Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Edmonds.
Hi Lisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My journey to becoming a full-time author began when I was six years old.
As the daughter of two librarians, I grew up surrounded by and luxuriating in books and stories. My parents read to me in my early years, and then I took to reading like the proverbial duck to water. I had a wild and vivid imagination, both by my own recollection and that of my parents, who were often on the receiving end of my rather fanciful tales about afternoon adventures that only nominally bore a resemblance to reality.
In addition to my love of books—the more imaginative the better!—I also shared my father’s love of the original Star Trek series and Doctor Who (Fourth Doctor FTW!). Looking back, I think what those shows taught me was imagination didn’t have limits. Stories didn’t have to take place on this planet or in this time, and they could involve wondrous and strange beings and creatures whose forms were similar to ours or very, very much not. (The Horta, anyone?)
At age six, I wrote my first story on a page of Big Chief tablet paper, the paper du jour of kindergartners and first-graders in the mid-80s. In the story, a flower befriended a rainbow, and they were happy until the rainbow had to go away (as rainbows do). Then the flower was sad. My mom hung onto that bit of childish flash fiction for a long time. Anyway, that was the day I set my feet on the road to becoming an author.
I grew up watching Star Trek, ST: The Next Generation, ST: Deep Space Nine, ST: Voyager, and a host of other sci-fi and fantasy series and films, as well as the glorious X-Files. And I devoured every sci-fi, paranormal, supernatural, and mystery book I could get my hands on, from Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, and Ed McBain to Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and many more.
And all through my tweens and teens, I wrote. And wrote. And wrote.
I wrote stories. I wrote so many snippets of never-to-be-completed novels. I wrote fanfic (mostly Next Gen-based) long before I knew the name for what I was doing when I wrote stories involving Next Gen characters. I particularly liked writing adventures for Deanna Troi, who never seemed to get good scenes or stories in the series beyond telling Picard what others felt or getting her brain fried by some mean alien. In my stories, she got to be badass and save the day.
I completed a couple of novels in my teens, all of which were some form of mysteries because I was super into police procedurals at the time, P.I. books, and cozy mysteries. I even wrote a humorous whodunit set at a family reunion wherein the main character’s ex ended up dead in the pool with her grandma’s knitting needles sticking out of his chest.
I wrote some in college but very little in grad school since free time was rare. I read for fun whenever I could and discovered urban fantasy (through Kim Harrison’s the Hollows series) in my twenties. Again, I threw myself into reading everything in the genre I could find, including Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Laurell K. Hamilton, Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur, Darynda Jones, Kelley Armstrong, Jennifer Estep, J.R. Ward, Karen Chance, Chuck Wendig, Shannon Mayer, ad infinitum. Though I had fallen deeply in love with urban fantasy, my goal of becoming a writer seemed a far-off, if not impossible, dream.
In 2015, now working as an associate professor of English at Weatherford College, I decided to make publishing my first novel a priority. In 2017, I published Heart of Malice, which introduced private investigator Alice Worth to the world. Between 2017 and 2022, I published eight more novels in the series, plus several novellas and short stories and the first book of a spinoff series. I am currently working on the next book in the Alice series, with several more planned. And as of May 2023, I am now a full-time author. I have made my dreams come true.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The most significant obstacles I have overcome have been finding a publisher for my books and the writing of the books themselves. Many people want to write a book, but only a small percentage of those do so because the task is so difficult. Writing a book is a marathon, often lasting months or years. My first book was the most challenging to finish and revise, I think, though the book I wrote in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic was no less easy due to stress and anxiety. My mother passed away in January 2022, which led to another difficult year, especially for writing, though I was able to complete and publish my first spin-off novel. Creativity takes a lot of physical, emotional, and psychological energy, as well as the ability to focus. Both personal and world tragedies have made work very difficult for many creatives, including me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the best-selling author of the Alice Worth urban fantasy series. Currently, there are eight books in the main series, plus several novellas and short stories, and one book in the spinoff series. My books are available through Kindle Unlimited as well as Audible. I am immensely proud to have created a protagonist who is relatable for many readers, many of whom message me on social media to express their appreciation. My series is action-packed and fast-paced, but I also work diligently to develop my characters and explore their psychology. My background in forensic criminology helps me in this regard, too, from creating the mysteries Alice must solve to formulating motivations and villains. Two of the primary themes in my books are the importance of bodily autonomy and the process of healing from trauma. I often receive messages from readers thanking me for my realistic portrayal of these difficult topics. This to me is far more rewarding than “best-seller” banners on Amazon or critical accolades. My characters are real to me and my readers, and as an author, I couldn’t ask for more than that.
Soon I will fully launch my Patreon creative community, called Write Wildly Creative Collective. The basic “Buy Me a Coffee”-level membership is already open as a soft launch. More tiers are coming soon, where I will offer writing classes, virtual creative coworking, and author mentoring. My Patreon can be found at https://www.patreon.com/WriteWildly.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I really enjoy living in the DFW metro area primarily due to its eclectic neighborhoods, foodie culture, concert venues, museums, libraries, and parks. As a resident of Weatherford, I have easy access to all the best things Dallas offers while living in the rural setting I prefer. To me, it is the best of both worlds: the busy urban environment and the peaceful country escape.
What do I like least? Like many, I would have to say the traffic. Oy vey.
Pricing:
- Alice Worth books are free to read in KU
- Kindle prices range from 99 cents to $6.99
- Audiobooks are available from Audible and other retailers
- Patreon Membership starts at $5/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisaedmonds.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edmonds411/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Edmonds411/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisaedmonds9053
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/WriteWildly
Image Credits
Madison Hurley Photography
