Stacy Wise is the author of Lie, Lie Again, Maybe Someone Like You, winner of the YARWA Athena Award in 2019, and Beyond the Stars, winner of the Athena Award in 2017. Prior to her writing career, she worked as an elementary school teacher and in television casting on shows including Party of Five, The X Files and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. She lives in California with her husband, four children, and three dogs. Learn more at Stacy’s website.
We had the pleasure of chatting to Stacy about Lie, Lie Again, writing, book recommendations, and so much more!
Hi, Stacy! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hi! Thanks so much for having me here at The Nerd Daily. I’m the author of three novels. Lie, Lie Again, my newest book, releases on 1/1/21, which also happens to be my dog Luna’s 5th birthday. I’ve also worked as a television casting director and an elementary school teacher, and I’m the mom to four amazing kids.
2020 was an incredibly bizarre year, and it’s rolling on into 2021. Have you set any resolutions for the year?
I haven’t! I never make a New Year’s resolution, but rather, I pick a theme for the year on my birthday. Sadly, I forgot all about it this year until this question! But it’s never too late, right? My theme for this year is going to be embracing new beginnings.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I was in third grade. My teacher told my mom I was a good writer, and it was the biggest compliment she could’ve given me. It took me years to figure out that I could actually write for a living though!
Your new novel, Lie, Lie Again, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Dramatic, fun, twisty, fast-paced, and emotional
Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?
Lie, Lie Again is the story of three women who live in the same Southern California apartment complex. They all have secrets carefully cloaked in lies. Looking in from the outside, no one would suspect their lives are anything but perfect. This is a story about friendships and relationships—a domestic drama highlighted with a deliciously evil revenge plot.
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
I started thinking about female friendships and how they can be amazingly supportive, but there can also be relationships that have a toxic edge to them. I wanted to explore why people do certain things and feel justified in doing them while others would be horrified by their actions.
What challenges did you face while writing and how did you overcome them?
It was the first time I wrote in third person multiple point-of-view, so that was a challenge! In my previous books, I wrote in the first person. I think I overcame the challenges by not being afraid to write, write, and rewrite!
Your previously published novels have been within the romance genre. What was it like stepping into a new genre?
It was so much fun! I loved writing romance novels, but I wanted to challenge myself to try something different. Also, the three main characters were getting quite loud in my mind, so I figured I had better write their stories.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
I’ve gotten so much great writing advice along the way. One of the things that has stayed with me is to always write from the heart. I can’t think of any bad advice, per se. I try to take what works for me and ignore what doesn’t. Sometimes it’s just a matter of trial and error.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on my next novel, and I’m really excited about it. It’s also a domestic drama, and it is the story of a mother’s love and how she will go against all odds to save her child. In turn, she saves herself and an unlikely friendship is born from grief.
Lastly, what are you currently reading and what 2021 book recommendations do you have for our readers?
I’m finally reading A Man Called Ove. I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet, but I am absolutely loving it. Books that I’m excited to read in 2021 are The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine, A Shot at Normal, by Marisa Reichardt, and A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser.
