Kappa Kappa Gamma - Texas Tech University

LIESL DARR SCHUH '02 SHARES EXPERIENCE AS SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR Delta Psi House Corporation P.O. Box 442100 Lawrence, KS 66044-2100 Address Service Requested DELTA PSI NEWS Kappa Kappa Gamma • Texas Tech University L iesl Darr Schuh '02 wanted to carve out her own path at Texas Tech, and Kappa Kappa Gamma provided her the opportunity to do just that. THE RIGHT SISTERHOOD While she was navigating her college years, Kappa always provided Liesl with a safe place to return, and being a part of the sisterhood held her accountable and motivated her to strive to do her best in all her ventures. She appreciated having a built-in network of women who shared similar interests and helped her along the way, and many Delta Psi sisters became her lifelong friends. The importance placed on Kappa Kappa Gamma's values still serve as a guide in her life today. BECOMING AN AUTHOR After a career in public relations, Liesl became a stay-at-home mom in 2017 after her first daughter, Sawyer, was born. She welcomed her second daughter, Piper, in 2018, and her third, Charlee, arrived in 2021. "After the arrival of Charlee, my mom would always comment on what a great girl dad my husband, Stephen, is. She casually encouraged me to write something for him, and thus The Girl Dad was born," Liesl shared. Liesl shares that her children's book, which celebrates the special relationship between fathers and daughters, was a happy accident. She gave the original copy, which contains family photos of Stephen and their daughters, to her husband for Christmas in 2021. "Once he and others read it, the consensus was to try and really bring the book to life," Liesl shared. "It took a little over a year from start to finish, but I'm very pleased with the final outcome." TRUSTING THE PROCESS The Girl Dad is inspired by true events, and the photos in the original copy were used as inspiration for the illustrations. To Liesl, writing and illustrating the book were the easiest parts of the whole process. As a self- published author, she had to learn everything on her own. She spent months doing research and reaching out to others in the industry to try and figure out how to navigate the world of publishing, printing, and selling. "I credit the few folks that offered me insight and education into everything so I could finally make my vision a reality," she said. "I'm still learning as I go, but the biggest reward is to see the final product after a lot of hard work and feel the joy the book brings to others." Liesl is now using her background in public relations and marketing as she enters the next phase of the development and promotion of her book. LOVING LIFE Liesl and her family live in San Antonio, Texas. Their hobbies include spending time with family and friends, traveling to the family ranch, beach homes, Lake LBJ, and cheering on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Catch up with our collegians and alumnae inside! Sisters during recruitment period 1. The Making of The Making of The Girl Dad The Girl Dad You can connect with Liesl at thegirldadbook@gmail.com and learn more about her and The Girl Dad book at thegirldadbook.com.

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