12/24/2023 Interview

Lisa Loucks-Christenson Interview with best-selling Hungarian author writing as Ellyne and her book "Seven Minutes: Twinky Pink."

 

LLC:  Ellyne, thank you for allowing me to interview you. It's always a pleasure to meet writers in other countries that share a love for romances. 

ELLYNE: Thank you very much for this opportunity, this is a meeting of two cultures.

LLC: What started you writing romances? 

ELLYNE: I started writing seriously in 2019, but I still try to treat it as a hobby. I don't want that passion and love to fade. Since then I've tried out several styles. I think if something is successful, it shouldn't be repeated. You have to open up to something new.

LLC: Did you publish the first romance you wrote? 

ELLYNE: Yes, a couple of years ago, and since then I've published several kinds of romance stories. Romance is probably the closest to my heart.

LLC: What is your favorite romance subgenre to read? to write?

ELLYNE: New Adult romance is my favourite, within that I'm trying sports romance and really enjoying it, but my big favourite at the moment is NA sci-fi romance.

LLC: Which comes first for you, the plot or the characters? 

ELLYNE: This varies. Sometimes the story develops in my head, and then I know instinctively what characters to create. But there have been times when I've thought of a character I really liked and built a world around them.

LLC: What is your daily writing schedule?

ELLYNE: When I can't write, I don't write. It's a big rule for me. I always write when I feel in the flow. Then I can write for hours.

LLC: Do you outline? 

ELLYNE: Yes, sometimes I write several stories at the same time, and then I need to make an outline of my plans.

ELLYNE: Who are your favorite romance authors? Do you try to emulate them in your own writing? 

ELLYNE: My big favourite is Teagan Hunter. Her characters and humour are brilliant! And Mia Sheridan is the writer who made me start writing. I love her dramas, the emotions she conveys to the reader. She's my good friend and I have a lot to be grateful for. I like to learn from my favourites, but I don't want to copy anyone. Although, I'm sure I'll use Teagan's goat. Best pet character ever, haha. 

LLC: Are you writing a series or standalone book(s)? 

ELLYNE: I love writing series. When I write a book, I always fall in love with the supporting characters, who I also want to create a story for. But I also have standalone novels, of course.

LLC: If you are doing a series, how many more books do you have planned?

ELLYNE: I usually like to write 3-4 books in a series.

LLC: Do your characters ever drive you a bit crazy by going off in their own direction?  What do you do? 

ELLYNE: These characters always come to life and I fight with them a lot, but we try to find common ground.

LLC: Do you pattern your hero and heroines after yourself or someone you know? 

ELLYNE: Sometimes I create a character about myself, my emotions or my trauma. There was a time when I was inspired by a friend. I think every character is an essence of my soul.

LLC: How long did it take you to get published? How many rejections did you receive?  Any suggestions for writers?

ELLYNE: In self-publishing, I can publish quickly. Some books take a couple of months, but others can be done quickly. I've had a lot of rejections, as have many other writers, but now I've finally managed to consult publishers.

LLC: How can American's writing romance books break into markets overseas? Do you have any good suggestions for them?

ELLYNE: We in Eastern Europe love American writers. I think that if you want to get to us, you either have to be unique, funny, likeable, or you have to be very good at current trends.

LLC: What marketing has worked the best for you? What are some ways you market in your country and the USA?

ELLYNE: Marketing is different everywhere, but there are common points. TikTok rules in every country, I think. Regular posts on TikTok can work wonders. Also, work with bookstagrammers and bloggers who like this style and can give you good advice.

LLC: Have you won any awards?

ELLYNE: I have been nominated once for the Margo Award in Hungary, but unfortunately I have never won an award. I'm not that interested in this sphere.

LLC: What is your next project, and when will it be out?

ELLYNE: I'm working on a sequel to Seven Minutes, and a YA sci-fi novel at the moment. I want to publish them in 2024.

LLC: If you could write anything at all, what would it be? 

ELLYNE: One day I would love to write a really good fantasy series.

LLC: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring authors? 

ELLYNE: Write out of love! Don't worry about what people want to read from you. If you love your work and can let go after editing, don't look back. If you love it, many more people will love it. I find that if I'm very critical of a book and hate it, it spills out to readers. But! You have to learn, improve and take the criticism and build on it. But don't overstress about it all!

LLC: What is the next big goal that you would like to reach?

ELLYNE: I just want my next book to be much better. My goal is that people who like this style will find something to like in the book.

LLC: Please give us your website url and your email address where people can contact you. 

ELLYNE: You can find me on Instagram: @authorellsbells Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorellyne/

 LLC: Thank you so much for giving us a little glimpse into your books and your life. We look forward to a lot more books from you.

 

Order your copy through Peacock Books & Wildlife Art (888) 983-3085.