Born in Northern British Columbia, Elise is a small-town girl. She writes in a variety of genres including paranormal, contemporary suspense, m/m in various lengths. Currently, she lives in British Columbia with her husband and son, one dog, one cat, and a gecko. Elise enjoys reading as much as she does writing, with some of her favorite books being read until they fall apart.
She is currently working on the next book in the Forsaken Series, Burning Rain. As well she has a new contemporary she’s working on. For more information on Elise, or to check out her books you can find her on Facebook, twitter, and her website.
When did you first
realize that you wanted to be a writer/a storyteller?
When I was in high school at Westerville North, HS in
Ohio. I had an English teacher who is an
author too. Her name is Karen Harper and
she taught me literature. She was
inspirational.
What motivates you to
write and where does your inspiration come from?
I love to daydream and write my dreams down. It’s entertaining to me to invent
stories. Sometimes it’s as good as going
to the movies. Anything can be my
inspirational to me. Sometimes music is
inspirational. Other books or movies can
make my imagination work. Or just
general life can be a source of great ideas.
People watching is also a great way to think up great story lines. People are interesting.
How did you come up
with the idea for your current story?
Just by daydreaming and thinking about a new adventure. Sometimes I talk over ideas with my adult
sons. My son Jacob really has good ideas
and a creative mind. Another way is, I
brain storm with Elise Whyles, my partner in the Forsaken series.
What is your writing
process? Do you follow a regular routine or do you have any weird, funny, or
unusual habits while writing and what are they?
I like to sit in front of my computer. I turn on the television or music. I like to chat with Patricia Bates/ Elise
Whyles on the internet and we share our ideas and writing. We’ve been doing that for years and years
now. I do well when she is there to chat
with from time to time. We are writing
buddies and good friends. Our writing
careers brought us to together.
Do you ever suffer
from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Yes, sometimes life gets me down and I can’t think
imaginatively. Recently, I was caring
for my mother who passed away last year.
During the time of caring for her, I suffered a big writers block. Stress caused by my work/ career, also can
cause writer’s block. I am currently
changing careers and looking forward to that.
I’m going from being a domestic/ juvenile lawyer to a long-haul team
truck driver with my oldest son. I’ll be
driving across USA and maybe Canada.
Travel fuels my imagination. I’m
excited to do something new and different.
I’ll write while my son is driving.
Anyway, stress and worry are a bad thing for your health and your mind.
If you have it and too much, you need a change.
Stress and worry can really block creative thoughts.
What are your
current/future projects?
I’m working on other books in the Forsaken series. Also, I
am working on books under my other pen name, Zerlina Valinski. Also, I want to
write another Triaxen type book. I like
the Triaxen aliens I created.
Are you traditional
or self-published, and what process did you go through to get your book
published?
I like to use publishers for my work and I have been blessed
to be published by Siren Bookstrand, Beachwalk Press, and Crimson Frost
Books.
What opportunities
have being an author presented you with and share those memories? (i.e. travel,
friends, events, speaking, etc...)
I have had the opportunity to submit my books to a literary
agent and the possibility of turning the Forsaken series with Elise Whyles into
a television series and DVD books.
That’s the coolest part of all I’ve done and a dream in the making. I’m so excited it will lead to much more in
our career as authors. Hopefully, we
will really get our books well known and get to experience more and more in
this area of creativity.
What field or genre
would you classify your book(s) and what attracted you to write in that field
or genre?
I write fantasy and science fiction. These are fun to write because I love world
building the most. I love to invent
things and make the crazy incredible things happen. Anything goes in these genres and I enjoy
that, the endless possibilities.
What do you do if
inspiration strikes in an inconvenient place like (car, restaurant,
bathroom/shower, etc..) and how do you capture that moment before it gets away
from you?
I’ve had things come to mind while at a restaurant or at a
hotel on vacation. I jot notes down
tablets, napkins, whatever I can find.
Also, I have recorded myself as I’m driving and then listen to it later.
Do you believe there
is value in a review? Do you believe they are under rated, over rated, or don’t
matter at all?
Yes, a thoughtfully written review is excellent and helps a
writer grow and learn. It should be
honest and detailed. If the reviewer
only says it’s bad – that just hurts the writer. The reviewer needs to say why it was bad or a
disappointment and or why it was good and enjoyable.
If you have multiple
books published what do you feel is your greatest work, why?
I really like the Triaxen.
It was the first book I wrote. I
liked my characters in that book. I
realize the books has issues I wish I could correct. I used too much stilted language and I have
tried to improve from that over time.
But, the story was good, I think.
What is the intended
audience for you book?
I write for adults who love romance mixed with science
fiction and fantasy.
What makes a good
story, why?
Adventure and a good pace.
Do you read your
reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to
deal with the bad?
Yes, I read my reviews. When you’re an author or any type of
creative person, there will always be critics of your art. There’re critics in
everything we do and in all areas of life. Just ignore the truly mean
criticism. Unfortunately, there are those who simply leave mean words from
being cruel or jealous. Those are the
reviews that don’t say much, they’re simply mean words with no explanation of
their critical comments. The reviewer
gives no reason as to why the think what they are saying. Just remember, to keep your head up and be
proud of your accomplishments. Don’t
allow others to stomp on your soul and creativity.
What would you like
to write about that you have never written about before?
I would like to write a cool dystopian story.
Were your characters
based off real life people/events or did you make it all up?
I made them all up.
Do you view writing
as a career, labor of love, hobby, creative outlet, therapy, or something else?
I view it as a serious career, a labor of love, a hobby,
creative outlet, and therapy. It’s all
these things to me.
Punished for sins not her own, can a mortal claim her vampire mate?
The world of immortals must unite to save both themselves and the mortals they co-exist with from an ancient evil.
For Bede MacTaggert this means trusting in the warrior sent for her sister—a man of mystery, of power, and one who could easily sweep her into a world she's destined to be part of.
An imperial guard to the king of vampires, Gawain has always tuned out the needs of the flesh. Dedicating himself to the service of the royals, he's lived on the fringes of his people for centuries. Now he's forced from the shadows and into the arms of a woman who will awaken his heart and body to a passion unequaled.
Thank you for this amazing interview! I wish you success for all your future works. Keep writing!
