Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Elizabeth J. M. Walker has always loved books and writing. She Dreamed of Dragons is her first novel. She currently lives in Ontario, Canada with her other half and their two cats.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is She Dreamed of Dragons. It was inspired by TV talent competitions! But the book the also about accepting others’ differences and is set in a fun fantasy world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unfortunately no…I wish I had something more interesting to write.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was a teen the first YA fantasy I fell in love with was the Song of the Lioness Quartet and The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce. I think Pierce has influenced a lot of current authors who write about strong female heroines in fantasy settings. Some of my other favourite YA/MG authors that I find inspiring are Kristin Cashore, Maureen Johnson, Sarah J. Maas, Rainbow Rowell, Eoin Colfer, and J. K. Rowling.
What are you working on now?
Many things! I’m working on a teen vampire comedy, a contemporary/dance story, a contemporary teen story about zines and other things, and several more fantasy stories too. I should probably get off the internet and go work on those now…
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I guess I use Facebook the most.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot. Write what you want to write and not what you think you should write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I went to a Tamora Pierce reading and it’s where I got some of the above advice and have always thought it was one of the best writing tips I had heard. I’m paraphrasing because this was over ten years ago now….But she said you should write what you want to write, to write what you love to write – because you’re going to be the first person who reads it and you’re going to be the person who spends the most time with it – so make sure it’s something you actually love and not just something you think you should be writing.
I was definitely struggling with that at the time, so it really stuck with me.
What are you reading now?
I just finished Fangirl by Rainbow Rowel and loved it.
Now I’m reading:
Warhorse by Michael Morpurgo
Songs for the Lost by Alexander Zelenyj
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully more books finding homes.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A complete collection of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales. And…I can’t decide what else to bring. There are too many favourites to choose from! Oh no wait, the smarty-pants answer: a book about how to survive on a desert island and another one about boat building with limited supplies. In between my hunting and foraging for edible food and boat building I will take breaks to read fairy tales.
Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth J. M. Walker Website
Elizabeth J. M. Walker’s Social Media Links
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