26 Comments
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Eva Langston's avatar

Love this! It's definitely something I'm thinking about as I write my dark-and-spicy adult thriller. I feel like I need a disclaimer at the beginning: "If you are Eva's family member, maybe just don't read this and everything will be less awkward." But I'm in my 40's now, and I'm not going to let worries of potential awkwardness stop me from writing what I want to write!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Hi Eva! Thank you for reading this! Oh, dark-and-spicy thriller, I’m there! I can totally relate (obviously!), and agree. I’m in my 50s, and have definitely entered my “doing what I want” decade. Also, when I wrote my memoir, I worried about what my family might think, but my mom’s biggest question after reading it was, “Do you think your college boyfriend has any hair left?“ proving that you never know what anyone will take away from our work. 🤣

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Kelly Turner's avatar

Hahahahaaaaa. That’s the perfect mom comment.

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Laura Szaro Kopinski's avatar

What a great read, such a fun idea for a post. (And I'm looking forward to reading You Shouldn't Have Done That!)

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Thank you so much! I'm so fortunate to have such generous friends who were willing to share their stories! I hope you enjoy it! (It's a little darker than my others🫣)

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Vince Roman's avatar

Happy Monday

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Vicki's avatar

I grapple with similar feelings about writing most things. But you've shown that we should always be true to ourselves and it will all be okay. On a side note, your son has a future in broadcasting and narrating audio books, and I LOVE your cats!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Oh, Vicki, thank you so much! (These cats are the loves of my life, don't tell Rich or the boys😹). Yes, I think once we get past that initial fear, it's all okay. Sort of like the literary equivalent of jumping off a high-dive.🤣🫣

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Eva Lesko Natiello's avatar

Haha! This is so funny. I remember when my kids were really young they feared I might be the protagonist in my thriller . . . 😳 I did feel bad about that for awhile. Until they grew up. Congrats on your new book, Liz! How did I miss that!!!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Ha! That's so funny! I think my kids feel I'm too lazy to orchestrate a crime but when they hear the premise of my next one (a middle-aged mom wanting to blow up her life) they're like, "That's totally you!" 🤣 Thank you so much for your congratulations! I hope we can catch up soon!

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Caitlin Kunkel's avatar

great topic and loved the responses!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Thanks so much! I loved reading them as they came in too!

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Joe Kerouac's avatar

Holy crap... he really DOES sound like Keith Morrison!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Ha! Thanks for reading this, Joe! I like to say this kid was raised on a steady diet of "Dateline" episodes. Hope you and your family are doing well!

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Amy Byrnes's avatar

Liz! I have to admit — the dark stories don't really line up with your IRL sunny disposition. Humans are weird! Cue Carrie Bradshaw: "I couldn't help but wonder if Jean's interior life was darker than I'd imagined." ;) Please keep sharing your stories!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Aw, Amy, thank you! I think I'm taking out all my rage on the page! I'm going to DM you, I just found out a friend of a friend works for your company. We were talking about "Severance," of course!

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Amy Byrnes's avatar

Oooh a fellow Lumon-ite!! ;)

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Kelly Turner's avatar

Cool video! And you’re right. Best friends DO make the worst enemies. Excited to get it on my shelf (& read it on a sunny, brave-feeling day). Congrats, Liz!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Thank you so much for reading this and for adding the book to your shelf! I'll pass along your kind words to my son, the video mastermind who helps me in exchange for Chipotle!

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Natalie's avatar

I just bought your latest and can’t wait to read it! Yay!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Thank you so much, Natalie! I'm so grateful for your support! This one's a bit darker than my others, hence this idea 🤣

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Natalie's avatar

I’m sure I will love it! 💗

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Andromeda Romano-Lax's avatar

I loved reading all these examples! And congrats on your new book, Liz!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing your experience! I’m so excited to read your next one—it sounds amazing!

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Jessica Payne's avatar

I loved reading this article and hearing everyone's personal experiences! Thanks for inviting me to be a part of it!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I’m so excited for your next one! Bring on the mom-assassin!

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