Writing didn’t suddenly come to me, I found it. At 8 years old. From an older boy I had a crush on. My sister’s friend. He was never without a black Mead notebook. Always writing, doodling, and musing in those pages. A hefty secret and one I so wanted to be a part of. After many weeks, I was given that chance and seized it. His misplaced notebook became mine for a time, and it opened my world to the marvelous art of poetry. The notebook was not in my possession for very long – a day or two – but its imprint has been everlasting.

For over 30 years I have been privately writing poetry, short stories, and essays. All scribed in secret and then kept safe on a shelf in my studio. Even as I dedicated 20 years of my life solely to a successful career in the visual arts, writing has always been my solace. My comfort. My first love.

I’ve now reached mid-life. And it’s become increasingly clear that at this stage, my direction has changed from a strictest road to one of pliability. Here I will be able to evolve my voice and my artistic visions. Experiment with the thematics of human nature, psychological states, and environmental issues. I can play. I can dream. I can do.

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Liz Mares (b. 1978) currently works in the NW Indiana and Chicago Metro area. Despite lacking formal training in writing or art, she has honed her skills through self-education, with books serving as her mentors. While writing professionally is a recent addition to her career path, Liz has been a visual artist for more than two decades, with her artworks in public and private collections on six continents.