Interview With Author Elizabeth Standish
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So far, I’ve only published one. But I have drafts in various stages of 4 others!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first novel is Magnificent Mess. As I talk about in the Author Notes at the back of the book, I wrote it for a creative writing class, and it was as much a way to rant about law school as it was a creative writing endeavor – or more… It wasn’t so much a call to write as much as I way to create a different ending. One I thought I would have liked better. (Spoiler alert: despite, like Emma, despising law school, I ended up in a pretty awesome place, doing really cool lawyer work).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get up early to write before my regular work day. I don’t think that’s particularly unusual, but I’ve met other authors who would not get up at 5 AM like I do! I also have to get up from writing – always in the recliner or on the couch since sitting at a desk feels like “real” work – about a half hour after I sit down to let the cat in.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Probably every author I’ve ever read, honestly. I love Jane Austen, first and foremost. My parents read to me every night when I was little, before I could read for myself, so there were a lot of “older” stories in my early life. The Oz series by Frank L Baum, and some British fairytales. I love Diana Gabaldon, and I studied for the verbal section GRE (for the masters I ended up not going back for) while reading one of her books. I looked up every word I came across that I didn’t know, and though there weren’t many, I definitely learned a few. (She did not help with the math portion which I scraped by on, but please let me never look at a statistics question again.)
I’ve also been heavily influenced as a writer by Katherine Center’s books, and Deborah Harkness.
What are you working on now?
The first in a series of interconnected standalones. I don’t even have a working title for it! It’s just “Jane and Peter’s story” at this point. At the same time, I’m writing book 2 in that series, Lauren and Chris, and learning about the couple in book 3, Alicia and Zach.
This wasn’t originally going to be a series, but then I got to know Lauren, Chris, Alicia, and Zach as supporting friends and loved who they were as well.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Umm… I’m still working on this one!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Sit down and do it. Find a routine that works for you. If it’s 20 minutes each day, or 3 hours. Don’t worry about having the whole story figured out, just start writing. Or, if you’re more of a plotter type, than a pantser, sit down and write your outline. Work on that the same way.
Most important is having a routine and doing it consistently.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best writing advice that I’ve ever gotten was from my author friend, Kathleen McGowan, who writes historical fiction. She says to “Vomit on the page,” and that you can clean it up later. That’s pretty much how I approach my writing – I’m a pantser so it makes sense to me to just get the words out. They don’t have to be pretty or in any order or anything. The most important part is to get them on the page!
What are you reading now?
I’m finishing To Sir Philip, With Love, book 4 in the Bridgerton series. Yes, I know I am horribly behind! Not sure what’s on tap after that.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll publish Jane and Peter’s story in the early fall this year. Hopefully, by the time their book gets, to publication I’ll have a first draft of Lauren and Chris’ story done as well (or before!). I’m also working on a memoir.
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?
Pride and Prejudice for sure. Outlander (the first/original). How to Walk Away by Katherine Center. And then something fun, like an Ali Hazelwood book.
Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Standish Amazon Profile
Elizabeth Standish’s Social Media Links
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