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Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul
Lise Hintz

Lise Hintze talks with ThreeVillagePeople.com
By Lon S. Cohen

Lise Hintze is Senior Writer at the American Idol the Magazine. Lise has written about many of the top Idols capturing their stories and covering the popular Idol concerts. The cover story she did with Constantine Maroulis was one of their best selling issues.

Prior to embarking on her writing career, Lise headed up her New York based agency, LHM, Inc., representing top commercial/fashion photographers. While her account list read like a “Who’s Who” in the world of sports, entertainment and fashion, Lise took a leap of faith and put all her efforts into her passion for writing.

Lise has just completed her latest project; working with the Chicken Soup publishing team on what is expected to be the all time bestselling title in the series; Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul. As well as sharing her own personal stories, Lise worked with chart topping Idols revealing their “Chicken Soup” moments with a style and sensitivity that was a smash hit.

Amongst her other current projects are a collection of short stories and a non-fiction novel based on the memories of those who lived at the historic Brookwood Hall Orphanage.

Lise also serves as Director of Fundraising for Spirit Animal Sanctuary and worked closely with George Huff and his team raising funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina, as well as other local charitable efforts.

When not working, Lise spends her time with husband, Steven, a retired FDNY Captain, daughters, Vienna and Sophie, and English Mastiff, Maybelle in her charming 200-year old home on the North Shore.

3VP: How long have you had a passion for writing?

Lise Hintze: That's tricky because I have more of a passion for storytelling - not writing, per say. I've always been a storyteller. I'd go to a party or gathering and I'd always have a story to tell. Friends and family would always say to me, "Lise, you should start writing these stories down!" So a few years ago I took their advice and started to write my stories down - after doing so, my entire career changed overnight.

3VP: How did you begin writing for American Idol Magazine?

Lise Hintze: I started writing for American Idol the Magazine three seasons ago. I wrote a story about how my girls and I got hooked on the show, something I vowed would NEVER happen. I wrote the story, tucked it away and forgot about it. I was in Stop and Shop one day - checking out in front of the magazine rack - and looked up as I was packing my groceries only to see Ryan Seacrest's face. I walked over to the rack and saw he was on the cover of AI the Magazine. "American Idol has a magazine!?!?" I came home, unpacked my groceries, and Googled the magazine. Up it came and I thought, "Interesting...I'll send my story in and see what happens." And so I did... The following morning I came down to my office, turned on my computer, and saw that I had mail from American Idol. The Editor wrote back to me and his first sentence opened with, "You're on...!" My story, Riding the American Idol Coaster, was featured, along with pictures of my girls and myself. Shortly after, I was asked if I'd like to do a little more...and then a little more. After three months "a little more" turned into a full time position as Senior Writer for American Idol the Magazine.

3VP: Got any inside scoop on the judges?

Lise Hintze: Actually yes, BUT… I'm sworn to secrecy. Revealing dirt on the judges is definitely a "no-no!"

3VP: Which American Idol had the most inspiring "Chicken Soup" story?

Lise Hintze: All of the Idols had such great stories to tell. But I would have to say the most inspirational, for me, was George Huff's. I was doing a phone interview with George a few years ago and at the time Hurricane Katrina had just hit. Because George was from New Orleans, he kept the television on while he was speaking with me. We were 1/4 of the way into the interview and George yelled, "Oh my God! My church! My church! Oh my God, Miss Lise my church is washing away!" I stopped the interview immediately - it was devastating. George explained to me how important church was in his life, and how if it weren't for his church he wouldn't have been where he was. It was a very emotional time - George was in tears, I was in tears. It was very rough to hear part of his soul being ripped from him - that interview will stay with me forever. When it was time to go back to George for his Chicken Soup story, we talked together about what he might want to contribute. He spoke about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and how he had to rebuild. His Chicken Soup story is about faith, love, and holding on...never giving up on yourself or on others. George Huff is a phenomenal person - truly an inspiration to so many, certainly to me.

3VP: Is there a key ingredient in all the American Idol finalists that you find is very important to their success?

Lise Hintze: Absolutely! All of the finalists share the same two key ingredients - 1) believing in their OWN hearts they can do it and 2) focus. So many kids audition because their friends, mothers or girl/boyfriends tell them they should audition. But if they don't believe they can do it, and they don't believe in themselves, it'll never happen - ever. The person auditioning MUST believe. It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. Elliott Yamin was the greatest example of that - he believed in HIS heart he could do it. It didn't matter what people were saying about his voice, his hair, his teeth - it just didn't matter to him because HE believed. Taylor Hicks was a great example of believing and focus also - he never lost it. I had to interview Taylor two seasons ago. I actually stopped the interview because he just wasn't "with me." He was SO focused on what he had going on and what he set out to accomplish - nothing could break into that "space" - nothing. He had tremendous drive and determination.

3VP: What do you like most about your Long Island hometown?

Lise Hintze: I think our area is quite special and beautiful. To really appreciate it, I love to leave Setauket and then come back home. We've traveled to a lot of places in the US and our little Three Village pocket is really very unique and charming. I love to walk down at West Meadow Beach - just walking that stretch with my head up, taking in the beauty of the beaches and nature, really makes me appreciate where we live.

3VP: Besides writing for American Idol Magazine, what else are you writing?

Lise Hintze: Well, right now I took some time off to catch my breath. Writing for AI has a tremendous amount of deadlines and stress. When this past season ended, I went right into contributing for Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul - no down time in between. When Chicken Soup wrapped in July, I promised myself I would put my pen down and enjoy the summer with my husband and daughters. I took this time off to really think about what I want to do next. I've been working on my own collection of short stories, and I've also been asked to dive into a few new projects, too.

3VP: Who is your favorite author?

Lise Hintze: I think I'm like every mom - I can't keep my eyes open long enough to actually READ anything. I hit the pillow and I am out! I've had the same book, The Accidental Florist, on my nightstand since July 7th - I think I'm on page 83. I attempt to read all kinds of books - different authors - no favorites for me.

Thanks Lise for a great interview.

Meet Richard Bronson

Richard Bronsonn
by Charlene Burton

Dr. Richard Bronson, is both Reproductive Specialist at Stony Brook University and a published poet. Wow, what a combination! If you have had the pleasure of reading his book, Search for Oz, you will be touched by his tender, observant, brilliantly conceived poems.

I was shocked at first when I made the connection between the book of poems and the man who had written a very interesting article about Why Women Can't Conceive in the first two issues of our newsletter. How can a doctor who must often find it necessary to shield himself from the huge pressures and sometimes sadness of his profession have such a soft, perceptive side? Upon reexamination however, it makes perfect sense. Couldn't a giver of life have an even more heightened sense of the world around him and be blessed with the ability to put it all into words? The answer is a resounding yes. It was a pleasure and an honor to interview Dr. Richard Bronson. I look forward to meeting him and having him sign my copy of his book. I don't usually like printed interviews, but I think you will enjoy this, a lovely glimpse at our Villager in the Spotlight.

Have you always known you had a gift with the written word or did you discover this as an adult?
I've always had a creative mind, high on imagination. One of my favorite TV shows as a child was hosted by "Mr. I Magination". I was a member of the creative writing club while in high school and wrote poetry during those years.

Were you exposed to poetry as a child?
Yes, and music, through my mother.

Does your emotional nature sometimes make the work you do as a doctor difficult, or does it give you an added empathy that allows you to help people through a difficult process?
It works both ways. A good doctor maintains the proper balance between empathy and clinical distance. I believe that I listen more than many doctors, and poets have to be observant, a good quality for a physician as well.

Many artists, writers are focused on certain issues or topics...from what I have read so far, your work has no boundaries. You find a passion for such a wide variety of things. What do you attribute this to?
My curiosity and ability to focus. Good time management allows me to find time to read...and I don't have the TV habit ( I'm an ex-TV addict., who grew up with "the tube" on all day long, We even ate our dinner watching TV! Now, I stay away from it. and spend a lot of time playing the piano and writing.

Does your love of poetry help to balance out the emotional situations you must deal with in your medical work......is it a release.....where as you might have to remain detached in certain situations as a doctor?
No, music is a release, but not poetry. Writing is actually a pretty intense creative process for me, Though sometimes the thoughts flow rapidly, especially in the early morning hours, editing takes a lot of concentration.

One of your reviewers mentioned the stereotypical doctor needing to be cold and unemotional. Do you think you are a rarity , or is it that you just allow people to see that emotional side of you?
Many doctors are friendly and "people oriented", which is why they chose the career in the first place. The pressure of an office overbooked with people, due to the medical economics of the times creates a certain dulling of the spirit in time.

The poem about your father and his violin so deeply touched me.....it put into words things that I feel often.
Glad you liked this poem. My father believed that he was the best doctor in the Bronx, (big ego) and was very involved in his family's medical care...but he was so busy caring for his patients, we rarely saw him at home for days on end. He was very proud of being a provider for people,including us. Finding the violin was very special.

Finding the poem about the violin was very special to me, as was the opportunity to interview fellow villager, Dr. Richard Bronson.

Thank you Doctor for taking the time to correspond with me. It was truly a pleasure.

You can find Dr. Bronson's book "Search for Oz" at amazon.com
Also, look for him in the ThreeVillagePeople.com Library.

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