Get To Know Your Mentors: Lisa Papademetriou
Hey, Lisa!
Lisa Papademetriou is a former editor with Scholastic, HarperCollins, and Disney Press, and has taught at Sierra Nevada College’s MFA program in Writing. Her critically acclaimed novels include A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic, Middle School: My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar and Homeroom Diaries (both with James Patterson). She is also the founder of Bookflow.pub.
Gearing up for our mentorship program and looking to learn more about our amazing faculty? Lisa Papademetriou answered some of our fun questions to help you get to know a little bit more about her:
Your favorite book of all time?
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos. It's so funny, and so sly, and the voice is absolutely perfect.
Your favorite children's book?
When I was a kid, I loved the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. The ones in the series I liked the least were the ones I "only" read 13 times. As an adult, when I finished The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, I shut the book and then immediately opened it again on Page 1.
The book by your bed right now?
I'm working my way through a collection of short stories edited by Joyce Carol Oates called American Gothic Tales. It's a deep dive into 200 years of American horror fiction, and it's fascinating. I've learned a LOT about mood and suspense from these stories.
What is your go-to writing or editing snack?
Hmm... I don't really eat while I'm working, mostly because I need my fingers. But if I'm going to snack on something, I have to say THERE WILL BE COOKIES.
You're the go-to mentor for…
Pesky plot problems. If you're asking yourself WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN NOW? and/or DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE? I'm your girl. I love realistic fiction, funny stories, romance, mysteries, fantasy, and science fiction, and I'm comfortable mentoring any of those genres.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, but I'm weirdly picky. It has to be dark roast. Mention medium or blonde roast, and I'm going with tea.
Best movie or show you watched this summer?
I binge-watched the new season of Black Mirror in two days. I'm not usually a big horror fan, but I recently interviewed the horror writer Paul Tremblay for The Boston Globe, and I was so interested in our chat that I decided to learn more about the genre.
Your secret talent?
I can cook anything in a Crockpot.
What would you say to a writer considering our mentorship program?
When I turned 40, I decided I wanted to get a master's degree in writing. My husband argued that I didn't need one. I agreed with him; I had already published 15 books. But, I argued, the program would give me the mental space and time that I needed to take my writing to the next level. That's what I was buying. That, and the concentrated attention of a mentor. Of course, a two-year commitment (and the HEFTY PRICE TAG of an MFA) is more than a lot of people want to commit to.
But a single semester at Whale Rock with the same faculty who teach in some of the most prestigious MFA programs in the country? If you've got a project in mind that you really want to dig into, I think the WRW mentorship totally makes sense. Personally, I'm thrilled to be among this faculty—I can't wait to work with and learn from them!