Support an Author – Interview with Elizabeth Kirke
Hello! Today with us we have Ashley Mangels (reader) and Elizabeth Kirke (author)! *Applause*
Ashley: What inspired you to become a writer?
Elizabeth Kirke: Honestly, I don’t know. It sounds cliche to say I’ve always wanted to be an author, but I think it’s true. I know I wanted to be an artist when I was like 4 or so, but I half-jokingly say now that it’s only because I couldn’t write yet. I was writing stories as soon as I learned how and I never stopped.
Ashley: What genre do you mainly write in, and are there any you want to write in?
Elizabeth Kirke: Fantasy is my favorite to both read and write. Usually I tend toward urban/contemporary fantasy, but I’m starting a cozy fantasy series. Someday I’d like to try my hand at a sci fi.
Ashley: Who is your favorite character in your books and why?
Elizabeth Kirke: I have a soft spot for most of them, but I think it’s probably Danio. He started out a fan favorite, so I got lots of requests for more of him, and he charmed his way into the middle of everything. I think I like him because has a lot of fun abilities to write, as well as a complicated personality and backstory. I really enjoy doing scenes with him where I get to leave little breadcrumbs for readers to notice either when they reread or to wonder about on their first time through.
Ashley: Are any of your books based on real life events?
Elizabeth Kirke: Yes! The first book in my urban fantasy series, Semester Aboard was inspired by an actual cruise that I did. While there was no magic on board (that I’m aware of, sadly), the characters visit the same ports, do the same in-port trips, and in my mind the ship has the same floorplan.
Ashley: What is your favorite part about being a writer?
Elizabeth Kirke: There are so many great things about being a writer. Certainly being my own boss is one of them. I think maybe my favorite though is getting to talk about my books with readers. I have always loved going over or coming up with fan theories and talking about books I was reading with friends. So, it’s really cool to be able to do with readers about my own books and getting to sort of be on the other side of it.
Ashley: Which book has been your favorite to write so far?
Elizabeth Kirke: That’s a tough one. I think Semester Aboard is always going to be my favorite – it was my first novel and, as I said earlier, it was inspired by a real life event that was a major part of my life. Writing it, and even discussing parts of it now, is really nostalgic for me.
Ashley: Do you have any tips or advice for someone wanting to start writing?
Elizabeth Kirke: Honestly, it’s just start. Once you’ve got something that grabs you, then you can worry about what to do with it. All the planning and researching about publishing and writing tips and such won’t help unless you’ve got a story in you first.
Ashley: How do you overcome writer’s block?
Elizabeth Kirke: Luckily I usually have enough projects that I can switch to another one. But if I have a deadline and need to focus on a specific book, it usually helps to talk to some friends (shout-out to my editor) and just chat about the characters, like random questions about stuff that isn’t shown in the books. It’s enough to get me started again.
Ashley: Who was your favorite villian to write about?
Elizabeth Kirke: Alaria for sure. My first villain, in my first book, wasn’t super planned out; I just kind of made him a bad guy and went from there. He also doesn’t really feature much as far as the bulk of the book is concerned. Alaria was fleshed out with a solid backstory, played a much bigger role across several books, and then just combined her lust for power with a dash of sadism and a desire to watch the world burn. So she’s fun to write because she’s just irredeemably evil and all-powerful.
Ashley: Do you have a favorite reading snack?
Elizabeth Kirke: I always have a mug of coffee or hot cocoa in my hand, whether I’m reading or writing… or doing anything really.
Thank you for participating in Support An Author event!!!
Angelina Kerner 