I had the pleasure of talking to Beth Elisa Harris, and now I get to share it with you!
Thank you for hosting me, Stacy! - You are quite welcome Beth! Thank you for stopping by here!
Tell us a bit about yourself Beth!
What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t writing?
Anything that involves spending fun time with my family and reading. I love movies, exploring new restaurants, browsing in shops. I fit exercise in my life too, so a run on the beach versus the gym is a great diversion from routine.
What is your favorite color?
I am drawn to the blue/purple spectrum, however I actually don’t claim to have a favorite color, because it depends on mood and what context the color resides!
Tell us about your writing:
How long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?
A dream I acknowledged at an early age, then ignored, then embraced again. I wrote my first novella in middle-school. It was science fiction, about how Earth was just an experiment for another planet to study how humans destroy their environment and each other. Nerd alert! Writing has always been a natural state for me, so there was a time I never thought I would do anything else. Then life happened, and I ended up writing for others thinking it would be just as satisfying (not) – ad copy, marketing and PR plans, press releases, policies (blech!) – you know, ‘grown-up’ stuff. In 2009 I experienced an extreme life-altering event, and realized I had suppressed my dream and tendencies for years. Not only that, despite my wonderful life, I always felt something was missing. It was storytelling. Once I opened back up to that truth, the muse returned.
How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?
When I wrote Vision, I was like a maniac, writing several hours a day. There was nothing else to do but write, because I wasn’t published yet, so the time-consuming PR hadn’t kicked in. I actually blogged about how that is the purest time for any writer, I think, writing the first book. You have nothing to lose, and the floodgates are wide open. Once you finish that first book, if you decide you actually want people to read it, the focus changes. So to answer the actual question I have yet to get to (smiles), I commit to write daily, whether it’s a word, a sentence, a paragraph or chapter. The release date for the second Vision sequel, Soul Herder, will be assigned soon, and I will adjust accordingly. Right now I spend my time editing Soul Herder and marketing Vision.
Is there some place special you like to be when you write?
I will write anywhere I can take a laptop as long as it’s moderately quiet. I’m fairly astute at blocking out noise and surrounding activity, and one can always put in ones ear buds and play music.
Tell us about your book:
Vision is a young adult crossover series of three books. I say crossover because the age range of the main character, Layla, is sixteen to eighteen, however there are historical, reincarnate elements that make her much older in many ways. Adults seem to like it, and the story line is fairly sophisticated. I made it young adult because there needed to be elements of innocence, teen isolation and independence resulting from her family dynamic, and a surprise connection to a seemingly emotionally distant mother.
Where did the idea come from?
The idea came to me about ten years ago when we discovered details around our family’s Scottish heritage from the Isle of Colonsay. Our clan, the MacPhies, were ostracized from the island by the MacDonald clan. It doesn’t take much information for my imagination to take over. When you read Vision, the clan association makes sense.
How long did it take to write?
The standard time - a year including edits.
What is it about?
Layla Stone is a very strong clairvoyant (a ‘Clear,’ she discovers) who lives in Portland, Oregon with her work-aholic mom and dad. She is a straight-A student who is drawn to an educational opportunity in Cambridge, England. Before leaving home, she receives a mysterious letter from a woman who seems to know things about her and her family that she does not. The story is about self-discovery, connections, love, and the good-evil fight. No vampires or werewolves were involved in the making of this book.
Your other work:
Do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published?
The second Vision novel, Soul Herder will be released in 2012, exact date TBD. I am also working on Flyers, a stand-alone YA novel that is extremely unique. After that, I have a couple of mainstream novel outlines brewing.
Where can readers connect with you?
Here are my social network links, including purchase links. I love connecting with readers and other authors, including Stacy Eaton! Thanks for the support, Stacy!
Follow on Facebook as Beth Elisa Harris - Author
Follow on Twitter @Bethelisaharris
BUY
I love that Beth Elisa Harris was inspired by family history, although I write horror rather than fantasy (sorry, Mom & Dad), I also find family stories to be a great launching pad for the imagination. It's sort of like exploring your own personal myths!
ReplyDeleteGreat Interview! Your novels sounds wonderful, Beth! Interesting how you drew on your family's history!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes on all you writing!
Peter
Writing as AR Silverberry