Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start writing.
My name is Liela Marie Fuller. I was born and raised in Camden, New Jersey. I started writing at my Great-Grandmothers kitchen table. Back then my stories were simple ones, fairy tales mostly but I found my true voice in high school. What was once short fairy tales, became poetic words that allowed me to express love, fear, joy, and sadness. Writing helped me through one of the hardest times in my life – losing my first love. After processing that loss, I realized that I had found my voice through writing and I’ve been writing ever since.
Describe your writing process? Is there anything unique about it?
I try to write every day but unfortunately, that does not always happen. My writing process changes with each book. Some books I need to outline and some I just write. I prefer to write either near water or windows. I can write anywhere, but water and good views help my creative juices flow. I do write at home, but I often find that I get distracted by household chores, so when writing at home, I try to make sure everything is done so my focus is not broken.
Have you published any books or do you have a desire to do so?
My latest book is called Bag Lady. It’s a short story that I wrote after prayer several years ago. I was thinking about all the baggage we tend to carry around with us and how if we are not careful that baggage can affect other areas of our lives. Bag Lady is my first short story and I originally intended for it to be a play, but after sitting on it for a while, I released it as a short story and the readers love it. The main character, Bag Lady, has received an invitation to a new place and it’s something she’s been praying for but when she gets the invitation, the invitee tells her she must leave her baggage behind. The story follows her reluctance to give away what she’s carried around for so long.
My first book, Life’s Reflection, was released in 2013 and rereleased in 2015. Life’s Reflection is a poetic journey that spans over 15 years of my life. I wrote about love, pain, joy, and so much more in this book. It was definitely a reflection of my life. My book, Love Letters of a Worshipper: Prayers, Prose, and Poetry, is the work that is close to my heart; the book is really my love letter to God. I wrote this book during my desire to get closer to God and I came out of it wanting to write even more.
I have a few more books and I have also created several journals all of which are available on Amazon and on my website.
Do you have any favorite poets or authors?
My favorite authors to read change frequently as I discover new authors but here are a few from my current list: Robert Herjavec, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Zari Banks, Mark Batterson, William Shakespeare, and John Eckhardt.
Do you have a favorite book of poetry or poems?
I love to read all kinds of books including history, self-help, fiction, etc. My favorite books list is extensive but here a few of my favorites: The Bible, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni, The Shack by William P. Young, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, and Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. I’ve been a reader since high school so this list is not exhaustive, but these are the books that have touched me in some way.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Driven by Robert Herjavec and Wealthy Women Think Differently by Kervin J. Smith.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Full-time job, pets, hobbies?
I work full-time as a Technical Support Specialist for a law firm. My hobbies include knitting, reading, and learning new things.
Are you working on a current project?
I am currently working on a book called The Journey of Faith. In 2016, I moved in faith to Minneapolis, Minnesota with almost nothing and God provided for my son and me every step of the way. It was a tremendous journey, so I decided to share it with others to remind them that with God all things are possible, if we just believe.
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