Ask the Author: Elizabeth Amy Hajek
Answered Questions (3)
Elizabeth Amy Hajek
Getting to go on adventures from the comfort of my armchair and even earning a few peanuts from it.
Elizabeth Amy Hajek
Unless the block is spiritual or medical in nature, I usually can work my way through it. Sit down, force myself to start writing, and then the flow will come. (I've got a full post on beating writer's block here: http://elenatintil.blogspot.com/2010/...)
But I also don't overpush myself. Trying to write too much at one time can dilute the story. Sometimes my ideas just need time to stew, so I'll focus on sewing or gardening for a few days until I feel certain about the next direction for the story.
But I also don't overpush myself. Trying to write too much at one time can dilute the story. Sometimes my ideas just need time to stew, so I'll focus on sewing or gardening for a few days until I feel certain about the next direction for the story.
Elizabeth Amy Hajek
When I was invited to join the series that "The Mermaid and the Unicorn" was originally slotted to belong to, I got the lovely assignment of writing a non-American story. We narrowed down the location to Paris. I immediately thought of the Unicorn Tapestries in the Cluny Museum. Regina Doman had once told me that the Unicorn is a Christological symbol, and that idea has stayed with me ever since, so I knew it would be very appropriate to include a unicorn character in a Catholic YA series.
*MILD SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*
Then, I was trying to figure out what other creature might have a 'French' feeling, and I recalled the story of the water spirit (or mermaid) named Melusina. Several different places claim her origin stories, but France has a couple of strong ones. I thought it would be interesting to explore how Melusina might look in the modern day. The Seine River might not seem the most logical location for mermaids, but Melusina is a shapeshifter who lives only part time in water, so it melds together well in the end.
*MILD SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*
Then, I was trying to figure out what other creature might have a 'French' feeling, and I recalled the story of the water spirit (or mermaid) named Melusina. Several different places claim her origin stories, but France has a couple of strong ones. I thought it would be interesting to explore how Melusina might look in the modern day. The Seine River might not seem the most logical location for mermaids, but Melusina is a shapeshifter who lives only part time in water, so it melds together well in the end.
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