Hi Everyone. Thank you for joining me today with author Ellen Mint. By the range of her books and their covers, Ellen likes diversity with her work. She is on a roll right now and so let's get this interview started so we can learn more about her.
Gina: Why did you become an
author?
Ellen: Because it’s
much cheaper to feed and house the characters I create in my brain than actual
children. And given my proclivity for stabbing my characters when bored, it’s
probably a good thing I decided to go the book route instead of having kids.
Gina: What genre of books do
you like to write?
Ellen: I gravitate to
the sci-fi and fantasy side of romance. Basically I want any excuse where I can
make up whatever I want and release it into the world. It gives me an excuse to
do deep dives into mythology and play with lesser known or used monsters and
tales. Or my fun series where I’m writing romances to fit with smaller holidays
like St. Patrick’s Day or the autumnal equinox. I hope to write a short sci-fi
romance for Pi Day next year.
Gina: What is your
inspiration for the current book or series you are writing?
Ellen: Currently, I
am working on a contemporary series called Happily Ever Austen. The idea is to
take classic Jane Austen stories and yank the themes into modern time. I don’t
keep the same plot and will change the characters (Right now I’m writing a
gender swapped Sense & Sensibility) but I want to explore the universal
themes of love, dangers of settling, hoping for more, and working to be worthy
of the person you love.
My first in the series,
Pride & Pancakes came out on December 17th. In that, Beth Cho is a reporter
tasked with interviewing the illusive singer-songwriter Tristan Harty. It’s
hate at first sight, but the two find themselves trapped in a cabin alone
thanks to a blizzard. As they spend time together, the scales and stubborn
pride falls from their eyes. Also, there are pancakes.
Gina: Are you a plotter or a
pantser?
Ellen: I’m a
plantser, which sounds like a Swamp Thing knock off. I always come in with an
outline in my brain, especially an ending to aim for. But I’m also flexible and
don’t hold myself to what I dreamed up before I started. I often have scenes
where I’ll let the characters do what they want. Usually, I find the character
and their voice as I write them not before.
Gina: Do you have any quirks
or habits when you’re writing?
Ellen: The surest way
to cause writer’s block for me is if I’m uncomfortable, so I use a popcorn tin
as a footstool when writing and have a massive stack of chair cushions. It is
chair cushion mountain. Can’t complain about writing fatigue if I’m sitting on
a cloud!
Gina: Have you had any
setbacks becoming an author yourself?
Ellen: I’m very much
an introvert and can’t work a network to save my life. That’s hamstringed my
ability to market, but hasn’t killed it dead. It just means that I couldn’t
come out of the gate as the next big author to discover. I’ve been slowly
building my name and face, making connections, and figuring out the tricks that
work for me.
Gina: What advice would you
give to someone who would like to become a writer?
Ellen: Ignore the
advice that doesn’t work for you. One-size-fits-all advice from how to write
your book all the way up to how to
market your book doesn’t work. We’re all different and trying to alter yourself
to fit how another person in a different genre, different style did it won’t
help you. Also, be very careful about people and marketers who promise the
moon.
Gina: What is some of the
best advice or inspiration you have received from another author?
Ellen: Just keep
writing. Just keep writing.
Gina: What goals have you
set for yourself in the future?
Ellen: God save me,
but I’ve taken on four different series at once. Next year around Halloween is
the start of a paranormal reverse harem that I’m really excited about. I can
combine my love of fantasy with horror elements, as well as a stable of sexy
guys. That’s on top of my Happily Ever Austen series, my Holidays, and my Wild
Menage which has pirate mermen and hopefully viking werewolves soon.
Here’s hoping I don’t burn
out before 2021.
Gina: How do you want
readers to see your work?
Ellen: Hopefully as
an extension of me. Witty, a little weird, sarcastic, but surprisingly
heartfelt the deeper you dive. Or at least on their eReader.
Gina: What should a reader
expect to see from your next novel?
Ellen: Pride &
Pancakes contains steamy enemies to lovers, pancakes, serenading by a
fireplace, blizzards, ice skating, making out in the shower, and a sexy
musician.
Gina: Is there anything you
would like to share with your readers?
Ellen: Right now I
have an amazing advent calendar giveaway going on through all of December, as
well as a Christmas hamper prize through my publisher. Everyone who enters gets
a free book of mine. You can find out all about it on my website. I hope you
all have a happy holidays!
Gina: Thank you so much for joining us Ellen. I look forward to a follow up interview with you in a year and see how all your plans work out.
Please check out Ellen Mint's Latest release Pride and Pancakes along with some of her other book before you leave us. The link is below.
No comments:
Post a Comment