Meet Liethers | Published author & illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Liethers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liethers, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
If someone tells you to “Go where the money is,” just make sure you factor in the value of job security, pension, work culture and work-life balance. Of course it’s a well-meaning advice (I mean, who’s gonna turn down a few extra 0s on their paycheck?) but this can be short-sighted. When presented with the option, choose something that’s sustainable. I took the stubborn route only to learn that our salary is not the price of our self-fulfillment nor of our peace of mind. I can only speak for myself when I say our immediate pay can complement them but it can never buy them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My poetry book was conceived from a pandemic bucket list. I started writing prose poetry in high school. I was always writing in journals, on table napkins and at the back of food chain receipts. I started in the industry as a freelance ghostwriter commissioned by local authors and influencers. My first published book wasn’t even under my name and of course, I knew what I was signing up for when I took on the job. I didn’t know how much it would bother me until I saw the books displayed on the shelves of libraries and bookstores signed off by other people. I was extremely proud of these books but I couldn’t claim them as personal achievements. As the pandemic became chronic, so did my depression. I channeled all of my anxieties into working on my writing. I mustered up the courage to submit my works to publishing houses for what would become “Whiskey For The Uninitiated”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Late afternoon drives along the palm-lined Sunset Boulevard. I’d make up some ridiculous legends on the fly to complement our tour of the famous boulevard.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thanks to The Poetryhood Dubai for making poetry fun again, thanks Jaesa for your faith in my vision and for inspiring me to author “Whiskey For The Uninitiated” and, to Kinokuniya for taking a chance on me.

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Other: https://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Uninitiated-Liethers-Poetry/dp/9948191129/