Harper Woods Councilwoman Ernestine Lyons

This week’s Writer Wednesday features Ernestine Lyons, a Harper Woods councilwoman and policy and economic development director in the Michigan Legislature. Ernestine also works with the Build Institute to help Detroit entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

She has been working on a fantasy novel that she started in high school!

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I love creating things and having them take on a life of their own. They become like old friends that I know and can revisit as I continue to write and edit.  

What does your writing workspace look like?

Due to the pandemic my space is my home office. A spare bedroom that has been redecorated to reflect my personality with rose gold and Millennial Pink.

How have your experiences as a councilwoman and as a traveler shaped and informed your writing?

It's the other way around. I think being a writer influenced my experiences as a traveler turned politician. Writing helped me use my imagination to dream big and plan things out, but most important of all, writing made me keep going no matter what setback I faced, like campaigning and not winning my first time running for office. That was a rough draft and I learned a lot, so when I won the race for City Council I think it was like the second draft.

Writing also made me an adventurer who wanted to travel to the places I researched, read about and eventually set many of my novels in. Being a traveler made my stories more adventurous, and learning languages when I traveled gave me a better appreciation of English. 

What is your favorite non-writing hobby?

Podcasting and YouTubing! Although they both involve writing to a degree. [Editor’s Note: Check out her YouTube channel where she discusses politics, foreign affairs and “how to be a self-assured global citizen.”]

What is your favorite piece of writing advice?

Just keep writing, and don't aim for perfection. And have fun!

What writing projects are you currently working on?

Policy in the Michigan Legislature, haha. But creatively, a novel called “The Saga of Legend” I created in high school. 

Follow Ernestine and all her writing and public service pursuits on Instagram at @erniely.