Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Writer. Reader. Perpetual student. Nerd.
Born in New Zealand to a Brit and an Australian, I am a writer with a passion for all things storytelling. I love reading, writing, TV and movies, gaming, and spending time with family and friends. I am an avid fan of British comedy, superheroes, and SuperWhoLock. I have too many favourite books, but I fell in love with reading after Isobelle Carmody’s ‘Obernewtyn’. I am obsessed with all things mythological – my current focus being old-style Irish faeries. I live in Adelaide (South Australia) with my long-suffering husband, delirious dog, mad cat, two chickens, and a lazy turtle.
I’ve had fourteen books published as of April 2019. Mostly these are Young Adult Contemporary Romance, but there’s also some Fantasy in there as well. I’ve also written three other novels which need an edit before I even think of publishing them, and a lot of partially finished pieces.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book was ‘[Bad Boy’s Guide to…] Being Not Good’ and I can’t really remember what inspired it. I think I’d binged too many 90s/00s teen rom-coms and it just got the creative process going. I wanted to try my hand at more of a parody of all the movies I love so much, and ‘Being Not Good’ was born.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in the bath. Full regalia – laptop, mouse, notebooks. It somehow keeps me a bit less distracted than my desk.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Who hasn’t is probably a better question. Some of my favourites are Rick Riordan, Jane Austen, Kate Forsyth, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Kasie West, Terry Pratchett, John Flanagan, Isobelle Carmody, Christina Benjamin, Bram Stoker and Emily Rodda.
What are you working on now?
About a million different things. I’ve got an adult romance I’m trying to get out in the next week, plus a YA rom-com due in August, and there’s a new novella series I’m working on, and part five of my current novella series. It’s all a mix of romance but some is Fantasy, other Contemporary. I’ve got short pieces and long pieces – last I checked there were over 150 WIPs. I tend to bounce around from idea to idea until something’s finished unless I have a deadline.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find a fan-base is actually working the best for me at the moment. I’ve got a small but very loyal group of readers and they find my books through various channels – social media, mailing list, Amazon or Goodreads follow.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read everything. Write everything – don’t worry about the elusive ‘perfection’ because you can work with anything from terrible to half decent to excellent words, but you can’t work with no words. And don’t wait – do it now! Also don’t listen to naysayers or people who tell you there is a right way to write or publish – find your own path and travel it proudly.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The first draft is just you telling yourself the story – Sir Terry Pratchett
This is actually not totally true for me as most of my first drafts end up published, BUT it’s still great advice and I love Terry Pratchett.
What are you reading now?
Ha! I am actually reading something at the moment. First time in about a year, though. ‘Introductions’ by C.L. Stone.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Many more books to write and read. I’ll just keep on keeping on until I’m dead.
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?
That’s like asking on what day of the week I prefer to breathe… If I absolutely had to come up with one…right now it would be Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’. I just love Austen’s humour and wit, and her play on Gothic literature is hilarious.
Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Stevens Website
Elizabeth Stevens Amazon Profile
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