Meet Alma Lazar

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

Hi Alma, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Giving up is not in my dictionary. When I decided to become a writer, I did it for a reason, not only because I enjoyed reading books, but also because I accidentally discovered a story that changed my perspective on life. I felt a responsibility to share with the world this story, and the magnitude of the spirit of a human being who has been facing adversity since childhood, and instead of giving up, focuses on the hope of tomorrow and the good things that life may have in store for us.
Being a writer is never easy, especially at the beginning of our career, when it seems that all the doors are closed for new authors, the competition is brutal, the expenses humongous, and the income is minimal. But there is the factor of love and passion for what we do. And we must know that while there is life, there is hope, and it is ok to dream because tenacity is the key to achieving our goals.
My path had been bumpy and winding; although I liked to write and read since an early age, I wasn’t a writer, and six years ago, I had to start from the bottom. Going to school, to writers’ conferences, and reading and writing nonstop for a few years until I was ready to publish my first book, WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT, which was awarded Honorable Mention as the most inspirational true story, and it also won second place in the contest Book into Movie.
My second book, DOMINANCE DELUSIONS, which is also a true story, was released this year, and recently, I felt humbled competing with very talented authors not only from the United States but also those in other countries in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, and was awarded once more with Honorable Mention. Those three awards were given to me by the International Society of Latin Authors.
It hasn’t been easy to get to this point, but the love and support of my readers is what keeps me going. I still have a long way to go before I can call myself a writer, but I have already started, and there’s no turning back, and I’m not giving up until I achieve the success I owe to my book heroes.
I’m presently working on my third book, which I know will be a huge surprise to my readers. I will continue on the path of true stories, but this will be a complete twist from my previous stories.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an author, branded in true stories. In the United States alone, the number of books published per year ranges between 3 and 4 million. That is an out-of-proportion number, considering we are all competing with each other to stand out; however, I don’t focus on competing, I only write and do it with the heart. Feeling comfortable with my writing wasn’t easy. I had too much to learn when I started, but I’ve always been dedicated when I set my mind to something, and I had to work almost 365 days a year for the first three years; I felt like I was a slave of the computer, but that was necessary, and I learned that there is a time in this life for everything, time to work, time to succeed and time to relax and enjoy the harvest of what we plant. I don’t write about meaningless lives; I write about extraordinary people who dare to share their experiences with the world, intending to leave us with thoughts of reflection and motivate us to keep going until we achieve our goals, no matter how impossible they might seem.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite place on top of the long list of fun things to do in San Diego is always the Self-Realization Center in Encinitas. And while we are in Encinitas, we can’t miss Cali ice cream shop, which is always a delight for all my friends and family. After that, we visit the various museums and green areas in Balboa Park, followed by the beaches, and a relaxing stroll in La Jolla, the malls of UTC and Fashion Valley are always attractive to foreign visitors, and of course, I like to take them to some of my favorite restaurants and coffee shops, such as Eddie Vs in La Jolla, Davanti Enoteca in Del Mar, Filippi’s Pizza in Little Italy and coffee shops like Elixir or Harry’s restaurant in La Jolla.

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?
I feel a great admiration for two of my book heroes, Jorge Cantú and Mariana (Due to the sensitive content of her story, we decided to call her simply Mariana.

Instagram: authoralmalazar

Image Credits
Pictures taken by Crystal Jimenez