October 7th, 2009
Inspiring Women: 6 Questions with Elizabeth Razin
Give us your “Elevator” Speech as to who you are and what it is that you do for a living. And how should we “know” you?
I am the eternal bridesmaid who decided to stop sulking “behind the seams” and write about it!
Having been a bridesmaid eight times and a maid of honor four, I’ve truly experienced the ups and downs of bridesmaiddom. Inspired by the rollercoaster ride of managing the brides-to-be in my life, I finally put pen to paper in She’s Gone Bridal!
Unlike most bridal and wedding guidebooks, She’s Gone Bridal! aims to put the bride aside once and for all. My mission is to empower women everywhere—from the BFF of the bride, to the mother of the bride, to the co-worker of the bride—with real tips, helpful tactics and candid advice to help women successfully manage demanding brides, while still maintaining their own sanity.
Having been raised by a Psychologist father and given my psychology background from Tufts University, it was only natural that She’s Gone Bridal! take a therapeutic approach to “bridal management.” For example, some of the topics in the book are:
• Diagnosis: Early detection of Bridezilla behavior
• Anger: Managing meltdowns without having to say you’re sorry
• Catharsis: How to create wedding well-being on the big day
Beyond the book, I live and work in New York City as a Partner at an advertising agency in midtown. My writing has appeared in The Boston Phoenix, Stuff@Night magazine, the Associated Press, and The Bergen Record.
Tell us about your path to getting to where you are with your business today.
As cheesy as it may sound, I decided to write She’s Gone Bridal! because my grandfather told me to.
Since I was a little girl, I had always loved to write. But upon entering the “real world” after college, nothing seemed interesting or exciting enough to actually write about. It wasn’t until my grandfather sat me down one day and told me, “Lizzie, it is time for you to write.”
And with that push—and with my experiences as a bridesmaid and stories from so many other women—the idea for She’s Gone Bridal! was born.
Now I’m very eager for women to read the book, whether they’re bridesmaids or not, to learn about how to stay true to themselves and sustain their friendship with the bride-to-be in their lives.
What is your personal “motto” or “mission statement”?
Write what you know. (I borrowed this from my grandfather!)
Besides your business, what are you passionate about?
In addition to writing, I am passionate about my “real” job as an advertising executive. Having been in the industry for nearly ten years, it has kept me engaged, challenged and enticed.
What advice would you give to other women wanting to follow your career path?
Someone once told me that the key to finding a career that makes you happy is to remember what activities you liked most when you were a kid.
In addition to dressing up Barbie dolls in pink pant suites and to singing along with Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, I remember two things:
1) Constantly writing stories and poems.
2) Creating “pretend” TV commercials with my little sister, Katie.
Pimp yourself! Where can we find you on the web, in bookstores, at the movies, on TV, etc.
Purchase: She’s Gone Bridal! is available:
Online:
• Amazon.com
• BarnesandNoble.com
• PowellsBooks.com
• IndieBound.com
• KensingtonBooks.com
In Stores:
• Barnes & Noble
• Borders
• Walden Books
Website: Learn more about She’s Gone Bridal! and Liz at:
• www.shesgonebridal.com
Facebook: Become a fan of Liz at:
• Facebook Page
Blog: Read Liz’s blog at:
• http://blog.shesgonebridal.com/
Book Clubs/Questions/Interviews: Liz is always happy to speak to your book club, group, or organization. To schedule an interview, appearance, or event contact Maureen Cuddy, her publicist, at:
• mcuddy@kensington.com
Liz Direct: Email Liz directly at:
• liz@shesgonebridal.com
