CHCA Eagle's Eye 2014

story. For example, my agent wanted my book to be
more emotive and commercial—like Eat, Pray, Love,
which was really big at the time—so I tried to take it in
that direction and didn’t like it at all. That just wasn’t
the style or format I was going for. We parted on good
terms and I shelved the book for about a year and a
half. Finally, about a year ago, I pulled it back out. I gave
myself the freedom to reshape it, with no pressure of
impressing an audience. I finally felt like I found my
footing, so I went the self-publishing route to have the
most creative control, and invested in a short run of
printed books. I’m still kind of shocked it’s out there.
You were pretty vulnerable in this book.
How difficult was that?
I initially didn’t write it with publication in mind—I
wrote it with a thesis in mind, so in my head, the general
public was never going to see it. I’m not someone
who goes around talking a lot about who I am and what
I feel. Honestly, I’m still a little surprised that I wrote
some of it. And there were times when I erased whole
blocks of text. One thing I learned about memoir in
grad school is that it’s not a journal—you direct it at
something, or else it loses the power of story. I skipped
whole sections of our lives because some experiences
weren’t right for this memoir.
I’m also surrounded by people who constantly model
vulnerability for me, so that had an enormous influence.
And I prayed that God would push it in the right
direction, and into the right hands.
How involved was Ryan?
He was a backseat encourager, and it turns out that’s
exactly what I needed from him. He’s always believed
in me as a writer, but this book brought out a new level
of support.
What do you want people to take
away from this book?
The best books I’ve read are the ones that have made
me feel understood—maybe they’re conflicted in the
same way as me, they love in the same way as me, or
they share a similar experience—that’s the kind of
book I wanted to write. I want it to feel like a gift, and
feel like comfort.
What advice would you give to any
CHCA students or alumni who think
they want to be a writer?
I think if it’s a driving force in you, you’ll find your way.
You’ll read and write as if it’s instinct. You’ll take any
writing assignment you can get, no matter how trivial.
You’ll find writing workshops, study sound, follow the
best writers and learn from a place of humility. I’ve also
noticed that the writers I’m drawn to are the ones who
really live in the present—they don’t stay holed up in
a cabin in the woods. They study science, social work
and their neighborhoods. They have children. They
write at night or before everyone else wakes up.
What was it like to be at CHCA
from day one?
It was exciting for my family to rally around something.
I remember once when I looked out the classroom
window, and my dad was out lining the soccer field—in
the middle of his work day. My parents sacrificed a lot
to help establish the school and get us there, and my
sister and I felt deep gratitude. It was also fun that it
was brand new—we could sense that we were part of
something big and exciting.
What’s next on the horizon?
I’m trying to take it day-by-day, because I have the
tendency to scurry in many directions. But a publisher
read my memoir and contracted me to write a book
of fiction, so that’s my current book project and I love
getting to do it. I’m also starting a magazine that I’m
wildly excited about, and I leave for India this month
to get that off the ground. We’re also having another
baby this winter—so that’s easily the best part of the
horizon.
Interested in reading Liz’s book? Buy a print or digital copy of
In the Wide Country of Love at www.lizbellyoung.com.
Liz (Bell) Young’s
book, In the Wide
Country of Love,
is a story about her
young marriage in
another country,
grieving through a
war-time separation,
and finding what it
means to be home.
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