Liz Zelvin's book proves perseverence furthers!

[Julie Lomoe]

I've been AWOL from Crimespace for some time now, but Liz Zelvin's message lured me back. I'm delighted to see her book Death Will Get You Sober has finally been published by St. Martin's. I met her several years ago at a Sisters in Crime conference in New York City, and I've tracked her progress in seeking publication since then. She's a therapist and her book deals with alcohol addiction. I recall her online postings about responses from agents and publishers who said no one would want to read about such a downbeat subject. I'm glad she finally prevailed - it gives me hope for my own work, which deals with such "uncommercial" topics as mental illness and the travails of aging.

Speaking of aging, it's back to work on my final edit of Eldercide, which will be out later this year.

[Elizabeth Zelvin]

Meant to add, I don't consider my topic downbeat, since the book is about recovery. Alcoholism is downbeat--recovery is filled with hope, and imho we don't hear enough about that. I invented my wisecracking protagonist to keep me from getting smarmy about it. ;)

[Elizabeth Zelvin]

Oh, my goodness, thank you, Julie. Folks, I swear I didn't commission her or pay her or or even give her chocolates for Valentine's Day. My book is not quite out yet: pub date April 15--it has indeed taken almost forever, with "talent, persistence, and luck" my mantra throughout.