Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisbeth McCarty.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember, so a degree in Professional Writing seemed perfect as a career. During my last semester of getting my BA in Journalism, I took a constitutional law case. I fell in love with that aspect of the law, which led me to get a JD, with both degrees being from the University of Oklahoma. For almost 40 years, I worked as an appellate attorney in the field of criminal law. In Oklahoma, an appellate criminal defense attorney reads through transcripts of the trial (or whatever proceeding is being appealed), then researches and prepares a brief on any of the issues which might have gone wrong in the trial-level process. I combed the record and exhibits to see if the police, judge, attorneys, witnesses, or juror did anything wrong. I was a Monday-morning quarterback, paid to judge other people’s work.
I represented everyone from someone caught with marijuana (prior to the existence of medical marijuana cards) to death-row murderers. Throughout this time, I also did a lot of freelance writing outside of my full-time job, being published in various anthologies, journals, and newsletters. I was part of the prosecution side after my beloved niece was murdered when she was five months pregnant. The murderer eventually pled guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, and I testified against the murderer at his sentencing hearing.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was born with a Pollyanna attitude, a trait which has always assisted me in dealing with any obstacles in my way. At the same time, I am realistic. I recognize that all of us who walk this Earth have troubles and woes in addition to all kinds of things for which to be grateful. I’m at the age now where each awakening has me thanking God for a new day of life!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember. After graduating from college and passing the bar exam, I was thrilled to find a job as an appellate attorney, where I was paid to do two of my favorite things–read and write! One of my career highlights was when I won the Thurgood Marshall Appellate Advocacy Award of the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association.
Now, I am retired from that job and am able to work as a freelance writer every day. Besides submitting to various publications, I also enjoy entering writing contests. I have twice won the Bonnie Speer Norman Galaxy of Writers Creme de la Creme award, once in 2013, then again in 2018. I have also won several writing awards from the Oklahoma Writers Federation, inc. (OWFI), the OKC Writers, the Arkansas Writers Conference, and the White County Creative Writers. I have been a finalist for the OWFI Creme de la Creme award on four occasions.
I also enjoy being a published author. I write a series for Q&A, the magazine of the Criminal Law section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. I have been published numerous times on the Back Page of the Oklahoma Bar Journal. I have had stories in various anthologies. I have been published several times in The Mensa Bulletin, the national publication for members of American Mensa. For several years, I was the editor of Mensokie, the publication of Central Oklahoma Mensa. These are just a few of the places where I have been published.
I have also assumed leadership roles in various organizations. I have been President of the local chapter of Toastmasters and the Normal Galaxy of Writers. Currently, I serve in the role of President of Tornado Alley, a group of mystery writers. Tornado Alley is a local chapter of the national Sisters in Crime organization.
I also enjoy art as an outsider, primitive artist. As far back as fifth grade, I was the school artist for our fifth-grade newspaper, drawing for every cover. I have sold a few of my pieces of art, designed my book covers, and have curated two art shows.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
People can support me by signing up for my free monthly newsletter at: https://lisbeth.substack.com.
Also, they can visit me (and contact me) at www.lisbethmccarty.com.
I would like to help victims of crime tell their stories so that I can write about them. I want to write true-crime stories that tell what happened but concentrate more on the victim than the criminal.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lisbethmccarty.com and https://substack.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izzieshakes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisbeth.mccarty; https://www.facebook.com/LisbethLMcCarty/
