An Interview with Ohio Author and Poet, Brooke
Elizabeth
In 2024, I was privileged to
cross paths with the enchanting Ohio author, Brooke Elizabeth. Her author display
is a mesmerizing vision of purple hues – a swarm of graceful butterflies,
adding an ethereal charm to the inviting book covers that beckons readers.
Brooke, a gifted storyteller and the author of several captivating books,
effortlessly draws readers into her world with her boundless creative
imagination. Her ability to engage and immerse readers is truly heartwarming,
making every encounter with her work a delightful journey into the realms of
her vivid literary universe.
BIO: Brooke Elizabeth is the author of Keep Me
Sane and the Wolf Duology. She lives in Ohio, where she
was born and raised. She has been fascinated with writing short stories all her
life but started writing novels when she was thirteen. After several years of
writing as a hobby, she discovered that she wanted to pursue a career in
writing and become a storyteller. When not writing, she spends her time sipping
hot drinks, watching far too much anime, and wishing she could live in all the
fictional worlds she's read about and created.
Welcome, Brooke!
GM: Can you share the
initial spark that ignited your journey into writing?
BE: My love for writing has
always had a spark. I've written short stories and poems my entire life, since
I was a little girl. When I was around thirteen, I began to explore novels. My
writing was abysmal and I just wrote whatever was on my mind at the time rather
than planning out a storyline, but I was having fun and teaching myself. I
wrote a six book series for my eyes only, and I really learned the process of
how novels work through it. That process turned my spark into a full blown
passion for writing that I couldn't wait to share with other people.
GM: What is your favorite
part of the writing process and why?
BE: My favorite part of the
writing process is definitely the planning stages before even beginning the
manuscript. I love developing the characters and their backstories, creating
the world they live in, mapping out the storyline and outlining the entire novel
as a whole. I love the nitty gritty details that come before even putting a
word to the blank page. Seeing it come together helps me piece things together
more efficiently once the writing begins.
GM: How do you handle
writer's block if it ever strikes?
BE: Writer's block is
something I struggle with more often than not. When it kicks in really bad, the
first thing I do is step away from my work and take a quick walk to get some
fresh air. It really helps to clear my head. But I've found that taking a break
from writing altogether is the most important. If I'm really stuck and can't
get the words flowing, I take a couple of days to a week off and come back to
the story with fresh eyes. Nine times out of ten, this is the method that works
most effectively for me.
GM: Can you shed light on
your research methods for your books?
BE: My research methods vary
from book to book. In my first novel, I had to do a lot of careful research on
mental illnesses to make sure I was getting the basics right to then amplify
for the sake of my fictional story. But for my most recent novel, which is a
fantasy, there wasn't a whole lot I had to research, since it's mostly
interpretive and can change throughout different books within the genre.
GM: How does personal
experiences influence your storytelling?
BE: Fun fact about my
stories: there is always at least one piece of it based on my actual life.
Whether it's a huge plot point or a tiny detail about the character, there is
always going to be something in every one of my books that comes from my
personal experiences. So I would say those experiences influence my writing
quite a bit!
GM: What themes or messages
do you most aspire to convey in your work?
BE: A big theme in my books
is love. Which is cheesy, but I think it's so important, regardless of the
type. If my book isn't a romance genre, it at least has a romantic subplot
within it. Whether it's familial, platonic, soulmates, or self-love, you will
always find it in my novels.
GM: Who are some authors or
works that have significantly inspired you?
BE: Jennifer Armentrout is
the author that influenced my writing life the most. In 2015, I was struggling
to read anything because I couldn't find the stories I really wanted to read
anywhere. I picked up one of her series and was hooked as soon as I saw the
beautiful cover. Reading her incredible stories and experiencing her lovely
fanbase was the final push I needed to take the leap and pursue a career in
storytelling.
GM: Can you discuss any
challenges you've faced in the publishing industry?
BE: Marketing! Marketing is
such a struggle that I wasn't prepared for when I decided to publish my work.
It's so easy to get people to read your book. It's much harder to get them to
talk about it and spread the word, and talking about books is what authors need
the most to help them out.
GM: How do you develop your
characters to ensure they resonate with readers?
BE: My characters are very
tricky. It's something I can actually admit I need to work on more, because it
truly is a huge challenge with any book I write. I can develop my characters
and create their backstories and I can have these really intricate relationships
twisted within their histories, but writing them to the perfection that I plan
them is another thing entirely. I hope to improve on it with each book I write!
GM: What do you hope readers
take away after finishing one of your books?
BE: My hope is that anyone
who picks up any of my books reads something that resonates with them and helps
them feel heard, understood, or less alone. Also, I find fanart very endearing,
because someone's book inspired a person to create their own art, and I find
that very beautiful. So that would be another one of my goals I think!
GM: What advice would you
give aspiring authors trying to break into the industry?
BE: Love your story! It's
very easy to get into a negative headspace that tells you to give up on your
book and quit writing altogether. But, you started for a reason, so holding
onto that reason and believing that your story deserves to be told is a game
changer. If you love your story, then it's one worth telling and one worth
reading!
GM: What are you currently
reading?
BE: Currently, I'm reading
the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan and The Pairing by Casey
McQuiston.
Connect
with Brooke…
https://www.brookeelizabethauthor.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brookeelizabethauthor/
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