Ellie Lieberman interview
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
A little introduction:
A New Jersey transplant, Ellie Lieberman lives in sunny Southern California. Ellie Lieberman's books include children's books, short stories, teen reads, novels, and more. Her writings can also be found in a Girl God Anthology (https://www.thegirlgod.com/re-membering.php) and on Vocal (https://vocal.media/authors/ellie-lieberman-iz27q00b7c). When not writing and illustrating, she works with the fairies on her handmade business, Acorn Tops (https://www.etsy.com/shop/acorntops).
When did your love of books begin?
Books have always been a staple in our house growing up. They weren’t just fixtures of our environment, though. We didn’t just have trips to the library or bookstore. They made up the culture of our home, too. They were part of our bedtime rituals and a number of traditions, including reading The Birthday Moon by Lois Duncan every single birthday. Books remain a popular gift in our family always. To try to pinpoint a timeframe it began would be like trying to pinpoint when I first fell in love with my mother’s mac and cheese.
When did you start to have the wish to become an author?
I became a writer at my mother’s keyboard. She would type up her stories and let me stay up past my bedtime to listen to her read them to me. I wrote about this experience in one of my Vocal stories, Lullaby of a Future Writer (https://vocal.media/families/lullaby-of-a-future-writer). As I say in that Vocal story, “I learned the magic of storytelling, of transforming a blank page into a whole world.” My mom always says I learned to write so I could write down my stories.
How have you found the process for becoming an author?
I’ve been on this journey of being a published author since 2015 with my first book, Society’s Foundlings (https://www.amazon.com/Societys-Foundlings-Ellie-Lieberman/dp/151170330X). I was and am still very fortunate to have an amazing support system that allows me to stay on this journey and encourages me to keep going. Since Society’s Foundlings, I’ve learned a lot and grown quite a bit, including even doing my own formatting and illustrating for other authors, as well as my own books. It’s been an amazing process. After seven years, I’ve seen authors come and go, the communities change, new opportunities take shape. It’s been incredible, but it’s after the book is published that I still find incredibly difficult. Marketing and promoting remains a challenge for me, but hopefully I can get a decent handle on in the next seven years.
What would you say to those wanting to become an author?
To those who want to become an author, my best advice is to take any advice with a grain of salt. Take what works, leave what doesn’t, and know that there’s no one size fits all.
“Just write” is one the best philosophies you can have. Get it down on a page and don’t worry if it’s “good enough.” The point of writing is to write. You can spit-shine it during editing.
Your voice is important. The world needs your stories. There’s no such thing as too young or too old. And hold onto that passion.
Tell us about your book/books:
I have 11 books published so far.
Society’s Foundlings is about when reality and dreams are at odds, friendship challenged by choices, and the fear we all harbor that no one really sees us.
Solving for X has been described by readers as “a dystopian sundae with zombie sprinkles.”
A Dragon’s Treasure is about a little dragon that goes on a big adventure to find the most precious treasure of all.
The Memory Tree is about a collection of old ornaments come alive to aid a grandmother, on her last Christmas Eve night, in telling family stories and imparting her final wisdom to her granddaughter.
Ben’s Little Book Series is my children’s book series about a little boy who learns lessons about the little, but important, things in life through the garden, plants, and nature.
Basil Basset Books Series is my children’s book series teaches word origins and other figurative language and literary concepts with a curious little girl, a bumbling basset, and a sprinkle of fairy dust!
My Basset Has the Sneezles is a children’s book co-written with my mom and boyfriend about a basset with the unfortunate dilemma of projectile sneezing that just won't stop!
Be is my novel about the consequences of freedom, the sacrifices for what is loved, and the battle for the future... All in the shadow of a castle that looms large over all who preside within the kingdom. It is the first in a series and the prequel is coming out sometime later this year.
What do you love about the writing/reading community?
One of the many things I love about the writing and reading community is that shared passion of stories. There’s a beauty in connection. It reminds me of those moments in a movie theater when something funny happens on the screen and everyone in the theater, complete strangers, start to laugh at the same time. For such solitary activities that writing and reading are, the community really makes you feel a little less alone. As a reader, I know the excitement of connecting with a favorite author, but as a writer, I also know how much it means when my readers take a chance on and enjoy my books.
If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?
Thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on my books. For helping to encourage and inspire me to continue. For all those who are willing to stick with me as I continue on this journey, I appreciate it more than words can say. I hope you enjoy the tales that I spin!
Where can people connect with you?
Website: https://ellielieberman.weebly.com/Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ellie-Lieberman/e/B00ZQ5ROYE/Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/ellieliebermanGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14188970.Ellie_LiebermanVocal: https://vocal.media/authors/ellie-lieberman-iz27q00b7cFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllieLiebermanAuthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/31773LiebermanFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorn_tops/
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