#Interview w/ #GuestAuthor Keelan Ellis

Interview with Guest Author

Keelan Ellis
Under The Same Cover

Thank you for stopping over to visit, Keelan. In case my lovely readers don’t know who are—though I’m certain they all do… right guys?—I thought I’d do a little sit-down visit with you and help us all get to know you a little better.

I strive to write stories that feel true, with real human emotion and a sense of humor. Also, with cute boys making out with each other.

What makes your stories different from other authors out there? 

There are a lot of terrific authors in this genre. I’m new to it as a writer, and I guess I’m still working on distinguishing myself, but it’s always been important to me that my characters talk to each other like real people who have real relationships, that they joke with each other and get mad at each other in ways that ring true. I’ve been in my share of relationships, and I draw on all of them when I write. 

When did you first consider yourself an author?

I’ve considered myself a writer since I was a child, but I didn’t consider myself an author until I’d finished writing my first book. That book is currently unpublished and undergoing a rewrite, but I was still very proud of myself for finishing it. 

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do to get past it?

I suffered terrible writer’s block after finishing I’ll Still Be There. I felt paralyzed as to what I should work on. I had a million ideas that all seemed great, but when I tried to start any of them, they seemed to dissolve like dust. I tried a bunch of things, including asking friends for prompts for short stories, writing fan fiction, taking time off. None of these things worked. The only thing that made a real difference was setting aside a scheduled time and forcing myself to write. There’s nothing to it but to do it, apparently. I also had to let go of a lot of perfectionism and insecurity about what I was writing, and move forward even when I wasn’t sure it was good enough. Sometimes you just have to push past that, and you can always go back over it later. 

I was asked a great question recently and thought I’d ask it of my visitors as well… If your writing was translated, which would be your preference:  TV, movie, play, or Broadway?

I think this particular book would work best as a movie, but most of what I write would make great television, in my opinion. I am a huge fan of TV at the moment, and I appreciate how the medium allows the writers to explore a story so much more deeply. They’re able to include characters and details that a film would never have time for. 

Does your family know what you write, and if so, how did they react when you first told them what and how explicit your writing would be?

My husband knows what I write, and to be honest I think he was a little weirded out at first. I still haven’t let him read this book, but now that it’s all finalized I’m going to. My kids are way too young to read my writing! 

LOL
Most of mine are too (though my eldest has read a little, I think reading sex a parent wrote, even if the child is well over the age of majority, is icky (or so I was told, lol)).
Have you ever met someone in real life, or a stranger, that you turned into a MC?

Yes, more than once. 

Who is your favorite author and why?

It’s so difficult to choose a favorite, but I will tell you that I always look forward to new Tana French books. She writes the loveliest mysteries with twists that I have never once been able to figure out ahead of time. Her characters all feel very solid, and the plots are beautifully crafted. 

Boxers, briefs, commando? What’s your favorite way to “dress” your man?

I usually go with boxer briefs. Commando has been known to happen, though.

Do you as an author concentrate on one genre?  Or do you feel as though you should try to find your voice amongst the many and various genres?

I have plans for books in a few different genres. This book is part historical fiction, part paranormal, and part contemporary romance. Paranormal isn’t my usual thing–in fact, this was the first time I’d ever tried it–but I found I really enjoyed it. It’s a very freeing genre. 

And just because I love to tease