Liz Edon is amazing. She is a friend and the type of writer that makes me wish I wrote like she does. The first story I read by her was one of her signature catfights and it packed a punch. Now she is giving me goosebumps with psychological thrillers so compelling the stories stay with me. I’m honored Liz took the time to answer some questions about her writing and more!
How long have you been writing? What drew you to noir?
I started writing in 2016 after my husband encouraged me to stop talking about writing a book and actually sit down and do it. What began as a challenge quickly became something I couldn’t imagine not doing.
My path to noir wasn’t planned. Years before publishing my first novel, and without going into detail, I was involved in the smoking fetish and catfight subculture. When I began writing fiction, those themes naturally carried over because they were subjects I already understood and familiar with. Over time, though, the stories grew beyond their origins. The confrontations became less about the fight itself and more about power, loyalty, betrayal, obsession, and the complicated relationships between strong-willed women. Those are the elements that ultimately pulled me toward noir. I still write the explicit material my readers expect, but today they’re part of larger stories filled with flawed characters, moral gray areas, psychological tension, and consequences. I’ve always felt like I belong to another era. I grew up loving crime fiction and character-driven stories where people made bad decisions for understandable reasons. Noir gives me the freedom to explore those darker themes without pretending life always has neat or happy endings.
Your stories often describe tough women who often fight each other. What is the symbolism of the catfight for you?
Some folks assume the catfight is the point of my stories. It really isn’t. The fight is simply the payoff. I’ve had my share of real catfights over the years, and one thing I’ve learned is they’re usually fueled by pride, jealousy, betrayal, resentment, or simply two bitches refusing to back down. By the time the first punch is thrown, the real fight has often been building for weeks. As I’ve grown as a writer, I’ve become more interested in what happens before and after the fight than the fight itself. The fight matters, but it’s the emotional baggage that makes readers care who wins. My catfights aren’t just about violence. They’re about revealing character. You find out who someone really is when they have nothing left to hide.
Your stories also depict a lot of women of a certain age who are not down for the count–what do you like most about creating these characters?
Old women, lol. I’ve always believed women don’t become less interesting with age. They become more confident and a hell of a lot more dangerous. My characters have lived and made mistakes. They carry scars and still refuse to give up. They’re the ones I think readers remember. I get emails from readers thanking me for writing about mature, everyday women, in truck stops, trailer parks, and dive bars instead of another story about a 21-year-old college student and her billionaire, globe-trotting lover. Those stories have their place, but I leave them to other writers. I’m interested in women who have already lived a little, because that’s where the best stories are.
Recent stories of yours have been psychological thrillers, what do you like about unsettling your characters and readers?
My transition into more suspense. A few months ago, for my Medium followers, I made a conscious decision to move away from writing explicit sex stories and focus more on suspense and psychological thrillers. That shift naturally found its way into my novels as well. I discovered that creating tension and uncertainty could be just as compelling as anything overtly sexual. If I can make someone think about one of my stories long after they’ve finished it, that’s even better. If my readers are actually thinking about stories after they read one? I have no idea.
When you are not writing, what do you like to do? What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
You may be surprised to learn that I love gardening. This tough old broad needs a peaceful escape once in a while. I’m happiest outside with a camera in my hand (yes, a camera, not my phone,) hiking a trail, photographing wildlife, or simply enjoying nature. I’ve walked hundreds of miles on trails around the country, and those quiet moments are a nice balance to the dark worlds I create in my books. When I’m not writing, I am producing visual presentations and live event experiences for companies. It pays the bills, but writing is what feeds my soul.
You have a new novel out! Talk about it and any other writing projects you want to share!
I’m excited that my latest novel, The Silver Dollar, is now available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover. The story is set inside a Nevada strip club. It’s very noir about power, loyalty, betrayal, and earning respect the hard way. The main character is Kate Malone. She’s a woman who has been around the block and who doesn’t raise her voice when she can let her fists do the talking. She’s become one of my favorite characters and will be joining Veronica Dahl and Inez Carrera as a recurring presence in future stories. I would love for these characters to meet, but they live in a different literary universe. For now, my focus is on creating more suspense and psychological thriller content for my Medium readers, while continuing to deliver my edgier, fetish erotica stories to my Substack subscribers. I don’t have another novel on the immediate horizon, but there are plenty more stories to tell.
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