About Carrie Elks:
Carrie Elks lives near London, England and writes contemporary romance with a dash of intrigue. At the age of twenty-one she left college with a political science degree, a healthy overdraft and a soon-to-be husband. She loves to travel and meet new people, and has lived in the USA and Switzerland as well as the UK. An avid social networker, she tries to limit her Facebook and Twitter time to stolen moments between writing chapters. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can usually be found baking, drinking wine or working out how to combine the two.
What inspires you to write?
I love creating plots that are emotional and challenging. For me writing involves taking a journey along with my characters, watching them grow and become the people they are destined to be. I love seeing them come up against obstacles and trying (and often failing) to get over them. It’s satisfying to write an ending that reflects all that they have become.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am a plotter. For me stories tend to begin with ‘what if’s and grow from there. I will often write the first chapter before a plot becomes concrete in my mind, but after that I go to my nifty little excel spreadsheet and plan the story out from beginning to end. That doesn’t always go to plan, however, and often my characters do things that surprise me. So the plot for me is a skeleton to hang the story from, but I’m not averse to moving things around a bit!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I often dream about my characters when I’m writing their stories. I’m more of an observer than a participant, though, so tend not to talk to them!
What advice would you give other writers?
Don’t give up. Every word on the page is a step towards your goal. It isn’t easy, but it is probably the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I’m both trade and self-published, which to me is the best of both worlds. Self-publishing is fun and gives you a lot of control, but you have to treat it like a business, devoting time each day to marketing and building up your brand. Trade publishing gives you a lot more support (although marketing is still key) but less control over the finished product.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think hybrid (self and trade publishing) will be the way to go.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Contemporary Romance, Womens Fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Carrie Elks Home Page Link
Link To Carrie Elks Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
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