----------Interview by Renee Roberson
WOW: Liz, congratulations, and welcome! As someone who worked in restaurants in my late teens and early 20s, I could relate to “Party Favors.” What sparked the idea for this story?
Liz: “Party Favors” was inspired from my experience working as a waitress while I attended college. The wait-staff loved when chicken wings were served, because the guests didn’t want them – too messy – so we ate them once the event ended. Also, like many in the service industry, I experienced men grabbing me, especially after they had a few drinks. While Hank is a fictional character, the sense of teamwork was my favorite part of the job.
WOW: It's a relatable theme! I always love hearing about writers and their paths to publiclication. What was the first piece of flash fiction you ever got published? Could you tell us more about it?
Liz: My first published flash was “Waiting for a Message” at Spillwords, February 2024. It’s about a woman mourning her deceased partner; when she spots a tennis ball under a bush, she thinks it’s a message from him. The plot is loosely drawn from a real incident when I found a Clincher softball under a bush, a type of softball with a special stitch that my grandfather invented. I wondered if it were a message from beyond.
WOW: I love how you masterfully weave your own life experiences into your writing. You spent time teaching at both the college level and in a public classroom where you taught others to find their own sources of inspiration. Which was your favorite age group to work with and why?
Liz: I’ve taught many age groups in various setting; each has its appeal. Currently, I teach adults in a writing collaborative, Project Write Now. A favorite? I lean toward teaching educators, as they are committing themselves to public service; their work impacts so many. Teaching English Language Arts is laborious, but a creative, committed instructor can augment students’ career skills as well as encourage a lifelong love of reading and writing.
WOW: In addition to fiction you also write creative nonfiction. What are some common themes that you find yourself exploring in your work?
Liz: To me, it’s a blurry line between fiction and creative nonfiction. Experiences I draw from include aging, family memories, and random events I witness. For example, December 2025’s issue of Does It Have Pockets features a CNF about trying to forget my past. And January 2026’s issue of The Hootlet’s Nook features two of my CNF, one about fishing with my father and one about an iguana.
WOW: That leads me to my final question. You have a very unique subject matter for your Substack, A Lizard’s Tale. How did you decide to focus on the intriguing traits of this biological species?
Liz: My Substack “A Lizard’s Tale” focuses on the theme of resilience. The title is a play on words, as my name is Liz and arguably I’m telling tales. But the real inspiration came from witnessing a big- spiky-iguana race past me on the beach in Costa Rica to chase a smaller iguana up a tree. Then blood dripped from the tree on the seat next to me.
I learned from a quick Google search that iguanas rarely eat each other, but they might bite off another’s tail if a threat is perceived. The victims’ tails usually grow back.
Revolting but inspiring. A reminder that when we feel overwhelmed, beaten down, symbolically chased up a tree, we too can start anew, like iguanas regenerating their tails. I hope my Substack supports readers during life’s challenges, encouraging them to heal.
WOW: What a clever play on words, and what a great origin story for your Substack's name! Liz, thanks again for being here and giving us such thoughtful insight into your writing and teaching process.
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