In the hazy awesomeness that is blogland, I’m pretty positive I first encountered Lizzi Lewis (formerly Rogers) via Beth Tehlio’s blog or perhaps Mandi Castle’s. Exactly where does not matter because Lizzi is the type of writer who lays her soul bare. I became a regular reader instantly. She is brave and kind and genuine, which makes me very happy to introduce you to her.
Official Bio: Lizzi is a Deep Thinker, Truth-Teller and seeker of Good Things. She’s also silly, irreverent and tries to write as beautifully as possible. She sends glitterbombs and gathers people around her–building community wherever she can.
A founder member of Sisterwives and #1000Speak, she hosts the Ten Things of Thankful bloghop each weekend and tries to #BeReal as often as possible.
1. Please provide a brief synopsis of your book.
Jessica and its sequel, Singularity, are both collaborative horror stories. Written by a number of minds, and the pieces of dire fiction woven together by the creative genius of Helena Hann-Basquiat, these books are designed to transport you to a world where the macabre is laced with meaning, and there is no such thing as commonplace.
These books take you through the first two parts of Jessica’s ‘Becoming,’ from a fictional muse to something far more sinister and controlling, the stories weaving in and out of the (probably fictional) lives of the main characters, as well as popping into Real every now and again, just to shake things up.
2. Tell us a little bit about what motivates or inspires your writing.
I tell people (when asked, but more often when not) that my niche, such as it is, is egocentricity. I write precisely what I want to write and somehow assume that other people will enjoy it. This may be a weak spot in terms of arrogance and I suspect it’s rather gauche to have such arrogance, but there you have it.
I joined in with Jessica and Singularity because I have huge respect for the mind of Helena Hann-Basquiat, have been captivated by her writing before, and just because I fancied it. Being a part of the books, not Helena’s brain…
3. Writing aside, what passions drive your life?
Thankfulness, connection, compassion, community, and living life in silver linings are all things I’m really passionate about. I’m so happy to have found ways to bring each of them into clearer focus and greater intent, through founding the Ten Things of Thankful blog-hop, being part of 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion, and through the wonderful people who inhabit the World Between the Wires.
Having a blog has afforded me beautiful, incredible opportunities to proliferate and champion each of these concepts. I love how these things have worked a bit organically and have become community-focussed projects, which access a common ‘core’ of people, all of whom encourage and cherish each other on at least a weekly basis.
4. It’s hard to pick just one, but what do you consider your favorite novel and why?
I was going to say this isn’t hard at all, for my favourite book is My Family and Other Animals, by Gerald Durrell. But then I realized that in spite the richness and beauty of his description, he didn’t write a novel on that occasion. BUT I think, then, it has to be one of the Dorothy Koomson novels, possibly Goodnight, Beautiful, which is stunningly well written, FULL of emotional landscape, and made me bawl, just because it felt so REAL to me.
5. What is the name of your blog and what can readers expect to find there?
I called it Considerings, because originally I had the (yes, arrogant) idea that ‘people’ would like to see my thoughts. I clearly considered myself utterly fascinating. Now I use it to write Murder Mysteries six sentences at a time, or deep, touchy-feely essays about love, determined pieces on finding life and happiness in Silver Linings, and there’s the Ten Things of Thankful hop, which takes place every weekend.
Then there’s poetry, silliness, celebration, and a bunch of other things which don’t fit into any kind of category except that they’ve come from my brain and I hope you enjoy them.
6. What does your drafting and/or editing process entail?
I write, haphazardly, and in a terribly undisciplined manner, then throw myself on the mercy of others to help me ensure there are no glaring mistakes, THEN I submit it for a more professional look-see.
7. Are you traditionally published or self-published?
I’ll let you know when I get a book which is ALL MY OWN! I think if I can, I’d like to be traditionally published, just because I’ve SEEN indie publishing, and the levels of complexity and challenge which have needed to be gone to to help the sales and launch of the book. I know my limits; I know I tend to laziness, and I’d just rather have a team do it for me 😉
8. Can you offer one or two helpful tips for fellow writers when it comes to marketing and publicity?
Get a bunch of people to participate in a book you’re writing and then they’ll have a vested interest in promoting it in as many places as possible.
9. What future projects can we look forward to?
I’m planning on something exciting for the ‘Whodunnit’ I’m writing, using cues from a Six Sentence Stories blog-hop
10. Is there anything else you want your potential readers to know?
Until I write a for-reals book of my own, and as long as I have the blog, I think the majority of my life is precisely what’s reflected in my writing. What’s LOVELY, though, is the levels of interactivity and connectedness which can be achieved just through words on a page becoming ‘more than’, and leading into real-life friendships and relationships, all of which have their part to play in making life that bit more lovely.
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You can connect with Lizzi and her social media sites via her blog.
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Permission must be granted by Lizzi Lewis to use the author and quote images in this post.
Great interview, Jeri! Lizzi is the real deal and I am proud to call her a good friend. She is the queen of kindness and love! xoxoxo
Awwwwh Honeybee, you’re so sweet and I’m so very thankful for your friendship too ^-^ I had a lot of fun with this interview – Jeri’s a bit of a master at them, and very generous to pick me 🙂
Lizzi, it’s an honor to include you on my list of interviewed authors. Your writing voice is so strong and willingness to share your life story much appreciated. You’re going places my dear!
Ohhh I HOPE so! That’s very encouraging, and THANK YOU 🙂
Lizzie sounds like a quirky and fun gal to know! Looking forward to that for real whodunit! Jan
Thanks Jan – I hope the Whodunnit will be published, but who knows. It’s all a mystery in the end, but for now people are still really enjoying each chapter as it’s revealed.
Great Interview.
As soon as I saw “Lizzi,” I immediately clicked over here.
It was worth my time!!
xx great job, girls.
Awwwh thank you Kim! That’s really lovely feedback, I’m glad you enjoyed it, and yes – Jeri’s questions are great ones to answer 🙂
Your interviews are always so professional. I must say I do not watch horror films or read horror books but I can appreciate the true talent of this writer. My aim is to write several books, however long it it takes me.
Ohhhh I’ll let you in on a secret – I’m the world’s biggest ever horror movie wimp. I CANNOT watch them, even the cheesy ones, without being terrified and ending up having nightmares.
I wish you all the best success writing your own books – keep that determination and you’ll get there 🙂
Love the voice, which is so prominent in the interview. Thanks for the intro…I’ll be looking at her blog and looking forward to her first solo tome:)
Thank you so much, Jacqueline. I hope you enjoy having a look around my blog and…you and me both, re looking forward to my first solo tome 🙂
Great interview, Jeri! I never heard of community participating in a novel before. That sounds interesting. Thanks for giving me some inspiration, Lizzi.
Hi Sabrina – so far it’s proving a resounding success! I have lots of people who all want to ‘give me a cue’ and are excited to see what I do with the words they submit. It’s an ongoing endeavour, and such fun 🙂 Always glad to inspire.
Writing “precisely what I want write” is probably a good way to produce something worthwhile. Lizzy’s books sound both interesting and unique.
Thanks Ken – so far I’ve found it to be a winning combination as far as satisfaction is concerned, though it hasn’t proven lucrative (for me) yet.
I’m impressed with the passions that drive Lizzi. She sounds very caring (and dynamic). It’s great she’s found way to promote her passions. I’ve read one other community novel. It was a mystery with chapters written by different authors from the perspective of different characters. None knew what the others were writing. The editors pulled it all together. It was quite interesting. I don’t generally read horror, but I’d like to see how the collaborative approach worked here.
Hi Donna – that’s exactly the same approach as the horror stories I was part of – the main writer asked a number of different people to contribute a horror story based around a particular theme or character, and then wove them together into something far bigger and more glorious. It was an incredible process and seamlessly done.
Dynamism is something I hope I embody, and I definitely care, perhaps more than I should do (given the amount of time I spend awake late, in contact with ‘my Americans’, but…I adore them and they’re worth it 🙂
Fabulous interview. I love your marketing and publicity tips. Very wise. As far as self publishing versus traditional publishing, I think you’ll find that unless you are already well known, you will still have to do much of your own marketing and publicity, even if published traditionally, but perhaps this is true mainly for poets. I am also an author and poet. Your blog sounds like a great mix and I wish you all the best.
Ohhh lovely to make the acquaintance of another author/poet 🙂 I suspect that to remain ahead, all authors are wise to take some of the marketing and PR into their own hands, but I’ve seen the astonishing amount of work it takes to do as an indie author, and it’s nearly a full-time job. I can see why so many employ VA’s to do the leg-work for them, in that respect. But thank you for the useful insight – I really appreciate it 🙂
Enjoyable interview as always Jeri. Long ago I read a lot of horror stories, especially Stephen King. These days I tend to go for thrillers but I try to keep an open mind because I don’t want to get stuck with just one genre. Wish you luck Lizzi getting signed with a traditional publisher, I’m sure your book will be a winner. Thanks!
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Marquita, and yes – Jeri does a wonderful interview.
I like thrillers – I love Lee Child and Jeffery Deaver, but recently I got into the murder mysteries (very gentle ones) by James Runcie – the Grantchester series. They’re jolly good.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Marquita, and yes – Jeri does a wonderful interview.
I like thrillers – I love Lee Child and Jeffery Deaver, but recently I got into the murder mysteries (very gentle ones) by James Runcie – the Grantchester series. They’re jolly good.
How great to produce a collaborative work though I’m looking forward to your own book Lizzie. And I could totally relate to the work self pub. Really needs to get it out there. I’ll be trying again fur read. Pub. Myself with the novel I’m currently working in. But not holding my breath! Look forward to checking out your blog:-)
Hi Kathy
Good luck with the regular publishing – I hope it goes really well, and that you have lots of success with it.
The collaborative work is proving SUCH fun! Each time I’ve put out a call for people to ‘give me a cue’, they’ve been falling over themselves to get one in, and I have people waiting patiently to nab their turn. The chapters are still coming through well, and being brilliantly received, which is awesome.
I’m now working on my own book, which is very exciting. I just hope I can keep up with everything!
Really enjoyed the interview–I love meeting new writers and checking out their blogs. Gotta’ keep expanding my reading world, so like Marquita said, I don’t get stuck in a genre. Here, here to writing what you want to write! Best way to get good at your craft.
Thank you so much, RoseMary. I love the chance to expand my reading world, and nothing is better than the recommendation of someone whose taste you already trust.
I set out, in the beginning (long, long ago) to hone my abilities to write for an audience, and I was astonished at how many genres I expanded into, when I was writing exactly as I wanted. I’ve done essays, flash fiction, longer fiction, poetry, personal essays, creative non-fiction, writing for causes…all sorts, and the joy is each one has received positive feedback and just boosted me on towards bigger and better things (or, certainly, bigger ideas). Here’s to the community which can be found in the World Between the Wires 🙂
Cool and inspiring. Both of you. You somehow convey enthusiasm, welcome, honesty, interest in others. That is nigh impossible in a blog, and yet! Thanks.
Ohhh thanks Julia! That’s a really wonderful compliment 🙂 I think a lot can be conveyed in writing and (I suppose) in just the attitude with which we approach life. One of the things I like to do with words is ‘make you feel’, and I’m so pleased I made you feel that we were all those lovely things you mentioned 🙂
Nice interview. Lizzi sounds like a real compassionate person and someone fun to be around. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Denise. I’d like to think I am 🙂
Great interview Jeri, touching on all the things readers want to know. I have never heard of a collaborative approach to writing – novel concept really but I can see where it would be a lot of fun and help with the promotion.
The very best to you Lizzi, whatever publishing way you choose I’m sure you’ll put in the exact amount of work needed to make it a success – (lazy streak notwithstanding).
Hi Lenie – I definitely think having a lot of people who are invested in a book makes it easier. I’ve seen it work the other way, too; where people have befriended and care about the author, and do lots of promotion because of the friendship, so that’s also wonderful and something I hope might happen if I get to the stage of attempting to go it alone.
And thank you – I hope in the end, if/when I have something publishable, I’ll do my best to make a success of it – I’ll just need to watch out for the moments where I might prove to be my own undoing!
What a fun interview. Lizzi seems to be authentically herself which is really refreshing. I hope she eventually does have her own book as I’m sure it would be a good one. And I give extra credit to anyone who makes good use of glitter bombs.
As always another great interview posted about an author.
I really enjoy reading your posts about these author’s, they give me insight into their writing styles and motivations.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Hi Lizzi, I love your wit and sense of humor. I’m sure a book of your own would be awesome. Like the idea of getting many people involved in a book so they have a vested interest.. Cool :).