Author Interview with Carrie Elks
Today, The Hive has the pleasure of welcoming Carrie Elks as our spotlight author.
Bee was lucky enough to interview her. Here's how it went.....
Welcome to 'The Hive' Carrie,
1)Where are you from?
I was born near Bristol, England. I’ve lived all over the UK, including Liverpool, Nottingham and Essex. I’ve also lived abroad--most notably in Geneva, Switzerland, and Washington DC, USA. I’m a bit of a nomad, really.
2)Tell us your latest news?
I’m about 3/4 through a new full-length novel that I’m dying to publish. I love the characters and the premise of the story. The hero and heroine meet in a very interesting way and have a huge hurdle to get over. I can’t wait to finish it and polish it up.
3)When and why did you begin writing?
I wrote a lot as a child. I’d read a book and continue writing about the characters when it finished. My favourites were the Sweet Valley High series(!) and The Lord of the Rings. I’m an eclectic reader.
4)When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’m not sure if I do yet!
5)What inspired you to write your first book?
I’m a huge lover of dark stories. I really enjoyed reading Captive in the Dark, and Consequences, and initially started off to write something along those lines. However, the characters wouldn’t have it, and the story took a different track, which I was just as happy with. I like when stories surprise me as I write them.
6)How do you conceive your plot ideas?
It’s a cliché, but I’m always thinking “what if …” “What if a girl was hiding away in a bar in West Virginia and a stranger walked in …” “What if a girl fell in love with an older guy and he disappeared completely …” The stories tend to grow naturally around these little hooks.
7)What books have influenced your life most?
As a child I loved fantasy stories. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were my favourites. As an adult, I read avidly and enjoy such a wide range of books. Some of my favourite authors in the romance genre include Ruthie Knox and Cara McKenna. Their writing is impeccable.
8)If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I have to choose Evelyn Baldwin, the author of Vacant. She edited Halfway Hidden and taught me so much about character development and writing. I owe her a lot.
9)What book are you reading now?
The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski. It’s the follow-up to the Edge of Never, which I read last Christmas. I’m enjoying it very much.
10)Are there any new authors that have grabbed your interest?
Amber L. Johnson is going to be huge. Her book Where We Fell was absolutely beautiful. There’s also this cute chick called B.L. Wilde …
11)What are your current projects?
I’m juggling way too many stories, as always. As I said before, I’m finishing off the first draft of a manuscript. I’m also in the first stages of editing another. I am also plotting the second part of my Hidden Series.
12)Do you see writing as a career?
Not yet. I write a lot--probably around 10,000 to 15,000 per week, but still see it as a hobby.
13)If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I’m not sure that I would. I learned a lot from that book. I had a great editor who really whipped me into shape. She had me questioning everything, and I wouldn’t give up that learning process for the world.
14)Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
It comes from my love of reading. Which I inherited from my mother. She taught me to read at the age of three, and I haven’t looked back since.
15)Who designed the covers?
The hugely talented Mayhem Cover Creations. I want to write all the books just to get her to make another one.
16)What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The editing. It’s always the editing. It makes writing look easy in comparison.
17)Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Don’t give up. Some things will work, others won’t, but it is always a learning process.
18)Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you. I wouldn’t be writing without you.
19)What advice would you give to someone who "runs out of creativity" when writing?
I hate that feeling. I think it comes to us all at one point or another. I keep writing through it, no matter how rubbish my stuff looks. I know I can go back to edit later. The important thing is to get the words on the page and the story told.
20)Did you ever think you'd ever become an author?
I didn’t think, but I definitely dreamed!
Don't forget to check out Carrie's latest book!!
SUMMARY:
When fear mixes with desire, who can you trust?
Rachel Stone is stuck, contemplating that very question. Spending her time as a bartender in an isolated West Virginia town, she hides behind dark hair and an assumed name. She exists from day to day, trying not to let her past overwhelm her.
When a tall stranger walks into the bar at closing time, her attempts at hiding turn to dust. Muscled and intense, he is attractive enough for Rachel to ignore her instincts and listen to her baser desires. As a storm brews in the skies of West Virginia, confusion builds in Rachel’s mind. What begins as flirtation explodes into a darker, more primal passion, leading her to question everything she thought she knew.
While snow blankets the outside world, they are forced to remain inside, confronting their demons and the sizzling attraction between them. Submitting to their urges is easy; learning who to trust is anything but.
This 30,000 word novella contains references to past abuse and rough, consensual sex.
Rachel Stone is stuck, contemplating that very question. Spending her time as a bartender in an isolated West Virginia town, she hides behind dark hair and an assumed name. She exists from day to day, trying not to let her past overwhelm her.
When a tall stranger walks into the bar at closing time, her attempts at hiding turn to dust. Muscled and intense, he is attractive enough for Rachel to ignore her instincts and listen to her baser desires. As a storm brews in the skies of West Virginia, confusion builds in Rachel’s mind. What begins as flirtation explodes into a darker, more primal passion, leading her to question everything she thought she knew.
While snow blankets the outside world, they are forced to remain inside, confronting their demons and the sizzling attraction between them. Submitting to their urges is easy; learning who to trust is anything but.
This 30,000 word novella contains references to past abuse and rough, consensual sex.
Buy Links:-
Amazon.com - http://amzn.com/B00GMS3J2K
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/
Stalk Carrie here:-
Twitter: www.twitter.com/carrieelks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Blog: www.carrieelks.com/blog
Author Blurb
Carrie Elks lives near London, England and loves to write sexy stories with a dash of intrigue. At the age of twenty-one she left college with a political science degree, a healthy overdraft and a soon-to-be husband. She loves to travel and meet new people, and has lived in the USA and Switzerland as well as the UK.
Nowadays, she spends her days sorting out people’s problems at work and her evenings glued to a computer keyboard. An avid social networker, she tries to limit her Facebook and twitter time to stolen moments between writing chapters.
Her favorite authors include L.H. Cosway, Samantha Young, Cara McKenna and C.J. Roberts.
When she isn't reading or writing, she can usually be found baking, drinking wine or working out how to combine the two.
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