Balancing Action and Banter: Author Interview with Elle E. Kay

You’ve now published several books, but what inspired you to write that first one? How long did it take you to write your first book that was published? How many rewrites did you do on it? 

My first book was non-fiction. It was about living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, so my struggles with EDS inspired that one. My fiction debut seemingly came out of nowhere. I just sat down one night and started writing it. That book was a semi-finalist in the Genesis contest, so that gave me the courage to keep going. I don’t know if I would call my editing process ‘rewrites’ as most of the content remains the same, but that first book went through a couple of rounds of self-edits, went to my critique partner and then had two more rounds of edits with my editor, Patti.

How do you go about plotting your suspense stories? 

I usually have a germ of an idea that I start with. Oftentimes, it’s the setting. For example, with the Pennsylvania Parks series, I thought I’d write books that would take place in our beautiful state parks and I knew they would be romantic suspense, but I had no inkling what the characters would be like or what the suspense plots would be.

What type of research do you do for giving realism to time clock ticking events?

As for research, having written four historical novellas in addition to my contemporary novels, I can safely say, the historical fiction required far more research. It’s not that difficult to find answers to most of the questions that come up for current day stories. In one instance, I needed information about bomb-sniffing dogs and their handlers, and I was able to find most of what the story required from government websites and videos.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

One part of a reader review for Midnight Offensive was a huge encouragement. It let me know that even though I write romantic thrillers, my faith is threaded through the story. The reviewer said, “As usual Elle’s faith and trust in an Almighty God shines through. The characters are challenged as to who they see as in control and causes them to examine their relationship with God. I always enjoy seeing how she introduces different scriptures to illustrate the need to put God in the center of everyday living no matter what the challenges are, she makes the Bible come alive.”

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you’ve used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks?

Facebook ads are probably the most effective, but targeting is difficult for Christian authors. I wound up hiring them out after many years of doing them myself with little success. I also run ads with Amazon and BookBub with some success.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?

There are a couple of things. I love writing banter, so my first several books were dialogue-heavy. Those first books might’ve benefited from more introspective moments to balance the action and conversations. It also would’ve been helpful to have grasped how to effectively write deep point-of-view sooner than I did.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

Thomas Umstattd, Jr. suggests that the number one commandment is “love thy reader.” If you follow that commandment, you’ll write what your reader wants to read. He suggests finding your “Timothy,” an actual real-life person who represents your ideal reader. I chose a woman named Carol as she is a wonderful representative of my typical reader. If I remember to treat all my readers as I would treat her, the result is that readers will look forward to my newsletters and want to read my next release. If I don’t care about my readers, why should they care about me?

I’ve chosen to pray for my readers (if they share prayer requests), and I reply to most messages. It’s important for me to remember that my readers are people like me who have trials and triumphs, so I want to be there for them whenever I can.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

Midnight Masquerade releases on October 8th. Here are some details.

When everyone wears a mask, who can you trust?
When CIA operative Dante Reyes discovers American women being trafficked overseas to fund terrorism, including his teammate's sister, he's forced into an uneasy partnership with HSI Agent Lisa Harper, a woman determined to prove herself capable of leading her first multi-agency task force.

Lisa has built her career on never depending on anyone, especially charming men who think they know better. But as their investigation uncovers a sophisticated network using dating apps to target military families, she finds her carefully constructed walls challenged by Dante's unwavering faith and protective instincts.

Racing against time to stop the final phase of the terrorist financing operation, Dante and Lisa must infiltrate an elegant charity masquerade ball where international buyers will gather for one last transaction. But the greatest danger isn't the enemies they can see. It's learning to trust each other when everything they've fought to protect hangs in the balance.

Sounds intriguing! If you'd like to learn more about this book and the other series she's written, here are some links to get you started. 

https://www.youtube.com/@ElleEKay7/ 

https://www.instagram.com/elleekay7/

https://www.facebook.com/ElleEKay7/

And here's a tip for my readers... sign up for her newsletter, and she'll send you a free eBook. Here's the link, so do it now. https://elleekay.com/newsletter-signup/

Make Learning Engaging: Author Interview with Hasina Knox

What made you choose to write picture books? 

It was actually my husband who first suggested I write a children’s book. At the time, I thought about it but never acted on the idea. When COVID hit, life slowed down enough for me to finally sit, reflect, and give writing a real chance. That extra time and quiet space sparked my journey into creating picture books.

What was your background before writing kids books? 

I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, and while I’ve always loved writing, I never had the time to pursue it seriously when my kids were younger. My focus was on raising my family, but the passion for storytelling was always there in the background, waiting for the right moment.

Did you begin with idea of doing a standalone book or was a series your original plan? 

From the start, I knew I wanted to create one book. However, when I sat down to brainstorm, I came up with ten ideas right away! I decided to divide them into two series of five books each. This gave me the chance to build connected themes while still keeping each book unique and engaging for young readers.

Besides the novels for this age group you also have study guides so they can be used for home schoolers. How do you put those together? 

If you’re referring to the activities I include at the end of each book, I added those to make the reading experience more interactive and memorable. I wanted kids to have fun while reinforcing what they’ve learned from the story. The activities encourage creativity, spark curiosity, and help children connect with the themes in a hands-on way, which also makes them a great fit for homeschooling families.

Other than writing, what other parts of the process do you personally do? I’m very involved in the entire creative process. I come up with the book concepts, work closely with illustrators to bring my vision to life, and carefully review layouts and designs to make sure everything feels just right for young readers. I also create the interactive activities at the end of my books and handle a lot of the preparation for publishing. It’s important to me to be involved in every step so the final product reflects my vision.

What is your process in finding others to complete the full book process? 

I focus on finding the right people who understand my vision and can bring it to life. I collaborate closely with editors, illustrators, formatters, and other professionals to make sure every part of the book fits together seamlessly. It’s a team effort, and I choose people based on their creativity, quality of work, and how well they align with my goals for each book.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner? 

I’ve learned that publishing takes a lot more time and money than I first expected. Writing the book is only the beginning, finding the right people to help bring it to life can be challenging, and when you self-publish, the marketing side is by far the hardest part. I wish I had known earlier how much effort goes into getting your book seen and into the hands of readers, but it’s all been an incredible learning experience.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give? 

The best advice I can give is to just start writing. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, the perfect idea, or the perfect plan because those rarely come. Start with what you have and let the words flow. Also, write for yourself first. Tell the stories you’re passionate about, and your readers will feel that authenticity. Finally, be patient with the process. Writing and publishing take time, but every step teaches you something valuable.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add? 

Writing has taught me that every story matters - even the small ideas can grow into something meaningful if you nurture them. I’ve also learned that it’s okay to take your time; creativity doesn’t have a deadline. Most importantly, enjoy the process. Celebrate the brainstorming, the drafting, and even the editing, each step brings you closer to sharing something special with readers.

Tell my readers about your newest series. 

My most recent release, and last book in the children’s series, is “A World of Sounds”, a fun and engaging picture book that helps children explore the different sounds around them through playful rhymes, interactive prompts, and even QR codes that bring the sounds to life. Kids can scan the codes to actually hear the sounds as they read, making the experience even more immersive and exciting.

All my children’s book take children on a new adventure where they explore while discovering the world around them in a fun and hands-on way. My goal is to always make learning engaging, memorable, and interactive for young readers.

That's all for today's interview. I hope you enjoyed learning about this author. I've read her last book and I definitely recommend it. As you can tell from her comments, she does everything she can to produce the best book possible for her readers. Hope you will check out her books. 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Hasina-Knox/author/B09DXF81V5