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About Elissa
I write paranormal romantic fiction and metaphysical/new age non-fiction. I
enjoy investigating all things paranormal and incorporating what I learn into my
stories. I hold Bachelor degrees in Communication and Creative Writing and a
Master's degree in Communication. In addition to writing, I
enjoy singing, reading, learning to play guitar, meditating, spending time with my family,
and playing in nature as much and as often as possible.
The details:
Favorite foods/beverages: red
wine, Cold Stone ice cream (cake batter with graham cracker crust
sprinkled in -Yum!), Starbuck's iced chai tea late, mom's homemade macaroni
and cheese, my friend Krissy's homemade baklava
Favorite music: (very eclectic!) Nickelback, Evanescence, Laura Powers, Emmylou
Harris, KT Tunstall, Fiona Horne, Iris Dement, Kate Bush, Christopher Jak, Gavin
Degraw, The Decemberists, Enigma, and
many, many more, (Yes, I even still adore some 80's rock - Def Leppard, Journey)
Favorite movies: can't pick a favorite but I really enjoy anything with a
supernatural or romantic theme (better if it has both!)
Television shows: I rarely watch television (I prefer books!), but when I do, I enjoy
Supernatural, Spartacus, Ghost Hunters, and True Blood.
Some of my favorite things: drum circles, Hawaii (Kauai or Maui
- but let's face it, there isn't really any part of Hawaii I wouldn't be
thrilled to call home!), bonfires, live music, kitties, bunnies, amber oil,
nag champa incense
The Writing Journey
I
first started writing stories when I was around nine years old. As a
teenager, I penned soap opera like sagas starring my friends (who waited
anxiously for the next chapter) and was in big trouble if I missed a weekly
installment! My stories all had romantic themes. When I wasn't writing, I was
reading. My first introduction to romance included the Harlequin Presents line
of books. (Of course, I read under the covers with a flashlight when I was
supposed to be sleeping.) My love of a good book and a romantic story never
faded. As an adult while putting myself through college and working a full-time
corporate job, I continued to write in my spare time as a means of stress relief
- and simply because I just couldn't NOT write. I joined RWA (Romance Writers of
America) and TARA (Tampa Area Romance Authors) and through these groups, learned
about the craft and the business of writing. I entered contests, pitched to
editors and agents at conferences, and kept writing and rewriting and honing my
craft. Seriously stubborn by nature (I'm a Capricorn), I refused to give up no
matter how often those rejection letters came.
One night, I had a dream so vivid it stayed with me for days. From that dream,
the idea behind my book
Between Light and Dark
was born. (It was originally
titled: Axiom of Light and Dark) I wrote the book and entered it in the 2007 On
the Far Side Contest. Between Light and Dark won the 2007 On the Far Side
Contest (hosted by the Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal Chapter of RWA) and
caught the eye of final round editor judge, Alicia Condon at Dorchester
Publishing. In January of 2008, "the call" came and the book sold to Dorchester
Publishing as book one of the Hidden Circle Coven trilogy. In 2009,
Darkness Rising
followed. In 2010, my short story "In Dreams" was published in
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2,
Running Press.
Future Plans
There is a third
(and at this point final - but, you never know) book planned that dives back
into the world of the Hidden Circle Coven for Willow and Evan's story. It is
tentatively titled
Darkest Before Dawn.
Publication date tbd.
I'm very excited about current projects in the works including a brand-new
paranormal series Secrets of Shambhala. I hope to have more information
available on that project soon. I'm also working on a very unique and totally
cool paranormal anthology with some brilliant author friends. And I have about a gazillion other
projects in the works - both fiction and non-fiction.
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