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It's A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Lisa R. Neuder, author of The Sweet Friendship

Author’s Bio: Lisa R. Neuder is a debut children's author from Rockville, Maryland. She is a member of the Maryland Writers’ Association, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Authors Guild. Lisa serves as a full-time Appeals Officer at the U.S. Department of Education. 


Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?


Lisa R. Neuder: Several years ago, I came up with the idea to write stories for children that conveyed valuable life lessons. These lessons, in my opinion, were not taught in school but were essential to know.


For my debut children's book, The Sweet Friendship, I drew upon the themes of friendship and loyalty – these are concepts that affect everyone and are always challenging. Then we had the pandemic, which added another level of complication to our relationships. After writing my book, it was my hope that students would reflect on the meaning of friendship and determine who is reliable and who is not.

 

DL: How do you handle writer’s block?


LRN: Journaling is a wonderful remedy for my writer’s block. With journaling, I can relax and do free writing. I find that journaling helps me to write about the events of the day, my emotions surrounding a particular situation, or things that I am grateful for in my life. I have noticed that when I have journaled, ideas or themes have emerged. These ideas or themes have been used for my current book and I plan to use them for other projects or future books.

 

DL: What do you think makes a good story?


LRN: I love writing about universal themes. Readers will discover that in my book (or future books) I highlight themes that can apply to anyone regardless of their background, cultural differences, or geographical regions.  I want my stories to spark a person’s interest and imagination. I love the discussions surrounding my topics and themes.

 

DL: What was the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?


LRN: The best writing advice that I received is to follow your heart and write about your passions or interests. I try not to write to satisfy a business model or a particular approach in my writing. I write because I enjoy telling stories and it is my hope that others can relate to what I am trying to convey and share.

 

DL: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

LRN: I enjoy organizing and participating in my writing groups, offering support to other local authors, volunteering, and reading books. I am the proud mom of Biscuit, my dachshund and Peanut, the mixed-lop bunny who is forever in my heart since his passing. 

DL: What are three things you can’t live without?

LRN: The three things that I cannot live without are: 

Resilience. There are so many challenges in life that without resilience, it would be hard for me to overcome all the setbacks that I have experienced. My mother used to say that there is a fine line between making it or not. That is, with determination and resilience, I can cross the finish line or reach my goal(s).

 

Love. Love comes in many forms. We can love our families, best friends, pets, people who support us, neighbors, or community. It is important for me to both give and receive it. Giving gives me purpose and receiving it provides an anchor for me to keep moving forward.

 

Good Friends. Just having one or two friends by my side can turnaround a bad day. It is comforting to know that I have someone there to hold my hand, give advice, and provide encouragement. Without a good friend or two, it would be difficult to weather the storms in life.

 

DL: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

LRN:  If I had to describe myself in three words, I would say loyal, kind, and authentic. 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from The Sweet Friendship?


LRN: Sure, here you go:


Blurb:

An idealistic, bright-eyed, lop-eared bunny (Baked Bean) is seeking the friendship and company of another bunny. But to her dismay, her new interest (Snowshoe) brings both joy and heartache. Will she be able to overcome her struggles with her new friend? 

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

LRN: I wrote a short story for a creative writing program at a university called On Newberry Road. I also started the second book in The Sweet Friendship series. My goal is to have a trilogy in this series. The books in this series would share many of the same characters and the themes, with the emphasis on friendship and loyalty. I may expand one of the books to include the importance of community.

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?


LRN: Readers can learn more here:

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

LRN: Thank you, again, for including me in your blog! 




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