Interview with Author Elizabeth Rosner

By ilieruby, on May 25th, 2011

Elizabeth Rosner is an award-winning poet, essayist, and author of two highly acclaimed bestselling novels, THE SPEED OF LIGHT (2001), which was translated into nine languages and is currently in development as a feature film, and BLUE NUDE (2006) which was named one of the San Francisco Chronicle’s favorite novels of the year. She is also a breast cancer survivor whose essays have appeared in The New York Times, Elle, and numerous anthologies. Her poetry collection GRAVITY (1998) is in its 14th printing. Please enjoy the uncommon candor of this beautiful author in this memorable interview.

A guilty pleasure, if there ever was one?

Chocolate. Always chocolate. Dark and at least 70%.

Do second chances happen in real life?

I have to say that I’m having my second chance right now, having gotten through breast cancer treatment last year. Also, see below, for my answer to number 7 (favorite age).

If you were trapped in an elevator for four hours, who would you want with you?

Leonard Cohen, singing. And sharing his secrets with me.

What was the most difficult age?

My early teens were quite tortured. I felt wrong in about a hundred ways, inside and out, and I wanted to be anywhere but where I was.

What has been the best age for you?

I’m surprisingly okay about turning 51. I’m more true to myself than I’ve ever been, and I’m learning some deep lessons about how to be at home in the world. This may sound new-agey and/or religious in a weird way, but I actually feel like I’m currently being reborn as a better and happier person.

Do you believe in karma? Synchronicity? Love at first sight?

All of the above, yes. For better or worse.

How have you overcome your biggest obstacle?

I think I’m in the process of overcoming it right now. That is, overcoming my own tendencies to repeat behaviors that cause me to suffer. I also have had trouble with pessimism, which has caused me to be fearful about things that haven’t even happened yet. I’m learning some new tricks for that too, and most of them are embedded in the spiritual practice of the Twelve Steps.

Your biggest epiphany?

Progress not perfection. I wish it didn’t sound like such a trite cliché, but this insight/mantra is really helping me calm down. A lot.

Your favorite song? Favorite book?

I’m still and always completely in love with Keith Jarrett’s album The Køln Concert. I find it impossible to choose a favorite book, but most of the time I say that To the Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway, both by Virginia Woolf, are my favorites.

Your best advice for any woman who is struggling to become who she is meant to be?
PERSEVERE

You can find out more about Liz at www.elizabethrosner.com.

Dawn

May 26, 2011 at 3:57 am · Reply

Thank you very much for sharing your words. Three words that really have stayed in my mind since reading this interview were,” Progress not Perfection.” I always say that I am work in progress. I have spent so much of my last 40 years never saying no, being what everyone expected and what made them happy. Protecting others when I should have been standing up for myself and so much more. It has been a lot. Breaking patterns that you have so long let lead your life is very difficult. Everyone has their own truth. At age 40 I am going down my path toward that more fulfilled/enlightened woman in taking ownership of my truth. Finding the right people to surrounding myself with that will be not a road block but a supporter with each milestone I reach in getting there. Work in progress  I also have to say what you said about your early teens, “felt wrong in about a hundred ways,” was like reading my diary as an adolescent. I think sometimes we as adults feel that same way. Words are one of the most precious things we have to share with each other. Thank you so very much for sharing yours.