Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a contemporary romance author and a member of the Romantic Novelist Association. I live in the beautiful East Riding of Yorkshire and work full time in the public sector. I’m also studying for a Masters degree, although the end is in sight! I hope one day to be able to write full-time.
My debut novel was published in February 2016 with Tirgearr Publishing, and my second will be released on 15th June 2016. I also like to write young adult fiction, although I have not had any published as yet. I’m concentrating on my contemporary romance novels at the moment.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Love on the Nile is my second novel to be published and, as the name suggests, it is set in Egypt. I’ve always been interested (some might say obsessed) with ancient Egypt and my house is filled with shelves upon shelves of books on the subject. I even have a beautiful, Egyptian style sarcophagus standing in my conservatory, which sounds a bit weird, I know, but it is really beautiful and I love it. It actually opens and has shelves inside for books. So, with my interest in Egypt, it seemed fairly natural to set my second novel there.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I’m lucky enough to have small study where I can escape and shut myself away to write. I tend to develop ideas for novels in my head, planning out the full story before I even begin to start writing it. Of course, the stories change and move in different directions once I do begin to tap away on the laptop, but they rarely change much from my original plan – maybe the characters will come up with a different background, or an additional scene will suddenly appear, but generally I write in my head until I have a solid draft.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love reading. With reading comes the guilt complex, though – when I’m reading, there’s a little voice in the back of my head telling me that I should be writing. However, I know that to become a better writer, I also need to read as much as I can – so that’s what I tell that little voice when it whispers in my ear. I like to read a range of genres – contemporary romance, of course, but I also like to read the classics, Austen and Du Maurier, horror such as King, Herbert and Koontz, and I love the Harry Potter and Tolkein books. Oh, there’s the Sharpe series, I love those, and Elizabeth Peters with her Amelia Peabody adventures.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my third contemporary romance novel – this one set in Whitby, full of stormy seas and stormy relationships.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As a relatively new author, I’m still working that one out! I struggle with marketing and promotion – it doesn’t come naturally to me and, like a lot of authors, I’m more comfortable with actually writing than trying to sell myself and my books to others. I am working hard on it though, and have a dedicated website, an author page on FB, and use Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. I’m also finding there are some incredibly supportive and helpful website out there…such as Awesomegang!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Nothing that they won’t have heard from many other writers before me. Read a lot, write a lot. Learn about the technical aspect of writing – its really important to realise that finishing the novel is not the end. It’s a fantastic achievement, but you need to know that it is just a first draft, no matter if you edit as you go along. Once you’ve got the first draft done – that’s when the hard work really starts. The next part is about revising – character arc, pacing, plot.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your dreams. Don’t listen to the naysayers – you can do it.
What are you reading now?
Elizabeth Peters – The Last Camel Died at Noon.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully, getting my third novel published. Once I’ve finished my Masters Degree, I’d like to try and work on my YA novel – see if I can get that one out there and published.
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?
Still Life with Crows by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child – my favourite of their Agent Pendergast series.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein (could I bring all three as one choice?)
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Author Websites and Profiles
Ellie Gray Website
Ellie Gray Amazon Profile
Ellie Gray’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account