Writer Spotlight: Lisa Rose

Name advice, sequins, crime scene, first graders, Stand Up!, and LiFT U: Author Lisa Rose Chottiner

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author Lisa Chottiner (Lisa Rose).

You are Lisa Chottiner and Lisa Rose. Who is Lisa Rose?

Rose is my middle name. I have two last names—no hyphen:  Lisa Rose Granitz Chottiner.  I used to sign with all four names until my SCBWI-MI critique with Laurie Halse Anderson.  I was sooo nervous to meet her, and even more petrified to have her critique my writing. 

But when it was my turn, my bright, shiny newbie face was eager for her to tell me I was so wonderfully talented.  Instead, she said, “Tell me about your name.”  I was not prepared for that question. I could barely even remember my name. It was at that point; she advised to just keep it “Lisa Rose” these names will always be yours no matter who you marry or don’t marry.  

Laurie explained that she was no longer a Halse of Anderson but she has to keep the name for the brand. Thankfully, I took her advice because I divorced in 2019!

Teachers obviously inspired you to teach, too. Who were some of your most influential teachers?  

Robert Leider was my high school drama teacher and later family by choice.  While sitting in the audience with him watching a disaster of a scene occur on the high school stage, I made the comment to him, “Well, at least the costumes look great!”  Leider said, “No amount of sequins can save a bad script.” 

I didn’t think it was profound at the time, but I come back to it again and again. It is always the heart of the story that makes people fall in love with the play, book, or movie. You will never have enduring success unless the structure and foundation are also solid and strong.

Hugging Shmulik – literally— beaming ear-to-ear and counting the days until her book launch and signing party at Shalom Street children’s museum, Lisa Rose shares the inside story, recounting her journey from a teacher in Highland Park and Pontiac to a struggling young writer and mom, “swimming from Shazizzle to Shalom.”

Highland Park and Pontiac are rough school districts. Do you remember your first day? What were some of your best teaching moments?

My first day of teaching, I had to pass yellow crime tape to get to the school.  Then when I arrived at school, all my desks were missing. The previous teacher finally moved all her stuff to her new room---I had no idea “her stuff” also included the desks. 

Fortunately, I was young and pretty so the janitor was willing to help me get new desks. (I didn’t know until later that he broke into the abandoned middle school next door to retrieve them.) When my kids arrived, I was immediately, confronted with my ignorance.  

Despite all the diverse classes I took and liberal talk at the University of Michigan; I really couldn’t tell my little first grade bald boys apart.  The girls were easier because they had different hairdos but if they changed their hairdo the next day, I would for sure be lost. I think a girl peed on the floor as well—by accident.  It was quite the first day!  

I definitely was in over my head in Highland Park---and a long way from West Bloomfield.  All the teachers knew it too.  They had a bet in the teacher’s lounge that I wouldn’t make it the year.  

But I did!  I wish I could say it got easier, but it never did. I just got better skills at handling it. All teaching is extremely hard—but urban teaching is like teaching in an emergency room.  You never know what is going to walk in the door and it your job to deal with it.

When I write, I always imagine myself reading my words to my first grade class, I have developed a good sense at what will keep the attention and interest of first graders.

I believe every editor should have the experience of reading to kids who live in Detroit.  Also, every editor should see how kids pick out school library books.  “I like mermaids!”  or “Do you have any books with big trucks?” are usually deciding factors. 

Teachers in the trenches, know what kids like.  I believe publishing houses should be more connected to educators. Just like movie studios have test audiences—so should publishing houses. Teachers and kids will let know you exactly what they think.  

Not to mention any names, but I have had several award winning books, flop in my classroom…the awarded book, in my opinion, was created more for the adult, than the kid.

What was your introduction to SCBWI-MI? What did you take away from your experience in the group? 

I remember my first SCBWI event. It was before my daughter was born—and she turns 18½ this year. That means Patti Richards and I have been critiquing for a looong time. 

This is the heart of SCBWI: the people. You meet others at every career stage, cheering each other on through the long haul. There’s nothing like watching a friend’s rough draft evolve into a published book—that shared journey is pure magic.

I’ve had 18 books traditionally published or work-for-hire with traditional educational publishers. None of this would have happened without the support of so many of you—thank you, truly. THANK YOU!!!!  

People often picture writers locked away crafting bestsellers alone, but we know better. Yes, it’s butt-in-chair time, but it’s also the time out of the chair—connecting with fellow writers who help turn that solitary effort into something meaningful. 

I’ll deeply miss these in-person SCBWI-MI moments. Email and Zoom help, but they can’t replace getting lost en route to a conference or bonding over a shared dash for the dessert table instead of the drink line. Let’s bring back in-person conferences!

What challenges have you faced recently?

Recently, I stepped back from events. Partly because I wasn’t actively writing, but honestly, I couldn’t quite explain why. Never did I imagine my life would unravel over a school attendance sheet. But it did.

I was a "shared time" teacher at a Jewish Day School. I later learned this role involves teaching non-core subjects (art, gym, music, library, kindergarten) at private schools, with the public school directing the curriculum and funding a portion of the salary.  In exchange, the private school student is part of the district “Count Day”. It’s a legal way for public schools to boost enrollment and school funding—if executed correctly. In my case, I believe it wasn’t. 

The private school fully directed and supervised my classroom, even preventing an author visit for religious reasons. When asked to validate attendance? I lacked the software to take it, and didn’t work Fridays—how could I legally verify days I didn’t teach or even record? Nothing made sense.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, I uncovered the agreement between the schools. According to my experience, the schools were not following the agreement, and thus public money may have been improperly obtained.

As a Jewish author whose books have been PJ Library selections and a National Jewish Book Honor recipient, I support Jewish education fiercely. But I also believe public funds should never flow to private schools—any private schools.

I wish I could say speaking up led to change. It didn’t. I was fired. When I defended myself in arbitration and lawsuit—fighting for church-state separation—the private school fought back with unprecedented force. Untruths were spread about me and my family. 

As a writer, I’m used to rejection, but this was different. It was an assault on my character and my life’s work: children and books.

The word "shatter" always resonated with me. I thought I understood its meaning. But I learned shattering can be slow, silent. You barely hear the pieces drop until one day, you look in the mirror and the person you knew is gone. 

You realize you haven’t written in months, that ideas vanish, your brain stops thinking in color. That quiet creative superpower evaporates. Worse? You barely miss it. You almost accept the gray. That was my reality. My apologies if I seemed distant—slow to reply, less involved with SCBWI. I was navigating this grayness.

One light emerged: a new book. Early in my legal battle, I was inspired to write Stand Up!—a nonfiction exploration of nonviolent resistance. The book helped me find a new agent and a publisher! 

Then came October 7 and all the politics associated with it. I discovered my illustrator created artwork featuring the phrase "From River to Sea"—historically linked to the violent eradication of Jewish people. 

(A hot-button topic, but please remember: I have zero control over Israeli government actions. I don’t even have a vote. Just like I don’t like people to assume that simply because I’m American, I agree with all the choices of the Trump administration) 

So even though a Jewish Institution was battling me in the worst of ways, I refused association with hate. This book championed peaceful change. I demanded the illustrator be replaced; the publisher refused. I returned my advance and rights. Stand Up! still seeks a home.

Hollywood endings are elusive. Unfortunately, I can’t write mine…YET!

You wrote to me:

Thanks so much!  This is great timing because I will soon be leaving my SCBWI-MI family.  My daughter has an opportunity to attend LiFT University in Clearwater, FL.  This program will give an opportunity to be independent. We are moving in July. I hoped for a way to say thank you to all the people who have supported me during this writing journey. Thank you for allowing me the space to do so.  

Tell us about your daughter.

I can share this: I adopted my daughter, Victoria, as a newborn. By four months, we knew she was blind; more disabilities emerged over time. My driving goal has always been to help her live an independent, meaningful life. LiFT University in Clearwater, Florida, offers the best path forward. So, we’re moving: Victoria, my partner Alex, our two cats (my literary assistants), one dog, and several hermit crabs.

Alex and I met pre-pandemic—my dating profile proudly declared "children’s author." His family shares this passion.  Fun Fact: Alex’s mom worked for NYC’s Channel 13.  It was there Alex’s mom met became friends with Robert “Bobby” Munsch. One night, long before email, Bobby read her a draft of Love You Forever over the phone and she encouraged him to make it a children’s book!

What's next for Lisa?

I’m scared to leave Michigan---I’ve spent my whole life here.  Also, I really have no idea, what the next chapter will be—I only know it will be warmer!  But I’m looking forward to filling the pages with happy adventures.

 Please share any social media:

My Website: www.LisaRoseWrites.net

@LisaRoseWrites on Instagram

Lisa Rose on Facebook