Eli Liszt

Pre-Interview: I have always been fascinated with myths, folktales, and unexplained phenomenon. During my college years I became captivated with the campus library and took personal interest in literature, particularly works of poetry and fiction. After reading countless novels and becoming immersed in their fables, I decided that it was time to pursue my own passion in writing. A native to Texas, I divide my time between Houston and Dallas as often as possible. My hobbies include gardening, cooking, listening to classical and new age instrumental music as well as spending time with my husband and children. There hardly isn’t a time when I’m not writing, but as time permits, I aim to discover new authors in hopes of getting lost in another profound story.

Author Interview:

What inspires you most to write?

I love to read and often imagine that I am the actual character in the novel that I am reading. As an author I want other readers to feel the same way about my writing which continues to inspire me to write.

What is your favorite genre?

I do not have a favorite genre that I stick too and read from all genres so long as the story is compelling. With that being said, I currently write sci-fi/fantasy and intend to stay in this genre for now.

Who is one author you admire if any and why?

Anais Nin – she was eccentric, artistic, and passionate about writing.

How do you overcome blank writing spells?

I believe every writer/author experiences some sort of writer's block in their career. For me personally, I read one of my favorite books and take a break from writing in order to get back on track. This has worked quite well for me thus far.

What legal publishing advice can you give?

Research your genre and do not get discouraged by the many obstacles that we as authors will face. If we are not making mistakes, then we are not growing so do not be hard on yourself. Just keep writing and fuel the passion that had you intrigued in the first place.

How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet?

So far, I have only published one book to date, and I am working on the second now. Unfortunately, my published work is not a best seller (yet) but I remain optimistic. As a self-published author, I do not have all of the insights on marketing, however, that has not stopped me from pursuing my passion.

If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why?

In my opinion writing a novel and writing a script for a movie are two totally different worlds. I don’t believe that thought has ever crossed my mind as I have the utmost respect for writers of any kind.

What are some difficulties you've experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism?

Every writer/author faces their own challenges but in general in my opinion, the biggest challenge I’ve encountered has been transparency on book sales. I have no idea who has purchased my book therefore I am unable to thank, market nor sell directly to them.

I’ve learned that everyone has an opinion about everything of which they are entitled to. At the end of the day, whether someone likes or dislikes my writing I am going to continue writing because it makes me feel good.

What are your best experiences in your writing career?

I’ve had a few readers reach out to inform me that they couldn’t put the book down! That alone makes me feel wonderful and excited to continue writing.

Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort sound in the background?

If my fingers are on the keys of a computer or laptop then believe that there will either be classical or new age instrumental music playing in the background otherwise, I am unable to concentrate.

What are some encouraging words you'd give to another author/writer?

We as authors must remember that it took courage to write and that this alone is a reward in itself. Stay positive and surround yourself with individuals who will lift your spirits.

How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work?

I did a lot of research on my genre, the word count and bound of book which assisted with the pricing. As for marketing and promotion – I am constantly working on this as I have not quite figured it out yet. Ingram Spark offers print on demand services and distributes to a variety of online book distributors, so I decided to start there. I also market on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and hold monthly book giveaways to assist with visibility.

Why should anyone read your book?

If the reader loves sci-fi and suspense, then this book will definitely have them on the edge and will not disappoint.

Did you have a book coach?

I’m not sure what a book coach is but I certainly did not have one. I attended a few seminars/workshops and completed a lot of research before I decided to publish my book.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Favorite subject, well honestly, I did not become intrigued with reading nor writing until college. I saw this huge campus library and thought “wow, look at all those books.” It was then that I was introduced to a whole new world apart from the one I was living.

Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere?

I am a proud self-published author who did not want limits or restrictions on my story or published works.