Hey Guys! It's me, Elizabeth, here to answer your burning questions. Thank you to those who submitted, and I hope you enjoy my answers below.
Question 1: What books are coming next?
Answer: Well, there's a lot coming next! I'm nearly finished writing the prequel to Everhaven, The Silents, and I anticipate that it will be live for my subscribers before the end of the year, and live for everyone else in January. Aside from that, I'm also busy writing Books 2 and 3 of the Everhaven trilogy, plus planning two additional (unrelated) releases for next year, which will be announced soon. Plenty more coming down the pike!
Question 2: What authors influenced you the most?
Answer: This is tough to answer because I would argue that every author I've ever read has influenced me to some degree. As a writer (and a reader), every book is a learning experience. Every book opens your mind to new dialects, new worlds, new characters, new decisions, new relationships, and every single one serves to help shape your own writing in some way, whether you realize it or not. You learn what you like, what you don't like, whose prose you strive to emulate, and whose you maybe aren't keen to attempt to imitate. I will say, growing up, I was introduced to Goosebumps at a young age and spent many years wanting to be the next RL Stine. As I got older, I got into Stephen King and decided he was the author I wanted to be most like. But soon thereafter, I also became introduced to Young Adult books and fell in love with the likes of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, and with the beautiful worlds created by authors like Marissa Meyer and Sarah J. Maas, and the creative storytelling of authors like Maggie Stiefvater and Neal Shusterman, and the brilliant and stunning prose written by the likes of John Green. As such, my novels tend to be a hybrid, a blend of many elements. Horror, the paranormal and supernatural, the comedic and dramatic, the fantastical, mythical, and romantic. I've evolved my style into something that feels the most me, and I hope you, my dear readers, enjoy my style just as much.
Question 3: Where do you get your ideas?
Answer: To be honest? I really don't know. My muse taps my shoulder and whispers in my ear whenever she darn well feels like it. An idea could hit me after watching a movie, or while driving my car, or coming back from a trip, or witnessing some random exchange between strangers. A new idea could hit me at any moment, and ALL of these random strokes of inspiration get written down in my "Idea Log." As of now, it's a long list, but I've only developed (or am developing) the ones I feel are the strongest. Who knows, maybe I'll be paying my Idea Log another visit very soon...
Question 4: What's your favorite scary movie?
Answer: Ha! Random, but I'll bite. I tend to love supernatural / psychological style horror the best, the ones that leave a little more to the imagination. Such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Conjuring, or The Others. Not a movie, but I also love love loved The Haunting of Hill House series on Netflix.
Question 5: Do you draw any inspiration from your travels?
Answer: Yes, major yes! I firmly believe there is no greater learning experience in the world than immersing yourself in other cultures, which is why travel is probably my favorite thing on the planet (after writing, of course). Many of my best ideas happen while returning from a trip to a new location, especially if said location is loaded with historic sites, castles, mythology, haunting stories, etc. That gets my muse going like nothing else. Hoping to get back to some travel next year, once it's safer to do so.
I hope you've enjoyed my answers! I may do another Q&A session next year. In the meantime, stay tuned for plenty more announcements coming your way, and soon.
Wishing everyone a very happy Holiday season.
All Best,
-EJR
