Denise Liebig
I currently live near
Las Vegas, Nevada,
but I grew-up in Oregon.
Good morning, Denise, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors. We're happy to have you here with us this morning. What have you written?
I recently published Dear Maude, the first book of The Dear
Maude Trilogy. It’s the story of a young
woman, who journeys from the safety of her family into the “real world” after
college. As her new life takes her
further and further from home, she pours her experiences onto the pages of a
journal she addresses to her deceased aunt, Maude. Dear
Maude has romance, fantasy and bit of history rolled into one.
What is your favorite
genre to write?
I enjoy writing in
general, and one of my favorite genres is women’s fiction. Dear
Maude falls into that category. I
also enjoy writing children’s literature.
I have several unpublished children’s short stories that I hope to
revisit in the future.
Favorite food.
I’ve recently
discovered lamb chops and have to admit that I can’t get enough.
Tea or coffee?
Tea - strong and
sweet. I will drink the whole cup
without removing the teabag.
Pizza or ice cream?
I love pizza (without
cheese) and could probably live on it. Fortunately,
most places don’t mind the challenge of making it cheese-less.
Where would you like to
visit?
I have always wanted to
visit Scotland and Ireland. I have
traveled to many parts of the world but have never been to either. The Gaelic and Celtic cultures/languages
fascinate me, and I would also love to see the beautiful scenery I have drooled
over in coffee table books and movies.
There are so many of us who are writers who want to go to Scotland! We need to get a tour group together. Wouldn't that be a blast? Favorite musical
artist. Do you listen to music when you
write? What?
I can’t say that I have
one favorite musical artist or group; I have many. What I listen to depends upon the mood I’m in
at the time and what activity I am doing.
For example, when I paint, I have to listen to classical. I don’t listen to music when I write. It is too distracting; because if a song has
words, I have to sing them!
What makes you laugh?
Movies
Favorite work of art or
sculpture.
I have always liked
Impressionism. I don’t have a favorite
work of art, but I have a favorite artist - Renoir. I do have a favorite sculptor, though -
Michael Florin Dente, my art teacher from college.
How old were you when
you started writing?
I was in the first
grade, and I loved writing stories on the blue-lined newsprint paper that
always had a space for a picture on the top.
Describe your perfect
evening.
My perfect evening
would involve a date with my husband. We
have kids, so the dates don’t happen as often as we’d prefer. It’s nice when they do, though.
Where do you get your
inspiration?
I get my inspiration
from many places, such as situations around me, questions that movies or books
trigger in my head, my family, and most importantly, those few moments of quiet
when I’m trying to fall asleep at night.
What do you do when you
get a writer's block?
I paint. I am currently working with acrylics, but I also
have painted with oils and watercolors.
Letting my imagination go on the canvas usually triggers something that
helps in my writing.
Who is your favorite
author?
I have always loved
Beatrix Potter. Her little stories and
drawings are so filled with imagination that the books just come to life for
me.
Best book you ever
read.
I have read quite a few
great books and have a difficult time choosing just one. I have always been a fan of the 1920s, and F
Scott Fitzgerald is one of my favorites from that era. So, I have to say The Great Gatsby.
Last book you read.
I read many books simultaneously
as part of my writing research. One
recent book, I Remember Distinctly by
Frederick Lewis Allen, stands out among the rest for its great photos and
descriptions of life from 1918-1941.
What would you do for a
living if you weren’t a writer?
I would paint. It is a very satisfying experience, and if I
could make a living at it, all the better.
Who is the one person
who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My husband has been the
greatest influence on my personal life.
He is very supportive and has been a good sounding-board for my
ideas.
If you could sit down
and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who
would it be and why?
I would have a
conversation with Stanley Blum, an artist and poet who I found on the
internet. He discovered his “inner
voice” when he was eighty. Then he
proceeded to paint and publish. His story
intrigues me, especially when he said, “A successful life is essentially a
creative life. Listen to the poets.”
What advice would you
give someone who aspired to be a writer?
I would suggest that
you write every day in some way. Whether
you want to express yourself in a poem, short story, lengthy e-mail to a
friend, journal, novel or some other form, you need to write. The more you
write, the better your writing skills become.
It’s good to have other people read your work, as well. It’s a difficult thing to open yourself up to
criticism, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Pick someone you trust and respect, who will
give you an honest critique - someone who can make your writing the best it can
be. Good luck!
Do you have a special Christmas memory to share with us?
One of my favorite Christmas memories from my childhood is also one I
still share with my kids. I used to listen to a radio program called,
"The Cinnamon Bear." It is the story of two children who search their
attic for their elusive Christmas tree star and in the process discover a
small, stuffed bear. He takes them on an adventure to help locate the
missing star. It's a wonderful story, and I still enjoy listening to it
each year.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OSHOI1I
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