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Elena  Hartwell

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Elena Hartwell

Goodreads Author


Born
in Bogota, Colombia
November 21

Website

Twitter

Genre

Influences
Sue Grafton, Tony Hillerman, The Rockford Files

Member Since
December 2015


Elena Hartwell started out her storytelling career in the theater. She worked for several years as a playwright, director, designer, technician, and educator before becoming a novelist.

Elena has more than twenty years of teaching experience and now works one-on-one with writers as a manuscript consultant and writing coach.

She lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband and the greatest pets in the world, two cats, three horses, and two dogs. When she’s not writing, teaching writing, or talking about writing, she can be found reading, working with the animals, or driving the tractor around Paradise.

Elena also writers under Elena Taylor.

For more information please visit www.elenahartwell.com
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Popular Answered Questions

Elena Hartwell I think writers suffer from writer's block when they try to rush to writing their story. Many years ago, a friend and I came up with the expression "h…moreI think writers suffer from writer's block when they try to rush to writing their story. Many years ago, a friend and I came up with the expression "honor the mull" - and by that we meant, you have to allow time for the story to start to unfold in your imagination. Or start to get to know your characters. Or at least get an idea for a scene. Once your imagination has started to work on more than just a vague idea that you want to write, that's the time to sit down to the computer or pick up your pen. When you have scenes and moments and situations already working in your mind, you can just record them on the page. If you sit down, with no idea about what you're going to write about and say "today I'm going to write my book" you are going to have nothing to say. Any time I get stuck, I honor the mull and simply find a quiet place to work over the story in my mind. (less)
Elena Hartwell Fame, fortune, power... okay. I don't really have any of those things. What I do have is the freedom to create something people connect to. There's no…moreFame, fortune, power... okay. I don't really have any of those things. What I do have is the freedom to create something people connect to. There's nothing better than having someone say to me "that was me you put onstage" (my writing career started in the theater, where I still sometimes work as a playwright). To know that a person or a situation I invented made a person in the real world feel understood is an amazing feeling. Also to know I've entertained or enlightened someone is pretty great too. Plus I get to wear yoga pants and old sweatshirts for work and spend afternoons with my horses. (less)
Average rating: 4.3 · 522 ratings · 164 reviews · 8 distinct worksSimilar authors
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Desert Heist: Debut Thriller

Desert Heist by Alex Dekker

Debut Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any debut author interviews! Click the link here.Desert Heist

A former Green Beret and aspiring archaeologist’s expedition to uncover a long-lost ancient civilization turns deadly in this explosive thriller teeming with adventure and discovery.

Nate Wilde is a former Green Beret and aspir

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Published on July 29, 2026 01:01
One Dead, Two to Go Two Heads Are Deader Than One Three Strikes, You're Dead
(3 books)
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4.27 avg rating — 487 ratings

One Dead, Two to Go
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Two Heads Are Dea...
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Elena’s Recent Updates

Elena Hartwell wrote a new blog post

Desert Heist: Debut Thriller



Desert Heist by Alex DekkerDebut Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any debut author interviews! Click the link her Read more of this blog post »
Elena Hartwell rated a book it was amazing
Murder in Matrimony by Mary  Winters
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Another delightful 5-star romp with Lady Amelia Amesbury

Mary Winters’ latest release is a terrific addition to her wonderful Lady of Letters Mystery series. While charming and witty and twisty — all the things we’ve loved about the earlier books — th
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" I did not write this book, can you please remove my bio attached to it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... ...more "
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Quotes by Elena Hartwell  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Memory is a strange combination of those things we work to remember and the things we can never forget”
Elena Hartwell, Three Strikes, You're Dead

“After acknowledging that, I let other memories come. The way his presence made me feel. Like he was north and my heart was a compass that always found its way home.”
Elena Hartwell, Three Strikes, You're Dead

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Cozy Mysteries : April 2017 6 124 Apr 03, 2017 10:04AM  
The Bookworm Chal...: Mystery, Thriller, or Suspense 31 54 Oct 24, 2018 10:18AM  
Crazy Challenge C...: 2017 Clean(er) Slate 89 106 Nov 06, 2018 07:01PM  
Cozy Mysteries : This topic has been closed to new comments. Title and Author game, Round 4 16049 655 Jan 05, 2019 04:49AM  
Cozy Mysteries : This topic has been closed to new comments. Mystery ABC's, Round 4 14302 807 Jan 05, 2019 05:39AM  
Cozy Mysteries : This topic has been closed to new comments. What Cozy Mystery Are You Reading? 3458 1781 Mar 13, 2019 09:57AM  
Crazy Challenge C...: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: Cocktails Challenge 175 131 Jun 07, 2019 09:05AM  
“Don't confront me with my failures, I had not forgotten them.”
Jackson Browne

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
Oscar Wilde

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
Albert Einstein

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
Mae West

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou

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message 2: by Elena

Elena Hartwell You too, Dee!


message 1: by Dee

Dee Willson Nice to meet you here on Goodreads, Elena!

Dee Willson
Author of A Keeper's Truth and GOT (Gift of Travel)


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