Welcome, Elizabeth.
Thanks for inviting me to visit
with you today, Diane.
Tell us about yourself.
I would love to regale you with
tales of my mysterious life in exotic places, but my life has been pretty
ordinary. Perhaps that is why my imagination fires with lives of danger and
romance—although I do have a wonderful romance in real life with my husband,
Rich. Last year, we moved to west Michigan to be near our kids, and near an
airport that will transport us to our daughter and grandkids in Texas. We love
the beauty of summers in Michigan, but like to get away from the winters for a couple
weeks come February. I taught secondary English and journalism with a stint as
a media specialist in elementary and middle school. I left my teaching career a
few years early to pursue writing full time, and thus, my books were born.
I am a serious chocoholic and
must have at least one Dove dark chocolate a day or I get grumpy. I also get
grumpy when I’m not writing, and Rich has sent me to my office to write (and
cheer up) more than once. He is my biggest supporter. We love to travel and
have visited several countries in Europe and have cruised the Caribbean. I love
to swim, like to hike, and attempt to golf. And read. I love to read.
Readers can find me at:
Website: www.elizabethmeyette.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/efmeyette
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bettymeyette/
How long does it take you to write a book?
Wow. That varies from book to
book. My first historical romance, LOVE’S DESTINY, took thirty years from
inception to publication because I was teaching and didn’t have time to polish
it. Its sequel, LOVE’S COURAGE, probably took only six months to write, I’m
sure, in part, because the characters and setting were already established. My
mystery, THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE, took about a year. My upcoming book, BURIED
SECRETS has been a difficult labor, having taken two years. I am nearing
delivery. (breathe, breathe)
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
My ideal work schedule is to go
straight from the breakfast table to my office. I set a timer for 30 minutes so
I remember to get up and move around. (If the words are really flowing,
sometimes I ignore it.) I like to do yoga and meditate in the morning during
one of those breaks. After a little break—back to work. This goes on throughout
the day. When I’m drafting a new book, I could work for hours and it would seem
like minutes had passed.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I get ideas from so many places! Recently,
I was at a concert, and a new artist, Brennin, was performing one of his songs.
Through his lyrics, I got a clear image of a scene to include in EXPOSED, a
contemporary romance I’ve been working on. I whipped out my iPhone and started
taking notes furiously. Rich thought I was texting LOL.
My idea for THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE
came to me unbidden as I was driving through an extremely busy city.
Fortunately, I remembered all the images that sparked the story idea and was
able to write them out later. LOVE’S DESTINY was conceived after a dare. A
friend kept insisting I read romances she enjoyed, but I kept saying romance
wasn’t my genre. When I finally gave in and read several Kathleen Woodiwiss
novels, I had to admit to myself that
I enjoyed them…but not to my friend—I
didn’t want her to “win.”! So I said, “These were good, but I could probably
write a romance.” She said, “Then do it!” I said, “Okay, I will.” Gulp. So I
did, and thirty years later it was published LOL
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
My fourth book is BURIED SECRETS and
will be available in September 2016. It’s the sequel to THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE. I
know you’re not supposed to have a favorite child, but I have to admit THE
CAVANAUGH HOUSE is my favorite—so far.
I am currently working on LOVE’S
COURAGE, the third book in the LOVE’S DESTINY series. Long before AMC produced
the series TuRN, I had planned a historical romance based on George
Washington’s citizen spy network. I just wasn’t fast enough LOL.
Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?
I am a “pantser” so I start with
an idea and begin to write. The story unfolds through the lives and interaction
of my characters. I research as I go along, usually using only one-tenth of
what I research in my book, but knowing I have a solid knowledge basis for the
time in which my book takes place. I have tried to outline, but my brain
doesn’t work that way because often I don’t see where things are going. It’s
like looking up a dark staircase, you can see the bottom steps, but what lurks
at the top? I have to climb those steps and discover as I write.
Once I’ve begun the story, I will
use Blake Snyder’s Beat Sheet from SAVE THE CAT to ensure my story has a
direction and focus. That’s about as structured as I get. During the editing
process, I may transpose scenes to tighten the plot or make more sense. As I
told my students, writing is a recursive process.
How do you balance a life outside of writing with deadlines and writing
muses?
I have to acknowledge my muse,
Boris, here. I often feel like a court reporter simply typing out what I see
and hear. I read my writing from the previous day aloud before I continue
writing, and sometimes as I’m reading, I think, I don’t remember writing that. It truly is a transcendent
experience for me.
How do I balance writing and
life? Not easily. As I said, I get grumpy when I’m not writing, so if “life”
requires a break from writing, I have to make a conscious effort to put aside
my desire to write and deal with whatever life is handing out at the moment.
It’s like taking off one hat and putting on another—a paradigm shift to what I
need to focus on at the moment.
Tell us about your latest release.
BURIED SECRETS is the sequel to
THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE, so it is a paranormal mystery set in the Finger Lakes
region of upstate New York. Jesse is a “ghost empath,” and again, a ghost helps
her solve the mystery, putting it in the paranormal realm. The romance between
Jesse Graham and Joe Riley that began in THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE continues in the
sequel, but with a little competition for Joe. Because Jesse and Joe are
separated for part of the book, my editor says it’s more women’s fiction and
less romance than THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE. I love the combination of mystery and
romance.
When Jesse Graham almost runs over a “body” in the road one night, she is plunged into a labyrinth of secrets, lies and murder. All Jesse wants is a simple life teaching at St. Bart’s… and a chance at love with Joe Riley. She realizes that plan has been thwarted when puzzling occurrences at St. Bartholomew Academy for Girls get increasingly dangerous. The danger doesn’t just spring from the ghost who haunts the grounds of St. Bart’s, but from a sinister presence that is not ghostly at all. As she digs into the mystery, threats on her life and the life of her student escalate.
Also in danger is her blossoming romance with Joe, owner of the construction company providing upgrades at the school. Jesse’s discovery that she is heir to the Wyndham fortune complicates their relationship. Joe’s resistance to involvement with the Wyndham family, founders of St. Bart’s, threatens to push Jesse into the arms of Scott Stanton, the new equestrian coach.
Which danger threatens her life the most? The ghost haunting her student or the secrets buried in the school?
Elizabeth’s book are available
at:
Amazon
(Kindle, audiobook, and print)
Barnes
& Noble (print only)
Walmart (THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE
print only)
Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog today, Diane. I’ve had a delightful time visiting with you and your readers.
Such a delight to be featured on your blog today, Diane. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Come back any time.
DeleteWonderful post, Elizabeth! So glad Diane invited you to be her guest today. The interview truly presented a chance to know you better and that made me happy!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Loralee. You are so sweet!
DeleteGreat interview. I loved Cavanaugh House and am looking forward to Buried Secrets!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia. Buried Secrets will be available soon!
DeleteGreat post! Can't wait to read Buried Secrets!
ReplyDeleteThank you, CeeCee. You are always so supportive!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Elizabeth and host Diane! Nice to get to know you better. I wish you great success with "Buried Secrets"!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dana!
DeleteOooooO! Sounds awesome. Must read!! I wish someone would send me to my room to write when I'm cranky!!
DeleteMe, too, Nancy.
DeleteI love a paranormal story w/a splash of romance. Your series sounds inspired! A bit jealous of you pantsers since I am such a plotter. Sigh. Good luck with the writing life!
ReplyDeleteAnd I envy plotters because you seem so organized LOL. I hope you'll give my books a try, Susan.
DeleteWhat a fun interview! I love getting to know other writers and hearing about their process. I am jealous about the 'transcendent' part. I am painfully aware of every sentence I churn out. :) Sounds like some excellent reads...best wishes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, Alicia. I have "churning out" days, too. :-)
DeleteThis book sounds right up my alley, Elizabeth--ghosts, mystery and romance. What's not to love?? :-) I'm checking out THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE and BURIED SECRETS. BTW, I need a piece of chocolate every day, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE, Leah. BURIED SECRETS will be out in September. About chocolate...Right?
DeleteLoved the interview and the books sounds great! Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kara!
DeleteGreat interview.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and God's blessings with your book!
PamT
Thank you, Pamela!
DeleteIt's always interesting to read about another author's writing journey. So glad you're in our RWA chapter, too! Can't wait to read Buried Secrets.
ReplyDeleteI love our RWA Chapter, Lucy. What an amazing group of writers! Thanks for your kind words.
DeleteSounds great. Since I loved The Cavanaugh house, it's going in my TBR.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susanne! I hope you enjoy reading BURIED SECRETS!
Delete