Ask the Author: Ellie Lieberman
Answered Questions (7)
Ellie Lieberman
When I find myself blocked with my writing, I switch gears to another form of creativity. Normally, I'd work on my handmade business, Acorn Tops, where I make fairy doors, fairy houses, and other fairy products. What I've started doing for my short story for the dragon anthology, A Horde of Dragons, is drawing some of the characters. Lately, I've also switched to illustrating children's books, such as Waggles by Evangeline Duran Fuentes. As soon as I switch gears to other forms of creativity, the writing muses return.
Ellie Lieberman
Thank you for the question!
It all started when I was in the parking structure underneath the apartment complex I was then living in. There was this metal gate that would open up with the push of a button to lets cars in and out. It's probably very common in apartment complexes, but as I had never lived in one previously, I found it kind of cool.
The parking structure itself was rather interesting and it made me think about when I was younger. To give some insight to my younger self's mind, there was a board that was kept in front of my bedroom door to keep the basset hounds out while allowing the cat to come and go as he pleased. So, I would pretend I had a dutch door in a tiny french village, kind of like the beginning of Beauty and the Beast. My room became a cottage and each room in the house became another building or place, such as the kitchen becoming a bakery and so on. I used to pretend my bicycle and my brother's were horses and the shed we kept them in was a stable. And that the bottom rungs on the Captain's chair we used to have was a jungle gym and playground for my stuffed animals. (To be completely honest, I still pretend to be a witch when stirring spaghetti in a boiling pot!) Anyway, you probably get the picture.
So, it made me think of what I would imagine and play in the parking structure. And thus, a story was born.
Dystopian novels have been a favorite of mine. The rebellion, revolution, and discussion of politics and society spoke to me. I fell in love with Farenheit 451, Brave New World, Animal Farm, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, and so many more. I suppose a love of a genre will lend itself to writing it, eventually.
As for the zombies, I never truly understood the attraction to the undead creatures. I was trying figure out why so many feel drawn to them, what deeper meaning they may hold for us. In this way, I suppose much like a child builds understanding of the world around them through play, I was trying to build understanding for myself through writing.
It all started when I was in the parking structure underneath the apartment complex I was then living in. There was this metal gate that would open up with the push of a button to lets cars in and out. It's probably very common in apartment complexes, but as I had never lived in one previously, I found it kind of cool.
The parking structure itself was rather interesting and it made me think about when I was younger. To give some insight to my younger self's mind, there was a board that was kept in front of my bedroom door to keep the basset hounds out while allowing the cat to come and go as he pleased. So, I would pretend I had a dutch door in a tiny french village, kind of like the beginning of Beauty and the Beast. My room became a cottage and each room in the house became another building or place, such as the kitchen becoming a bakery and so on. I used to pretend my bicycle and my brother's were horses and the shed we kept them in was a stable. And that the bottom rungs on the Captain's chair we used to have was a jungle gym and playground for my stuffed animals. (To be completely honest, I still pretend to be a witch when stirring spaghetti in a boiling pot!) Anyway, you probably get the picture.
So, it made me think of what I would imagine and play in the parking structure. And thus, a story was born.
Dystopian novels have been a favorite of mine. The rebellion, revolution, and discussion of politics and society spoke to me. I fell in love with Farenheit 451, Brave New World, Animal Farm, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, and so many more. I suppose a love of a genre will lend itself to writing it, eventually.
As for the zombies, I never truly understood the attraction to the undead creatures. I was trying figure out why so many feel drawn to them, what deeper meaning they may hold for us. In this way, I suppose much like a child builds understanding of the world around them through play, I was trying to build understanding for myself through writing.
Ellie Lieberman
First, thank you for the question. I got stupid excited over receiving one and it truly made my day. It also stumped me for a while, trying to come up with a good answer.
When it comes to risks, I try not to think about things in terms of “should.” I try to maintain this with most aspects of my life. Whether it is trying to overcome my own psychological issues therapists would most likely have a field day with, including co-dependent tendencies of self-imposed guilt, or as Monty Python would put it “something completely different” is a tossup. That being said, going back to self-deprecation about my mental health, I tend to suffer from anxiety. This makes Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote about “Doing something every day that scares you” a constant experience that rivals breathing. There isn’t a minute in my life that doesn’t feel like some huge risk.
Writing is my only opportunity of a truly free experience. There is no worrying or anxiety or constant nail-biting, much to the relief of my inflamed cuticles. One of the compliments I received on my first story was for “going there.” I never saw anything I wrote as a risk. And, after publishing my first book, publishing my next book doesn’t feel like a risk at all.
Outside of trying my hand at horror, there isn’t much of a risk. And attempting anything scary would be more a risk for the people around me because, to be honest, I’m not that pretty of a personality when sleep deprived.
I have things on my “to-be-accomplished” list that is a huge risk, which includes driving. I’ll get there eventually like I do with most things… it will just take a longer time, but that’s normal for me.
When it comes to risks, I try not to think about things in terms of “should.” I try to maintain this with most aspects of my life. Whether it is trying to overcome my own psychological issues therapists would most likely have a field day with, including co-dependent tendencies of self-imposed guilt, or as Monty Python would put it “something completely different” is a tossup. That being said, going back to self-deprecation about my mental health, I tend to suffer from anxiety. This makes Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote about “Doing something every day that scares you” a constant experience that rivals breathing. There isn’t a minute in my life that doesn’t feel like some huge risk.
Writing is my only opportunity of a truly free experience. There is no worrying or anxiety or constant nail-biting, much to the relief of my inflamed cuticles. One of the compliments I received on my first story was for “going there.” I never saw anything I wrote as a risk. And, after publishing my first book, publishing my next book doesn’t feel like a risk at all.
Outside of trying my hand at horror, there isn’t much of a risk. And attempting anything scary would be more a risk for the people around me because, to be honest, I’m not that pretty of a personality when sleep deprived.
I have things on my “to-be-accomplished” list that is a huge risk, which includes driving. I’ll get there eventually like I do with most things… it will just take a longer time, but that’s normal for me.
Ellie Lieberman
In one way or another, all the main characters come from me. On at least some level I can relate to them all. Because of this, I don't think I entirely have a favorite. For the four main characters, and some of the minor characters such as Amy Bishop or Ophelia Cortes, there are both aspects I love and absolutely frustrate me about the characters. I hope the same goes for the reader as well.
It's easier to answer who I don't like. I am not a big fan of Nicole Brennerman. I am also not a big fan of the four main character's parents, with the exception of Math and Sampson's mother. With the way Math and Sampson both reference her, she is a character I like very much, even though she does not technically show up in the book.
That being said, along with the four main characters, I had a lot of fun writing Ophelia Cortes. And if it doesn't sound conceited, I love the introduction to her. The whole "tattoos tied to a story. With a name tied to a tragedy she would never let herself experience. Who dances like no one’s watching in front of an audience of customers..." and especially the "Mr. Rogers-with-a-lip-ring stare."
She represents a type of freedom within the same restrictions the main characters, and even Amy Bishop, feel so fiercely. For her to achieve this type of freedom, or "more" as Carver would put it, within these same struggles, to defy the challenges each of the characters face, including herself, was sort of a breath of fresh air, if that makes sense. I think she was that for Carver, too.
It's easier to answer who I don't like. I am not a big fan of Nicole Brennerman. I am also not a big fan of the four main character's parents, with the exception of Math and Sampson's mother. With the way Math and Sampson both reference her, she is a character I like very much, even though she does not technically show up in the book.
That being said, along with the four main characters, I had a lot of fun writing Ophelia Cortes. And if it doesn't sound conceited, I love the introduction to her. The whole "tattoos tied to a story. With a name tied to a tragedy she would never let herself experience. Who dances like no one’s watching in front of an audience of customers..." and especially the "Mr. Rogers-with-a-lip-ring stare."
She represents a type of freedom within the same restrictions the main characters, and even Amy Bishop, feel so fiercely. For her to achieve this type of freedom, or "more" as Carver would put it, within these same struggles, to defy the challenges each of the characters face, including herself, was sort of a breath of fresh air, if that makes sense. I think she was that for Carver, too.
Ellie Lieberman
Society's Foundlings came about because I got really angry. I was not in the best place. It was frustrating to be in that place and have so many people telling me or people my age that my age was the best time of my life. That it was the high point and "you think you've got it bad now, just wait." This did not give me something to look forward to. It made the idea of "it will get better" seem like a lie. Essentially, it was kicking me when I was already down.
I also have always struggled with terms and sayings like "the real world," as though the things I had to overcome and the experiences I had weren't real because I didn’t meet an age requirement. The issues I went through and other people go through are real, and tough, and can be just as challenging at the age of sixteen or twenty as the challenges and experiences someone older might face.
I think a lot of people have a perception of young adults in general as being petty, overdramatic, superficial, or whatnot. And there are those who might be, but I don't think it is exclusive to that one age group.
That’s where I was when Society’s Foundlings began and that was a huge influence on a lot of the characters and the storylines. However, for as much as there were biographical elements, the story itself is not. It was inspired and influenced by many things outside of myself. An example of this is the musical Blood Brothers. The character Mickey says “when no one was looking, I grew up.” That quote in and of itself became a huge part of the book, though it’s never mentioned in Society’s Foundlings. The scene that quote came from also inspired the scene between Sampson and Nicole Brennerman. The whole book is filled with references. Elements were drawn from experiences and stories I’ve overheard from friends, acquaintances, and family.
I also have always struggled with terms and sayings like "the real world," as though the things I had to overcome and the experiences I had weren't real because I didn’t meet an age requirement. The issues I went through and other people go through are real, and tough, and can be just as challenging at the age of sixteen or twenty as the challenges and experiences someone older might face.
I think a lot of people have a perception of young adults in general as being petty, overdramatic, superficial, or whatnot. And there are those who might be, but I don't think it is exclusive to that one age group.
That’s where I was when Society’s Foundlings began and that was a huge influence on a lot of the characters and the storylines. However, for as much as there were biographical elements, the story itself is not. It was inspired and influenced by many things outside of myself. An example of this is the musical Blood Brothers. The character Mickey says “when no one was looking, I grew up.” That quote in and of itself became a huge part of the book, though it’s never mentioned in Society’s Foundlings. The scene that quote came from also inspired the scene between Sampson and Nicole Brennerman. The whole book is filled with references. Elements were drawn from experiences and stories I’ve overheard from friends, acquaintances, and family.
Ellie Lieberman
The best writing advice I've ever received was from two of my favorite authors.
Barb Lieberman's advice "Just write." She wrote a whole blog about it and nobody puts it quite like she does. This, by far, as been the most helpful when it comes to my writing. The blog is worth checking out: http://www.keyboardmusings.com/blog/j...
The second piece of advice is actually a quote from Jack Keroac: "Someday I will find the words and they will be simple." This helped a lot in my writing.
Though I rarely include this one, it's something I remind myself and others about. It's another quote from an author. Mark Twain said about Adventures of Huckleberry Finn "I shall like it, whether anybody else does or not." I think this is very important when it comes to writing.
Barb Lieberman's advice "Just write." She wrote a whole blog about it and nobody puts it quite like she does. This, by far, as been the most helpful when it comes to my writing. The blog is worth checking out: http://www.keyboardmusings.com/blog/j...
The second piece of advice is actually a quote from Jack Keroac: "Someday I will find the words and they will be simple." This helped a lot in my writing.
Though I rarely include this one, it's something I remind myself and others about. It's another quote from an author. Mark Twain said about Adventures of Huckleberry Finn "I shall like it, whether anybody else does or not." I think this is very important when it comes to writing.
Ellie Lieberman
I tend to write a lot like I read. By this, I mean there are a few things I'm working on at the same time. My bed is surrounded by a moat of notebooks, each containing a different story, and all the books I am currently reading.
Recently, I've joined an upcoming Dragon anthology. Stay tuned for more info. All I can say at the moment is the story will include a dragon. (A real spoiler, I know).
I've also started to write a love story. I'm not really into writing romance in general, so this one is a bit of a shock. All I will say is it is a love story between two young women in college.
For a little while, before either the dragons or the love story, I've been working on a book called Solving for X. It's a sort of mix between Dystopian and Zombies.
Then, there is the story I've been writing for 3 years. Currently, I've been playing around with rewriting it.
Recently, I've joined an upcoming Dragon anthology. Stay tuned for more info. All I can say at the moment is the story will include a dragon. (A real spoiler, I know).
I've also started to write a love story. I'm not really into writing romance in general, so this one is a bit of a shock. All I will say is it is a love story between two young women in college.
For a little while, before either the dragons or the love story, I've been working on a book called Solving for X. It's a sort of mix between Dystopian and Zombies.
Then, there is the story I've been writing for 3 years. Currently, I've been playing around with rewriting it.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more