I met Elizabeth at Chattacon
last January, and not only is she a great writer, she's an extremely nice
person. You should really check out her books.
Elizabeth Raven is a wife,
mother, and Veterinary Professional hiding in the shadows and moonlight of relentlessly
sunny Jacksonville, Florida. Her Paranormal Romance Series, Matanzas Moon (Book
3: BEWARE to be released in January 2017) is set in St. Augustine, FL
integrating the authentic ghost legends of our Nation’s Oldest City into a
lively, narrative driven adventure. Daylight hours are spent indoors
working, reading, cooking, or spending time with family/friends, and her five
cats. [Wow, she's even more of a cat lady than I am. I only have four.]
Otherwise, she can be found dancing, socializing or joining Ghost Tours
whenever her imaginary friends let her out to play!
Interview
1.
Do
you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do
during the day?
Yes, I
am the Hospital Manager for a Veterinary practice in Jacksonville, Florida. Much
like Bridget, the lead character of my series, I worked as a Veterinary
Technician while pursuing a Veterinary Medical degree. Only, I didn’t have the
capital to open a metaphysical store in St. Augustine when I wasn’t accepted to
Vet School like Bridget. You could say that this series began as a way to
explore the “what ifs” in my life if I had chosen a different path.
2.
What
was the hardest part of writing your book?
Finding
time! Managing 5 doctors and 30 team members at work can be exhausting. Add to
that my 9 year-old son and 38 year-old Man-Child husband and the equation for
writing becomes infinitely more complex.
3.
What
is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?
The
fact that people actually want to read my stuff, lol! Seriously,
though. I think most writers would agree that we are chronically plagued
by self-doubt. It’s comforting to know that we’re not alone in our miring
anxiety, but to hear from readers who’ve read and loved your work truly is an
indescribable rush! And that’s saying a lot because we’re writers. We do
nothing if not describe.
4.
What
are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why?
My
literary tastes are quite diverse! Classics such as Shakespeare, Edgar Allan
Poe, Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters, Nathanial Hawthorn, and F. Scott
Fitzgerald were hugely impactful while in high school and college. Also Sylvia
Plath, and Anais Ninn. Some I read as assignments but found myself truly
enjoying their stories beyond just studying their use of literary devices.
Anne
Rice, Harlan Coben, J.K. Rowling, Janet Evanovich, Laini Taylor, and Bret
Easton Ellis are a handful of contemporary novelists I truly enjoy for for
different reasons. Each of the above are masters when creating
characters, some more relatable and others more harrowing, but all extremely
memorable. Rice, Rowling, and Taylor paint such vivid pictures of their
worlds, and I love Coben, Evanovich, and Ellis for their narrative pacing and
snappy dialogue.
5.
What
gives you inspiration for your book?
The
city of St. Augustine’s spirit is palpable, even now after disaster struck with
Hurricane Matthew. Or should I say, especially now. History lives and
breathes in the nation’s Oldest City, and I’m fortunate enough to be able to
visit the Historic Downtown area anytime I choose. The streets are filled with
an influx of diverse cultural and ethnic visitors, not to mention people
dressed as Colonials, Spanish/French/English soldiers, ghosts, and pirates! Add
the town’s bustling activity and friendly, eccentric vibe and you have some
very fertile ground to launch any number of stories!
Aside
from the city, which is a character in its own right, I derive inspiration from
my family and friends. No one character is one-hundred-percent
representative of any one person in my life, but each character has a healthy
dose of those I love within. I feel it is very important because the love I
feel for my characters translates well to the reader.
6.
Of
all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?
There
is NO WAY I could EVER claim only one of my characters as THE favorite. My
series has an ensemble cast with distinct characters. Bridget Quinn’s fiery
spirit and affinity for the supernatural represents so much of my life as a
twenty-something, so naturally I have a close connection with her. Nick and RIP
both represent different characteristics of my husband, as well as myself! But
even minor characters, like Travis, Jinx, and Drake, are crafted with such love
and fun, I can’t possibly snub them!
7.
Tell
us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books
in the works?
I do!
Currently, I am working on the third book in the Matanzas Moon series. This
installment is titled Matanzas Moon: Beware, and I am loving the direction the
overall series story arc has taken. I have many, many more adventures for
Bridget, Nick, and RIP. Believe me, we have only just begun!
Matanza's Moon
Lost in her quarter-life
crisis, eccentric Bridget Quinn abandons her Vet School aspirations to open a
metaphysical store in St. Augustine, Florida. Adept in Palmistry, Astrology,
and Tarot, Bridget discovers her dormant gift of clairvoyance in our nation's
oldest, and notoriously haunted city. Mediumship proves to be a pesky
affliction, especially when Bridget’s attempt to help a ghostly visitor
implicates her in a series of vicious murders!
Her heart dangling between
Nick Maddox, the compellingly attractive but rigorously skeptical police
officer, and RIP Ryder, a witty and rascally hearse-driving ghost tour guide,
Bridget stumbles into a web of mystery and mayhem.
Can they catch the
killer before another murder? Exactly how do you handcuff a ghost anyway?
Abaze
These flames can’t be
tamed…
After a wicked
Halloween showdown with the vigilante ghost of a Voodoo Priestess, clairvoyant
Bridget Quinn is hoping her life will finally cool off. Winter never poses much of a threat to the
Nation’s Oldest City where there’s no shortage of
Holiday Spirits when the blazing Florida sun sets.
Again, the Ancient City is plagued by
mysterious murders, this time masked by arson.
Hearse-driving
Ghost Tour Guide, RIP Ryder, drowns his staggering guilt with excessive
intoxication while Officer Nick Maddox’s heart breaks as Bridget’s
peculiar behavior escalates. RIP has an
epiphany, recognizing Nick and Bridget’s paranormal vexation as the work of
RIP’s ghostly nemesis from years gone by.
If you like what you've read, please comment. Also, books can be purchased below.
No comments:
Post a Comment