Elizabeth Standish Author Bio:
I’m a Denver-based corporate attorney. I’ve been telling stories to myself all my life, mostly by narrating my day-to-day activities. For a while I used that skill to practice criminal defense appeals, but I gave that up when I realized that writing about self-discovery and romance and the weird ways people get into relationships was so much more fun (and satisfying!)
What inspires you to write?
I started writing on the page so I could rant about law school. And then I thought the woes of law school could be relatable. After that, my next book was about a friend – or how I wished his story could have been. Then all of a sudden there were all of these "people" who needed to tell me their stories.
Sometimes, I'll hear a lyric, just a single line in a song, and it will get me to thinking about the backstory. How did this person get to this point of … love, desperation, heartbreak, grief, euphoria, etc. So far that hasn't become a story on it's own, but usually one of my characters resonate with those lyrics. And if they don't, I tuck them away, because I know someone else well.
Tell us about your writing process.
I started off full pantser. Now I'm still a pantser, but I sometimes use outlines to connect parts of a story. I recently started using Scrivener, which I am loving being able to move parts and pieces around more easily. I use a whiteboard to keep track of the flow of a novel – although that may change now I have Scrivener.
Because I'm a pantser, I rarely create character sketches. It's more like they live inside of me. I will write details down so I don't forget. But again, it's not like I'm outlining and "creating" the characters. They show up more or less formed, and then sometimes tell me more as I write and get to know them better.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
On man, I can only listen! And sometimes, when I go back to read what they have told me previously, they give me more information I had no idea about!
Who are your favorite authors?
Jane Austen, Deborah Harkness (she's lovely in person), Diana Galbaldon (I used her books to study for the GRE!), Kathleen McGowan (such an amazing researcher and historian in an obscure area), Ali Hazelwood, Frank L Baum (wrote the Wizard of Oz), Katherine Center, Rebecca Serle.
What genres do you write?
new adult/contemporary and romance, STEM romance. Maybe there will be more in the future!
How did you choose the genre(s) you write?
It was easy to sit down and right contemporary. I was writing about things I had lived through in the not too distant past. Despite being a lawyer, I'm really kind of a science nerd at heart, so future books will likely feature more science-y things.
What three things are on your writing desk at any given moment?
Only 3? My planner – I use an old fashioned week-by-week planner and the calendar on my phone AND a digital to do list on my phone. My phone, absolutely, so my boss can call me and ask random questions. And a mug of tea. I am _not_ a coffee drinker.
What hobbies do you have when you need a break from writing?
Just like Emma, the heroine in Magnificent Mess, I ride horses. And while I don't jump as high as she did, I do jump! I also like to landscape. I like traveling, and exploring new places, usually by foot. But since writing isn't my day job, this feels like a hobby, too.
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Home Page Link
Follow On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Barnes & Noble
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
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All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
