SPOTLIGHT ON ELISABETH STAAB ( Liberty States Fiction Writers Create Something Magical Conference Author)

WELCOME TO DAY 2 OF BOOK OBSESSED CHICKS SPOTLIGHT ON THE AUTHORS OF LIBERTY STATES, CREATE SOMETHING MAGICAL CONFERENCE 2014. TODAY WE HAVE ANOTHER AWESOME AUTHOR I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AT LIBERTY STATES A FEW YEARS AGO. ELISABETH STAAB WRITES SOME PRETTY AWESOME PARANORMAL READS AND NOW AN ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE NAMED,

ONE WEEK. 

Welcome to Book Obsessed Chicks Elisabeth and thank you for answering my questions.

ELISABETH: Thank you so much for having me!

1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m an Aquarius, a lover of all things caffeinated, and I love to read and sing off key in my car almost as much as I love to write.

2. When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve loved to write all my life. I started writing seriously as a career in 2009, when I began my debut novel, King of Darkness. When I started writing that book someone told me they didn’t think I’d ever finish it, which of course meant that I had to.

3. Tell us about your upcoming work?

Well I just released my first contemporary, One Week, and contributed to a charity anthology called Scribbling Women. My next full-length novel is Hunter by Night, third in the Chronicles of Yavn world.

4. Do you have any mentors? Heroes?

Well I have to mention Damon Suede because he did so much to help me early on and I wouldn’t be the writer I am without that help. I’ve also been lucky enough to get some really great advice from established authors like Lori Wilde, Mari Force, and Elisabeth Naughton, and I admire and appreciate those ladies a great deal.

5. Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?

I honestly try not to pick favorites because I really do love all of my characters in different ways for different reasons. Even the villains. In fact, depending on the day, I am totally in love with the villains. ;)

6. Was it difficult for you to get published?

I got extremely lucky. I pitched King of Darkness twice, to one editor and one agent. The agent said make it about something other than vampires (no, thank you), and the editor wanted to read the manuscript. That was how I got my first book deal. I know authors who have spent years trying to get a book deal, and sometimes I wish it had taken me longer, because I was still a little “green” as an author and I had to learn a lot about writing that I hadn’t learned yet. The “on the job” curve was steep. Still, I’m grateful and I’m not sure I’d ultimately change anything.

7. Who are your favorite authors/reads?

Suzanne Brockmann, Tiffany Reisz, JR Ward and Lara Adrian, Wendy Higgins, Katee Robert, Mary Calmes, Amy Lane

8. Hobbies?

I’m sure I used to have some of those, lol. I did a lot of arts/crafts type stuff back in the day but between parenting and writing I have so little free time, the closest thing I have to a hobby anymore is reading and the occasional rare marathon of While Collar.

9. Tell us a bit about your workshop(s) at the conference?

At the Liberty con I believe I’ll be doing a talk on the pros and cons of self-publishing, an interactive reader event about worldbuilding, and I’ll be participating in a rousing game of Romance Family Feud

10. Do you have any favorite TV shows?

White Collar, Lost Girl, and The Voice. I also like the internet sitcom, Husbands.

11. What’s next for you?

Hunter by Night will be out in June!! I’m so looking forward to Lee and Alexia’s story. I’ve also got an anthology novella in the works, and my next contemporary, book 2 in the HaleStorm series, should be out toward the end of the year.

12. What would you like readers to know about you?

I work best when fueled by Starbucks vanilla K-cups. ;-)

Thanks so much for participating!!!

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