Wednesday, January 11, 2012

A Warm Welcome to New Author Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth has graciously agreed to give away a copy of her book to one fortunate person. Please leave your comment and addy!

It's so good to have you, Elizabeth. Tell us, what is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I write big, sprawling romantic epics with plenty of drama and emotional moments, but shot through with moments of joy, inspiration, and a good heart-pounding romance. This is my favorite genre to read, so that’s why I write it!

I love a good romance. Can you describe your writing style?

Romance is always front and center in my books. I think my writing would appeal to people who like characters who are fiercely intelligent, have a sense of humor, but like a book with a lot of emotional pull. I write about people who have huge dreams and are willing to risk everything in order to make them happen. When they fail, they do so in a spectacular fashion. When they love, it is with both hands stretched out and no-holds barred. So my ideal reader is someone who loves a good stormy romance, but also wants glimpses of wit, delight, and joy sprinkled in amongst the drama

Yep, that sounds great. Tell us about your new book. What is the spiritual message in it? What can readers expect to get from reading it? How and where can readers buy your book?

The book is set in a small New England town in 1879. Libby and her father arrive home from their summer cottage to find that a family of strangers has seized their house. These people, newly arrived from Romania, have proof that the house was legally willed to them decades earlier. Matters are complicated when Libby falls hopelessly in love with the mysterious leader of the group who she does not know if she can trust.

What can you do in a moral dilemma when both sides are clearly right? And the stakes are huge? This is the problem that confronts Libby and Michael as they fall in love and try to untangle a mystery from long ago that has plunged both their families into a world of high drama. Libby and her father will be impoverished if they lose their home, but Michael’s family faces a far greater danger if they are forced to return to Europe.

Intriguing! How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear “call?” Or have you just loved writing all your life?

Have you ever loved an art form so much you wanted to go from enjoying it to producing it? I think this is how most artists, musicians, and writers get started. I had been publishing nonfiction books and articles for decades as part of my day job, but I always wanted to try my hand at fiction. I came to a point in my life when I realized it was “now or never” if I wanted to tackle being a novelist.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

My goal in writing is to get as much down on the page as possible (which is usually around 2,000-3,000 words per day). Frankly, the first draft is a lot of heavy-lifting which I don’t always enjoy, but I love, adore, and savor every moment of revising a manuscript. By the time I finish my first draft I have gotten to know my characters, their motivations and weaknesses a lot better, so this is where the fine-tuning comes in. I believe it is in the revisions that we really draw out a great story. Polishing, tweaking, burnishing, rearranging…… this is sheer, unadulterated joy for me. This is why I try to plow through the first draft as quickly as possible. The faster I can get to the revision, the happier I am.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through?

Yeah, I thought about it a lot. Frankly, most people who have ambitions to write a novel never get into print, so you need to ask yourself why you are writing. If you love it and don’t mind the investment, keep going. Most people WILL confront a lot of rejection on the journey. The trick is to be humble enough to learn from it, smart enough to spot your weaknesses, and brave enough to keep going.

One of my favorite quotes is from A League of Their Own, when Geena Davis has reached her breaking point and is getting ready to throw in the towel. Tom Hanks scolds her, saying “Of course this is hard. If it was easy, anyone could do it. It is the hard that makes it great.” I think this line is true in almost any endeavor that is really worthwhile … starting a business, raising kids, training for a sport, writing a book. It is the hard that makes it great. I tell myself that phrase whenever I need a quick pick-me-up.

Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

Yup, that’s what I’m doing now as I sip a glass of red wine, enjoying the sunset from my vacation home in the south of France (cough).

Flipping back into truth-telling mode, very little change happens after getting published, except that now you have to get your manuscripts delivered by a deadline. The only practical difference in my lifestyle since getting published is that I have less time for cooking, so I treat myself to Chinese take-out now and then. It is all very glamorous.

Lol. Sounds glamorous! Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

See the south of France comment above!

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

I blog about the romance genre at www.elizabethcamden.com/blog
My professional training is as a librarian, so I also share ton of photographs from beautiful libraries I’ve collected over the years.



Carole, many thanks for letting me drop by your blog. As a new writer on the scene, I am really grateful to folks like you giving me a little airtime!

It's been a blessing, Elizabeth. May you have continued success in your writing journey.

Readers, a comment and email address will give you a chance to win her book!
Blessings!

20 comments:

Faith said...

I have been looking forward to this book since the moment I finished The Lady of Bolton Hill!
Ms. Camden I liked what you said about appreciating an art form so much that you went from enjoying to producing.
And thank you ladies for bringing us this lovely interview :)

crazi.swans at gmail dot com

Dawn Crandall said...

I loved your first book so much! I can't wait to read this one!

Crandallberries at gmail dot com

Evangeline said...

It sounds like a difficult decision for Michael and Libby to make. It's like having to choose between losing the home or returning to Europe.
2,000 to 3,000 words is a great number! I try to write as many words as possible each time I sit down for a writing session, but I always hit the rut when it comes to a scene or plot twist that can go either way. :D

Thanks for the giveaway!

evangeline[at]audaciousreader.com

Martha A. said...

I am with you on dreaming of living in the south of France....although I love living where I live!! I really enjoyed your first fiction book and would love to read this one too! Thanks for the chance to win! martha(At)lclink(dot)com

Story and Logic Media Group said...

Love the cover of this book! Would love to win it. sharonalavy at gmail dot com

Merry said...

Beautiful description of your romance writing style, Elizabeth. The Rose of Winslow Street sounds so engaging, I'd love a chance to win it!
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Pegg Thomas said...

Sounds like a good story, with right on both sides, I'm intrigued!
twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

Cathy Shouse said...

Llibrarians are some of my favorite people. The cover is lovely. Congratulations!
Cathy under score Shouse at yahoo

Kym McNabney said...

I'm less than 30 pages from finishing THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET. I'm astounded at the amazing writing, story, and well developed characters. It has been both hard to put down and filled me with inspiration to write my own novel. I’ve already placed an order her first book and can’t wait to read that one as well.

Anne Payne said...

Elizabeth, I wasn't sure what to expect when I read Lady of Bolton Hill but what I received was tremendous! You write meat not milk, and I love it :) I'm looking forward to this new book and the depth of life that it will contain!

homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

Carly Roark said...

I LOVED The Lady of Bolton Hill and cannot wait to read this next book! It looks like a great read!!

karatecutie321@bellsouth.net

misskallie2000 said...

Hi Elizabeth, I have "The Lady of Bolton Hill" in my TBR stack and am adding "The Rose of Winslow Street" to my wish list. I love romance and love the reviews I have read for Rose. My aunt was a librarian in a local elementary school and loved her job. I started reading at a young age and when my brother was in school they started receiving "Weekly Reader" to the students and I would save my babysitting money to buy books from "Weekly Reader" and since then have bought thousands of books but of course I could not keep them all so gave to the local "Friends of the Library" to sell so they could buy more books. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Brooke @ i blog 4 books said...

I am SO looking forward to reading this book! I absolutely LOVED her first novel and know the second one will be just as great if not better. :)

Brooke
iblog4books [at] gmail [dot] com

daysease said...

Oh, I have just discovered you from Winning Readings, and I must say the cover of this book is GORGEOUS! It would definitely attract me just by that, and I would LOVE to read the story to go with it. Thank you so much for the chance to win it.

Blessings
Celita at

mrsdayseye (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the cover!
This book sounds SO good!
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

daysease said...

I just had to say that I read the review and LOVE this book already. you did not say if this giveaway is available to all or what conditions there may be... Are there any?

mrsdayseye(at) gmail (dot) com

Kandra said...

I loved The Lady of Bolton Hill too, and this one sounds just as intriguing! The lovely cover is an added bonus!
kandrajane@bellsouth.net

Lady DragonKeeper said...

I enjoyed "The Lady of Bolton Hill" and would love the chance to win "The Rose of Winslow Street".

"The Lady of Bolton Hill" was a free Kindle download last week ... if it's still available, you guys should download it! =)

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Ann Lee Miller said...

Thanks for the chance to win. I loved your last book!

Ann_Lee_Miller[at]msn[dot]com

Jubilee Reviews said...

Love historical fiction! Thanks for introducing me to a new author, looking forward to reading her work!
Melanie
melanieinoh2003 at yahoo dot com

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