Ten Questions with… Grace Elliot
Today’s victim… er, I mean guest… is Grace Elliot, who is a writer of historical romances such as Euology’s Secret and Hope’s Betrayal. Welcome!
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Author Bio: Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and author of historical romance by night. Grace works in a companion animal practice near London and is housekeeping staff to five moggies, two teenage sons and a guinea pig. She turned to writing as an antidote to the stress of modern life and believes intelligent people have the greatest need to read romance!
Author Website: http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com & http://www.wix.com/graceelliot/grace-elliot
You can find her books at Amazon (UK), Barnes & Nobles, iTunes!
About the Writer
1. What five words describe you?
Ailurophile (go on, look it up!), bookaholic, calm, creative and loving.
2. What was the first story you ever wrote? I mean the really bad one we all have that you’re trying to hide in the back of closet now that you’re published?
My first attempt at writing fiction was a full length, 110,000 word novel! Titled “The Woman Who Paints Horses” the story was inspired by the life of the Victorian artist, Lucy Kemp Welsh. It was Lucy who illustrated my favorite childhood book, ‘Black Beauty’ by Anna Sewell.
I’m proud of my first book, even though no one will ever read it, because it gave me the confidence to carry on writing! One of these days I will dig out the manuscript and re-read out of curiosity to see how I’ve developed as a writer.
3. What inspires you?
Anything and everything! For example the idea for “Eulogy’s Secret” came from one word, ‘eulogy’, on a poster on the London Underground. It struck me as a fantastic name for a heroine, and set me wondering about the circumstances that would bring a parent to give their child such an enigmatic name. It was those sinister circumstances that became “Eulogy’s Secret” …and a book was born. Who knows where inspiration will strike next.
4. What distracts you?
Erhm! My husband! Especially when he has a ‘man look’ for something he’s put down and can’t find, and I get involved in the search. On a more serious note, I get distracted by the TV or radio and have learnt to take myself off to a room without either so I can focus my mental energy on visualizing characters and settings, in my head.
5. What’s your favorite story? This can be specific, as in a particular book or even story-driven movie, or general, like “I’m a sucker for a hero looking for redemption story.”
I never get tired of anything to do with Henry VIII. His life story is fascinating and from the TV series, The Tudors, (OK, I acknowledge it’s highly romanticized version, but I am a romance writer after all) to Margaret George’s awesome masterpiece, “The Autobiography of Henry VIII” I’m a sucker for any story that involves Henry, his wives or children.
About the Writing
1. Tell us about your currently available titles.
The Huntley trilogy is my latest work. Book one, “Eulogy’s Secret” is available, whilst book two, “Hope’s Betrayal” is due out in June. My genre is historical romance and each book in the series is a standalone story, featuring a different Huntley brother.
2. What’s your favorite part about writing these stories?
The whole process of writing is so satisfying; it’s difficult to pick out a favorite. I love creating the characters and getting to know them inside out. Because I write historical romance my heroes are dashing and handsome, although flawed, and I end up failing in love with them. In Hope’s Betrayal, the hero is naval officer, Captain George Huntley, is positively swoon-worthy and I had such fun creating him.
3. What would your characters say about you? Be honest!
Because I write historical romance, where the rules of society are so different to the modern day, I would think my characters would find me bemusing. As a working woman with two careers and a family, Jack would have grudging admiration but secretly wonder what sort of she-devil I am. But Eulogy, well she would applaud such enterprise and in her calm, quiet way heartily approve.
4. Who would play your favorite character if they made a movie of their story?
In Eulogy’s Secret, an artist called Tristan Farrell features heavily. It is Tristan who knew Eulogy’s mother, and it is Tristan who recognizes Eulogy’s similarity to the mother she never knew, and wants to paint her. For some reason, an image of Louis Walsh (the boy-band promoter and manager) kept popping into my head whenever I thought of Tristan. He would be perfect to play the part with his Irish charm and gift of the blarney. I’m ambivalent to Louis Walsh in real life, but for some reason he got stuck in my brain and he influenced Tristan’s character!
5. Do you have any projects currently in the works you want to talk about?
Book two, ‘Hope’s Betrayal’ is due out in June. This has been a scrumptious story to write with a dashing naval officer hero, Captain George Huntley, who falls in love with female smuggler, Hope Tyler. But a love where either Hope must betray her own kind, or the Captain will be court-marshaled, is not an easy destiny to follow…
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Thank you, Grace, for joining us today, and good luck with your books!
