Interview With Women's Literary Fiction Author Kip Lyman

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? The inspiration struck me quite literally in the middle of the night. One evening I’d watched an unusual psychology documentary and went to bed without giving it a second thought. But at 3:00 a.m., I jolted awake with the beginnings of a story pouring into my mind. For weeks afterward, I kept finding myself awake in the four-o’clock hour, filled with new ideas for the story. Seven months later, the narrative was fully written and poised for editing.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? The Purple Ribbon follows the journey of a young woman who recovers from a painful childhood trauma to become a Guardian ad Litem attorney. The narrative weaves through unexpected twists and turns, including several powerful revelations that keep the reader fully engaged. At its core, the story is a testament to courage, resilience, and the human capacity to overcome profound hardship.

Written for an adult audience, The Purple Ribbon offers something for nearly everyone. Its characters and themes are crafted to resonate deeply, inviting readers to connect with someone—or something—within its pages.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Although the novel is fictional, I hope readers come away having learned something new. Whether it’s insight into the experiences of children removed from their homes and navigating the dependency court system, a deeper understanding of psychological disorders and their treatments, an appreciation for the resilience required to rise above life’s challenges, or an awareness of how far-reaching the consequences of a single decision can be—my aim is to illuminate these realities throughout the entire story. I also hope readers form a meaningful connection with the characters and find themselves rooting for them; sharing in their struggles and victories, their moments of fear and their hard-won achievements, even the antagonist.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? This is a great question. For nearly the entire time I was writing the book, its working title was Consequences because of the many rippling effects set in motion by a single early decision. The purple ribbon itself didn’t appear in the narrative until my second or third draft. Once it did, my husband suggested what ultimately became the perfect title: The Purple Ribbon. With the new title in place, I began sketching concepts for the cover. Because the cover serves as a book’s crucial first impression, I wanted it to immediately convey an atmosphere of fear and foreboding. A stark black-and-white design seemed fitting, both for its dramatic tone and its sense of unease. To create a striking focal point, I chose to render only the ribbon in color—along with a subtle touch of blood for added impact.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers -- other than run!? The most important thing is to love what you are writing with a deep passion, because you will read it countless times. For me, the narrative arrived with startling force, like a ton of bricks, flooding into my mind in the middle of the night. I had no choice but to follow where it led. The process was exhilarating, extremely time-consuming, and at moments genuinely frustrating. During the more difficult stretches, I learned the importance of stepping away. Allowing my mind to settle for a day or two, sometimes even a week, invariably made space for clarity, and before long the passion and ideas would return with renewed intensity. For anyone embarking on a writing journey, regardless of genre, my strongest advice is to trust the process and honor your own pace. Every writer’s rhythm is different. And above all, enjoy it. 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I’m not knowledgeable enough in the publishing industry or in current genre trends to answer these questions with authority. What I do know, however, is what I love to read—and what I’ve loved reading for decades: fiction thrillers infused with historical or geographical authenticity, the kind that let me learn unexpected facts while losing myself in a compelling “whodunit.” It’s this kind of story that I most enjoy as a reader and that I’ve recently discovered I love writing. For me, a great narrative is one in which the next turn is impossible to predict.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  Absolutely. While both the major and minor plotlines of The Purple Ribbon unfolded naturally, I found that developing the settings and characters required much more effort. That’s where my personal life and career proved invaluable. Nearly all the locations featured in the story are places I’ve visited—some of which I revisited specifically to reacquaint myself with their details. When it came to shaping multidimensional characters, I drew heavily from my own experiences as a Guardian ad Litem, a foster parent, a paralegal, and even from my time spent golfing, skiing, and mountain climbing. Each facet of my background helped developed the characters with authenticity, and a sense of reality.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?  I would describe my writing style as suspenseful and intensely emotional. I’d like to think my style is somewhat similar to David Baldacci’s—rich with activity and shaped by several major and minor characters whose paths come together in the end. I also aspire to the qualities found in Victoria Thompson’s work which lets readers move smoothly through the pages and form a strong connection with complex characters.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? A few challenges persisted throughout the process. One was refining each chapter after its initial draft—ensuring that I relied on “showing” through dialogue rather than defaulting to narration. Once I did that, another significant challenge was capturing authentic multigenerational voices. I leaned on my adult children, who are the same ages as my protagonists, to help revise the dialogue so it reflected how they would naturally speak, rather than how I might phrase the same ideas.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? With so much uncertainty in the world today, I believe it’s important to have a place where readers can escape—somewhere they can relax, immerse themselves, and enjoy a story without judgment or division. The Purple Ribbon aims to offer exactly that, and so much more. It draws readers in from the opening pages and keeps them engaged through its intricate plot twists. The novel is intentionally thought-provoking, filled with true-to-life characters who are imperfect and complicated, yet grounded by resilient human spirit. Readers will find gripping moments of horror, intrigue, obsession, and suspense, balanced by emotional depth, tender romance, resilience, forgiveness, warmth, and hope. My greatest wish is that every reader discovers someone in the story they can genuinely relate to—and someone they can root for all the way through.  

About The Author:  Kip began her professional career in 1990 as a legal assistant and certified paralegal. Decades later, her path evolved when she co-founded a consulting firm dedicated to the safe use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, through which she shared her expertise nationwide. She also holds both domestic and international patents. Her many years serving as a Guardian ad Litem, along with her experience as a licensed foster parent, provided rich inspiration for the characters and scenes in The Purple Ribbon. Much of the novel’s emotional depth and authenticity is rooted in these personal and professional experiences. When she’s not writing, Kip can often be found on the golf course in the summer, on the ski slopes in the winter, or spending cherished time with her children and grandchildren. For more information, please see:  www.kiplyman.com 

  

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About Brian Feinblum

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For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

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