Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello all, I am the author of Tartarus and most recently The Girl With Nine Lives.
An avid day dreamer, I usually prefer fantasy to reality. I am a dedicated worshipper of maltesers and am best approached when I am not hungry. God help you if I’m hungry, cold and tired. I am a huge fan of all things Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter. Things I hate- ill consideration for other people, poor manners and mint chocolate. Favourite things consist of adventures, surprises (good ones) and finding money in unexpected places. I love random acts of kindness, saving hedgehogs from peril, and beating the odd man at an arm wrestle.
I wrote Tartarus as a way to rid myself of nightmares. A sufferer of Old Hag’s Syndrome (sleep paralysis) it gave me many ideas of what to inject into my first novel. It was published in 2012 and I forbade my mother to ever read it (I didn’t want her to know what went through her youngest daughter’s head).
In 2013 I published The Girl With Nine Lives- something that I wrote for a competition hosted by The Kernal Mag and Harper Collins. It follows the story of Ellena Blackwood and her talking cat Ben, (Benedict if you want to get into his good books) as they drink rum, sniff catnip and get into more trouble.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Girl With Nine Lives, born out of desperation and inspired by a scruffy ginger cat. I wrote The Girl With Nine Lives due to a competition hosted by The Kernal Mag and Harper Collins. The rules were simple- write a book over two days.
I completely dehumanised myself that day. I didn’t eat, drink, wash or talk. I allowed my subconscious to speak for itself and as it did, memories of a childhood cat came spilling out. Ben’s idea of grooming himself was to roll around in oil and grit, a lone ranger, he always walked me to school, shared his cat biscuits with me and sat with me when I was upset.
We were a poor family and moved to a different town for a new life- a life that Ben found difficult to adapt to. He was 18, went for a walk and never came back.
As I wrote, I thought, what would happen if a cat like Ben came back to his owner years later? What would happen if he could come back and have the ability to talk? And how would I react? I put my reactions, thoughts and feelings into a character called Ellena Blackwell and wrapped around them both a set of circumstances that would test their friendship.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I start writing, I literally shut off the internet and switch some music on- the music is very important to what I’m writing. If it’s a horror, then I have to listen to edgy music. Fantasy= classical/chillout. Fiction depends on the theme- if it’s set in the countryside then I’ll have to stick a bit of Seasick Steve on.
I can’t write without tea or some snack to boost me off, and I won’t be happy unless I’ve wrote more than 1000 words.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kim Harrison, Danny King and Michel Faber has influenced me massively. Michel Faber gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone, Danny King dragged me away from the cliché and Kim Harrison gave me the confidence to write in the genres I love best.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the sequel of The Girl Of Nine Lives and I’ve got something else cooking- my new horror/dark fantasy book Edge of Demons. Writing is all I know and love and you’re bound to hear a lot more titles from me this year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method has been covering the basics.
*Get a good book
*Get a good cover
*Get the social networking/website done
*Giveaways are a must when getting reviews
*Great sites like this to showcase your work
*Get a press release sorted to send to newspapers/magazines
*Never give up!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up! Don’t take anything personally when it comes to critique- some people will like your book and some wont. One of the biggest mistakes an author can do is having a bad front cover- this is the first thing that readers see- get it done professionally! Never stop promoting your work, whether it’s contacting your local paper or radio station- get the word out. Social media can be a blessing with getting people to see your work, get a fan page set up and set yourself up a website.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never ever ever ever give up.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Kim Harrison’s latest book Ever After. I love the dialogue and fast paced storyline of these books and I worship the main character Rachel Morgan.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Next, I will be publishing the sequel of The Girl With Nine Lives, and moving onto the next book! I’ve got endless storylines in my head, half crafted and completed and they need doing something with! An agent is the long term goal, but as the market is so competitive, I remain dedicated to making myself a successful writer- with or without an agent.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Oh gosh, this is so hard. I’m going to have to say The Harry Potter books- simply because I have read them countless times, they have made me laugh, cry, stay up all night and dream of another life. J.K Rowling is a huge inspiration- when I think about what she has achieved, my stomach actually flips. I have been following her story since a child- she made me believe that I could achieve anything.
Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Earle Website
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