Grohl? Either way, the idea stayed with me and it was the starting off point for Takes One to Know One.
The band Interactivo. Songs like “Si No Llego a Mañana” quench my soul. Each song is a Cuban funk situation that gets your shoulders shaking.
I love @rudyjude. She’s a talented clothing designer who’s also gifted at gardening, baking, interior design, hosting, maple-tree tapping, and looming. All the things I mean to get around to trying one day.
Discover the Book
Daniela is risk-averse, blazer-obsessed, and likes to be taken seriously. So when her record label job is on the line, she’s prepared to do anything to keep it. Except for working with the genre of music she hates most: reggaeton. It’s supposed to inspire sensual hip-swinging dance moves and Dani’s hips do not swing—not like that anyway. Out of desperation, Dani lies and says she loves reggaeton. But not only does Dani get to keep her job, she gets a ticket to Puerto Rico . . . on a mission to clean up the scandalous image of international reggaeton singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez.
Despite her best act, Dani’s dislike of his music and Rene’s prickly disposition is palpable, resulting in them butting heads at every turn. Yet as the two spend more time together under the island’s sizzling sun, Dani realizes there’s more to Rene than his rough edges and good looks. The man that many only see as a sex icon actually cares about his music, community, and culture. Against her will, she slowly begins finding him harder to hate. And before she knows it, Rene is teaching Dani how to find the rhythm of the music and learn to let go. But will she ever be ready to acknowledge the heat growing between them and put her heart on the line?
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