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A Conversation with Liz Alterman, a Suspense, Thriller Author
Liz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. She spends most days repeatedly microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms.
Liz Alterman is the author of a domestic suspense novel, The Perfect Neighborhood, a young adult thriller, He’ll Be Waiting, and a memoir, Sad Sacked. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, McSweeney’s, and other outlets. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, three sons, and two cats, and spends most days microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading.
Let’s get started with a quick rapid fire.
Q1. If you could be transformed into one mythological creature, which one would you choose?
Pegasus – the winged horse. I’m usually running late so having the ability to fly would be really helpful.
Q2. What is one thing you wish you enjoyed more?
Seafood. (Runner up: Running)
Q3. What are the least-likely three words someone would use to describe you?
Punctual, Athletic, Boring.
Q4. Where did you go on your last vacation?
France, and it was amazing.
Q5. Would you rather find your dream job or win the lottery? You can’t do both.
I’d rather find my dream job. Nothing beats the satisfaction of working at something you love.
Q6. What is one thing you regret spending money on?
High heels/uncomfortable footwear.
Q7. What object do you misplace or lose the most?
Earrings.
Q8. If you were a spy, what would be your codename?
Lady Sweatpants.
Q9. What secret about the universe would you most want to learn?
I’d love to know what happens after we die.
Q10. Favorite Holiday Destination.
I love going anywhere with a beach so I can hear the ocean while reading a book.
Q11. What was one “before” and “after” in your life?
Having children definitely divided my life into “before” and “after.”
Q12. What do you think people misunderstand about you?
Because I’m pretty laid-back, I think people believe I lack hustle. I’m hustling, I just don’t stress about it.
It’s time for a more detailed conversation, Liz.
You’ve answered our rapid fire brilliantly, Liz. Now, it’s time for our readers to know more about the person behind the book.
Q. Tell us something about yourself that’s going to keep us wanting more.
Oddly, I’ve been on TV twice—but neither time has been book-related. I was on The Chew, competing to win a night out with chef Carla Hall, and Inside Edition talking about wanting a “sleep divorce” due to my husband’s jackhammer-like snoring.
Q. Well, that’s just…memorable for sure. So, what books have you read more than once in your life?
As an adult reader, I don’t tend to re-read books, but as a parent, I’ve probably read Chrysanthemum one thousand times.
Q. Interesting. Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?
My husband is my biggest supporter. He not only gives me the time and space to write, but he’ll also listen as I talk through plot points. He helps by reading and editing pages and providing feedback to make a story stronger. I’d be lost without that in-house support. “Their fervent whispers floated over hedges, through picket fences, around corners. Their words traveled across lawns and hung in the branches of oak trees like poisonous fruit. But all conversation stopped as soon as I came into view.”Liz Alterman, The Perfect Neighborhood
Q. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few die-hard fans will find?
I haven’t yet but I love that idea!
Q. For an author, what do you think is worse – negative reviews or zero reviews?
I think negative reviews are probably worse because some are really cruel and they can make you second-guess your abilities, which can mess with your mind if you’re in the middle of a new project.
Q. What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
The plot usually comes first. I feel like I need to have a sense of where the story is going to begin and end before I can dig in. Then, I get to know the characters better over time as I write them and force them into the challenging situations the plot presents. As I revise, I can make those characters more real and authentic because, by that point, I know them well and I want readers to either root for or against them.
Q. How do you plan your plot and characters?
I start by outlining ideas for scenes—often out of order. For characters, it varies—some come to me right away, fully-formed. I can see them; I know their names. With others, it may take me a while to really “get” them. Most of the time thoughts come to me when I’m doing other things—washing dishes, making dinner. I let my mind wander and that’s often when plot twists and characters begin to take shape.
Q. So, now, about your book. Talk to us about it. No major spoilers.
Think you know your neighbors? Think again.
When Allison Langley leaves her former rockstar husband in the middle of the night, her sudden departure becomes the talk of Oak Hill. But the gossip comes to an abrupt halt when five-year-old Billy Barnes disappears on his walk home from kindergarten. Is there a predator lurking within the idyllic community? Or, does the child’s abduction have something to do with a longtime rift between his mother and half-brother? And how does his babysitter, Cassidy McLean, who has a secret of her own, factor into the drama?
Told from multiple points of view, The Perfect Neighborhood is a twisty tale of domestic suspense, which explores the damage caused by infertility and infidelity as well as the intense pressure that stems from wanting the perfect family. Taking a voyeuristic view into marriages and modern parenting, this story will appeal to fans of Desperate Housewives and Big Little Lies.
Q. What part of the entire book publishing process, starting from the plot idea to the book anniversary, do you find tough or tricky?
I find the waiting to be the hardest part—waiting for a new idea or plot twist to come to mind, waiting for someone on the publishing side to respond to your work, waiting to see your book out in the world. The process requires patience at each and every step.
Q. What is your kryptonite as a writer?
The internet and social media are definitely my kryptonite. As soon as I struggle with a sentence, I find myself turning to Twitter or Instagram, and next thing I know twenty minutes have passed. That said, I’ve met some amazing people—writers and readers—through these platforms so they’re a blessing and a curse.
Q. What risks have you taken with your writing that have paid off?
I have let ideas guide me and have written the things that interested me most at the time. For example, I wrote a memoir, SAD SACKED, about the lengthy period my husband and I were out of work. But then I had an idea for a young adult novel, so I wrote that. I’ve also written a rom-com (yet to be published!) so I tend to embrace the project that most excites me. Today, we hear that writers should brand themselves and pick a genre and stick with it. I think that may be great advice for some, but I’d rather write the thing that excites me most.
Q. Let’s talk about the process of writing. Do you do research while writing a book to add more authenticity? What kind and how far do you go – ever traveled to a foreign place just for the sake of your book?
I definitely do research to make sure references fit the time period, but I haven’t done any extensive traveling or learned a new skill. That said, my next project is set partially at a ski resort, so I may have to plan a trip out west and hit the slopes. “Who’s more dangerous: the stranger who picks you up on a highway or the people in your neighborhood?”Liz Alterman, The Perfect Neighborhood
Q. What was your hardest scene to write?
Ending The Perfect Neighborhood was definitely challenging for me. I rewrote it probably a half-dozen times. Sometimes I think about releasing all the alternate endings just for fun.
Q. What is the best money you’ve ever spent with regard to your writing?
I’ve attended two writing retreats: the Leopardi Writers Conference in Recanati, Italy and Karbohemia in Collioure, France and both were fantastic. I met so many talented writers and instructors and there’s something about visiting a new place and meeting people with shared interests that’s incredibly inspiring.
Q. Well, this has been great. Now, before we wrap this up, do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?
My go-to tip is: Read your work aloud. It helps catch typos, overused words, and dialogue that doesn’t sound authentic.
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