Listen:
I was thrilled to meet Lara Lillibridge at AWP 2024 at the booth for her publisher, Unsolicited Press. I had known about her work for years, so making that in person connection was so wonderful. We talked about her book, and my book, and once I read The Truth About Unringing Phones: Essays on Yearning, I knew I had to have Lara on the program.
In This Episode
- How she approached writing about tough family topics
- Building bridges into each chapter of your book
- Developing a writing practice after you’ve lost your words
- The surprising genesis of Lara’s book’s title and how it works as a throughline
- How Lara found her publisher
- The importance of audio rights to your book with the advent of AI.
- The trauma of writing about difficult relationships and the importance of self-care
- Researching family history with handy online tools
- Lara’s work as Interviews editor for Hippocampus Magazine
Watch on YouTube
About Lara
Lara Lillibridge (she/they) is the author of The Truth About Unringing Phones: Essays on Yearning; Mama, Mama, Only Mama: An Irreverent Guide for the Newly Single Parent, and Girlish: Growing Up in a Lesbian Home. Lara is the Interviews Editor for Hippocampus Magazine and Creative Nonfiction Co-editor for HeartWood Literary Magazine. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from West Virginia Wesleyan College
Connect with Lara
Lara’s Interview with Estelle Erasmus for Hippocampus Magazine
Buy Lara’s book on Estelle’s Bookshop
Connect with Estelle
Sign up for Estelle’s Substack, Writing That Gets Noticed.
Latest Substack post: Writing A Memoir: What Matters Most
Get Her Book
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published
Estelle’s Latest Articles
What to Do PreLaunch to Get Your Book Noticed (Writer’s Digest)
How to Resist the Temptation of AI When Writing (Wired)
I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways (Shondaland)
See Estelle’s latest blog post with news
Other Episodes Featuring Memoirists
Episode #87 Writing Memoir That Reads Like a Novel and Captivates on Every Page Featuring Joanna Rakoff
Episode #83 Writing Your Way into An Engaging and Enthralling Story Featuring Abigail Thomas
Episode #81 The Art of Shaping a Compelling Story Featuring Maggie Smith
Episode #79 Being Vulnerable on the Page and Finding Empathy In Your Heart Featuring Amy Ferris
Episode #44 Telling Your Stories without Shame or Apology
Episode #40 My Father’s List
Episode #39 The Literary Gifts of the Leaving Season with Kelly McMasters
Episode #38 Cheryl Strayed on Writing and Tiny Beautiful Things
