Exclusive Interview with
Lisa E Betz
When did you start writing?
I started my career as an engineer. At that time, I had no inkling I would ever become a writer.
It wasn’t until the empty nest season of life that I embarked on my third career as a writer and speaker. That was 12 years ago.
What makes writing your passion?
First, my active imagination . I make up stories in my head all the time. Sometimes I write them down. Second, I love making people laugh or causing them to see something in a new way. Third, teaching is one of my gifts, so using words to share ideas or encouragement with others is fulfilling.
How long have you been writing?
I have been dabbling with writing for many years. I've been writing humorous drama scripts since my college days. I completed my first "practice novel" ten years ago.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
It was a bit surreal. I took the long, slow road to publication, so that first book was a culmination of many years. Lots of hard work and many days of overcoming doubts and keeping on.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I've always felt a bit like a misfit. I've always enjoy eccentric people (both real and fictional). So I'm drawn to creating characters that are a bit unusual and who have a strong enough self-confidence to be themselves even when that makes them a bit odd.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
All the non-writing stuff that needs to be done that takes time from writing. Marketing, website maintenance, taking care of business details, housework...
Like many writers, I dream about being able to write all day while someone else takes care of the other stuff, but that's not realistic.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
Writer's block can strike for different reasons. When I face an emotional scene that feels too hard to write, I have to chip away at it bit by bit until I prove to myself that I can actually tackle it.
Mostly I suffer from feeling too tired to write. I know that if I just stick my butt in the chair and begin, I will soon get in the flow of it and find new energy.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
You need to connect with other writers. Find a few trustworthy critique partners. Join a writer’s group or two and attend regularly to learn more about the world of writing, and to make writer friends who understand your struggles.
Attend writing conferences. Yes, they're expensive, but they are an investment in your future. Conferences are usually the best way to meet people like editors and agents who will help you succeed in this business.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Make the most of every day. Don't waste your life regretting past mistakes or worrying about the future. Soak up the moments and trust that God will continue to lead you to new and interesting opportunities while somehow utilizing all you've experienced.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
I generally don't read them.
When I see a negative one I remind myself that no author writes books that are for everyone. My goal is to delight the readers who enjoy my style and genre. I choose to pay attention to them.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
When people stop me to tell me they enjoyed my book, it's a wonderful feeling. Often, it's a dose of encouragement that helps me keep going. Good reviews affirm that I'm a worthy writer and my books matter. That I'm not just wasting my time.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
My books are set in ancient Rome, so real life situations don't always overlap. But in many small details, yes I incorporate real life For example, descriptions of how the cat or dog reacts in a scene is based on my interaction with my pets and my love of their foibles.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
I would not make a good sleuth so I intentionally gave my sleuth Livia a personality different from mine. She is more bold, gregarious, and nosy than I am. Instead, her husband and co-investigator Avitus is a more like me. He is analytical, cautious, introverted, more of a thinker and planner.
But Avitus is a male who lives in ancient Rome, so the similarities only go so far.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
People do judge a book by it's cover. The book cover cannot convey the whole story, but when a cover doesn't portray the essence of the story, either few people will want to read it or it will attract the wrong readers.
So, the cover is very important to the story's success.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I'm always happy to talk books with a fellow book-lover. Books have always been one of my main passions. When I'm not writing, I'm often volunteering at my local library or leading a book club.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
We all need to feel appreciated. Even personalities like mine who prefer to work behind the scenes need occasional recognition.
Winning book awards has been one of the most important forms of recognition for my writing career. Awards give an author credence and confidence. But there's nothing like a happy reader telling me how my writing mattered to help me feel fulfilled and happy.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
Impossible to choose just one. Since I write historical mysteries with spunky female sleuths, here are three of my favorite authors in that genre: Laurie R. King, Lindsey Davis, Elizabeth Peters. I like their characters, their humor, and their voice.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
Honestly, I don't want to be famous.
It would be wonderful to achieve the kind of commercial success enjoyed by the big names in Christian fiction, but I'm not doing this for the money.
One dream fulfilled would be if I received an unsolicited invitation to speak at a venue solely because of my books.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
I continue to grow with each book I write, so if I had a chance, I would return to my first and revise it. (Not that there's anything significant wrong with it.)
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
Since I write books set in ancient Rome, it would be fun to experience what that society was like. And since food is one of my hobbies, I might choose a first-century gourmet named Marcus Gavius Apicius, who wrote The Art of Cookery. I guess you could call him the first celebrity chef.
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
There will always be trolls in this world. In my opinion, anyone who spends their time writing unkind things about others probably has a pretty miserable life. Imagine how much better our world would be if everyone focused on building each other up instead.
What would you say to your readers?
Two things that are important in this life are humor and curiosity. We need to be able to laugh at life (and our own missteps) sometimes. Humor makes tough times a bit more bearable. And curiosity keeps us learning, growing, and trying new things.
My goal as a writer is to tell a good story, but also to provide a few laughs and help readers imagine the world of first century Rome.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
My husband and I reside on a peaceful wooded hillside near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, our rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in my novels. I have two married sons and two grandsons.
What is your day job if you have one?
In addition to writing, I work as a speech coach for Christian Speaker's Bootcamp. I also lead a weekly Bible study and serve on the board of my local public library.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
My hobbies include reading, basket-making, writing and directing dramas, experimenting with ancient Roman recipes, hiking the beautiful Pennsylvania woods, and spoiling my grandkid (and the cat).
Did you have a happy childhood?
Yes!
I grew up exploring the woods beside our house, playing with the neighbor kids, camping out in our treehouse, baking cookies, and spending many happy hours traveling to far off places within the pages of a good book (with a cat on my lap).
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
When I was home wrangling toddlers, I took a correspondence course in writing children's books just for something interesting to do. That course ignited my interest in writing.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
I wrote several "practice novels" before writing the manuscript that became my first published book. All of my earlier novel attempts were also historical, but Death and a Crocodile was my first attempt at a mystery.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
Children need to learn how to think critically. To form their own opinions instead of just accepting what others tell them.
Curiosity and imagination need to be encouraged. Unfortunately our world tends to shut those things down because we pay more attention to image and grades and other indicators of "success" instead of these more intangible things that enhance life.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
That chocolate wasn't fattening.
That every child was introduced to great stories and given easy access to books as a youngster.
That people would stop focusing on the differences between us and instead look for similarities and ways to build each other up instead of competing and tearing others down.
What is your favorite music?
I prefer instrumental music. Beethoven is one of my favorite composers, but I also enjoy listening to movie soundtracks.
Share a secret with us 🙂
I keep a stash of dark chocolate in the pantry for emergency snacking. Shh! Don't tell my husband.