5 Things You Don't Know About Liz Alterman: A Guest Post by Liz Alterman
I’m on maternity leave! During this time, a few of my favorite authors offered to step up and write guest posts so that this blog would remain active while I adjust to my new role as a mother. I may also be a bit slower to respond. Thanks for understanding and for being so supportive of me, my family, and my blog. Want to donate a few dollars to keep this blog running or perhaps contribute to my diaper fund? You can do so on Venmo or Paypal.
5 Things You Don't Know About Liz Alterman: A Guest Post by Liz Alterman
Liz Alterman, author of the memoir, SAD SACKED, the young adult thriller, HE’LL BE WAITING, and the suspense novel, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORHOOD, shares 5 things you might be surprised to know about her.
1. I once worked in the finance industry as a bond broker. When I graduated from college with an English degree, I failed to land my dream job (or any job) in writing or publishing. Desperate for a paycheck, I accepted a position at a financial institution and got my licenses to sell stock and bonds. My days were spent cold calling and asking strangers if they were interested in buying municipal and corporate bonds. This was back in the early 1990s before caller ID was a standard household amenity, so many people actually answered their home phones. Most gave me a resounding, “Not interested!” (Some said far worse, but I’ve blocked it out!)
As difficult as it was, that job served as great preparation for life as a writer, which is rife with rejection. It also taught me that if you just keep at it, there’s probably a “yes” right around the corner. So as grueling (reader, I lasted one year) as my early career was, it helped me develop a thick skin (more like a hide). Of course, receiving rejections still stings, but having experienced so many “no thank you!”s and “not for me!”s early on, I’m able to keep moving forward without getting too discouraged.
2. I’ve been on television twice. In 2014, I received an email from the daytime TV show “The Chew.” Producers were looking for fans willing to compete for a Girls Night Out with Chef Carla Hall. I’d been laid off and found myself with a lot of free time while job hunting, so I sent back the information they requested, which included photos, recipes, and a few sentences about what made you a Carla Hall super-fan. Much to my surprise, I was selected. With Michael Symon as my partner, I prepared coconut macaroons (with very shaky hands). It was a fun experience—one that took me far outside my comfort zone.
The second time I was on TV was equally unexpected. I’d written a piece for Realtor.com about wanting a “sleep divorce” from my snoring husband. A producer from Inside Edition read it and got in touch to ask if we would be up for an interview. My husband reluctantly said, “Sure,” never anticipating that a TV crew would be standing in our bedroom twelve hours later. Initially, my husband swore me to secrecy, embarrassed that our private issue was now public. Little did we know, we had friends and family who watched and quickly texted to share a laugh. As time has passed, my husband sees the humor in it. Our children, on the other hand, are still mortified by it—especially when YouTube suggests the clip to their friends.
3. On that note…I have 3 sons, ages 20, 17, and 15 and so far none of them wants to be a writer. I also have two cats who add a lot of life (and fur) to our home.
4. If I weren’t writing, I’d love to own a small cafe or bakeshop. Before there was a Starbucks in nearly every town, I dreamt of opening a place where you could find strong coffee, delicious pastries, and friendly service. I wanted to host open mic nights for local artists and live a sweet life where I returned home each evening smelling faintly of butter, sugar, and French roast. Now I realize it’s probably for the best that I never pursued that passion as some days I’m exhausted after preparing a simple dinner for my family of five.
5. I have a blog. When I was laid off in 2014, my husband had lost his job just six weeks earlier. It was a challenging (euphemism) time and I decided to start a blog, On the Balls of Our A$$ets, as sort of an online diary outlining the heartbreak and humor that go hand-in-hand with trying to embark on a new career at midlife. I wanted to address the fear and struggle that accompany unemployment in an honest way. To paraphrase Toni Morrison, I wrote the thing I wanted to read. I’ve considered shifting the blog’s focus more to the writing life, but I consistently hear from people who are between jobs and seeking commiseration and understanding. I’m thrilled my experience makes someone feel less alone at a difficult time. Additionally, those blog entries went on to serve as the foundation for my memoir, Sad Sacked, which was released by Audible in November 2021 and will be out in paperback and ebook in June 2024.
5 Things You Don't Know About Liz Alterman: A Guest Post by Liz Alterman
