A Conversation with Elise Faber, a Romance Author

USA Today bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys. She lives in Northern California.

Let’s get started with a quick rapid fire.

Q1. If you could be transformed into one mythological creature, which one would you choose?

A dragon. It would be awesome to fly (and breathe fire 😉).

Q2. What time do you usually go to bed at night?

Midnight.

Q3. What are the least-likely three words someone would use to describe you?

Extroverted, unkind, lazy.

Q4. Where did you go on your last vacation?

Hawaii.

Q5. Would you rather find your dream job or win the lottery? You can’t do both.

I’m already doing my dream job, so it feels like I’ve won the lottery!

Q6. What is one thing you regret spending money on?

Home exercise equipment.

Q7. What object do you misplace or lose the most?

My phone.

Q8. If you were a spy, what would be your codename?

Phoenix.

Q9. What secret about the universe would you most want to learn?

If there is life in other universes.

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Q10. What never fails to make you laugh?

Adorably klutzy puppies.

Q11. What was one “before” and “after” in your life?

Before and after my oldest child was diagnosed with a lifelong illness.

Q12. What do you think people misunderstand about you?

I’m a pretty open book, but I may come off as more self-assured than I feel :).

It’s time for a more detailed conversation, Elise.

You’ve answered our rapid fire so well, Elise. Now, it’s time for our readers to know more about the person behind the book.

Q. Tell us about your journey.

I’ve been publishing for a decade now. I started writing as a child and always wrote throughout my life, but my degree is actually in Biology. When I realized I didn’t want to do that forever, my hubby gave me space and encouragement to write and then pushed me to publish. He’s really the reason I’m a full-time author today! Now I get to spend every day writing and running an author business and it’s truly a dream come true!

Q. So, what books have you read more than once in your life? 

Pride and Prejudice is a yearly reread, all of the Narnia and Harry Potter books, Sarah J Maas’s Throne of Glass series, Kristen Ashley’s Colorado-based books. And probably a ton of others that I can’t think of! Though, I definitely read more new books than rereads 🙂

Q. Interesting. Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

My husband and my kids are my biggest hype squad. They respect my writing time, encourage me to take that space and time, and they help me pack signed books or PR boxes or complete Kickstarter fulfillments. And they all have given me ideas for names or conflicts or catastrophes that befall my characters, as well as helped me work through a variety of plot holes. They are awesome and I couldn’t do it without them!

Q. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

I love to put in Easter eggs from other series that readers of all my books will pick up on—and I have a large amount of Die Hard references, because who doesn’t like to imagine themselves as the badass who’s John McClane!

Q. Now comes the most anticipated question that every author must answer. How do you process and deal with negative book reviews? 

It’s just part of the process. It stings—of course it does. You’ve worked really hard on a story and the characters and all of the pieces that go into creating a good book. But it’s art and art is subjective, and not everyone is going to like it. So, you have to find a place where you know that you can’t please everyone but you’re still producing a book that most of your readers will appreciate and that you’re happy with. It’s not easy! But it’s reality.

Q. What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?

Depends on the book. Often times it’s a plot point to start a series and the characters for book two onward interject themselves into that first story. Other times a character drops fully formed into my mind and I have to craft a book around them.

Q. How do you develop your plot and characters? 

I like to create an index card for each chapter and plug in the plot points that have immediately come to me. Then I’ll do some character work (what they look like, what’s their inner conflict, what are they most scared of, what’s their character arc going to be) before I circle back to plot those scenes that jumped out at me. It’s nice to work on index cards because I can lay them out for a full picture of the plot, but can also move them around if I feel like they fit better somewhere else.

Q. You got 100 points. You need to divide them on the basis of how relevant and important they are to you as a reader and a writer for your book or someone else’s as a reader. Your options are Plot/Story, Book Cover, Marketing, and, Reviews.

Plot/Story: 30%, Dialogues: 20%, Book Cover: 20%, Marketing: 25%, Reviews: 5%.

Q. So, now, about your book. Talk to us about it. No major spoilers.

My newest release is Broken Laces. It’s a spicy, forced proximity sports romance featuring a secret—and forbidden!—relationship, a grumpy senior cat, an adorable corgi, and a golden retriever hockey captain who falls for the owner’s daughter.

Q. What part of the book did you enjoy the most while writing?

The banter between the main characters!

Q. What is your kryptonite as a writer?

Taking on too much.

Q. Would you and your main character get along in real life? 

Oh yeah, my female main characters would be my besties, and I’d definitely get on the ice with my hockey guys!

Q. What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

More of a combo—I do light plotting with my index cards, but I’m flexible when it comes to moving things around if another idea falls into place!

Q. Let’s talk about the process of writing. Do you do research while writing a book to add more authenticity? What kind of research?

Research is key. It might be something as simple as a Google search or deep-diving into social media or YouTube videos. It might be going to a sports event or a restaurant or taking a hike somewhere I mention in the book or playing the sport (as is the case with me and hockey). But in person isn’t always possible, so the internet and Google Earth can be an awesome research.

Q. What was your hardest scene to write?

Any time there’s a dark moment and I’m pulling the characters apart, it’s always challenging. Necessary for the story and the characters’ arcs, but still, super hard.

Q. Well, this has been great. Now, before we wrap this up, do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Read! Read what you love, and don’t be afraid to right what you love either!

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