Based on years of experience in the television industry in Los Angeles, and reflecting on what messages are being broadcast to the masses, The Luminescence Manual is a fictional expose of questions and the search for answers of how media is related to society both individually and as a collective.

Lisabeth Lange – 8 April 2024

The Back Flap

Dead sea life. Dead farmlands. Dead doctors. Dead homeless people. A dead mother. But it’s the discovery of prophetical notes about a dead-end news story that propels Lylah Clyne’s quest. Believing the story is a direct link to her mother’s disappearance, Lylah follows its message like a compass.

The notes lead her to a position with Courtyard Central Media, one of the biggest and best media companies in the world, where Lylah seeks to find her mother and unravel these mysteries. Yet, her discoveries unravel suspicions within leading newscasts and thought monopolies. Peculiar interest in the same extraordinary plants that Lylah’s mother worked with emerges as suspect reasons, placing Lylah directly inside the continuing plot. With Courtyard Central’s big plans to govern humanity’s well-being and consciousness hovering, Lylah must secretly hunt for evidence. But will she be believed?

Courtyard Central’s reach is everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere at their station in Dellon, Nebraska. Here, Lylah meets Sam Starr who’s hiding the solution to her pursuit. Sam’s father, a marine biologist, has left his discoveries behind, including a rare oceanic artifact. In the wrong hands, however, its properties are as fearsome as they are auspicious. If Sam and Lylah expose the truth, they could prevent the demise of both nature and humanity and be reunited with their loved ones. In this meaningful adventure, intuition leads, even to death.

About the book

What is the book about?

A meaningful adventure, The Luminescence Manual follows Lylah Clyne as she devotes her life to finding her missing mother only to walk right into the lion’s den of continuing plots and arranged events. Soon, she pieces together that her mother was just one of many taken and killed for the purpose of maintaining headlines and ratings in the business of media. Exposing the truth of why her mother was taken turns out to be more concerning than her disappearance.

Wrestling with the abundance of related mass messages and her intuition, Lylah meets Sam Starr who is harboring the answer and solution to her search. Sam’s father, a marine biologist, has left his discoveries behind, including a rare oceanic artifact. In the wrong hands, however, its properties are as fearsome as they are auspicious. If Sam and Lylah expose the truth, they could prevent the demise of both nature and humanity and be reunited with their loved ones.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing this novel about 7 years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

Cumulatively about 3 years as I stopped and started a few times.

Where did you get the idea from?

Based on years of experience in the television industry in Los Angeles, and reflecting on what messages are being broadcast to the masses, The Luminescence Manual is a fictional expose of questions and the search for answers of how media is related to society both individually and as a collective.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes! The middle was tricky and required more time and effort.

What came easily?

Conversations and character dialogue came the easiest. The beginning was the easiest part to write.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Yes! I have borrowed from my life to construct some characters. Not all my characters, and just characteristics, never a complete replication.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Paulo Coelho is an author I enjoy reading and rereading. His prose may be simplistic; however, I find it resonates and is delivered eloquently. I also appreciate that through his material, a reader is led to ponder issues and philosophical questions.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone 20+, specifically, women in their 40s.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I always start pen to paper and eventually, some of it makes it into a computer. There is a connection I feel when I write versus type. I also like to have a record of ideas or thoughts that I may have scribbled out, or, conversely, words may appear within seconds where I can place them quickly without the distraction of a device.

As for when or where, for me this is uncontrollable. If ideas or sentences or a conversation happens, I just need to write it down. This may happen in the middle of the night, or while I am walking, showering, driving, and so on. In general, I do not like to “control” what I want to come naturally.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Only a few sentences. I am not an extensive outliner, as I don’t experience the story in a linear fashion. It’s more like a spiral, and within that the story grows.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Both! However, the degree is varied. I don’t always edit as I write, but I may in small patches. Once it is at a certain point, then yes, I will “edit” for numerous rounds.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I did hire a professional editor. Besides this, I worked with a librarian for about a year doing chapter by chapter. I also met with writer groups to review material, and I had beta readers who read the book prior to having a professional review it.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I can’t. I prefer quiet and love being at the library.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, I submitted it to some agents.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was a gradual process. After I received an offer from a larger publishing company, which I declined, I went with a small publisher. I needed time to unwrap my head around the idea that I had to do traditional, or what the status quo was. This isn’t true, and for all the options that exist today, I am thankful, as having a variety of literature is paramount.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I had it professionally done.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

My publisher has some direction, as do I. So, it is more of a hybrid approach.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Go for it! Always. 😊 However you get to where you can share your creation with the world is OK and meant to be.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I am from Wisconsin and grew up there, except for a 9-year stint in Los Angeles in my 20s.

Where do you live now?

I live in Wisconsin.

What would you like readers to know about you?

While loosely based on my experience in the media, The Luminescence Manual is meant to spark questions and thoughts about our collective consciousness and to be aware that we need to protect our thoughts.

What are you working on now?

Notes for sequel to The Luminescence Manual and I am reviewing/editing someone’s first manuscript.

End of Interview:

For more from Lisabeth Lange visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

Get your copy of The Luminescence Manual from Amazon US or Amazon UK.