Weaving words of happily ever after

NEWCASTLE – Lisa Schultz has joined the ranks of published authors from Newcastle.

On the surface, her debut novel is a romance work titled Vir Altyd Joune, charting the story of a student in Vrede who finds love in the ashes of tragedy.

However, there’s a deeper and more tragic story behind the scenes.

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Lisa, who writes under her maiden surname of Perrins, explained she wrote Vir Altyd Joune in honour of her cousin, who was murdered six years ago.

“It’s a happily ever after for her. Writing it was very emotional and at times I didn’t want to go on, but I had good reason to.”

Lisa took two years to complete her novel; a process which saw her frequently in Vrede and drawing upon her own experiences.

However, she explained Vir Altyd Joune was mostly fictional.

“I kept the book quiet because it was more of a personal achievement. When it was published, I let everyone know.”

Apart from her own experiences in love, Lisa drew on her passion for reading, poring over her approximately 150 novels at home, many of which were romance themed.

Now that she has her eye in, Lisa is pursuing writing full-time.

“In school I got others to write my essays, but then three years ago I just started writing. It took a few months to get into a flow and I had no experience in that.”

Lisa had her fair share of rejection from publishers, until she made contact with Val van Rooyen, her eventual editor and liaison with a publishing company.

Thus began a year-long process to get Lisa published.

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“It was a long process: proof-reading, copy-editing, choosing the fonts, book size and cover designs. Then I had to approve everything so it went back and forth a bit.”

When not catering to the demands of her own business, Lisa is working on a second book about turning negativity into positive experiences.

She has also written a short story titled Lucky, about a woman who meets a dancing dog.

“I’ve sent the story to a few magazines, and am looking for a publisher; I am going to sell the book and give 50 per cent of the sales to the SPCA.”

Lisa hopes to be finished with the short story by the end of this year.

Other works in the pipeline include a chronicle of Lisa’s time as au pair in Holland, and a children’s book her husband will illustrate.

“I have most of the day to myself, so I read to get inspiration and motivation. I prefer to write at night when there are fewer distractions; I’m definitely a night owl.”

To potential writers with stories to tell, Lisa said there was nothing for them to lose apart from paper and pens.

“You will never know you can write a book unless you try.”

To writers facing the dreaded publishing process, she agreed it was often frustrating, but recommended Val and USP Publishing.

“They are not as expensive as others in South Africa. They kept me going and ease the weight from my shoulders.”

Vir Altyd Joune is available in printed and digital format through Amazon, or can be special ordered through Lisa herself.

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