LKBR: Hi, Elizabeth, it’s great
to have you with us.
EP: Thanks
so much for having me, Lisa!
LKBR: Please
tell us a bit about yourself.
EP: I’m a mom of four, and I’ve spent my career
writing books about parenting. I’ve traveled the world speaking on the topic, and
my books are translated into 29 languages! When COVID hit, and I was spending
more time at home, I figured it was the perfect time to fulfill a lifelong
dream: I wanted to write a novel. I decided to write the kind of book that I
read the most: a paranormal cozy mystery. Once I started, I couldn’t stop! That
was just a year and a half ago, and I’m already busy writing book six! It’s the
most fun I’ve ever had at work.
LKBR:
Please tell us about your new book.
EP: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series
tells the story of an everyday young woman named Hayden, who one day is thrust
through a mirror into an enchanted world. She discovers a land she never knew
existed, and a family she never knew she had.
Each book in the series is two stories in one: A
Destiny Falls mystery and a murder mystery, and they often overlap. In book
five, the newest in the series, Hayden gets an invitation to a medieval
festival. It takes place on a strange island where few travel – but it’s just
too enticing to pass up. She and her friends create their costumes and take the
journey. Bizarre things happen during the event, of course. Add that to the
stress of finding a dead body, and Hayden and her over-confident, sassy cat
sidekick have their work cut out for them.
LKBR: Do
you remember where you were/what you were doing when the idea of this
book/series came to you?
EP: I found a box of old photos and came across a
few from a Renaissance Faire that I attended years ago. I recall being
fascinated by the elaborate costumes and the passion that people threw into
their role playing. There was even a jousting demonstration that blew me away.
I knew that type of event would be perfect for the setting of a mystery!
LKBR: How
did you go about submitting your first idea for a book? Was that first book
published?
EP: Ahhh! My parenting books were all published by
one of the big publishing houses. When I wrote Destiny Falls though, it felt
very personal, and it was what you might call a passion project. I decided to keep
it to myself and learned all about the Amazon Kindle program for authors. It’s
been fantastic to be fully my own boss, and they make it very easy!
LKBR: Is
writing your fulltime job? What’s your writing schedule like?
EP: Being an author is my full-time job! It’s so
much more than writing, particularly when you’re also your own publisher. Production,
marketing, cover design, editing, accounting, sales, organizing book tours.
Phew! I’m at my desk about ten hours a day, wearing a pile of different hats.
My favorite is the actual writing, though!
LKBR: No
matter where you are, do you write down ideas when inspiration strikes?
EP: You sound like you know! Yep! I jot down ideas
all the time. Thankfully, I keep my phone in my pocket and make notes anywhere.
Even during a hike I’m known for sitting on a rock and writing out a scene
idea. The middle of the night seems to be a great time for ideas to pop into my
head, too!
LKBR: Do
you write your book(s) from beginning to end or do you do you write scenes out
of order then pull them together?
EP: I like to know where the story is going. I’ll
begin with a major plot idea, then figure out the high points and the ending.
Then I get a reaaalllly long piece of paper and make a timeline, jotting down
important points, then transfer that to an outline. It changes almost daily,
and the characters drive the scenes, but the original roadmap keeps me
organized.
LKBR:
Have you ever killed off a series’ regular character? If yes, was it hard for
you to do? What were your reader’s reactions to it?
EP: I don’t think I could ever kill off a regular!
I get too attached to my main characters for that to happen – even the baddies.
That reminds me of the scene in the Galaxy Quest movie when a character
realizes he doesn’t have a last name, so he knows he’s going to get killed off
the show!
LKBR: Where
do you do most of your writing?
EP: I can write pretty much anywhere, but my
office is my main place. It’s set up just the way I like it. I’m in front of a
large window so I can daydream when I need to get my thoughts in order.
LKBR: What
are three things always within reach when you’re writing?
EP: Haha! I am a creature of habit. Always a cup
of tea, my outline/timeline, and various colors of sticky-notes – my desk is always
covered by random notes. I was just on the phone and asked my friend, “Why do I
have a sticky note on my desk that says, ‘rolling suitcase,’ I’m sure it’s a
great plot idea, but I don’t know what it is . . .
LKBR:
Please describe yourself in one sentence.
EP: A lucky person who skips happily to work every
day.
LKBR: Do
you have a message for your readers?
EP: I hope you have as much fun reading the
Destiny Falls series as I do writing it. I’m planning a long series, so if you
have any ideas for story lines, drop me a note!
LKBR:
Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for spending time with us today. Can’t wait to
chat with you again!
EP: Thanks for your interest in Destiny Falls,
Lisa! It was a fun chat. I look forward to our next visit.
