Author Profile: Wendy Ely

Wendy’s Website

Wendy’s LPI Page

Wendy’s Blog

Wendy on MySpace

All Titles by Author:

Jesse’s Brother, Lyrical Press

Confessions, Lyrical Press

Favorite part of being an author:

Every book takes me on an unplanned journey. It starts with an idea and continues on from there. I never know what I’m going to learn while writing the book until the characters tell me write the last sentence.

Typical day in the life of the author:

Oh man! I work full time and attend college so I have a crazy schedule. On most days, I write during my day-job break. That’s usually two straight hours. The evenings and weekends are spent with my children and then more writing. I have to remind myself to have fun now and then.

How old were you when you wrote your first story, and what was it about:

I wrote stories since I could hold a pencil. My first romance novel was when I was 13. I’d carry an extra binder from class to class just for my novel.

What are you working on right now:

All summer has been filled with edits in preparation for Jesse’s Brother and Confessions’ release dates. I’m working on Lost and Found, the third book to Confessions. I also managed to write a short story.

Most powerful/memorable thing that ever inspired you to write:

I had stopped writing for a few years and signed up for college. My college professor pulled me aside one day. She said I had some real talent and urged me to start writing again. That’s when I wrote Jesse’s Brother and started taking my writing seriously.

Strangest thing that ever inspired you to write:

My mom and I were taking my daughter to a dance performance. We passed a moving truck company that had been taped up by the police. My mom wondered what had happened while I was making up a plot. I’ll be writing that book soon.

Favorite place to write:

On my couch with the laptop and earphones on. I get to tune out my life and sink down into the book for awhile.

Any writing rituals/superstitions?:

I print of each novel so I can do one round of revisions by hand before sending it to my critique partners.

Strangest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research:

I went to a gun shop to try out a glock. I’d never even held a gun before and was so nervous to do it. The guy was more than helpful and delighted to help a writer.

Worst story idea ever:

My first novels, but those are a secret!

Favorite scene(s) in LPI titles:

In Jesse’s Brother: I love the part where Samantha is in Jesse’s house and notices pictures of two little boys holding hands. She realizes the two men she’s in love with are brothers.

In Confessions: Chelsea and Jordan are discussing the search for their daughter. She’s upset and just wants to be forgiven while he wants her to understand how much it had hurt him when she’d taken off so many years ago. It’s such an emotional scene.

When was the last time you laughed at yourself, and why?:

I’m so clutzy and air headed at times so I laugh at myself a lot. The other night I had turned off my bedroom light and turned toward my bed. I tripped over a large box I knew was there!

Three least favorite words:

“Squirt” but only if used in a certain context, “squat“, and “was“.

Three favorite words:

Delicious, when describing someone. I also like laugh, and stomped.

What are you reading right now:

Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen

Summer reading essential:

Tangled Up in You by Rachel Gibson

Favorite summer pastimes:

Swimming! We moved to an apartment with a pool in June and have been swimming every day since.

Favorite hobby:

I love photography. A camera is with us wherever we go. I also like to scrapbook.

Favorite online timesink:

Bejeweled on Facebook!

Advice to authors seeking publication:

Find time each day to write even if it’s only five minutes.

Most surprising thing you’ve learned about digital publishing:

The time it takes to put the book together is a lot faster. We don’t have to wait years for it to be finished.

Win a free ebook! Leave a question or comment for the author by Saturday morning (state-side), and be entered to win a copy of Jesse’s Brother.

Winners will be announced during Saturday’s 6PM Central Time live blogcast. Entrants need not be present to win.