Interview with Lisa A. Kramer, author of P.O.W.ER #YA
Lisa A. Kramer has spent her life learning,
creating, and exploring the world through theatre, writing, traveling and
collaborating as an educator. She has lived in nine states and two countries
(including Japan). She holds a PhD in Theatre for Youth, an
MFA in Theatre Directing, and a BA in English Language & Literature and
Theatre. She has published non-fiction articles in journals specializing on
Theatre for Young Audiences, as well articles aimed at young people for Listen Magazine. In addition to young
adult novels, she has ventured into the world of short stories, and has stories
for adults in several of the Theme-Thology
series published by HDWPBooks.com and available on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.
When not writing, Lisa shares her love of the arts and the power of story as
co-founder of heArtful Theatre Company and as adjunct faculty at various
colleges and universities. She also spends time enjoying New England with her husband, daughter, and two dogs
from her home base in central Massachusetts.
Her latest book is the YA speculative
feminist fiction, P.O.W.ER.
For More Information
- Visit Lisa A. Kramer’s website.
- Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Lisa at Goodreads.
- Contact Lisa.
About the Book:
On her seventeenth birthday, Andra discovers that her abilities extend beyond reading. She can write events to life. As she begins to explore her new ability, she must take care not to jeopardize her father’s job as head scrivener at the Ministry. Despite her efforts to keep her powers hidden, she comes to the attention of both the government and a rebel group, who each desire to use Andra for their own goals. At the same time, she begins to meet other gifted women who have never dared use their unique powers. With the help of her friends Brian and Lauren—who has the ability to read minds—Andra must find a way to unite the power of women to create change.
When one side manipulates Andra’s words into killing someone, and the other threatens her father’s life and her own freedom, Andra decides to use her writing to empower others to stop governmental oppression. But in a society ruled by lies, cruelty, and inequality her journey will not be easy or safe.
Her latest book is the YA speculative/feminist fiction, P.O.W.ER.
For each book sold, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to causes that support women and children around the world.
For More Information
- P.O.W.ER is available at Amazon.
- Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
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Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life! Now that your book has been published, we’d
love to find out more about the process.
Can we begin by having you take us at the beginning? Where did you come up with the idea to write
your book?
I can’t say that there was one thing that gave me
the idea, rather an accumulation of many things. P.O.W.ER is a response to a pervasive attitude in the world that
seems determined to undervalue over half of its population—the female half.
Whenever I hear of programs that try to limit girls’ and women’s access to
education or healthcare a question pops into my head: why are people in power
so afraid of educated women who make their own choices? That, is perhaps, the
initiating spark of the book. Other elements that led to me telling this story are:
my fascination with the mind and with
the possibility of people having psychic abilities, my belief in the power of
the arts to bring people together, and my belief that change is going to have
to come from creative collaboration rather than violence.
Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do
you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier
for other writers?
Some days were harder than others. Sometimes I ran
into a place where I got stuck. On those days I had a choice, sit down and
write or give myself a break. I usually did a combination, because forcing
yourself to write isn’t always the answer, despite what everyone says. I
believe that sometimes you shouldn’t write, you should walk and think and live
and observe, then come back to the writing. It works as long as you don’t make
the distractions an excuse.
At one point, I brought a version of this to a writer’s conference and had a one-on-one session with an editor. Her feedback, at first, made me want to give up. It wasn’t horrible, but it made me doubt myself as a writer. I didn’t agree with everything she said, but it planted questions in my mind. That night, I found myself revising the chapter she had read, based off of some of her comments. I had originally written P.O.W.ER in third person, although I tend to be stronger in first, because I felt like I should. But, her comments made me realize I was undermining my own work by trying to fit some kind of mold. The revision strengthened the chapter, and ultimately the book, because I finally was true to my own voice and goals rather than what I perceived as fitting a niche or a genre. So, my advice, is write what is true to you. Write from your heart. Write the story that you need to tell in the way you need to tell it. Write whenever you can, but be kind to yourself as well. If you can do that, it becomes easy and joyous.
Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them
or did you self-publish?
My publisher is Word Hermit Press, a small
publishing house. I found them because of a blogger friend who listened to me
vent about how frustrating the process is. I had just attended another writing
conference where everyone was saying YA dystopian fiction is dead. I had also
just read my reviews from the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel
contest, where both reviewers had said it was well written with interesting
characters etc. but it would be a hard sell. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the
idea that well-written books would be denied based off of a few pages, when the
story was much more than a dystopian novel. My friend, who had a connection
with Word Hermit, suggested I send the book to them. There were no guarantees,
but it was worth a shot. I am so glad I did.
Q: Is there anything that surprised you about
getting your first book published?
Beyond the surprise that I actually found a home
for it? I would say I was surprised at how difficult it is to market something
that isn’t (yet) available in a bookstore. I thought bookstores were
struggling, but so many people seem to prefer buying books that way.
Q: What other books (if any) are you working on and
when will they be published?
I am working on two manuscripts at the moment—one a
YA supernatural thriller and the second is literary fiction. I also have a
couple of nonfiction projects I’m hoping to get started—one dealing with
theatre for social change, and one celebrating women writers. I don’t have
publication dates at the moment.
Q: What’s your favorite place to hang out online?
I spend a lot of time on Facebook, but I wouldn’t
say it is my favorite. I also love to spend time on my blog which can be found
at www.lisaakramer.com. I’m slowly
coming around to Twitter, but really I prefer to communicate through email or
(shock) hand-written letters.
Q: Finally, what message (if any) are you trying to
get across with your book?
P.O.W.ER is about
celebrating the talents that each of us have. It is about people coming
together to support each other and make change. It is about challenging the
ills of society through working together, rather than fighting against each
other. It is about girls and women recognizing the importance of their voices
in our world, and it is about men learning to value and listen to those voices.
Q: Thank you again for this interview! Do you have any final words?
I hope that every reader finds the special powers
inside themselves and uses it to change the world.
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