Picture two best friends who turned their lifelong bond into a storytelling powerhouse—meet Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke! This dynamic duo has been weaving tales of friendship, suspense, and modern relationships for over a decade, captivating readers with their witty prose and twisty plots. From their Amazon Charts bestseller The Good Widow to their latest multigenerational saga Forever Hold Your Peace, Liz and Lisa’s novels blend humor, heart, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked.
With a friendship spanning over 30 years, these San Diego-based authors have mastered the art of co-authoring, turning their real-life chemistry into stories that feel like catching up with old friends. Their unique blend of women’s fiction, chick lit, and psychological suspense has earned them a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim. Ready to dive into their world? Let’s explore how Liz and Lisa became the literary BFFs we can’t stop reading.
The Making of Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke met as high school freshmen in San Diego, bonding over ’90s pop culture and dreams of writing a book together. After earning communication degrees from Cal Poly Pomona, Liz pursued pharmaceutical sales while Lisa worked in television production. Despite living 2,000 miles apart at times, their friendship endured, and in the late 2000s, they decided to make their teenage dream a reality. Their first two manuscripts didn’t sell, but their persistence paid off with their 2014 debut, Your Perfect Life, a body-swapping tale of friendship that set the stage for their signature style.
Liz and Lisa’s Unforgettable Stories
Liz and Lisa have co-authored eight novels, each brimming with relatable characters and clever premises. Their debut, Your Perfect Life (2014), follows two friends who swap bodies after a high school reunion, exploring themes of envy and self-discovery with humor and heart. The Status of All Things (2015) takes a magical twist, where a woman rewrites her life via Facebook statuses, earning praise from Library Journal for its witty take on modern women’s fiction.
Their breakout hit, The Good Widow (2017), marked a shift to psychological suspense, following a teacher unraveling her husband’s secret life after his death. This Amazon Charts bestseller showcased their knack for gripping plots and emotional depth. More recent works like The Two Lila Bennetts (2019) and Forever Hold Your Peace (2023) delve into parallel realities and family secrets, cementing their versatility across genres.
Their writing style is a seamless blend of Liz’s dialogue-driven flair and Lisa’s detail-oriented editing, creating stories that balance laugh-out-loud moments with poignant insights. Themes of friendship, regret, and second chances resonate throughout their work, making their novels perfect for book clubs and beach reads alike.
Why Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke Matter
Liz and Lisa’s impact goes beyond their page-turning stories. Their podcast, We Fight So You Don’t Have To, offers candid insights into their 30-year friendship and the ups and downs of publishing, inspiring aspiring writers with their honesty about setbacks and resilience. Their monthly book club picks on Fox 5 San Diego have also made them trusted voices in the literary community, championing diverse reads and fostering connection among readers.
By exploring the complexities of relationships—whether between friends, spouses, or family—their novels invite readers to reflect on their own lives. Their ability to pivot between genres while staying true to their voice has earned them a loyal following and a lasting place in women’s fiction and suspense.
- Key Works: Your Perfect Life, The Status of All Things, The Good Widow, Forever Hold Your Peace
- Podcast: We Fight So You Don’t Have To
- Hometown: San Diego, California
Snag The Good Widow or Forever Hold Your Peace and dive into Liz and Lisa’s irresistible blend of suspense and sisterhood!