Story & Lesson Highlights with Liz Alterman

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Liz Alterman. Check out our conversation below.

Liz, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m going to self-publish a novel this fall. I’ve been educating myself on all that entails and I’m excited to continue to learn as I go.

Previously, I feared not only the numerous moving parts but also I dreaded the stigma that’s surrounded self-publishing in the past. I think the perception has been that it was an alternative for those who lacked other options. But now I see it as a solution for people who would like control over all-important things like cover, title, and pricing. I feel like it’s time for me to take the reins and see how it goes. Win or learn, as my kids say.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an author, journalist, and humorist. I’ve published an award-winning memoir, Sad Sacked, a young adult thriller, He’ll Be Waiting, several adult thrillers, The Perfect Neighborhood, The House on Cold Creek Lane, You Shouldn’t Have Done That, and a romcom, Claire Casey’s Had Enough. I have a new thriller, A Different Type of Poison, coming out in late November 2025. I like to think that no matter which genre I’m working in, I combine suspense with humor and relatable characters.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My father had a very strong work ethic and he tried to instill that in me. He lost his dad when he was very young and worked several jobs to put himself through school. He was always educating himself, whether it was learning new languages–including programming languages as he worked in IT–or teaching himself how to make home repairs, he never backed down from a challenge or viewed something as out of reach. Being raised with the belief that you could learn anything if you put in the work was really empowering.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I had a very negative experience with a literary agent who was exceedingly harsh and it made me consider quitting. I still loved writing but I didn’t want to be part of an industry where one person had the power to crush another’s spirit.

There’s so much self-doubt and rejection inherent in the writing life, that you don’t want the people who are supposed to be in your corner to be rude or anything less than supportive. It left me with such a strong negative feeling that took me a while to shake.

Rather than quit, I decided to take a break from fiction and write in a different style. I signed up for stand-up comedy classes and that reignited my passion for writing. It also got me thinking about how to get to the point faster and the importance of specifics, which I hope strengthened my fiction when I returned to it.

The whole experience taught me a valuable lesson: Be careful about the people you choose to surround yourself with and don’t give up something you love because of anyone else’s opinion.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I ask my children for a lot of advice when it comes to writing—anything from character names to plot twists. They have fresh ideas and they’re fearless. I also love listening to writing podcasts. Camille Pagan’s The Career Novelist is one of my favorites. She’s incredibly honest and inspiring and backs up her ideas with study findings and scientific evidence. It’s fascinating and I recommend it to writers at all stages of their careers.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people would say I’m someone who didn’t quit when things were difficult, who lifted up others when they needed it, and who kept a sense of humor through it all.

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