Author interview time! Today, I’ll be talking to Elizabeth Noble and providing you with a peek at the blurb and buy links for Elizabeth’s book High Test. Keep reading because you won’t want to miss any of this.
Welcome, Elizabeth!
Hello, and thank you Kayleigh for having me here today!
It’s my pleasure. I’m so happy to be talking to you today. I love hosting these interviews because I get to meet so many new authors, which leads me to the realization that publication is a dream come true for many people that might not have had an audience a few short years ago. With the emergence of self-publishing and KU a source of seemingly endless reading choices, we’ve seen a huge influx of books on the market. Competition is huge. Do you take the market into account when you write your stories, or is it all from your heart?
I write for myself first. The stories I write are ones I’d like to read, in genres I do read. It’s probably bad to admit I don’t write to please the current trends or market. Heck, half the time I don’t even know what those trends are!
Now, that’s not to say I don’t take into account what readers will like. I often ask for opinions or read threads on Facebook and forums about what people like to read. In a way this has given me the courage to write plots I might not normally try. I’ve also taken reader requests and run the occasional contest asking reader opinions. More than one book of mine has something one of my betas has asked to see.
Sounds familiar, lol. I write the stories I love to read too. My thought has always been that none of us is such an outlier that there aren’t readers out there who will love, and perhaps need, what we write. When did you learn that stories have power, and how did that affect you?
The power of storytelling is something I think I’ve always known on some level. Even as a small child I remember making up stories and telling anyone who’d listen. I can’t pinpoint a time when I didn’t understand there is a need among humans to spin a tale. To me it’s a given in life, telling a story in some way is as required as breathing. If people didn’t buy another of my books, I’d still be writing.
Yes, the worlds in our heads are real, I tell you! I don’t know about you, but my characters take on life after I name them. I can’t get a good grip on them before I have names. Do you need to know your characters’ names before you start writing? Do character names come to you magically, from people you know, from baby name books or sites, or some other method?
I need to know a few things before I begin the actual writing of a new book or series. Setting the groundwork is the foundation a story is built upon. A huge part of that foundation is knowing whose story you’re telling. I decide on characters’ names pretty early in that planning. Sometimes I try to be clever and have their names mean something in connection to the story. Other times the names I decide upon are simply ones I like or have stuck in my head for some unknown reason.
I’ll look names up on websites to find ideas. Occasionally I’ll just wander through our database at work looking for given and surnames that appeal to me or simply Google ‘last names beginning the letter G’, or whatever letter I want to use.
Sounds like fun. I could go down a rabbit hole researching the origin of names. In fact… I think I have. What is the greatest joy your writing has brought you?
To write a story and have it bring others enjoyment.
Yes, I agree. It’s one of the best feelings to know you’ve affected someone on an emotional level. But that doesn’t happen all the time, unfortunately, so I have to ask: Are you a masochist? Ha, ha. Or, in other words, do you read reviews of your book?
Haha, I don’t know if that makes me a masochist, but yes, I read reviews. I put comments from many reviews and links to the different review sites on my website. I try to publicly offer a thank you on Facebook as well. I feel that giving the reviewer and the review site a shout out is important and helps drive traffic to their sites.
Reviewers do what they do and almost are never paid. Some sites use partnerships with places like Amazon to generate a little income to help support the site. Those websites aren’t free! It’s my way of trying to give back to them. I’m a little sad some authors feel people who review books are the enemy, they’re not.
Even if someone doesn’t give a glowing review I at least try to go to their site and post a comment thanking them for taking the time to read and write the review. Sites such as Goodreads and Amazon don’t really encourage authors to do that, so I’ve added general links to my website as a thanks to the people who took the time to offer their opinion. It’s a way for readers to find those reviews as well.
In order to do all that I have to read the reviews.
Well, you’re brave, that’s all I have to say. If it ever gets tough, I hope you have comfort of furry friends. Do you have a couple of cuddly writing companions to keep you company? Dogs or cats maybe?
After losing my dog, Rosie, when she was almost 13, I’ve two recently adopted rescue dogs, Rocky and Shay. Rocky is about two years old and Shay around nine. I have one cat, also a rescue, Murphy.
Aw. Good for you. My cats have all been rescues or strays, and they’ve brought me nothing but happiness. Thank you so much for stopping by, Elizabeth!
Keep reading for more about Elizabeth and her work.
High Test Blurb:
Hayden Owens is just your typical graduate student working his way through school as a barista for the Owens Coffee Company—no relation. But he keeps the “no relation” part to himself when he meets dashing, older Neal Kirchner, a successful architect from an old-money family. Hayden doesn’t exactly lie, but he figures it can’t hurt for Neal to believe he’s a rich kid. After all, Hayden doesn’t want Neal thinking he’s a gold digger.
The closer they become, the harder it gets for Hayden to come clean. Something always seems to get in the way. When a company bankruptcy and a jilted, vindictive woman threaten to expose his charade, Hayden thinks it’s all gone down the drain. Luckily Neal is ready with some innocent trickery of his own.
Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press eBook: http://bit.ly/2yH5uWe
Dreamspinner Press Paperback: http://bit.ly/2xSyKKu
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zG9CtA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2jvGmiN
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2zHW5ls
Elizabeth’s bio:
Mystery, action, chills, and thrills spiced with romance and desire. ELIZABETH NOBLE started telling stories before she actually knew how to write, and her family was very happy when she learned to put words on a page. Those words turned into books and fan fiction that turned into a genuine love of M/M romance fiction. Being able to share her works with others is really a dream come true. She has a real love for a good mystery complete with murder and twisty plots as well as all things sci-fi, futuristic, and supernatural and a bit of an unnatural interest in a super-volcano in Wyoming.
Elizabeth has three grown children, two grandchildren, and is now happily owned by two adorable mixed-breed canines and their sidekick tabby cat. Elizabeth lives in her native northeast Ohio, the perfect place for gardening and winter and summer sports (go Tribe and Cavs!) and stargazing all year long. When she’s not writing, she’s working as a veterinary nurse, so don’t be surprised to see her men with a pet or three who are a very big part of their lives.
Elizabeth has received a number of amateur writing awards. Since being published, several of her novels have received Honorable Mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Jewel Cave was a runner-up in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category in the 2015 Rainbow Awards. Ringed Love was a winner in the Gay Fantasy Romance category of the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
Twitter: @elizabethnoble1
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