SJF: How/When did you discover SDMWA? Tell us about your involvement.
LO: I discovered SDMWA in February of 2017 when I took my very first memoir class with Marni Freedman. At first, I did it as a self-discovery and healing practice but eventually I wanted to take my writing more seriously. I was intimidated and felt like I didn’t belong in the class. I was the youngest one there. I ended up crying in a room full of strangers. Let’s just say writing memoir is not for the faint of heart.
I remember leaving the class feeling defeated. Marni ran out to give me a hug and told me, “You belong here”. That’s what brought me back to the class and led me to complete my memoir certification.
Also, I am happy to announce that I have recently joined their Board of Directors so that I can further help this community expand because of the life-changing experience it has given me.
SJF: Describe your upcoming memoir or what you are presently working on.
LO: I am currently working on my memoir. It is about my healing journey from the inside out, dealing with and recovering from childhood trauma. I came from a very strict and religious background, being of Korean descent and coming from a Born-again Christian family.
In my memoir, I go through a spiritual awakening in the face of a health crisis that inspires me to explore different beliefs than the ones I grew up with. I learn about meditation which opens me up to a whole new way of thinking. Concepts like past lives and Karma which I had always thought were ridiculous suddenly made sense to me.
Simultaneously, I come to the brink of divorce in the process of this breakdown and return to the dating market after a 9-year marriage with my very first boyfriend. In the mix of it all, my mother also tries to commit suicide and I’m a hot mess.
In the end, I decide to come full circle and make amends with my husband after a 6-month hiatus. I realized I had become a shell of a person after being chronically ill for about 3 years. It wasn’t that I had fallen out of love with him so much as I had fallen out of love with myself.
I dive deep into self-love and overcome the self-loathing person I had become over the past 30 years of my life. Everything slowly seems to resolve itself as I find inner peace. And while everything isn’t perfect like I had once hoped, I make peace with imperfection.
SJF: Thank you for volunteering as social media team leader for the inaugural San Diego Writers Festival. Tell us about your role…
LO: As a social media team lead, I was in charge of managing a group of volunteers to get the word out via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. I also created promotional videos to let people know what to expect at the festival.
In addition, I was the author escort the day of so I had the honor of being with Piper Kerman from the beginning to the end of her day from speaking engagements to book signings. It was nice to get to know her on a more intimate level and to make sure she was taken care of throughout the day.
SJF: What are some of your favorite memoirs (or movies based on memoirs)?
LO: I recently finished Mindy Kaling’s Why Not Me?, which is a hilarious compilation of personal essays. I love her unique sense of humor. I would literally find myself laughing out loud reading her book. She shares her most embarrassing moments and makes you feel like you’re her best friend.
I’m also a huge fan of the following memoirs: Glass Castle, Eat Pray Love, Memoirs of a Geisha, Beautiful Mind, Catch Me If you Can and The Joy Luck Club.
SJF: How has SDMWA helped you i.e. Memoir Certification? What have you received as a member?
LO: SDMWA has helped me in feeling accepted in all of my flaws. People come from all walks of life to share their personal stories without judgement here. What an incredibly freeing experience it has been to share my inner most secrets with complete strangers in a safe space. I have met some amazing friends because of SDMWA who inspire me with their stories and spirit every day. I feel so welcomed among this community. It is like nothing I have experienced anywhere else. It is my honor to give back to them and be a part of something that brings more compassion into this world.
SJF: Many thanks, Lisa!
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