Today on the blog, I'd like to welcome Elizabeth Meyette!! Welcome Elizabeth!!
Thanks for visiting with us today!!
Elizabeth: It’s great to be here with you today, Dottie. Thanks for inviting me.
Me: Why don't you start by telling my readers a little bit about yourself?
Elizabeth: I hear voices and I make things up. No, I’m not insane, I’m a writer…okay maybe a little insane. I left my career in education early so I could pursue my writing with the blessing of my wonderful husband, Rich, aka my Sweet Baboo. I know my muse’s name (Boris) and when I am writing, time slips by like…well, like sands through the hourglass. These are the days of my life. I wrote my first book, Love’s Destiny, on a dare and when I retired from teaching I polished it off and submitted it. Crimson Romance picked it up and I became a published author! I wrote it as a stand-alone, but my readers wanted to know what happened next, so I wrote Love’s Spirit. I’ve just released my third book, The Cavanaugh House, which is a mystery not a historical romance.
Me: What drew you to the craft of writing?
Elizabeth: I don’t think I was drawn; I think writing is a part of me like my blue eyes or my weird sense of humor. But I know the affirmation of some of my teachers helped me to believe in my writing ability.
Me: Do you write for the story burning to be told or do you write for a character that won't leave you alone?
Elizabeth: I love this question! Characters talk to me. Often a scene is born when I hear dialogue in my head—maybe just a sentence or two—I write it down and the scene unfolds. My first book, Love’s Destiny, started with a question, “What if an English woman fell in love with a colonial patriot?” Voila—instant conflict.
Me: Are you a pantser or plotter?
Elizabeth: Panster. Even when I try to plot, it doesn’t work.
Me: What advice would you give to others in the journey to becoming published?
Elizabeth: I hear Steve Perry from Journey in the background: “Hold on to Your Dreams”. Believe in yourself, read all you can read from successful authors and never give up. Subscribe to writers’ magazine, sites and journals especially in the genre you write. You’ll see why in the next question.
Me: Did you have a long line of submissions before you “got the call”? For those readers would wonder, how long did the submission process take for you?
Elizabeth: I have to admit that mine is a Cinderella story. I was in the process of self-publishing Love’s Destiny when I saw a call for submissions from Crimson Romance. I submitted a chapter and synopsis and they asked for my full manuscript. A contract soon followed, and I was published a few months later. Writers seeking publication should always be on the lookout for calls for submissions.
Me: If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your heroine? Hero? Bad guy?
Elizabeth: In my recent book, The Cavanaugh House, Jennifer Lawrence would play Jesse and Prince Harry would play Joe. Yeah, I know Prince Harry isn’t an actor, but he seems open to many different kinds of experiences.
Me: Where can we find you and your books?
Elizabeth: You can find all three of my books at my author pages at:
Me: Share with us something about your current book. (If you'd like to include an excerpt?)
Elizabeth: I love Jesse and Joe from The Cavanaugh House. The story is set in 1968 before cell phones. Here is an excerpt from when they first meet:
Whatever existed on the other side of the door was now a part of her existence, too. This abandoned and rejected house was all she had. And she was all this house had. We’re in this together. Straightening her shoulders, she took a deep breath and selected the key. She was surprised that the Yale key worked so easily in the old lock. Her heart pounded as she turned the doorknob and entered the house.
It took a moment for Jesse’s eyes to adjust to the dim interior, for the windows were thick with grime, and the trees filtered out most of the sunlight. The centrally located door opened into a small foyer, a room on either side. Straight ahead was a staircase, and beside it, a hall led to the kitchen. Musty air invaded her nostrils, dust turned everything a dull pale gray, and she felt ancient, powdery motes settle upon her like a second skin. Lacy cobwebs stretched from the high corners to the brass light fixtures hanging in the middle of the ceilings. She heard scurrying at the far end of the hall and resisted the urge to run outside.
To her right was the dining room with a door on the far wall that led back to the kitchen. Turning left, she entered the living room, sparsely furnished with drop cloths draped over the pieces. A chair sat perpendicular to a sofa with a round coffee table in front. A floor lamp hung its head in the space between the sofa and chair, and nestled in a far corner was an oak secretary with a drop-down desk. Drooping at the windows were barkcloth drapes that once had boasted white gardenias on a rose background, but now hung in faded tatters, eaten away by dry rot.
Jesse turned slowly, surveying the room.
“Wow,” she said. “Wow, wow, wow.”
Her thoughts traveled to Robert’s apartment with its white leather furniture, glass and chrome accent tables, and carpeting so thick it was like walking on moss. It was as though she was on a “Rat Pack” set when she was there; everything was sleek and modern, tasteful and expensive. She had lived in that world for the past two years. And like its furnishings, that world had turned out to be less ideal than it appeared. A world more than just miles away from this dilapidated house.
Mustering her courage, she pulled the fabric off the sofa. She shrieked as a flurry of grey shapes scattered in all directions—one straight toward her. She panicked as paws scurried across her sandaled foot. Mice! Goosebumps prickled her skin and adrenalin shot though her body. Heart pounding, she ran out the front door, off the porch and bolted to her car. Her knees gave out and she collapsed, trembling.
“Are you okay?”
Grabbing the door handle, she pulled herself up and looked around for the voice’s owner.
“I’m over here,” he said.
She looked toward the road and saw a blue pickup truck at the end of the driveway. Leaning out the driver’s-side window was a man about her age, with tousled red hair. Humor lit up his mouth and softened his strong jawline and rugged face.
“Are you okay?” he repeated as he climbed out of his truck and started toward her.
Jesse brushed herself off and ran her fingers through her hair.
“Oh, yes, I’m fine,” she said.
She saw his hazel eyes twinkle with amusement.
“I can see that. In a hurry to get somewhere? I noticed your quick exit.”
She looked at her watch and gasped. It was after 2 p.m. If she were going to get any utilities started, she needed to get to town.
“I need to get my utilities started.”
Oh, that sounded intelligent. She was a little off balance, and not just because of the mice encounter; this man’s gaze was warm and unsettling. He chuckled.
“Well, I would never want to keep a woman from that.”
Me: What are your future plans for your series? Are you cooking up a new one?
Elizabeth: I have a third book in my Love’s Destiny series that will probably be my next major project. And I have at least one sequel to The Cavanaugh House.
Some fun stuff:
Me: Coffee, Tea, or Something Harder?
Elizabeth: It’s a toss-up between green tea and Reisling. Now that I’ve said that, is it really?
Me: If you were a rock star, what instrument would you play?
Elizabeth: Drums
Me: If you were stranded on a desert island... would you hope that Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, or Gerard Butler was stranded with you (if hubby/boyfriend decided to stay home while you cruised, for me, not likely, lol, but I'd have a hard time choosing...)?
Elizabeth: Hugh Jackman *swoon*
Me: Cake or Ice Cream (or both, what flavor)?
Elizabeth: Either as long as they are chocolate.
Me: Favorite all-time read? Movie? Favorite banned book? (Mine's To Kill A Mockingbird)
Elizabeth: To Kill a Mockingbird. It was also my favorite book to teach. I played Mrs. Dubois in our community theatre production of it a few years ago.
Me: Favorite paranormal creature? (vamp's, always vamps, lol)
Elizabeth: Hobbit
Me: If you were going to pick a book/movie character to become...who would it be?
Elizabeth: Nancy Drew LOL
Me: Secret desires?
Elizabeth: To write the play that’s stuck in my head.
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Dottie. I love your questions!
You are so very welcome!!!
Visit Elizabeth at:
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