Interview with Author and Film Editor, Lisa Cheek

My experience at the first annual Park City Understory Writer’s Conference felt nothing short of magical. It wasn’t just the writing wisdom shared by an elite lineup—Dani Shapiro, Brooke Warner, Grant Faulkner, and Annie Tucker. It was the joy of gathering with fellow writers, hearing their stories, and discovering the books they feel compelled to put out into the world.

One of my favorite new writer friends is Lisa Cheek. We share a publishing path through She Writes Press and a love for memoir. Outside the boutique bookstore Dolly’s in downtown Park City—fresh from having Dani Shapiro sign her books—Lisa and I slipped into easy conversation. I was immediately taken with the subtitle of her upcoming memoir, Sit, Cinderella, Sit: A Mostly True Memoir.

I think you’ll love what Lisa shared with me about her writing, her career, and this fun, innovative book.

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m a 63-year-old woman who just had her first book published at 62. I’ve finally found my hair color. PINK. And I believe one must have dogs in their lives. Oh, and I love Italy and pasta, too.

Writing my stories and being published has allowed me to connect to others in a way I never dreamed possible.

Describe the story you tell in your new release: Sit, Cinderella, Sit: A Mostly True Memoir.

My memoir is about a woman being told she has aged out of her 25-year career as a commercial film editor at age 45. Needing to make some money, she takes a job editing what is believed to be the original telling of the Cinderella story, while it’s being filmed in Yunnan, China – along the Tibetan boarder. The film is in Mandarin, a language she doesn’t speak. She lives in a guesthouse with the camera crew––14 men who don’t speak a word of English. And she rescues dogs along the way.

Talk about your publishing path.

My publishing path was pretty simple and quick. The first conference I ever attended, I had just turned 60. I met both my editor, Amy Ferris, and my publisher, Brooke Warner of She Writes Press at that conference. While I was there, I also met over a dozen She Writes Press authors who were so much fun, and they gushed over how much they loved the publisher, Brooke Warner.

So, after working with my editor for almost a year, I sent it to Brooke hoping for some feedback because no one else had read it. She said she wanted to publish it. It was that quick.

What prompted you to write this book? 

I first wrote it as a novel, and it didn’t have the heart I had. But I felt because I owned these things that happened to me, it made the book super special. And I wanted my readers to know that magic happens all the time – everywhere. Just look for it.

How did you choose the book’s title? 

This title feels so perfect to me because it’s not only a conversation one starts with their canine companion, but it’s how I spent my time editing the film: sitting while putting together the Cinderella story. Also, there is a chapter in the book where the entire movie crew goes to the set to watch the filming of Cinderella’s ball except me. I needed to stay behind and edit while everyone else was at the ball.

Tell us about the subtitle: a “mostly true memoir.”

For me it means I moved the timelines and combined characters. Dialogue is written out of a feeling from the experience. All of those things are open to interpretation. I don’t think most readers understand the rules of memoir and I felt like I needed to be clean with that.

What are the main themes of the book?

There are several. 

Kindness is a universal language. Even though I didn’t speak Mandarin, the camera crew of 14 men looked after me. There were smiles and heartfelt gestures that speak louder than words.

Age is just a number interpreted by our society. One may be considered past their usefulness here in The States but in China – old people are revered!

Every day is magical. Look for the sweetness and you will find it. Focus on the good and that everyone is doing the best they can.

Life is an adventure. You never know what is going to happen.

Life is better with a dog or two. It just is.

Were there any characters, scenes, or chapters that were difficult to write?

I think the main thing I worried about were my characters and not wanting to offend anyone in my book. As a memoir, I felt like I needed to own my mistakes and misperceptions. I’m never making fun of someone else – only me and my own learning curve. I like to think of myself as a “late bloomer.”

What do you hope readers will take away from your story? 

That love and connection surround us all the time. So do new experiences. We have to step out of our comfort zone in order to grow. I find I’m still having to do it regularly at 63 if I want to keep growing, and I really want to grow until the day I die. I need to continue stepping out.

How long did it take you to write the final draft? 

4 years.

Tell us about your writing space… 

I write in my king-size bed with my mutts, Josephine Símon and Elvis Bruce Wayne.

Which authors inspire you?

So many…Jenny Lawson, David Sedaris, Mary Karr, Dani Shapiro, John Irving, Abigail Thomas

What 3 tips of advice do you have for aspiring writers?

1. Have a writing schedule and stick to it.
2. Go to classes. Teachers and students inspire me. You have to keep deadlines. Work with a coach.
3. Go to conferences, retreats and events. Anywhere other writers might be. You will meet your people there.

What are you working on next?

I’m finishing up another memoir, The Big Day – Saying I Do Only to Find Out I Didn’t.  It comes out September 22, 2026

Tell us a quirky fact about you that most people don’t know.

I’ve been to Antarctica and loved sitting amongst the penguins.

More About Lisa Cheek:

After twenty-five years editing and producing other people’s work, Lisa Cheek decided to take her friends’ and coworkers’ advice and tell her own stories. Her first memoir,“Sit, Cinderella, Sit” is an Amazon Bestseller, a Zibby’s Most Anticipated Books for 2025, and a People Magazine pick. Her musings “One Minute Thoughts from A Pink Head” are on Substack. She lives in LA with 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a husband.

www.lisacheek.com

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Aug. 13: Julie will join the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates Book Club at 7 PM CT to discuss Twice the Family.

Aug. 20 and Sept. 10: Julie will be presenting an online webinar, “Memoir Magic: Mining Journals to Craft Compelling Memoir” for the Author Learning Center at 1:30 ET. Go here to register. 

Aug. 24-28: Julie will attend the Her Spirit Women’s Writing Retreat at the Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz, CA organized by Story Summit.

Sept. 7: Julie will showcase her books at Printer’s Row LitFest on south Dearborn in downtown Chicago from 10-2 PM. Look for Julie in the Chicago Writer’s Association booth.

Sept. 16: Julie’s new book, Lulu and Jack Go to The Tree Farm, a children’s book based on Julie’s award-winning essay in The Beacher Weekly Newspaper, “When a Tree Grows,” launches and will be available wherever books are sold. On launch day, September 16, all four of Julie’s titles will be featured on the Nasdaq billboard at Times Square.

Follow Julie by visiting her website, subscribe to her bimonthly newsletters, and listen to previous podcast recordings where she discusses topics like adoption, identity, family relationships, sisterhood and belonging.

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