Photo Content from Liesel K. Hill
Not so much one defining one as lots of little ones. I had a teacher tell my mother in grade school that my vocabulary was good enough to write a book. My mom told me that and I was flattered. After that, I always thought about writing stories, but I never thought of it as being my life’s work. I was interested in health science. If there was a defining moment, it came in college. I was doing pre-med and hated it. When I finally realized that health science wasn’t the path for me, I felt lost and had to ask myself what I wanted to do. I was always daydreaming about writing a book on the side, and stories in my head were where I went when I was bored with my school work, so why not? That decision changed my life.
What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?
I’m the second oldest of twelve children. No it’s not a mixed family or a polygamist family. We call come from the same two parents. (No multiple births, either.) My brothers and sisters and I are very close. We have our share of drama, but we’re very tight-knit. That family situation very much influences the values I write into my books.
What was the greatest thing you learned at school?
To let people read my work. The first critique-type class I took was a poetry class. It was horrifying. Not least because poetry is not my strong suit. But the next semester I took a novel-writing, critique-style class, and it was much easier. If you can make it through looking people in the eye and having them tell you what’s wrong with your writing, you can do anything! Trust me! School taught me the value of critique groups and helped me grow a thick enough skin to deal with criticism. I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without those two skills.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
That’s a tough one for me. There’s not one, defining piece of advice that sticks out in my head. Between critiques (usually by other authors) and conferences I attend, I get really great advice from successful authors all the time. The best advice you can receive from an author are the tips and tricks they use to be successful, and which it is possible for you to incorporate into your life and writing.
In your new novel; Persistence of Vision, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it?
Persistence of Vision is a dystopian fantasy. It’s about a world where most of the population is part of a collective mind. The individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction and the few remaining are fighting for their freedom. Maggie (a woman from our contemporary world) is thrown into this. She learns that she was part of it once before, but a terrible accident caused the loss of her memories. To complicate things, she once had a relationship with a man named Marcus, whom she no longer remembers, though he remembers her (awkward!).
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Maggie?
That it’s fun to create characters that are everything you’re not. Maggie has a lot of me in her, but she’s braver than me, thinks faster on her feet than I do, has more adventures than me, and—you know when someone says something nasty to you and you’re speechless, but two days later you think of an awesome comeback, but it’s too late to say it? Well, Maggie gets to think of awesome comebacks on the spot. That’s lots of fun to write. :D
For those who are unfamiliar with Marcus, how would you introduce him?
Marcus is a rock in his beliefs. He’s someone who’s been through a lot in his life. For all his self-possession (and one visible scar) there are lots of invisible scars he never talks about. We’ll learn more about his past in book 2, but for now just know that he accepts all things, even if it’s painful for him.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers. What would it be?
Never stop reading. It’s the best way to explore the world (and other ones), relate to people, and traverse the continuum of the human experience all from the comfort of your own home. :D
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
Ooh great question! I had to really think about this. I think I’d introduce David to the little kid from Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. That kid learned a lot of lessons from his father about life and sacrifice and compassion and surviving in a dystopic world. I think his perspective could help David through his struggles with individualism vs. collectivism.
When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
LOL. I don’t know. I don’t make lying much of a habit. I suppose maybe my weight, though most people I know are too polite to actually ask me that.
What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
That’s a toughy. I think I’ll have to go with the roaring twenties. People knew how to party, but without as much of the danger and trouble as we have today. It seems like it would have been a fun time to be alive. (Not crazy about the fashions, though.)
What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?
I did a lot of babysitting when I was young. I’ve had great jobs and then I’ve watched some hellions. I won’t name names, but memorable (both good and bad) is definitely in there somewhere. :D
Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
One of my sisters. We’re all about venting to one another.
When was the last time you told someone you loved them?
Last night. My family is big on i-love-yous. We say it on the phone and whenever we part. Also, I take care of my 2 year old niece while my sister works. I put her to bed several nights a week and always tell her I love her when I put her in her crib. She’s finally talking enough to start to say it back. :D
Do you remember your favorite teacher?
I’ve been blessed with tons of great teachers in my life. One of my favorites was my 6th grade teacher. She encouraged me in my writing, but it was more than that. She was the kind of person that made you feel like you can do whatever you want and the world is your oyster. Her style of teaching (very hands-on) also taught me some lessons that I still have never forgotten. She’s what every teacher ought to be.
When was the last time you cried?
Unfortunately, I’m a crier, so I cry A LOT, especially when reading/watching something touching or when at church. Three days ago I went and saw the film version of Les Miserables. I sobbed hysterically through Ann Hathaway’s rendition of I Dreamed a Dream and also through the ending. It wasn’t pretty.
Most horrifying dream you have ever had?
Probably shouldn’t admit this, but I dreamed just recently that my sister’s ex killed her. It was really awful. I just remember thinking in the dream that I could believe she was gone. It was a weird dream, too, because I’m not sure where it came from. My sister and her ex are currently trying to figure out a custody agreement for their daughter, but it’s been largely civil. Maybe I just ate something that didn’t agree with me that night?
After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can't explain. When she's attacked by a creep with a spider's web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she's never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.
In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.
If Maggie can't fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away...
You can purchase Persistence of Vision at the following Retailers:
And now, The Giveaways.
Thank you LIESEL K. HILL for making this giveaway possible.
4 Winners will receive an E-Copy of Persistence of Vision by Liesel K. Hill.
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