Interview With Author Ellie Cook-Venezia
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
► I believe your job shouldn’t define you. It should reflect you.
► I collect people: because I pay-it-forward; to connect the dots when you are missing a puzzle piece; to network.
► I recognize you need to put your best foot forward when creating your digital footprint.
My name is Ellie Cook-Venezia, and I am a Renaissance Woman. That means I possess wide personal and professional interests, and understand a lot about a variety of things.
In a letter to George Bainton, a minister in the Congregational Church on October 15, 1888, Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter – it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” How true that is.
Words have power. Throughout my career as an Administrator, General Manager, and HR Professional, I’ve seen how words can inform, entertain, inspire, or wound — and how the right ones can build bridges, drive clarity, and even heal.
I’ve always deeply appreciated language, especially when a clever play on words feeds my dry sense of humor. I also believe that images have a unique way of telling stories that words alone sometimes can’t. That love of storytelling, both visual and verbal, is what fuels the Miss Ellie Network.
Now, post-vocational retirement, I’m channeling my energy into building a creative network, one that leverages modern print and digital tools to connect with readers and share meaningful stories. Because when words and images work together, something compelling happens.
I published my first low-content book in February 2025 to begin building a portfolio. I have recently started publishing in an eclectic way across children’s non-fiction, a true crime story, and modern civics 101 in the digital era. My portfolio currently holds 16 books, and I look forward to adding many more!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Digital Deception, A True Crime Story: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Launder Money, Aggravated Identity Theft, and National Security Implications.” The inspiration came from my renaissance professional background and the belief that the light needed to be shined on this fraud that was hiding in plain sight. This type of crime has implications for all.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes! I usually have five or six books going, in various states of disarray. I have that right-brain, left-brain thing going on. Sometimes I need to feed the creative, and sometimes I need to feed the intellect, so I flip back and forth on what I am writing.
On occasion, I see a book cover in my mind that determines what I will write about. How’s that for a hot mess?!?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a lifelong lover of books, and many authors and books influence me. My favorite authors are White, Milne, Austen, and Tolkien. As a matter of fact, my son is named Christopher Robin.
What are you working on now?
With Thanksgiving approaching, followed by Christmas, I am working on my digital marketing and presence. There’s much to be done, and I am learning how to leverage different digital aspects. I’m a newbie when it comes to promoting myself as an Indie Author and Publisher.
As time allows, I will dip in and out of the various books I mentioned above that are in disarray, and see which one comes to fruition first. I never know which one is going to put me on a roll, and that is part of the fun, inspiration, and adventure of being an Indie Author.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As I’ve explained, I am a newbie to promoting my books. Is it fair to say that Awesome Gang is a best method when it comes to promotions?
I find that Facebook has helped. I just started Instagram. I need to flesh out my Pinterest. It’s an undertaking!
Amazon KDP is currently where I publish. As the world’s largest book resource, they’ve got the stats to back it up.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, and keep at it! Write when it feels right!
Develop a thick skin because your books won’t be for everyone. Don’t take a negative review personally.
Learn from your reviews, and go back and edit your content when applicable. Enjoy the process, and you do you!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard came from my Grandmother. She told me that the only one who would stop me from accomplishing something would be me. I have lived that thought every day since being a teenager. I attribute that mindset to my successes.
What are you reading now?
I am revisiting a book I read many moons ago. It is by Gordon-Michael Scallion entitled, “Notes From The Cosmos. A Futurist’s Insights Into the World of Dream Prophecy and Intuition.”
What’s next for you as a writer?
I will continue to explore writing in multiple genres. I believe that will help keep my perspective fresh and curious.
I do have a children’s series to develop, with the main character and narrator being my pet dragon, Boof McBrayer. The first Boof McBrayer book was recently published. The title is “Boof McBrayer’s Very First Visit to the Dentist: Brushing My Teeth, Pictures of My Teeth, and Learning About Sugar Bugs and Cavities.”
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?
If stranded on a desert island, I would bring Tolkien’s trilogy. I never grow tired of his creative genius. To be practical, I’d bring a desert-island survival manual as well.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ellie Cook-Venezia Amazon Profile
Ellie Cook-Venezia’s Social Media Links
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