Liz Lazarus's Blog - Posts Tagged "liz-lazarus"
Book Clubs
I met with my first book club this summer. It was an exhilarating experience. I loved sharing my novel, Free of Malice, with a dynamic group of women who had read the book and wanted to discuss the characters, plot-line and dive into their moments — and details.
Attention book clubs: I’m available for in-person or Skype book club discussions. During the balance of 2015 I’m looking for book clubs to be advance readers of Free of Malice. In addition to discussing the book and answering your questions, I’ll ask for your input or suggestions. You still have time to influence details in the book!
Input from the first club discussion created several adjustments to the book:
Wardrobe. I had the lead female character, Laura Holland, wearing a “little black dress” to Eddie’s Attic, a music listening room in Decatur, Georgia. The book club suggested that Eddie’s is more informal so we switched her to jeans. Great call.
Uber. At one point in the story, I had a character “calling” an Uber vs. “commanding” an Uber for a ride. What terminology do you use to describe getting a ride via Uber?
Two terrific tips. I’m looking forward to talking with your book club. Let’s dive into the plot line together.
Want to be an advanced reader? Or would you like to sign your book club up be advance readers of Free of Malice. Sign-up here.
Liz
Attention book clubs: I’m available for in-person or Skype book club discussions. During the balance of 2015 I’m looking for book clubs to be advance readers of Free of Malice. In addition to discussing the book and answering your questions, I’ll ask for your input or suggestions. You still have time to influence details in the book!
Input from the first club discussion created several adjustments to the book:
Wardrobe. I had the lead female character, Laura Holland, wearing a “little black dress” to Eddie’s Attic, a music listening room in Decatur, Georgia. The book club suggested that Eddie’s is more informal so we switched her to jeans. Great call.
Uber. At one point in the story, I had a character “calling” an Uber vs. “commanding” an Uber for a ride. What terminology do you use to describe getting a ride via Uber?
Two terrific tips. I’m looking forward to talking with your book club. Let’s dive into the plot line together.
Want to be an advanced reader? Or would you like to sign your book club up be advance readers of Free of Malice. Sign-up here.
Liz
Inside Scoop
Free of Malice will be available in mid-February 2016. So what’s happening in the meantime?
Quick back story. I have a full-time job so writing is my hobby and has been a therapeutic release for me since the book is based on my own experience. In the words of my PR team:
Free of Malice is a psychological, legal thriller set in Atlanta and based on the author’s experience. In 1989, Liz Lazarus was attacked in her off-campus house while attending GA Tech. Out of this trauma she has crafted a well-researched novel exploring the themes of self-defense, the criminal justice system, EMDR therapy, and gun ownership. Since her attack, Lazarus earned her MBA, lived in Paris, obtained her pilot’s license, had an exciting corporate career and is a Managing Director at a consulting firm focusing on strategic planning.
Among friends, I refer to Free of Malice as FOM so I’ll start doing that here as well. FOM has been a labor of love. I’ve written and honed the book over a series of years. Writing and then setting the draft aside. Once I met Jan Risher, my first of several editors, the momentum really picked up. Earlier this year, I decided to focus on completing the book. After several attempts to find a publisher I set off to self publish. This spring, following several deep edits to the draft, I went into design and layout. Over the summer I assembled a team to work with me to bring the book to market. We have a plan, timelines and milestones. We’re hard at work.
Currently, I’m in the final edit phase. I think the poetic term is looking for gentle readers. The working term is attracting advance readers and book clubs to kick the tires a final time.
Additionally, the plans are coming together to launch the book in February 2016. I’ve assembled a dream PR team to bring FOM to life (or to a store near you). I call this group my “Free Ladies” because it’s a kick#@! group of women ((photo above L to R) NancyJeannette C Long, Lynn Epstein, Jill Dible, Dayl Soll, Mimi Schroeder and Erika Childers (not pictured)). With their talent and dedication the website is live. The media kit is available. Notes for book club discussions are downloadable. Outreach to book clubs is in full swing. And we shot footage for a book trailer last week. There is so much to do and they get the job done.
It’s exhilarating. It’s fun. It’s nerve racking. Bottom line, I’m loving every moment of planning and preparation.
More later,
Liz
P.S.: You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. Let’s stay in touch!
Quick back story. I have a full-time job so writing is my hobby and has been a therapeutic release for me since the book is based on my own experience. In the words of my PR team:
Free of Malice is a psychological, legal thriller set in Atlanta and based on the author’s experience. In 1989, Liz Lazarus was attacked in her off-campus house while attending GA Tech. Out of this trauma she has crafted a well-researched novel exploring the themes of self-defense, the criminal justice system, EMDR therapy, and gun ownership. Since her attack, Lazarus earned her MBA, lived in Paris, obtained her pilot’s license, had an exciting corporate career and is a Managing Director at a consulting firm focusing on strategic planning.
Among friends, I refer to Free of Malice as FOM so I’ll start doing that here as well. FOM has been a labor of love. I’ve written and honed the book over a series of years. Writing and then setting the draft aside. Once I met Jan Risher, my first of several editors, the momentum really picked up. Earlier this year, I decided to focus on completing the book. After several attempts to find a publisher I set off to self publish. This spring, following several deep edits to the draft, I went into design and layout. Over the summer I assembled a team to work with me to bring the book to market. We have a plan, timelines and milestones. We’re hard at work.
Currently, I’m in the final edit phase. I think the poetic term is looking for gentle readers. The working term is attracting advance readers and book clubs to kick the tires a final time.
Additionally, the plans are coming together to launch the book in February 2016. I’ve assembled a dream PR team to bring FOM to life (or to a store near you). I call this group my “Free Ladies” because it’s a kick#@! group of women ((photo above L to R) NancyJeannette C Long, Lynn Epstein, Jill Dible, Dayl Soll, Mimi Schroeder and Erika Childers (not pictured)). With their talent and dedication the website is live. The media kit is available. Notes for book club discussions are downloadable. Outreach to book clubs is in full swing. And we shot footage for a book trailer last week. There is so much to do and they get the job done.
It’s exhilarating. It’s fun. It’s nerve racking. Bottom line, I’m loving every moment of planning and preparation.
More later,
Liz
P.S.: You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. Let’s stay in touch!
Sneak Peek
Are you interested in a sneak peek of Free of Malice? I’d be delighted to share Chapter One with you.Simply click on the red sneak peek button on the Free of Malice homepage. Leave your name and email then download the first section of the book.
Take a peek and leave me a message in the comments section. What do you think?
Liz
Free of Malice: New Cover Reveal
I’m thrilled to share the new cover for my upcoming novel, Free of Malice.
I want to say thank you to everyone who participated in the poll on social media. I appreciate your feedback and support.
Without further ado, drum roll please! What do you think of the new cover? Let me…
View more on Liz Lazarus's website
I want to say thank you to everyone who participated in the poll on social media. I appreciate your feedback and support.
Without further ado, drum roll please! What do you think of the new cover? Let me…
View more on Liz Lazarus's website
Free of Malice: Omitted Chapter
Pondering the Omitted Chapter
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, writing a novel is not for the faint of heart. You pour your heart, soul, and creativity onto the page and hope your readers will fall in love your characters, flow with your storyline, note your realistic dialogue and gift for turning a tale. Sounds so poetic, right?
After finishing the galley for Free of Malice, my first editor suggested that I cut this chapter from the book, as it wasn’t “advancing the story”. While I agreed and nixed the chapter from the final version of the book–it resides on my computer as the omitted chapter. I peek at it periodically and wonder…did I do the right thing? Though it doesn’t necessarily advance the story, it does give more insight into the nature of the husband, Chris. As we approach the official launch of the book, I’m sharing it with you on my blog. What do you think? Was it right to cut or I should have left it in?
OMITTED CHAPTER – Friday, July 7 before dinner, Houston’s parking lot
We took Chris’ charcoal Infiniti FX35 toward Buckhead and Houston’s restaurant. A crowd had already formed outside on the top deck, so Chris dropped me off at the door to put our name on the waiting list while he went in search of a parking spot in the packed lower lot below.
As I waited in line at the hostess stand, I watched Chris’ Infiniti zipping over to a spot where a yellow Volkswagen bug was about to leave. I could picture Chris tapping the steering wheel as he waited impatiently. Even his car looked restless; the blinker clicking, ready to snatch the coveted space. As the bug backed out toward Chris’ car, a black Miata darted into the space blatantly stealing the spot.
Chris’ horn blared. I could picture the gesture he must be making. A guy about 5’9″ in a black double-breasted suit got out of the driver’s side and a buxom bleached blonde in a tight red mini dress stepped out of the passenger side. The guy shouted something at Chris, flipped him off, and then he and his date walked up the stairs to the deck where I was still standing in line. Chris’ Infiniti squealed off and drove the full length of the parking lot to find another space on the far edge.
Oh, boy, he’s pissed.
From a distance, I watched my husband get out of his car and stomp toward the restaurant like a boy whose precious toys had been taken. Instead of coming straight up the stairs to me, he went out of his way to pass the Miata in the “stolen” parking space, stopped by the front of the car and then mounted the stairs.
I was now first in line at the hostess stand and waved to Chris so he would see me. He waved back and then noticed the black suit and red mini dress four people behind me. A huge grin came over his face.
As Chris passed the couple, he deliberately bumped into the guy and said “Excuse me.” He flashed a cocky smile and then strutted up to me and kissed me on the cheek. The hostess gave us our pager, told us it would be a ninety minute wait and suggested we grab a drink. As we maneuvered toward the inside bar, Chris deliberately took my hand and led me back toward the black suit and red mini dress who were still waiting in line. He leaned over to the guy and said, “I couldn’t help but notice your front right tire looks a bit flat. You might want to check it.” A look of rage came over the guy’s face as we walked off.
“Oh no, what did you do?” I asked in a hushed voice. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. Just tell me that guy isn’t going to pour his drink on us or anything.”
“I think we’re safe, but he did steal my parking spot.”
“I saw. You didn’t let the air out of his tire, did you?”
“No, besides, carrying that tub of lard in the passenger seat will probably deflate the tire on its own.”
“Chris!” I admonished.
“Let’s forget it. You know, I will say this. There is justice in the world. Look at them, they cut me off, yet they‘re the ones still waiting in line.”
Chris’ comment resonated with me. If there was justice in the world, then I wondered what would happen to him?
What do you think? Was it right to cut the chapter or I should have left it in? Please take the poll on my blog by March 16, 2016.
Yours in thrill-seeking.
Liz
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, writing a novel is not for the faint of heart. You pour your heart, soul, and creativity onto the page and hope your readers will fall in love your characters, flow with your storyline, note your realistic dialogue and gift for turning a tale. Sounds so poetic, right?After finishing the galley for Free of Malice, my first editor suggested that I cut this chapter from the book, as it wasn’t “advancing the story”. While I agreed and nixed the chapter from the final version of the book–it resides on my computer as the omitted chapter. I peek at it periodically and wonder…did I do the right thing? Though it doesn’t necessarily advance the story, it does give more insight into the nature of the husband, Chris. As we approach the official launch of the book, I’m sharing it with you on my blog. What do you think? Was it right to cut or I should have left it in?
OMITTED CHAPTER – Friday, July 7 before dinner, Houston’s parking lot
We took Chris’ charcoal Infiniti FX35 toward Buckhead and Houston’s restaurant. A crowd had already formed outside on the top deck, so Chris dropped me off at the door to put our name on the waiting list while he went in search of a parking spot in the packed lower lot below.
As I waited in line at the hostess stand, I watched Chris’ Infiniti zipping over to a spot where a yellow Volkswagen bug was about to leave. I could picture Chris tapping the steering wheel as he waited impatiently. Even his car looked restless; the blinker clicking, ready to snatch the coveted space. As the bug backed out toward Chris’ car, a black Miata darted into the space blatantly stealing the spot.
Chris’ horn blared. I could picture the gesture he must be making. A guy about 5’9″ in a black double-breasted suit got out of the driver’s side and a buxom bleached blonde in a tight red mini dress stepped out of the passenger side. The guy shouted something at Chris, flipped him off, and then he and his date walked up the stairs to the deck where I was still standing in line. Chris’ Infiniti squealed off and drove the full length of the parking lot to find another space on the far edge.
Oh, boy, he’s pissed.
From a distance, I watched my husband get out of his car and stomp toward the restaurant like a boy whose precious toys had been taken. Instead of coming straight up the stairs to me, he went out of his way to pass the Miata in the “stolen” parking space, stopped by the front of the car and then mounted the stairs.
I was now first in line at the hostess stand and waved to Chris so he would see me. He waved back and then noticed the black suit and red mini dress four people behind me. A huge grin came over his face.
As Chris passed the couple, he deliberately bumped into the guy and said “Excuse me.” He flashed a cocky smile and then strutted up to me and kissed me on the cheek. The hostess gave us our pager, told us it would be a ninety minute wait and suggested we grab a drink. As we maneuvered toward the inside bar, Chris deliberately took my hand and led me back toward the black suit and red mini dress who were still waiting in line. He leaned over to the guy and said, “I couldn’t help but notice your front right tire looks a bit flat. You might want to check it.” A look of rage came over the guy’s face as we walked off.
“Oh no, what did you do?” I asked in a hushed voice. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. Just tell me that guy isn’t going to pour his drink on us or anything.”
“I think we’re safe, but he did steal my parking spot.”
“I saw. You didn’t let the air out of his tire, did you?”
“No, besides, carrying that tub of lard in the passenger seat will probably deflate the tire on its own.”
“Chris!” I admonished.
“Let’s forget it. You know, I will say this. There is justice in the world. Look at them, they cut me off, yet they‘re the ones still waiting in line.”
Chris’ comment resonated with me. If there was justice in the world, then I wondered what would happen to him?
What do you think? Was it right to cut the chapter or I should have left it in? Please take the poll on my blog by March 16, 2016.
Yours in thrill-seeking.
Liz
