Frizzy Lizzy by Liz Leonard
Indie author Liz Leonard‘s debut children’s book, Frizzy Lizzy, is the beginning of a series of heartwarming adventures filled with family, friends and a sprinkle of magic. In the first book, Lizzy and her sisters find themselves lost during a family hike. Faced with the daunting task of finding their way home, Lizzy steps up, using her sharp wit and trusty pocketbook to navigate the challenging situation.
Targeted at children aged 4-8, Frizzy Lizzy teaches valuable life lessons about preparation, trusting one’s instincts, and learning from challenges. Paired with the captivating illustrations of Katherine Hillier, the stories inspire children to be proactive, creative problem-solvers, and most importantly, to become their own heroes.
The Frizzy Lizzy series is a testament to the power of resourcefulness and the magic of everyday adventures. It’s sure to captivate young readers and encourage them to engage their imaginations, teaching them that they can overcome anything with a little creativity and courage.
We asked the author a few questions about what inspired the series, what her audience might take away from the books and more.
Q: What first inspired Frizzy Lizzy? Is the book based on a personal story, or is there perhaps a similarity between you and Lizzy — besides your name, of course!
A: Frizzy Lizzy was inspired by three things:
- The amazing and magical experience of becoming a mother to my daughter, Izzy (Isabella) who is now almost 3 years old! Being a mother is blissful, empowering and exhausting all at the same time … and for me it is a constant reminder of what is truly important in life!
- A mission to help children build confidence, to embrace and leverage creativity as a guiding light and to comfort those whose family lives may be beyond the “norm.”
- My love of creating ART! I have always been a storyteller, whether this was via painting, drawing, animation or film. Creativity allowed me to cope with a very complex childhood and has always served as a therapeutic method to overcome my challenges. Prior to starting this project, it had been a while since I “created” anything and tapping back into the other side of my brain again has been such an amazing and enlightening experience.
The book is indeed based on a true story from my childhood with very minor tweaks. AND yes, I assure you … for whatever reason my father didn’t have his wallet on our hike that day and I did save the day with my mighty pocketbook!
All of the characters were intricately developed based on my family down to the color of their shoelaces! Every detail in the story was curated to depict their personalities and I chose to collaborate with Katherine Hillier (the AMAZING Illustrator) because her artistic style is very similar to mine … or what I wish mine was like!
Q: The book has an important message of resourcefulness and problem-solving. What motivated you to share this lesson with young readers?
A: Overcoming obstacles and challenges is something every child (and adult) has to endure in some capacity. I want to encourage kids to think outside of the box and to have their own voice. In this swiftly evolving digital world, we are all culprits of “just googling it” or now turning to ChatGPT — I am concerned that creativity, street-smarts and basic skills like reading a map are disappearing. I think it’s our duty as parents, mentors, teachers or adults to make sure these skills aren’t completely lost.
Q: What’s something that people may not realize about what goes into writing a children’s book?
A: It is a JOURNEY! As a first-time indie author, I had no idea what I was getting into and I learned a lot about publishing, self-publishing, editing, distribution, PR, marketing and beyond. All while having a demanding full-time job and being a new mom. This project took me over 2 years and there were times that I had to walk away from it for a few months.
I would encourage new authors to take their time, to gather a lot of feedback on their manuscripts or concept, to explore resources and tools that are out there (I LOVE Upwork to find talent) and to gather a TEAM (you need a good editor, illustrator, book formatter and motivator or partner)! Lastly, if you’re self-publishing, do your research and make sure you understand the costs and distribution landscape before you start illustrating.
Q: Lizzy also gets some flack from her sisters about how her pocketbook looks. What do you hope readers take away from the story of her sisters criticizing the accessory that saved the day?
A: Bullying, peer pressure and sibling rivalry are obstacles that we all have to endure at some point. I hope that readers are inspired by Frizzy Lizzy’s courage and relentlessness to be herself. Her embrace of her amazing hair and individuality symbolizes her power and is meant to encourage kids to be their own hero.
Q: What’s next for Frizzy Lizzy?
A: In the next book of the series, Frizzy Lizzy meets a new friend at the park who is of course inspired by a real person in my life! This book’s themes are mostly about friendship and kindness with some fun surprises. I am super excited to introduce a new character and am already hard at work with Katherine on some awesome new concepts. I have many more books in the works that are in the Frizzy Lizzy series and some that are not. I can’t wait to continue my journey as an indie author and am so grateful for those who allow Frizzy Lizzy in their lives and libraries!
About Liz Leonard:
Liz Leonard is a passionate storyteller based in New Jersey, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and dog. After earning her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University, she dove into the world of animation, film, and television often drawing inspiration from her own childhood experiences. Aside from her creative pursuits, Liz serves as an executive at a global hotel brand, allowing her to feed her love for travel. She also spent time volunteering with a non-profit organization that allowed her to travel to West Africa many times. Her diverse background, complex childhood, passion for the arts, and journey into parenthood inspire Liz to write enchanting stories filled with life lessons. The Frizzy Lizzy series draws from both her early memories and her more recent adventures, creating a rich tapestry of tales that engage and educate young readers.
