Books
I am Lis Blanchard and I began my writing adventure in the fall of 2021. Feeling burnt out, stressed out, checked out, and bummed out, I quit my job and decided to write. We were in the middle of a pandemic and I needed a creative outlet that I could nurture at home. Something other than needle crafts and painting. Something I could pour my anger and my soul into; I turned to writing. I have always been an avid reader and was one of those annoying nerds in college who actually enjoyed writing research papers. I didn’t care if the writing was good or not, but I was determined to try it.
It took me two years to write Sutton’s Home, the life story of a girl who faces an onslaught of tragedies. From running away from an abusive parent to marrying a man shrouded with suspicion. From a devestating kidnapping to watching the love of her life suffer. Miserable, Sutton bears it all only to find a way out in the worst possible way.
Since taking the initial leap into the realm of writing, I have completed the rough draft of an adventure romance, The Penny Ride, and written the first and last chapters of several others. I can’t wait to complete them all and share them with the world.
Burgers
A silly idea struck me one day as I was dining in a seafood restaurant eating a hamburger. Why a hamburger? I am allergic to shellfish and dislike most seafood in general. In fact, I’m allergic to a ton of stuff and being a picky eater complicates the matter even more. I’m picky for two reasons: 1. I never know how I will react to something new and 2. I’m honestly afraid I’m going to absolutely love it and will always have to have it (e.g. cheesecake looks amazing, but it’s either going to make me sick because I’m lactose intolerant or I’m going to love it and I have no will power).
So, why eat at a seafood restaurant? It’s what my family wanted and as long as there is a hamburger on the menu, I’m good. We were visiting my mom-in-law in Florida who wanted to treat us to a beach-side restaurant in Jensen Beach. I gaped in awe at the plates of oysters on ice and the shrimp circled around a glass ramekin filled with cocktail sauce that covered the table. They looked delicious, and they were according to my family. I patiently waited for the main course while everyone smacked their lips and remarked on the freshness of the food. Then the entrées appeared: lobster, tuscan grouper, island crusted mahi, honey mustard salmon. And there I sat with a hamburger on a sesame seed bun and a side of fries. I had to ask for ketchup and I’m pretty sure I saw the server shudder then shake her head in disgust.
As I looked around the table at all the colorful cuisine and then down at my own plate, beige and grey with a hint of red, an idea formed. The silliness of me ordering a hamburger at an upscale seafood restaurant prompted me to start The Burger Blog by Lis Blanchard.
Voice
When I was in college, I was a singer. Not a great singer, but I sang back-up for a bar band in addition to the school’s choir, madrigals, and opera. I was also a joiner. If there was a club, there was a good chance I was in it. During this time, the college decided to create a VHS tape (yes, I’m that old), to send to prospective students highlighting all the interesting majors and activities. I was invited, along with several other students, to record a sentence or two describing why we liked a class or a club. The key was in the timing and I nailed it every time. I was asked to return to the sound studio to record all the blurbs for the video, the sound tech manipulating the track so every sentence sounded like a different person. I was even offered a job. In New York City. But I declined. I’m not a city girl. But now, with advanced technology, I can be a voice actor from the comfort of my own home. And I intend to pursue as soon as my kids have completed their collegiate experiences, it will be my turn.
Other Works in Progress
The Penny Ride
When Rosalind picks up a penny for luck in a parking lot, she is surprised to discover the coin’s date is the same year of her father’s death. Reminiscing about a childhood game she and her father would play on long car rides she reinvents the adventure on a cross country drive wonders where this penny will take her.
When Hope Dies
A houseguest turns Lucy’s world upside down when what should have been a generous act of kindness turns into a whirlwind of abuse. Tormented as a prisoner in her own home, this psychological thriller follows Lucy’s journey to reclaim her property and her sanity.
The Yearbook Quote
Steven loved the moment she walked into his homeroom in sixth grade. Ella was beautiful, funny, and smart. And he would do anything for her. Even if she never acknowledged his existence. That is until she waltzed into his prison to discuss the murder of her high school boyfriend. A crime Steven happily pleaded guilty to.
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