We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Liam Ulland-Joy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Liam, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I spent most of my childhood telling and writing stories. As early as elementary school I was working on short stories and even a full length manuscript in a fantasy setting. But what I really needed to get where I am today was experimentation and experience. I tested different styles of writing for years; at one point, I was heavily involved in a Dungeons and Dragons group, serving as its Dungeon Master, which allowed me to explore a new dimension of worldbuilding I had never tried before. I wrote novellas in my English classes and came up with elaborate fictional settings with my friends. Since I was learning all of this at the same time that I was in school, my teachers also played a very important role. It was my 8th grade English teacher who recognized my passion for writing and recommended I compete in the Scholastic Art & Writing competition. That year I won a silver national medal in the Novel Writing category! My experience with film and scriptwriting in high school also shaped my experience and skills as a writer. I want people to take away from my experience that it’s possible to hit the ground running with a creative career at a young age if you foster a love for writing inside and outside of school. That is what allowed me to improve my craft over the years.

Liam, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Liam Ulland-Joy, and I’m an author from Marquette, Michigan. I’ve been deeply interested in reading and writing since I was a kid, working on short stories, essays, and even board games with my friends and family. My first published novel, “Forsaken City” was the first in a trilogy and came out in the summer of 2022. I’m working on the second installment now! I am proud of my ability to get started in a creative field from a young age, and excited about where this path in life will take me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I would love to expand my work and build a universe. One of my long-term goals is to work on television or film scripts. I love writing and I love film, so if there’s a way for me to combine those passions I would love to pursue it. First, though, my goal is to acquire as much experience and knowledge as I can through publishing novels and other written works. To be clear, I would still love to write novels throughout my life, as I think it’s a very fulfilling method of storytelling. But if given a chance I would love to try my hand at building a televised narrative.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being able to tell a story through the creative arts is my dream career. But more than that, it is incredibly satisfying to research, develop and bring to the page a completely original world. You can explore aspects of the human condition and experience, history, science and technology, and more. You have the ability to create your own rules, and can follow or break them in order to tell a better story. It is very freeing in that sense.    

Contact Info:

• Website: liamullandjoy.com
• Instagram: authorliamullandjoy
• Facebook: Author Liam Ulland-Joy

Image Credits
Chuck LaBelle Photography, Rebecca Ulland, and Esme Ulland-Joy