About Ellen Gable:
Ellen Gable is the author of five books: “Stealing Jenny,” a contemporary thriller about a pregnant woman who is kidnapped; “In Name Only” (Gold Medal, Religious Fiction,2010 IPPY Awards), “Come My Beloved” (non-fiction) and “Emily’s Hope,” and “A Subtle Grace,” newly released. The Kindle editions of her novels have been in the top 20 of the Religious Drama category since February, 2012. When not writing novels, posting to her blog or writing for a variety of websites, Ellen enjoys watching classic movies, reading fiction and playing board games with her family.
What inspires you to write?
What inspires me to write is a desire to give readers a good story with believable characters. First, I want to entertain readers but, most importantly, I want them to finish the story feeling like they’ve learned something not only about themselves, but also about others.
Tell us about your writing process.
I start out with an idea. If it’s going to be historical, I do the research first. Otherwise, I write a detailed outline, create characters, then write the first draft. This draft will be rewritten several times before it’s given to my developmental editor (who offers suggestions on plot, sentence structure, characters, setting). When I implement those changes, I then send it to my copy-editor who offers suggestions for word usage and grammar. My team of beta readers then offers their suggestions and last step is for the book to be read carefully by my team of three to five proofreaders.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I set up situations between characters and often act out the scenes. I don’t usually talk to my characters, per se, but I do have them talk to other characters. I also put myself in different characters’ shoes/minds to figure out what they might say, do or react in any given circumstance.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write a good, compelling story with well-drawn, believable characters. Pay attention to the little details. Write, polish, edit and keep polishing. Use professional editors. A good,well-edited story can often start out like a rough diamond that, when well-polished, the brightness of the story will eventually shine through.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided to self-publish 11 years ago before self-publishing was “easy.” I hired editors, cover designers and proofreaders to help me to produce a quality product. It wasn’t easy, but I learned a lot. Nowadays, self-publishing is so easy that many authors completely bypass important steps in the process (like good editors, proofreaders, beta readers and cover designers). I now own a small publishing company that publishes other authors’ books as well as my own.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think that e-books will eventually sell more books than print books, but I also think that print books are here to stay.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Christian Fiction, Suspense, Romance, Historical Romance
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Ellen Gable Home Page Link
Link To Ellen Gable Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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