An Interview shared by Lisa

So, tell me a little about yourself. Writer? Editor? Life etc

I’m Lisa Sniderman, aka Aoede, an award-winning, quirky, folk-pop artist, playwright, teaching artist, author, filmmaker from San Francisco, and have been battling a rare chronic illness for nearly 12 years while obsessively creating to heal. I create and record unique, original full-length fantasy musicals on audiobooks that I adapt to musical theater stage plays. I’ve been honored with more than 85 awards for my songwriting, audiobooks, films, stage plays and books since 2012 all while suffering from a rare autoimmune disease: dermatomyositis, a progressive muscle weakness disease. My memoir: A Light in the Darkness: Transcending Chronic Illness through the Power of Art and Attitude (Sep 2018), chronicles my 10-year journey living with chronic illness while creating to heal. I founded an online community of artists creating to heal and collaborated with more than 50 artists who are also creating to heal, culminating in an online video showcase and live multi-media performances in December 2018, and created and ran July 10-24^th 2020 a free two-week online summit How to Thrive With Chronic Illness and Limited Energy, attended by 1800 participants!

What do you LOVE doing in the book world? Tell me why.

I love writing and sharing my story! I love connecting with my readers and receiving messages or receiving reviews from people who are inspired by my book, story or journey, and realizing the impact I am having as a writer and artist. It is hard to be vulnerable, and knowing that because I shared my journey, I encouraged, helped or inspired someone else is totally worth it. I love connecting with other authors and am always learning. The book world as an author is still new to me, so I am always growing: whether it is navigating the world of publishing, marketing and promotion, or improving my craft and writing, I love to learn new skills as an artist, especially those that scare me and take me out of my comfort zone.

What is your favourite genre to write? Why?

I have written a memoir, so that genre comes naturally to me!

What else do you enjoy outside of editing and writing/interviewing/publishing?

I enjoy spending time with my husband at home, playing music, creating, cooking, and playing with our adorable wire fox terrier, Alice. I enjoy time online connecting on social networks with my friends and fans.

What are you working on right now? Editing? Writing?

I just released my ninth album (Aug 31, 2020), an inventive spoken word musical audiobook The Grieving Project, which sets the stages of grief to music to help us move from surviving to thriving. All 22 tracks are spoken over original musical compositions! I have lived with my rare illness for more than 12 years, but in all that time, I forgot to grieve… I created this to empower us to grieve so that we may thrive. You can learn more about this project, which is being considered for the Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album.

In 2019, I collaborated with more than 20 “lights in the darkness” artists who contributed their vocals to a recording Keep Shining, and released the song and video that shares my story and struggle with rare chronic illness, disability and recovery. It is a powerful reminder to never give up. Keep Shining music video has been selected for multiple film festivals and has received several awards, and was considered for Grammy awards.

KEEP SHINING VIDEO LINK:

I also have a NEW AUDIOBOOK of my memoir now available that I narrated!

https://www.amazon.com/A-Light-in-the-Darkness/dp/B07VQW3M83/

As noted above, I created and ran a free virtual summit (Jul 10-24th 2020) for those who live and struggle with chronic illness, and spent the past year recording video interviews with 60+ experts: thriving artists who also battle illness, medical experts, thought leaders, spiritual teachers and healers, alternative practitioners, online support networks, creative (music, art, drama) therapists to share strategies, practices, resources, tools, tips, demos and more on how to thrive! I also created and built a new Facebook Group-How to Thrive With Chronic Illness and Limited Energy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2521920814702414/

I will be looking to adapt The Grieving Project to a musical, and all of these projects will also inspire my next book, likely combining how to thrive and grieving!

Why do you write the genre you’ve chosen? Have you had any experiences that influenced your decision you can share?

After persevering for more than 10 years through a rare chronic illness by obsessively turning to creativity to express and as a healing path, I decided during conversations with my editor that I wanted to share my story. I realized that because I had taken on the role of muse, becoming a light in the darkness, offering support, compassion, inspiration, connection, and encouragement to those who need it most-especially those experiencing transformations: illness, disability, or unexpected life challenges, I wanted to write to inspire my readers, which led to me selecting memoir as my genre. I had struggled with the tone of the story, initially sharing it as a diary and inviting the reader in to my secrets and confessions, but revised the structure to be more universal and to share coping strategies and life lessons via each of my chapters (e.g., Redefining Success, Facing Your Fears, Putting Yourself Out There). This also allowed me to plunge deeper than just relaying an account of my day-to day experiences allowed me, and to share more personal thoughts and reflections on my journey.

Can you tell the readers one bizarre ritual you must do during your writing/editing /interviewing/illustrating day?

Not bizarre, but because I live with chronic illness, fatigue and limited energy, I have to be rested to write; so I allow myself to nap during the day without guilt, when and for however long I need to! I also always have my cup of tea and my dog, Alice, right next to me for added comfort and joy when writing!

Anything else you want to tell us, be my guest.
I love to connect and receive messages from my readers, friends and fans! Please feel free to write me and follow me on Facebook and Twitter, I’ll connect with you too! 

Also, to find my book and The Grieving Project on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Light-Darkness-Lisa-Sniderman/dp/1681605570/
https://www.amazon.com/The-Grieving-Project/dp/B08FVW5YTV/

To connect with me:

Fostering Healing by Giving Your Creative Spirit Wings and Inspiring You to Share Your Story…
(Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter/Playwright/Recording Artist/Composer/Author/ Filmmaker/Dreamer)

alightinthedarkness.info
doyoubelieveinmagic.info
whataredreamsmadeof.com
isloveafairytale.com
aoedemuse.com
facebook.com/aoedemusemusic
twitter.com/aoedemuse
youtube.com/aoedemuse