Connie and Tina: We’d like to welcome you, Elaine. We appreciate the time you’re giving us to answer all our questions about your books, writing, and a few questions about you. First, would you tell us a bit about you and what you’re working on now?

Elaine: I live near Charlotte, NC, with my husband and several cats. In addition to writing, I’m in graduate school, earning my Masters in biology.

Right now, I’m working on book three of my Shadow Fae Trilogy, The Sundered Stone. Book one, Winter’s Orphans should be out before the end of the year.

Tina: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller. Almost all of those elements seem to find their way into your books at one point or another. If you were backed into a corner and asked which genre you wrote for, what would be the answer?

Elaine: I think of myself primarily as a fantasy writer. That is the largest element in any of my books to date, with the exception of my ongoing science fiction serial, Exile’s Burn. But I love mixing in romance and mystery in pretty much everything I write.

Tina: I would imagine you never get bored writing, with all those elements woven into your stories.

Connie: Elaine, you have a map of the Circle Kingdoms on your website along with some other information. It’s obvious you spent a great deal of time and put a lot of thought into the creation of the map and Jenel. Did all of this come before or during the writing process of the Lord of Wind and Fire series?

Elaine: It really came during the writing process. The Lord of Wind and Fire series really grew organically over many years, from childhood on, so a lot of things like the geography or the monetary system developed hand-and-hand with the story.

Tina: Aside from the Lord of Wind and Fire series you have created other worlds and societies for various books. Was as much time spent on these as the Circle Kingdoms? What goes into these creating these worlds? Do you put them in the form of a handbook or even a tour guide like we might use if we’re visiting a foreign country?

Elaine: Thankfully, I’ve never spent as much time anywhere as the Circle Kingdoms. I say "thankfully" because you have to realize that that particular series encompassed a large part of my life from childhood on. That doesn’t mean any of the other societies are less detailed, however. I do a lot of research for every book before I ever sit down to write. I frequently will type my notes in different files titled things like "food" or "customs" or "weapons" that I can later pull up as needed. So in a way it is a lot like a tour guide.

Connie: It's obvious you've put a lot of work into building your kingdoms and worlds, Elaine.

Tina: You’re earning your MS degree in biology and you work in a wildlife rehabilitation center. Have any experiences in either area helped to contribute in some ways to your writing and the creations of the living environment in your books. If this is so, could you elaborate, give us some examples?

Elaine: In a way. Truthfully, though, my original degree from way back when I was in college the first time, is more directly applicable to my writing. That one was on anthropology/archaeology, and I think that a lot of the cultural details in my fantasy came from interests I developed then.

Connie: Yes, I can see that that degree would spark ideas and details. What about the wizards and shape-shifters? The ghost eaters and faelings. Have you created handbooks or guides for your own benefit and consistency as to things such as their history, traditions, habits, appearance (clothing, etc.), diet and so forth?

Elaine: Oh yes. I spend a lot of time researching and developing before I start to write, and keep files of notes organized as to topic. A lot of it never makes it into the book, but if I had need to put it in, it is there waiting.

Connie: There are a few short stories available on your website. A couple of them are related to other books of yours. Is this because people have asked for a particular character’s stories or because the stories evolve on their own?

Elaine: Mainly because the stories evolve on their own. I always end up knowing far more about my characters than I could ever pack into a book. But I’ve recently had requests for stories about Londah Jonaglir from the Lord of Wind and Fire series, so I’m planning on writing some short stories about her.

Tina: With all the planning and research, I would imagine that you do know a lot about your characters. But, has some of your secondary characters been so strong that sequels or books in a series were written specifically for them?

Elaine: Not yet, but they will be. I have plans in the very, very early stage to do a spin-off of the Lord of Wind and Fire series, which will probably tell Owl’s story.

Tina: And of your characters, main or secondary, are there those that have stood out to you while writing that you would like to meet in person and get to know better?

Elaine: Truthfully, I know them so well that it’s probably better than meeting them in person. I know them from the inside out, which is something we can never really say about anyone we meet in the real world. But that said, I would love to hang out with Mina and Pook from my Shadow Fae series. They know how to cut loose and party.

Connie: Could you tell us what your thought process is when deciding who or what the antagonist is and why they are the antagonist?

Elaine: Having a good antagonist is just as important as having a good protagonist to me. After all, the antagonist is the one who gives the hero or heroine something to struggle against—who in some ways defines the plot. He or she has to be able to present a worthy challenge for the protagonist in some way, either in terms of intelligence, or power, or skill, or all of the above.

I also like an antagonist who has some kind of link to the protagonists, rather than being randomly evil. In the Lord of Wind and Fire series, the Emperor of the invading country is related to the hero, a situation that has real consequences for them both. In Tyrant Moon, the hero inadvertently helped to create his enemy through his own thoughtless actions.

Connie: Good way of thinking. It appears there are several ways an antagonist can be developed.

Is there a certain mood or atmosphere you work in that enhances your creativity or productivity?

Elaine: Anywhere away from the internet! Seriously, when I’m on deadline, I go to a coffee shop or somewhere else where I can’t easily surf the web and have nothing to do except write. Otherwise, I get too easily distracted.

Connie: It does have a way of doint that, doesn't it?

Tina: Elaine, what do you think are some of the most important elements that need to go into a book?

Elaine: I’m a character-driven writer, so for me good characterization is the number one element. You need a strong plot as well, but give me a character I can empathize with, who I feel like a know, and I’m hooked.

Connie: I would rather read a character-driven book, too, rather than reading a book with several sub-plots going on.

Is there any advice to aspiring authors of any genre that you’d like to give? Advice you wish someone would have told you in the aspiring stages?

Elaine: Persistence is the most important trait a writer can have. Most of us face rejection at one time or another, and it’s easy to become dejected. Believe in yourself and keep fighting.

Connie: Thanks! Getting to know you now... What is something pampering you like to do for yourself?

Elaine: Chocolate and a hot bath—the ultimate in pampering!

Tina: Ah! Chocolate! Something we love, too.

You declared you wanted to be a writer when you were 8 years old. From that time until graduation, is there a class or teacher that helped to cement that declaration and make it a reality?

Elaine: Sadly, no. I even had one teacher in high school who discouraged not just me but about everyone else in the class as well. Fortunately, that sort of opposition just makes me more stubborn.

Connie: And I'm sure your fans are thankful for it, too.

I’m not too much of a shopper, Elaine, though my daughter loves to purse shop. Are you a shopper? What do you like to shop for?

Elaine: I love to shop for books and music. I shop for clothes only when I can’t get out of it.

Tina: Books over clothes...that's a great choice.

What is your favorite vacation spot you and your husband enjoy the most? What would be your dream vacation?

Elaine: We’ve been to Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula several times. From the rocky coasts with their sea stacks to the rain forest to the alpine meadows…there really is no more beautiful place that I’ve ever seen.

I’ve always dreamed of visiting the Mayan ruins. Maybe someday I’ll get to do that.

Connie: What’s your favorite time of day? What makes it so?

Elaine: The morning, because that’s when I have time set aside for writing. I used to be a night owl, but circumstances forced me to change my sleeping habits, so now the early part of the day is when I get the most accomplished.

Tina: A favorite question of mine, Elaine, and it’s strictly for fun. You’re stranded on a deserted island; would you choose books by your favorite author or TV? Movie star or husband? What couldn’t you live without?

Elaine: Books and husband, which happen to be the two things I couldn’t live without.

Connie: What is one of your all-time favorite movies?

Elaine: LadyHawke—the hero turns into a wolf, the heroine into a hawk, and it has a great love story to go along with the terrific action scenes. What’s not to love?

Tina: Writer or not, we all wish and hope for success in our lives. What does success mean to you?

Elaine: Success is when a reader writes to me and says that he or she loved my books and characters. There is no greater thrill.

Connie and Tina: On that note we’ll give you our thanks, Elaine. We appreciate your openness and willingness to answer our questions and probe your mind. Before we let you go, however, is there anything we forgot to ask that you’d like the readers and fans to know?

Elaine: Just that they can drop by my website at http://www.onecrow.net to read excerpts, sign up for my newsletter, or read my free short stories. They can also email me at elaine@onecrow.net—I love to hear from readers!

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Author's Interviews