The Imperfectionist's Guide to Sorting Your Stuff by Lisa Lawmaster Hess

I'm excited to have Lisa visit again! We've been author friends for a long time, and it's a real privilege to enjoy reading this interview from her. Join in on the fun!

Thanks so much for joining me on Sunnybank Secrets, Lisa.

About Lisa:
Lisa Lawmaster Hess is a Jersey girl who moved to Pennsylvania for college, then stayed.

The author of three nonfiction books

• Acting Assertively, Diverse Divorce and Know Thyself 

and two novels

• Casting the First Stone and Chasing a Second Chance

Lisa has also written for online and print publications. Lisa blogs at The Porch Swing Chronicles and Organizing By STYLE and is a frequent contributor to CatholicMom.com, Teachers of Vision and Today’s Catholic Teacher. A retired elementary school counselor, Lisa is an adjunct professor of psychology at York College of Pennsylvania. Her latest book is Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff. 


NOW, on to the interview:

Is there a story behind your books?/What started you on your writing journey?

Know Thyself is my fifth book, but I’ve been working on novels, so it’s been over a decade between non-fiction books! This one (which took every bit of that decade to get from idea to completion) arose out of my own desire to get sustainably organized in a way that worked for me. An unexpected move that I didn’t initially want to make was the catalyst for working on my own organizational skills, and the ensuing research and journey led me to the conclusion that organization is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.


What kind of books do you enjoy reading? (Book recommendations very welcome!)

I enjoy a good novel but, lately, I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction. Last summer, I downloaded Audible and I’ve found that I love listening to audiobooks even though my commute is short. My recent favorites include Becoming by Michelle Obama, Still Foolin’ ’Em by Billy Crystal and Jodi Piccoult’s Small Great Things. I’m currently reading Biased by Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt and listening to Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before. I’m also reading an advance copy of Clarice G. James’s The Girl He Knew. Think I can finish them all before the semester starts at the end of August??


Which character in your newest release most interested you while you wrote? Why?

Since Know Thyself is non-fiction, I’m going to take the liberty of changing the question a bit, and share the styles that best describe me. In Know Thyself, I share three personal styles (I need to see it, I love to be busy and I love stuff) and three organizational styles (cram and jam, drop and run and I know I put it somewhere) that influence our organizational success. I most identify with the I need to see it personal style and the drop and run organizational style, so I plan my organizational systems around those styles.


Why do you write in the genre you do?

I write both fiction and non-fiction. For fiction, the draw for me is the characters. I’m a total pantser, but I have to sketch out my characters and their backstories before I sit down to write. Once I know who the people are, I introduce them to each other and take it from there.

With non-fiction, I like that I can write about topics I find interesting and relevant. Know Thyself is my first non-fiction book with a spiritual aspect to it, written primarily for adults. Acting Assertively and Diverse Divorce were both written for the educational market and while the concepts transferred to adults, they were written for adults to use with children.


How much research do you do for each book?

Because I write contemporary fiction and my non-fiction is within my wheelhouse as a psychology instructor, I don’t usually do a lot of research. If I come up against a topic that’s important to the story that I want to know more about, that’s when I dig in. My goal is not to become an expert but, rather, to write accurately and knowledgeably about the topic.


Share a verse or Scripture passage with us that is special to you. (and why it's special)

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse hangs in a place of prominence in my office – in fact, I purchased a ceramic cross with this verse on it so I could see it daily. Seven years ago, I took advantage of an early retirement incentive and retired from my career as a school counselor. My daughter had just finished middle school and college loomed in four years. I knew the early retirement was the right choice – most days, anyway – but leaving behind a job with a great salary and benefits was a scary proposition. I read this verse a lot that first year until my next steps became clear and, to this day, it sustains me when things are hard.


About the book:
Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff, is meant for anyone who has ever struggled to get organized. So often, people who’ve struggled with this life skill have also lost faith in themselves, which is more demoralizing than any amount of clutter. Know Thyself takes a light-hearted approach to a serious topic, with the aim of building confidence alongside organizational skills by building on what we do naturally. This strengths-based approach helps readers to organize in a sustainable way, rather than merely clearing the clutter and hoping for the best.

Link to book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jtx6aH

Lisa on social media: 

Facebook: Lisa Lawmaster Hess, Writer
Twitter: @orgbystyle
Instagram: lisalawmasterhess
Pinterest: Lisa Lawmaster Hess
Organizing by STYLE blog: www.orgbystyle.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting, Lisa, and readers, check out her book on Amazon!

***

Both rebels in their own way, Josie and Jerry Patterson must figure out how to keep the other's love...and keep the German enemy at bay.

She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she's scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? Has another woman captured his heart?

Jerry has vowed to let Josie live her own glamorous life...especially after what happened in Germany. But when his wife's life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can't stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie.

These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their own selves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.

Buy the Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Author Interview with Lisa Hess

I'm tickled pink to introduce Lisa Hess here today! And her book sounds fantastic! 

Tell us a little of the background of Casting the First Stone.
There are a couple, so I’m going to tell the one I don’t usually tell.

I go to a large church, and so impatience in the parking lot when it’s time to go home is a common occurrence. One Sunday, as I sat waiting for a break in the traffic and several drivers passed by without even making eye contact, let alone allowing anyone to merge, I wondered aloud at the incongruity of spending more than an hour in church, then forgetting everything in the parking lot.

That started a stream-of-consciousness series of thoughts on the drive home, including speculation as to whether or not going to church made someone a better person, all of which sparked the creation of a character who talks the talk but doesn’t necessarily feel he needs to walk the walk.

By the way, my church has since changed the parking lot patterns -- LOL! -- no connection, though.


How did you begin your writing journey? 
My middle school English teacher, Miss Lee. She taught me to love words and the importance of choosing just the right word to convey exactly the message you want to send.


Are you easily distracted when writing?
Noise! And the older I get, the less noise it takes! Running water, clinking dishes...I’m terrible! Any sort of conversation is the worst.

Oddly enough, I’ve learned to work in ambient noise that doesn’t call to me to do things. When I’m having trouble focusing at home, I often go to my local Starbucks to write. The same noises there don’t bother me as much because they blend into the background instead of reminding me of what I need to do around the house. If it gets too loud at Starbucks, I put in my earbuds and listen to music...which, oddly enough, I can’t work with at home. I’m a study in contradictions when it comes to distractibility!


Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote? Why?
I love all of my characters! I love Marita’s feistiness, and I admire Angel’s unwavering devotion to her family and her faith. The best friends (Bets and Gina) were fun to write, but for different reasons. Bets softened Marita and showed how much she’d grown from the girl who got pregnant at 16 to the responsible mom who still wanted to have fun. Gina’s a counterpoint to Angel, so the contrast was fun to write.
Even the baddies are fun to put on the page. Carmella is such a villain, and while Jim is not someone I’d want to hang out with, I know why he is the way he is...and that made it easier to tolerate him.


What are the spiritual threads you present in your work?
I like to write about how real people face challenges to their faith. In Casting the First Stone, Marita rejected not just the church and the people who let her down, but God as well. Angel, on the other hand, is determined to hold on to her faith and let it guide her through a very discouraging period, but is also finding that that’s not as easy as it sounds. When people go through rough patches, they often go to one extreme when it comes to faith -- embrace it, like Angel, or reject it, like Marita. The really interesting part is what comes next -- after that decision.


Do you have a special place to retreat to, to escape everyday life?
Because I don't work outside the home every day, there are lots of days that I have the house to myself when my husband is at work and my daughter is at school. I’m very spoiled by the amount of quiet time I have -- my challenge is making sure I use my time wisely and well.


What scripture verse is special to you?
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

When I was making the very difficult decision to dive off the deep end and take an early retirement, I hung onto this verse. Now, when I catch myself worrying about what’s going to happen (or not happen), I go back to it so I can let go and let God. As a friend of mine says, “He hasn’t brought me this far to abandon me now.”


Do you have another book due out soon?
No due dates for the next books, but I’m working on several things: a non-fiction book on the topic of organization, revisions on a second novel in the same genre as Casting the First Stone, a possible sequel to Casting the First Stone and a collection of blogs. I’ve been doing a lot of reading on self-publishing and am thinking I might give it a shot with the organization book, though I’m not sure I want to go that route with the rest of the projects. Most are fiction, and significantly longer, and I’m not sure that’s a battle I want to take on. We’ll see.



To buy Lisa's book, go here:

Amazon

About Lisa:

Lisa is a transplanted Jersey girl who has lived in Pennsylvania most of her adult life. A graduate of Bucknell University, Lisa worked as an elementary school counselor for 27 years before deciding to plan her work life around her family life. Now, she works as a writer, community education instructor and adjunct professor of psychology at York College of Pennsylvania.

Lisa is the author of two books inspired by her interactions with her students, Acting Assertively and Diverse Divorce, along with numerous blogs and articles. Her latest book, Casting the First Stone is her first novel.



Connect with Lisa here:

Website

Main blog

Public Radio Blog

Catholicmom blog

Susquehannawriters Blog

Facebook Author Page

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Pinterest