Unveiling the World of Cosplay and Nerd Culture: A Conversation with Carly

I recently connected with Carly, who shares my passion for nerd culture and cosplay. She shared valuable perspectives on her experiences in the nerd community, sparking an engaging conversation that you're sure to find enjoyable!

AA: Hello Carly!! Where are you from? And what was your upbringing like for you?

C: I was born and raised in Georgia, and lucky enough to be brought up in a two-parent household with parents who absolutely adored one another. Both of my parents were extremely supportive in any endeavor. My friends used to joke that my family and I were like the Cleavers from Leave it to Beaver. My immediate and extended family were very close when I was growing up as well. We would routinely have dinner as a family almost every night and would usually have Jeopardy on the TV in the background.

AA: How did you become interested in nerd culture, and what sparked your initial interest? Was it movies, shows, or books? If so what was your favorite movie, show, and books?

C: I blame my older brother. He was quiet, artistic, and super into comics and nerd culture in general. I just remember always thinking he was so cool and my need to try and impress him, especially since I was a girl.

While most girls grew up playing with Barbies and baby dolls, I preferred action figures, matchbox cars, video games, and playing sports with my dad.

C: I’ve also loved movies for as long as I can remember as well. One of my most prized possessions was my tiny tv with a built-in VCR I got one year for Christmas. I would save up my allowance each week and spend most of my money on physical media, purchasing VHS copies of video rentals from one of the flea market vendors.

C: My favorite movies around this time were Braveheart, Clueless, and Scream. We didn’t get cable or a satellite dish until I was in high school, so I didn’t watch a lot of tv growing up. My favorite tv shows were Saturday morning cartoons, Saturday Night Live, and late night tv shows that I could watch during the Summer months while school was out.

C: I usually had some book or comic book I was reading as well. 

AA: How long have you been going to Dragon Con? What has your experience been like in the time you guys have been going to it? Have you met any follow cosplayers, attended panels, or met celebs?

C: I first got turned on to Dragon Con in 2004 when I started talking to a guy on a dating website who was a volunteer at the con. He convinced me to go for the first time in 2004 by smuggling me in using one of the other volunteer badges. He ended up showing me around the con that day, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I will never forget the first celebrity I met in 2004. It was Marc Singer (the Beastmaster). I remember walking by his table, and he must have noticed me fangirling over him because he beckoned me to approach his table. We ended up talking for a few minutes. I told him how much I loved him in Beastmaster and the television show V, and then asked if I could take a picture with him. He graciously obliged my request and didn’t even ask for any money. I ended up revisiting him the next year and made sure I purchased an autographed photograph of him. He was just as gracious and friendly the next year.

C: Most of my friends would typically cosplay during some of the days of the con throughout the years, but my husband and I didn’t start cosplaying until 2019. We’ve attended many panels over the years with some of my favorites being a John Cusack panel, an Expanse panel, and a Farscape panel. The short film festival has always been a favorite as well; however, they haven’t had any film festivals since 2019. One of our close friends was prior roommates with Cooper Andrews, so in 2019 we ended up partying with several members of The Walking Dead TV show, including Ross Marquand, Cooper Andrews, Dan Fogler, and Seth Gilliam.

AA: Can you tell me how you got interested in cosplaying? Which characters have you cosplayed as, and which characters would you like to cosplay in the future?

C: So, I always loved seeing all of the creative cosplays at Dragon Con, but never felt confident enough to pull one off until 2019. In 2019 I decided I would cosplay as the movie version of Ramona Flowers. My husband helped put together and build the hammer prop that does +2 damage to girls.  Since that first year I decided to cosplay, I have made a comic version Ramona Flowers cosplay, Tank Girl, and Little Debbie Harry mashup cosplay. I would love to do a Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, Pris (Bladerunner), Ellen Ripley, and countless other cosplays at a future Dragon Con.

AA: How long does it take to create all of the cosplays you’ve done so far and how much does it cost to make everything? 

C: It depends on the cosplay and what it entails. I try to choose cosplays where it will be relatively easy to purchase most of the clothing and accessories I’ll be using since I have zero sewing/seamstress skills. I utilize Amazon quite a bit for a lot of the clothing and accessories. Working on the props that I use for the cosplays is probably my favorite part because it usually gives me a chance to flex my creative muscle by brainstorming designs and painting/coloring. I’m most proud of the large hammer, Tank Girl helmet, and Tank Girl bomb/rocket packet props. I couldn’t have completed any of them without the help from my husband. As far as the cost? If you have more time to put the cosplays together, you can definitely do them on a smaller budget by taking your time looking online, searching for sales, or even secondhand stores/flea markets.

AA: Do you have any favorite comic books that you enjoy reading?

C: I love reading comics. Most of my comic collecting and reading was from the age of 8-13. I always enjoyed comics and reading, but didn’t get back into reading/collecting until one of my friends introduced me to The Walking Dead in 2005. He let me borrow all the issues he had at the time, and I was hooked. I’ve collected the entire series since then. Other comic series I enjoy and highly recommend are Conan the Barbarian, Fables, Locke & Key (although I hated the television show), Judge Dredd, Y: The Last Man, Saga, and X-Men: Inferno.

AA: What are some of your favorite comic book characters and why? 

C: Rick Grimes and Andrea Harrison from The Walking Dead. I’m still pissed about how much the tv show ruined Andrea’s character. Regarding superhero-type comic characters, I’d say Jean Grey, Rogue, Psylocke, and of course, fan favorite, Wolverine.

AA: What topic or event opened your eyes to the world?

C: Probably 9/11 when I was a senior in high school.

AA: Have you ever experienced paranormal events in your life?

C: I don’t feel like I’ve ever really experienced real paranormal events. Anytime I see a cardinal (bird) I always think about my father though. My mother used to tell me stories of her parents performing seances when she was a child.

AA: Do you enjoy playing video games?

C: Yes, I love playing video games. I never seem to have the time to play them though. Which gaming system were you most fond of growing up? I loved all the ones I was lucky enough to play and own. I had a Nintendo, Sega Genesis, PS1, and PS2. I’d probably say my favorite overall was PC. I spent countless hours playing Doom II, Warcraft II, StarCraft,  and Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines. Some newer games that I’ve really enjoyed are the Telltale Series, Friday The 13th: The Game, Phasmophobia, and Helldivers 2.

AA: What is your favorite video game character?

C: Probably Fem Shep (Female version of Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect series). I love the fact that you can play her either as the ultimate hero or the ultimate asshole. Some nice follow-up picks are Blaze Fielding from Streets of Rage series, and Jill Valentine from Resident Evil. I’m always picking Chun-Li for Street Fighter. I can relate to her thunder thighs.

AA: What is your favorite video game character?

C: Probably Fem Shep (Female version of Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect series). I love the fact that you can play her either as the ultimate hero or the ultimate asshole. Some nice follow-up picks are Blaze Fielding from Streets of Rage series, and Jill Valentine from Resident Evil. I’m always picking Chun-Li for Street Fighter. I can relate to her thunder thighs.

AA: Given the chance to inhabit a video game world, which would you choose and why?  

C: The Mass Effect universe. It feels like the perfect sci-fi world. Hot alien babes, it’s own version of Star Wars the force, and amazing technology. The only thing I’d have to worry about are the Reapers, so maybe I’d want to choose the video game world, post-Reapers.

AA: Can video games serve an educational purpose? If so, in what ways?

C: I think they certainly can. They can help support the development of critical thinking skills and depending on the type of game, the importance of working as a team.

What aspects of gaming do you find most enjoyable? I’m a very competitive person and I get the most satisfaction from playing coop games. I love teaming up with others to defeat the common enemy in the game. There’s also a little sense of accomplishment when you’re able to finally beat a particularly hard part in a video game.

AA: What do you consider the most challenging aspect of gaming? 

C: Some of the newer games controls are a little confusing to me due to my dyslexia. I usually end up getting the L and R mixed up until I play a game enough and develop more of a muscle memory of the controls.

AA: Who are your favorite bands and artists to listen to, and what genre do they belong to?

C: I have very eclectic taste in music. I love anything from hip hop to some old school country hits. Ghost, Gunship, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, and VAST are some of my favorite bands.

AA: Tell me about the three most influential people in your life and how they affected you positively or negatively.

C: My father, my mother, and my brother are the three most influential people in my life. I’m incredibly thankful that my dad taught me the importance of hard work, perseverance, and a positive attitude. I’m thankful my mother taught me how to harness feminine power, and my brother opened my eyes to all of the nerd culture/pop culture stuff that I love so much.

AA: What is the biggest lesson you have ever learned in life?

C: If the past 5 years have taught me anything, it’s to stay true to your morals and values. If something feels wrong, then it probably is, and the only person that knows what’s best for them themselves is. I will never understand those that wish to assert control over others.

AA: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in life?

C: 2011 was one of the craziest years of my life. I had married the love of my life in 2010, and we were settling into domestic bliss when my father was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in late 2010. We had originally planned to enjoy married life for a few years before starting our own family. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Mesothelioma, but once someone is diagnosed, the survival rate is typically an additional 4 to 18 months. So upon getting this diagnosis, we both decided we were going to start trying to have a baby. It was our goal to spend as much time with my father, helping take care of him, and to have a baby before he died. It seemed like it was meant to be as I pretty much immediately got pregnant as soon as we started trying. I was stuck in Bloomington, IL for two weeks of work training when I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t understand how taxing it would be on my body to grow another individual while I was still working, trying to be a good wife, and taking care of my father as much as possible. A week before he passed away, I was able to obtain a 3D ultrasound video of my daughter, and thankfully, he was able to watch it as well. I thought he would make it to the birth of my daughter, but sadly, he passed away when I was about 7 months pregnant.

AA: How did you overcome them?

C: I have only overcome challenges head-on by confronting them and dealing with them head on.

AA: Tell us about how you and your husband met. What do you like about him? What made you feel he was the right guy for you? 

C: My friends regularly got together and played Texas Hold ‘Em. I remember meeting my husband in the same group of friends one night when we played poker in 2003. I was 19, and he was 16. I remember thinking he was super cute, but too young for me to date then. We continued to hang out with the same group of friends over the years, but I always seemed to be in a relationship with someone else. Fast forward to December 2008. I had just been laid off from my job and had dumped my ex after finding out he was cheating on me on the same day. A few days later, I decided to meet with a group of friends to hang out. After hanging out together in a group a few times, I sensed that he might be interested in me, so I sent him a text message asking if he might want to take me on a date at some point. He responded that he would love to. We ended up getting engaged about 6 months later and then married in March of 2010.

AA: What do I like about him?

C: His sense of humor, and sense of duty to his closest friends and family. He’s dependable. He can be counted on to do something when he says he will. He’s also great at fixing and installing things. I can’t count how much money he has saved us over the years due to him fixing and installing things himself.

I knew he was different and the right guy for me when my father met him and immediately liked him. My father had NEVER liked any of the guys I previously dated. Trey is my rock. Within the same year we married, my father became very ill and was diagnosed with Mesothelioma. I could not have asked for a better partner to navigate through my father’s illness and ultimate death.

AA: Please define motherhood in your own words? 

C: I always knew I wanted to have children and be a mother when I grew up. I was extremely close with my family and I couldn’t wait to have my own children and make my own new family traditions.

 AA: How do you find joy in motherhood?

C: The best part of motherhood is reliving my childhood through my own children and watching them learn and discover something for the first time.

AA: What is it like being a mother?

C: It’s pretty amazing being a mother. I grew two children in my body and gave birth to them.

AA: What has been the most rewarding thing for you as a mother? What has been motherhood's most challenging part, and how did you deal with it?

C: Breastfeeding and lack of sleep when both of my children were still babies was pretty difficult, but I can only imagine that the most challenging parts of motherhood are yet to come. As my children get older, I understand that life in general will become more challenging and complicated.

AA: How do you go about explaining things to your kids that are happening in the world?

C: I do my best to try and keep things simple for my children. They’re exposed to a lot more than I want them to be, but at least they know they can always come to me if they have questions about what’s going on. Thankfully, they do have good heads on their shoulders and in many ways they’re even more based than myself or their father. They are both very no-nonsense individuals.

Should everyone on the planet be striving toward a common goal?  

C: The only common goal individuals should be striving for is to live a meaningful life, and try to impose or encroach as little of themselves as they can on those around them. Everyone is different, so while we may have overlapping things that we strive for, it’s never going to just be one specific thing.

AA: What do you think the meaning of life is?

C: Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women. Seriously though, I think you should try and leave it better than you found it. We live on in the hearts and memories of our friends and, of course genetically, through our family and offspring.

AA: Carly, we appreciate you sharing about your personal life and interests. Thank you.

To keep up with Carly, you can follow her on Twitter at

https://x.com/Intel_Dork

*** All photos by Carly, unless otherwise noted ***

Exploring the Creative Mind of Sci-Fi Author Josephine Lieder in an Exclusive Interview

I recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with Josephine Lieder, the talented author behind the acclaimed Lucy Divine Series under the pen name Finding Annevra. We discussed her current book, forthcoming work, and personal experiences. I genuinely believe that you will find our conversation highly insightful and enjoyable.

Amit Ahuja: Welcome, Josephine!! Where are you from (tell your origin story)?

Josephine Lieder: My name is Josephine Lieder (or Josie, for short). I am a science-fiction author and content creator from Long Island, New York. I am also well-known for healing my autoimmune disorder with the carnivore diet after a 14-year stint of veganism. Ironic, I know. I’ll get to that in a bit. I make videos under the name Weird History Gal about spooky and historical places, and I would say where I grew up played a huge part in shaping my interest in history and urban legends. Long Island is in no short supply of both and is also home to the military base and alleged conspiracy that inspired Stranger Things, AKA Camp Hero and the Montauk Project. I have always leaned more on the introvert side, and that, I would say, also impacted hobbies and areas of interest I developed growing up that I don’t think would have happened otherwise. I started writing and drawing as a kid, though I think I can safely say back then I wasn’t very good at it, and developed a love for animals. I also distinctly remember being unable to resist watching TV shows and reading ghost stories.

Josephine Lieder: I also make content documenting my experience with the carnivore diet under the name The Ex-Plant Eater, a name which I sort of intended to be hyperbole, though I guess it didn’t work out that way. Long story short, I had an eating disorder around 13, became vegan not long after I started recovering (around 14), and spent the next 14 years of my life mostly miserable and dealing with minor-to-severe health issues that culminated in being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis around 23/24 years old. I stayed vegan about 4 years after that and continued experiencing digestive issues. In 2021, we had a tragic death in the family and I began going into a severe colitis flare, and that was the point that got me desperate enough to try animal products again, seeing as I’d tried about every other option available besides that. To my bewilderment at the time, it worked, and I was able, after about a full year of slowly reintroducing animal products and then transitioning to the carnivore diet over another few months, to get my autoimmune disorder into full remission and it has been that way ever since. I’ve only continued to see my health improve since then.

Amit Ahuja: How did you become interested in the plant-based diet, and what was the turning point in your life that led you to seek a different eating path to address the health issues you’ve been facing?

Josephine Lieder: I became interested in veganism when I was 13 and was just starting to recover from having an eating disorder. This is actually relevant to music, I was at the Vans Warped Tour the summer after I started recovery and came across a PETA tend where they were handing out pamphlets promoting the film Earthlings. I watched Earthlings that night, and became vegan overnight because I was young and impressionable and really believed it was the answer to all of my problems. I am stubborn, however, and like to stick to things to the utmost degree, so I stuck with veganism for 14 years following that. The turning point for me, was ultimately getting diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and being desperate to get it under control when I was 27.

Amit Ahuja: What have you learned about your body and nutrition since you started the carnivore diet?

Josephine Lieder: I have learned a lot of health issues we generally think are normal aren’t normal necessarily. I feel like women especially are conditioned to believe that as we get older, we age horribly, our hormones get all out of whack, we need to use toxic beauty products and skincare to maintain our skin, we need to eat a small amount of calories to stay fit. I’ve seen through doing the carnivore diet that all of that isn’t true. My skin looks younger than it did three years ago when I started this way of eating, I no longer pay attention to the amount of calories I eat and remain the same size, I no longer experience PMS, and I no longer use any products on my skin aside from beef tallow and other sources of animal fat. I’ve also seen my autoimmune disorder go into full remission, eating this way. For me, the carnivore diet has been very liberating and continues to work well.

Amit Ahuja: How do you handle all the negative/rude comments you get from vegans on social media?

Josephine Lieder: Oof! I’ve had to start letting it go in one ear and out the other and made a rule against engaging with people like that at all, even if it’s to try to make them see the light. It’s not worth it. I have gotten to a point where I can either laugh about it or genuinely feel bad the person is as delusional as they are and then move on about my day. I do get a lot less these days, also (I don’t know where all the vegans went), but when I do get one every once in a while, I’ve learned to be detached about it.

Amit Ahuja: How did you become interested in writing and eventually become an author?

Josephine Lieder: So, I got my first laptop around 11. As I know we’ll discuss later in this interview, I am also a huge fan of music and get really into the lore and whatnot when it comes to bands I really like. As embarrassing as it is to admit this, I used to love going on sites like Wattpad and reading fanfiction about my favorite band members and musicians. My Chemical Romance was my favorite. While one might assume a preteen girl is reading romance fanfiction about her favorite band (there was plenty of that, to be fair), I remember I genuinely liked reading fanfiction that included the whole band and was sometimes humorous rather than romantic. For example, I remember somebody had written a couple of different “chapters” or “episodes” of MCR playing Jeopardy and I enjoyed it so much that I remember it to this day. Naturally, I started wanting to write my own fanfiction and did, and while I can’t even imagine how cringey it probably was, that was where I first remember wanting to write my own story and follow it through to the end.

Sadly, or maybe not so sadly depending on how you feel about Twilight, the story gets even more embarrassing from there. I was obsessed with Twilight starting around the age of…13, I believe. As much as I cringe now thinking back on that, Twilight was the first novel I ever remember I couldn’t put down. It helped me develop that internal stream-of-consciousness type of thinking that I would need to write.

Josephine Lieder: There is a third aspect to this, which I can say I still stand behind, at least. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve always been intrigued by urban legends. Something that has always fascinated me is Atlantis. When I was fourteen, I read the book Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock. If you’re not familiar, it is nonfiction and in it, the author proposes a theory for a potential advanced civilization that existed before recorded history. I know people have a lot of qualms with this book; I am not qualified to speak to any of those things. However, as a 14-year-old, I was utterly fascinated. That book was what made me decide I wanted to write a novel with my own characters, with the center point a lost civilization.

Amit Ahuja: What books from childhood have shaped you most as a writer?

Josephine Lieder: Certainly, Twilight. Harry Potter as well, though I didn’t quite read it when I was a child. I also remember loving Sarah Dessen novels, the Pretty Little Liars series, and books like Speak and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which were (and are still) very popular Young Adult novels.

Amit Ahuja: What made you decide to become a science fiction author?

Josephine Lieder: I definitely didn’t set out with the initial goal of writing a science fiction novel instead of a different type of novel. It developed organically due to my quirky interests and the way the plot panned out in books 1 and 2. Book 2 is heavier on the science-fiction aspect.

Amit Ahuja: What attracted you to this genre?

Josephine Lieder: Stranger Things! Also, my fascination with psychic phenomena and government mind control experiments like the very real MK-Ultra. Weirdly enough, other literary influences didn’t have much to do with it my attraction to writing a science fiction novel.

Amit Ahuja: Please tell me more about your book “Finding Annevra” from The Lucy Divine Series. What is the story about? Who are the main characters, and what are their backstories? When does the story take place? Is it a love story?

Josephine Lieder: I always describe Finding Annevra as “Stranger Things meets a Cinderella Story.” Lucy Divine is the main character, 17 at the beginning of the series. Lucy has never quite fit in, mainly because she was born clairvoyant and has been treated like a pariah her whole life by her family and peers. Like the evil stepsisters in Cinderella, Finding Annevra begins with Lucy being sent to stay with her older sister who has always been cold to her. While there, Lucy runs back into Grant, a boy she knew from childhood, who is also grown up. She is instantly smitten with him, but is immediately forbidden by her parents from spending time with him. She remembers his family disappeared mysteriously from town when they were children.

Josephine Lieder: What’s more, Grant is now in charge of watching over an ancient artifact collection passed down to him by his deceased father—his father, who also mysteriously died right around when Grant’s family moved. One of the artifacts goes missing, and Lucy puts it all on the line and reveals her ability to Grant in an attempt to help him figure out what happened to it. She, also, in the process, disobeys her parents orders. Family secrets are unraveling, teenage angst, and acts of courage ensue.

Josephine Lieder: I don’t know if I would describe Finding Annevra as a love story. Initially, I thought it was, and I think I made a mistake in retrospect in branding it as that. It is a love story in a sense—but it deals more with the topics of soulmates and true love. It would more accurately be described as a paranormal or science fiction adventure novel, I think. It takes place in the present day on Long Island.

Amit Ahuja: What moment made you say, “I want to become an author?”

Josephine Lieder: I would say I started wanting that around 13. After developing that initial goal of wanting to write a novel when I was 13, I did write a 17-chapter manuscript of a novel I named Annevra Waiting. My first book is presently named Finding Annevra. I rewrote that very early manuscript, keeping only the basics of the plot and the characters, and developed it into the novel it is today around when I was 22. Anyway, I remember I printed out that 17-chapter manuscript and gave it to my grandma, and a few of my family members read it and enjoyed it. I would be way too embarrassed to ever look back at it now seeing as I know it had to still be apparent a 13-year-old wrote it, but I think hearing that positive feedback was what initially made me want to pursue being an author.

Amit Ahuja: Do you have any specific themes or messages that you want to convey through this book? If so, what are they, and why are they important to you?

Josephine Lieder: Without giving too much of the plot away, one of the most prominent themes in the series is the concept of soulmates, and not just in a romantic sense. I want to show multifaceted, imperfect characters who accomplish miraculous feats for each other and themselves. Many of the characters fit a stereotype at the beginning of the series. As it progresses, you increasingly see the main characters break out of those stereotypes and overcome them and also realize the box they felt they were in was mostly self-inflicted. That has been the most gratifying aspect of working on this book series thus far because it is an issue I’ve faced in my own life. Finding self-worth and overcoming self-esteem issues is also an important character arc when it comes to Lucy, but I would say that is more prominent in Book 2.

Amit Ahuja: Could you describe the inspiration behind your book? Is there a particular scene or chapter in the book that is especially meaningful? Can you explain why it holds significance?

Josephine Lieder: The inspiration for Finding Annevra, specifically, came from a combination of reading Fingerprints of the Gods, my fascination with Atlantis and Stranger Things, and also my love of coming-of-age stories. I have always loved movies like A Cinderella Story and character arcs where the underdog succeeds. I suppose the interpersonal relationships between the characters and even the drama that happens is a byproduct of my wanting to incorporate that type of story arc. Regarding Book 1, I would say the most meaningful scene for me is when Grant shows up unexpectedly at Lucy’s house after months of the two of them not speaking after he hurt her feelings before she left her sister’s house. She gives him a second chance, and I suppose I love that scene because it illustrates redemption. It’s really easy to imagine Lucy’s excitement at seeing him because it’s been made pretty clear that although she is upset with him, she still has feelings for him.

Amit Ahuja: Were there any scenes you cut that you wish you could have kept? Please describe them and the decision-making process behind cutting them.

Josephine Lieder: Weirdly enough, there was one scene that I took out where Grant has a meaningful conversation with his mother, and when I looked back at it, I don’t remember my thought process in taking it out because it also provided important information to forward the plot. I did add it back in when I published a second edition of Finding Annevra in 2022 if I remember correctly. It has more so been with Book 2 that I’ve taken a few scenes out, which is usually because they’re extraneous and don’t forward the plot. Some are easier to take out, but ultimately, the goal is to keep the reader engaged.

Amit Ahuja: Tell us about your upcoming book. How will the story continue from the first book?

Josephine Lieder: The word “Annevra” is simply a product of my 13-year-old brain having too much time to think. But I am happy I came up with it. I wanted the word Annevra to represent Atlantis, but I also didn’t want to abide by people’s preconceptions of Atlantis. So, it is like an alternate universe lost civilization. Finding Annevra was simple to come up with once Book 1 was done; it is relevant to the plot. The title for Book 2 is very relevant to the plot of both Books 1 and 2, and I don’t want to spoil too much. Still, Blue Umbrella is essentially a government experiment the characters discover in Book 1. “Beneath the Blue Umbrella,” which will come out on June 20th, 2025, indicates they’re finding the truth about certain things in both of their pasts and overturning every stone in a sense. It ended up being the perfect title.

Amit Ahuja: What is the key message you aim to convey in your latest work?

Josephine Lieder: Beneath the Blue Umbrella focuses heavier on Lucy’s character arc and on Lucy recognizing her worth. It also deals more heavily with the concept of sacrifice and how choice often only offers us the lesser of two evils rather than entirely good or bad options. The themes from the last book are also relevant, such as soulmates and friendship.

Amit Ahuja: If there were a screen adaptation of the book, which actors would you like to play each character?

Josephine Lieder: The ideal actors are much older than the characters are, so this could never actually work, but I am sorely out of touch when it comes to current actors that match the age of the characters, so I will allow you to use your imagination to an extent. For Lucy, hands down, Evan Rachel Wood. Weirdly enough, I watched Across the Universe when I was fourteen after I wrote Finding Annevra, and I had pictured my character Lucy to look not to the tee but very similar to Evan’s character Lucy in Across the Universe. So, Evan Rachel Wood, but when she was younger, for Grant, I would say it would be a cross between Jake Gyllenhaal and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Jason is also a very prominent character, and I would say I picture Jason as a blond Heath Ledger, which would also not work for obvious reasons.

Amit Ahuja: I know you are interested in weird history and talking about old houses. How did you get interested in both topics?

Josephine Lieder: As a teenager, those interests really developed and strengthened for me. I began researching the Gold Coast mansions on Long Island, for example, after reading The Great Gatsby in my late teens, and I’ve always been interested in urban legends as a byproduct of where I grew up.

Amit Ahuja: Tell us about your recent trips and all the old houses you saw?

Josephine Lieder: One of my more recent trips was to Newport, Rhode Island. While there, I visited The Breakers and The Elms for the first time, which are Gilded Age mansions, both built in the late 19th century. Both have been heavily featured in the show The Gilded Age, which is about high society in that period of time. Both mansions are almost indescribably beautiful, and I’m a huge fan of the show, so it was very cool to see them in person.

The Elms

The Breakers Interior

Amit Ahuja: Many people unexpectedly find themselves going down rabbit holes. What conspiracy theory involves going down a rabbit hole?

Josephine Lieder: One conspiracy theory I have gone deep down the rabbit hole with was the Montauk Project. I have made a few longer form videos about it on my Weird History Gal YouTube channel, so it required me researching as much as what is publicly available about what was The Montauk Project. This is the alleged covert military operation Stranger Things is based on. If there is any conspiracy theory, I recommend going down the rabbit hole with, it is this one because there are so many avenues it can take you down such as time travel, mind control, telekinesis, etc. I finished the project unconvinced. The Montauk Project never happened, but it was certainly interesting and entertaining to read about.

Amit Ahuja: If you could live in any historical period, which would you choose and why?

Josephine Lieder: That’s an easy one! The 1920s, and I would want to be on Long Island. Long Island used to have the most significant number of Gold Coast mansions than any other part of the country. They were built by the mega-wealthy and were the mansions that inspired Gatsby’s mansion in The Great Gatsby. Most were torn down in the early 20th century before standing for 30/40 years. I would love to go back and see what some of them looked like in person.

Amit Ahuja: What are some of your favorite bands? And why? I know you’re a huge fan of Dance Gavin Dance. What made you a fan of this band? Do you like their albums with Johnny and Kurt Travis? What are your favorite albums and songs? How does this song resonate with you? (This could also be from the other artist you enjoy as well)

Josephine Lieder  I do love Dance Gavin Dance; I used to consider them my favorite band. I have branched out in the last two years or so and I don’t necessarily know who I would say my favorite band is anymore. I am constantly revolving between listening to bands like Sleep Token, Bring Me the Horizon, Lorna Shore, My Chemical Romance, Dance Gavin Dance, Dayseeker… There are probably more I’m not thinking of. Post-hardcore is probably my favorite music genre. I also do enjoy Alternative Rock and pop music. In terms of Dance Gavin Dance, I usually describe them as an acquired taste, as I feel like everyone who ends up loving them listens to them over and over again until they have that lightbulb moment when the music suddenly just starts sounding really good. I am more of a fan of their albums with Tilian and not as big of a fan of their albums with Kurt and Jonny.

Josephine Lieder: I know there are hardcore fans who consider that blasphemy, but that is just my humble opinion. My favorite album is Mothership, followed closely by Artificial Selection. I’ve also been listening to Jackpot Juicer on repeat lately which is surprising because their other newer stuff fell off for me a lot quicker. My favorite songs from those albums are Chocolate Jackalope, Philosopher King, and Die Another Day. Most of their songs resonate just because I really enjoy the way Tilian’s voice contrasts with Jon’s, the chorus is catchy, and instrumentally, they’re insane in a good way. I wouldn’t say it’s the type of music that’s given me the message to keep going (that’s what My Chemical Romance was for, growing up a preteen and teenager!), but it does put me in a good mood.

Amit Ahuja: Do you have any advice for aspiring artists or those venturing into new creative pursuits?

Josephine Lieder: My best advice would be not to let fear stop you, and don’t get down on yourself if the first project you do isn’t a huge success. Keep going. I have faced that same discouragement—we are all only human and it’s normal, but at the end of the day creating art should be something you do because you genuinely enjoy it. I find that when I can get out of my head and allow myself to find joy in what I’m creating, it becomes a lot more effortless.

Amit Ahuja: What message would you deliver if you had the world's attention for 2 minutes?

Josephine Lieder: Don’t be afraid to fail. I feel like so many people including myself at times hold back due to fear of failure. It’s not worth it. Go do that thing you’ve always wanted to do as long as it won’t hurt anyone! Give your dreams a chance.

Amit Ahuja: We appreciate your openness, Josephine Lieder, and thank you for sharing insights into your personal and professional life.

Josephine Lieder- Sci-Fi Author and Content Creator

If you want to keep in touch with Josephine Lieder, the author and content creator, you can follow her through the links below:

Josephine Lieder IG:

https://www.instagram.com/josielieder/

Josephine Lieder YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZxj5pkubYjaiOcrLz-jPxQ

Josephine Lieder TikTok:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZxj5pkubYjaiOcrLz-jPxQ

Josephine Lieder "Weirdhistorygal" IG:

https://www.instagram.com/weirdhistorygal/

Josephine Lieder "Finding Annevra (The Lucy Divine Series)" books-

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1978196008/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_D1XTPQ74E724P870H7JH?linkCode=ml1&tag=theexplanteat-20

*** All photos by Josephine Lieder unless otherwise noted ***