A BRIDGEPORT native is writing an impressive literary resume.

Liz (Roth) Lipperman had another book published last month. “Liver Let Die” hit the streets Oct. 4 and is already climbing the charts. It is the first in her Clueless Cook Mystery Series. The book has been critically acclaimed.

Lipperman is not resting on her laurels. Rather, she has recently edited the second book in the series “Beef Stolen-Off.” It is scheduled to be released this coming July.

She is currently working on her third piece of the series, “Murder for the Halibut.”

After graduating St. John Central, Liz earned a RN degree from Wheeling Hospital. She later added a B.S. in Professional Arts from St. Joseph’s in Maine.

Liz, who married high school sweetheart Dan Lipperman who went on to play football at Vanderbilt, got the writing itch when she returned to college after their two children reached their teens.

“I always expressed myself better in writing. I took a Creative Writing class as an elective. The instructor encouraged me to consider fiction as a career,” she said. “That was all I needed. I decided I would write a romance, so I started my first book.

“‘Shattered Dreams” is a story of a nurse kidnapped and smuggled to Colombia where she is taken to a remote camp deep in a rain forest. But life and kids interfered, plus I didn’t take my writing seriously, and the book never got finished,” she continued. “In 2002, I got serious about my writing and submitted “Shattered Dreams”, only to get a lot of rejections.”

She was far from finished. Her literary career got a shot in the arm a few years later.

“In 2006, I was offered representation by Book Cents Literary Agency, but the book receive the same rejections. I realized later that I wasn’t a romance writer, so I concentrated on mysteries. My agent submitted my first book to a publishing firm in New York. She couldn’t buy it as she was looking for cozy works,” Lipperman said. “They asked me to write a cozy — specifically a “foodie. I wrote three chapters and a synopsis for them and two weeks later I had a three-book deal — unheard of for a debut author.”

Lipperman continues to prove a tireless writer, as well as a versatile one.

“Currently, I have a mainstream mystery ready for release on Amazon under a pseudonym, Liz Roth, which is actually my maiden name,” she said. “I did this because I wanted my cozy readers to know there is language and sex scenes in the mainstream one.”

She has lived in the Dallas area for some 20 years and calls herself a Texan, even though she notes, “The Yankee in me demands to be recognized every now and then.”

Liz’ brother-in-law is prep football coaching icon John Magistro.

“Anyone who has tried to write a book and sell it knows it doesn’t happen overnight,” she said. “Eight years after completing my first book, I finally sold.”

TUESDAY’S

ELECTION

POLITICS CAN be a nasty game.

That side reared its ugly head Friday in my mailbox. That is when I pulled out a little red postcard that had an election precinct notation on the front. The flip side was a personal attack on incumbent Pultney Township Trustee Richard Vannelle Jr.

Among other things, it challenged his residency and took issue with where his children attend school. It was done in poor taste as well as being inaccurate.

Vannelle is a good man. I strongly doubt, however, the postcard came from the opposition, as Mark Cervelli is also a quality man.

The election board needs to fully probe this incident, as Vannelle was unfairly attacked and the postcard in question has board implications.

IN OTHER races Tuesday, I don’t expect Paul Riethmiller and Bob Vincenzo will have any problems in their respective mayoral races. Riethmiller soundly defeated incumbent Martins Ferry Mayor Phil Wallace in the primary. Vincenzo and St. Clairsville, meanwhile, are synonymous.

The Bellaire School District has two issues on the ballot. The 1 percent tax will likely face strong opposition in a fourth try for more operating money. I would like to think that tax vote will not impact the district’s renewal levy.

I am curious on the outcome of the Belmont County 911 levy. I have no strong feelings on its fate.

The big ticket state item: Issue 2. I believe Senate Bill 5 will be soundly defeated.

BUBBA’S BITS

ONE MORE note on the election, political signs mean little to me when they are on public property. Any candidate can pop a sign there. When those same signs are on private property, you know there is credibility and support behind it.

MARTINS FERRY has enjoyed another superb football season… an OVAC title, a piece of the Buckeye 8 crown, state playoff berth and christening of the Dave Football Football Complex. One more neat sidelight is that defensive coordinator extraordinaire Bill Bruney has achieved the remarkable feat of attaining 300 wins as an assistant coach. Bruney, who had many opportunities to be a head boss, has stayed loyal to brother Dave while also being an aide for highly success programs at Steubenville and Bellaire before coming home for the duration.

BARNESVILE HIGH School will be playing host to boys’ and girls’ basketball previews at the Shamrock gymnasium. The girls’ preview is planned for Monday, Nov. 21 while the boys’ preview will be held Monday, Nov. 28. Beallsville, Monroe Central and River will join the host Shamrocks in the hoop event. Monroe and Beallsville varsity and jayvee squads will oppose each other while the River and Barnesville varsity and jayvees will vie. Action begins both nights at 5:30 and will consist of two quarters each.

LOOK FOR Herman Cain to go from GOP frontrunner to basement very quickly due to all the harassment allegations hounding him.

MONEY TRIVIA: There are more than 60 communities throughout the United States that have their own form of local currency. Some of the more popular places are Ithaca, N.Y., Berkshire, Mass. and Walt Disney World theme park. California has the most communities with their own currency, including many popular colleges like Berkeley and Santa Barbara.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleader online.com