Bestselling author Lisa Perskie chatted about her book “Laela and the Moonline.”
Book Description
Long ago, the four tribes of Aerizon lived as one people, but the time of unity has passed. Now, three of the tribes collectively called the Treedles inhabit the forest canopy. The fourth tribe, the Mergons, live on the ground and pose a constant threat to the Treedles.
Laela is a young Treedle girl coming of age in the treetop realm of Aerizon. Her destiny, as yet unrevealed, will cast her in the role of catalyst for epic change.
Laela grows increasingly restless with the cultural limits and expectations for young Treedle women. In her quest to understand and express her authentic self, she faces soul-transforming psychological and physical tests.
Unlike Treedle women before her, she pushes back against traditional gender and cultural boundaries. Propelled by mysterious forces, she ventures into the forest and onto the lands below, breaking ground for a new era.
As she evolves spiritually, Laela faces mental challenges, redefining her perception of the impact one person can have on the world. Finally, she gains the courage to raise her voice in defense of herself and her people. Seekers of truth and justice will relate to how Laela grapples with the challenge of finding her guiding values.
Biography
Lisa Perskie Rodriguez is an international educator who lived abroad for over three decades. She worked as a teacher and school administrator in international schools in Colombia, South America, Guatemala, and Brazil. She raised her children in Colombia, which was her home for 21 years. She was privileged with the opportunity to serve the indigenous community in rural areas, the Wayuu in the Guajira region.
Experiencing different cultures and learning Spanish and Portuguese nourished her vision as a writer. She believes it is not only “nice” but necessary to integrate, listen to, and work with those who hold different world views. Diversity enhances and enriches us! If we are to champion a better, kinder, and more just world, we must develop our creative capacities in concert with our scientific and cultural knowledge.
Laela and the Moonline is her first novel. This book is dedicated to her grandchildren: Leyla, Mateo, Lucas, and Gabriel, all promising world citizens with open hearts and a strong sense of social justice.
Q & A interview
Every book has a story about its creation, what’s the story behind ‘Laela and the Moonline’?
The story of ‘Laela and the Moonline’ and her unique world was born over a period of years. It ties together themes I feel passionately about like connection to nature and spirituality, gender equality, and deep respect for human diversity in all its forms. Perhaps the main theme throughout is how to overcome adversity.
So many people are held back or discouraged from attaining their full potential because they don’t fit into cookie-cutter images and roles. I wanted to show how important it is to develop not only one’s physical and mental capacities but also to draw on the spiritual powers that are each individual’s hidden gift.
I have had a lifelong fascination with how different cultures find purpose and meaning in their lives. I lived abroad for around forty years, and my first two decades were in Colombia, SA. I made many friendships there with rural and indigenous people who inspired me with the wisdom of those who live close to nature and God. In my journey, I have been guided by the teachings of the Baha’i Faith which continually illumine my path of learning, transformation and connection, and service in bonds of love with others.
I think we live a two-fold purpose in life: one to become our true selves and the other to serve and contribute to the betterment of the world we live in. The world needs healing, peace, and unity.
The main character of my book, Laela, though flawed and imperfect in many ways, becomes a leader for transformational change. You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference! However, you do have to step out of your comfort zone, adventure into new inner and outer regions, and connect yourself with higher powers!
To this day so many people are discriminated against or marginalized for one kind of diversity or another, barring them from developing their talents and impeding them from contributing to making this a better, more peaceful world. I wrote ’Laela and Moonline’ for them.
This book is an inspiring and rather amazing read, and it has been very popular with readers. What do you hope they take away with them when they finish reading it?
I hope readers gain insights and inspiration about becoming their true selves and living in synchrony with their cherished values. It’s so important to dream and have a vison for your life. Dreams and goals are not achieved by wishing. We have to persevere, face challenges and overcome adversity to translate ideas into reality.
This story also emphasizes that we are not in this life just for ourselves. Our happiness and success is contingent on how we care for and collaborate with others. We need courage, but that is developed through taking risks, through practice. As a young girl growing up in the midcentury, I was often frustrated by the roles and expectations that seemed to limit, if not oppress, women. My intense desire to work toward justice, have a voice of influence and choose my dreams were quelled during girlhood.
(As it still is for millions of girls around the world) No one asked girls about their powerful aspirations or guided us in discovering our authentic voice, much less equipped us to rise to promote social justice.
Over time, the main character of the book-Laela develops physical, mental, and spiritual capacities to handle ever more complex and threatening situations. I hope Laela’s journey inspires girls to develop their potential more fully and arise to share their voices and participate more boldly in society.
While writing ‘Laela and the Moonline’ did you learn anything new about yourself? What was one of the challenges you faced, and conversely one of your successes?
I wrote the main part of this book during the Covid pandemic. It was very challenging to create a whole new world, with its own culture, cosmology, and a cast of characters. I was living in Brazil and often isolated at home and working long hours. I was fighting my own stress with the pandemic crisis and the dark panorama at the time. There were weeks I couldn’t write a thing.
What I learned new about myself was to trust the creative process more. I was energized by seeing the characters and story come to life. I even woke up in the middle of the night a few times with the characters talking in my head. (I know it may sound crazy!)
One of the successes was that after Laela’s civilization took root in my head, it got easier to write as the story began to flow naturally and powerfully through me. I was able to embed some of the lessons I learned when I lived and worked in the field in Colombia, SA for 21 years.
I was there during a period of civil conflict and I found myself in some extremely dangerous and life-threatening situations. I wanted Laela’s story to contain real-life strategies for how to handle danger, violence, and abuse. Laela learned to be brave and resilient! She reminds me to be more so.
A good story is all about the setting, the descriptiveness, and the raw energy that captivates, all coming together to have the reader turning the pages effortlessly. Your book includes all of them, what is one of the keys that you find critical when getting into the writing zone?
I find that writing is like entering into a meditative state. I must be somewhere quiet and have long undisturbed periods of time to write and re-write. I do best sipping lots of hot tea. However, ideas for chapters and incidents often come when I am not consciously thinking; when I am walking, showering, and relaxing on a cozy bed.
I draw on the experiences that have most marked me and cause awe, wonder, and fear and that either expand or challenge me intensely. I write to tell an exciting story that will engage me as well as the reader.
For ‘Laela and the Moonine’, I spent hours imagining each clan, and their history and developing the personality of each character! However, my ultimate purpose is to convey metaphysical messages. I have had a hard life and want to share all that I can to uplift those who are on a spiritual journey to be the best human they can be.
‘Laela and the Moonline’ has been very successful, do you have another book in the works you can tell our readers about?
A sequel is coming. It’s called ‘Arising’ and will continue from the last chapter of ‘Laela and the Moonline’. It will be dramatic and take the reader to a surprising place.
When did you finish writing a new book what is your favorite drink to celebrate with?
I finished my first novel at the end of January 2022. I love to drink tea or high-quality coffee with cinnamon. (I am a foodie and would rather celebrate with a great meal than drinks).
Lisa Perskie’s bestselling book “Laela and the Moonline” is available on Amazon by clicking here.
