Rising Stars: Meet Lisa Peers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Peers.

Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started taking my writing seriously after I turned 40 and moved to Birmingham, Michigan in 2006. Our family had relocated from San Francisco, where I had been doing musical theater professionally for many years on top of a day job in communications. Looking for a creative outlet in my new town, I became a regular at the local libraries, poring over their music collections and reading umpteen zillion memoirs and biographies of rock musicians.

That sparked a story idea that became my first novel: LOVE AND OTHER B-SIDES, a romantic comedy about a classic rock star with writer’s block who falls for a fan recovering from the loss of her philandering husband. That was followed by a novella inspired by the most romantic of all Greek myths: EROS & PSYCHE. When I wasn’t able to find literary representation or sell the manuscripts to a traditional publisher, I self-published and got to know a number of Michigan writers – including Tracy Gardner, aka Jess Sinclair. (Check her out – she’s a terrific storyteller!) We became fans of each other’s work, and she graciously introduced me to her agent. As a result, in October 2023, I am thrilled to make my debut with The Dial Press with LOVE AT 350°, a rom-com taking place on the set of a televised baking competition where a talented contestant catches the eye of a celebrity judge.

All those years in musical theater developed my passion for smart, funny love stories with well-deserved happy endings. Now as a novelist, it’s my pleasure to create new stories for a wider audience.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge about writing a book is continually showing up. There are a lot of misconceptions about the “right” way to be a writer that can stop you before you even start: how much time you’re “supposed” to spend writing every day, how many words you’re “supposed” to produce, how you balance what you want to write with what (you assume) a publisher wants to buy. Even if you find that perfect time and place to work, there’s no guarantee you’ll have writing you’re proud of by the end of the session. And there’s a popular assumption that authors sell their first novels when they’re much, much younger than I was when I started.

Add all that to bouts of imposter syndrome and perfection anxiety, and writing can be a hard slog.

A good friend who is an established writer told me early on that every unsold manuscript leads to better work in the future – and for me that turned out to be true. I’m very proud of my two self-published novels. Even though they didn’t get me an agent or land a publishing deal, I gained much-needed experience and fluidity. Those books also connected me to other writers, which led to me to selling my first book to Dial Press in 2022.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a novelist, I write the kinds of stories I’d like to read but haven’t seen on the shelves yet. I also wholeheartedly believe that true love is possible at any age.

That’s why I’m proud to create rom-coms featuring characters like my female friends. They’re smart, wickedly funny, compassionate, and accomplished. They can’t just drop everything and run off into the sunset: they have to balance their responsibilities with what they still dream of doing. For instance, in LOVE AT 350°, my main characters are forty-something lesbians whose careers and love lives haven’t worked out the way they expected. They have bills to pay; they’re not all that young anymore; they worry a lot – and yet, they still have hope.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
When the actor William H. Macy was interviewed on James Lipton’s “The Actor’s Studio” many years ago, he was asked what advice he had for the acting students in the audience. He looked out at all the eager, anxious young actors and told them, “You are enough.”

For me, “You are enough” means that art and creativity starts within our own hearts and minds. Yes, we have to work hard at our craft and gain insights through the lives and examples of others. We also need to grow, learn and understand different points of view – including constructive criticism. Great art is rooted in compassion – and that starts with compassion for ourselves.

That concept means a lot to me, and its good advice for anyone, not just people pursuing careers in the arts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lisa-Peers/author/B00KUHD19A
• Instagram: @lpeers48009
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.peers/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-peers/ 
• Twitter: @lisapeers

Image Credits
Davis Kurepa-Peers