It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes.
Hi Rockstar!
Boy, do I have a treat for you today.
I was able to interview the amazingly talented Ellen McGinty, author of Saints and Monsters, and I am so excited to share her spotlight Q&A with you.
Ellen lives in Japan with her family, and her book Saints and Monsters was absolutely riveting. It drew me in from the beginning. The world she created was rich, captivating, and made me wish I could be part of it.
Which, I guess in a way I was, since that’s what reading her book did to me.
It completely transported me.
If you haven’t yet read her award-winning YA fantasy romance, please do yourself a favor and go read it. You won’t regret it. And if you don’t even know what the book is about, let me help you with that.
With her crooked spine and reckless heart, Princess Meera always knew she wasn’t meant to become queen of Ezo. But when her sister, the rightful heir, is cursed on the eve of her coronation, Meera must defend her kingdom from ruthless invaders by taking the throne. Yet, while some countries have simple coronations, in Ezo . . . the princess must first claim a sea dragon.
Only the dragon is vicious, perfect, and whole—everything Meera is not. And if the dragon doesn’t deem her worthy, it will devour her. Turning to the Saints for help, she doesn’t anticipate that her actions will transform the dragon into a mortal, or that she’ll steal his heart . . . literally.
Now, as two hearts beat inside Meera’s chest, she’s reminded that her life is entwined with a dragon, who despises her weaknesses. Despite their differences, they must work together to reverse the curse and save the kingdom before more is lost than their stolen hearts.
Doesn’t that sound magical and lovely?
Trust me, it is.
In addition to being an author, Ellen is also a passionate editor. I’ve read some of the books she’s edited (without knowing), and I am excited to say that those books were also fantastic 😁.
She was so sweet in answering my spotlight questions, and her honest answers touched my heart and made me want to join her in her tea party.
Why do you write?
I started writing in elementary school. When other kids sold lemonade on the street corner, I was selling homemade graphic novels stapled together. I didn’t make very much. The same is true today, but the stories are much better now! I’ve always been a lover of story—the ones we tell and the ones we live.
What/who inspires you in life (not in your writing, but in general)?
My faith in Christ inspires me to live with kindness and courage, my family inspires me to love deeply and fight for their hopes and dreams.
What are some of your favorite things?
I love onsen (hot spring baths), history, coffee with friends, exploring old towns in Japan. I love manga and anime. My current favorites are One Piece, Frieren, and My Happy Marriage.
What would your perfect day look like and how is it different from your actual everyday?
My perfect day would be waking up to a cup of coffee, exploring a historic area or downtown with my family, a little shopping, and then writing with more coffee, and either onsen or a movie.
If you could invite a group of writers (dead or alive) to a tea party, who would it be?
I would definitely have a tea party with Erin Phillips, Melissa Poett, and Nova McBee. Author friends are the best friends! If talking authors of old, I’d love to meet Tolkien and Jane Austen.
I also asked Ellen two bonus questions for my newsletter subscribers: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned since going Indie? and, What is your favorite book of all time and why?
To read her answers on that, and get exclusive access to all kinds of bookish fun (free YA fantasy & science fiction, monthly giveaways, and downloadable goodies), join my VIP Circle Author Newsletter here.
Alongside this fantastic Q&A, Ellen and I are doing a glorious giveaway collaboration.
The giveaway includes the following items:
- One paperback copy of Saints and Monsters
- Three European dragon stickers (I know they aren’t the same as Asian dragons, but they are still dragons!)
- One gorgeous rose-gold and blue pen with glass-encased crystals and flower clip
- One brown leather pen sleeve
You can enter this giveaway a couple different ways.
- If you have Instagram, follow both Ellen and me in our respective accounts (Ellen here & me here). I have pinned the giveaway post to my profile (click here to see it), so comment there and tag a friend. Bonus entry if you share the post to your stories.
- If you don’t have Instagram (which I know many of you don’t use social media), you can join my VIP Circle Author Newsletter for entry. I don’t spam. Ever. I just share wholesome fun and giggles. Click here to find out more.
Also, Ellen is releasing her next book, The Last Wayfinder, this fall!
It is a Les Miserables meets Demon Slayer fantasy with a romantic subplot. The story follows a girl born in prison trying to save her sister from a soul-thieving curse and a monster hunter bound by the law to stop her. It is an upper YA fantasy with found family, deadly forests, and fierce hope.
To learn more about this book, follow her kickstarter page here.
And if you want to sign up for Ellen’s author newsletter, where she shares editing tips, seasonal Japanese words, reading lists, and announcements, you can do so here. As a subscriber, I would 100% recommend it!
Keep on reading, rockstar!
Believe in books, in the power of good stories, and most important of all, believe in magic.
Did you like this post? Then consider joining my VIP Circle and don’t miss out on all my additional content (monthly giveaways, Digital Swag Bag access code, bookish recommendations, short inspirational messages, and more!). Click HERE.
And if you want to collaborate with me don’t be shy. I love to work with fellow writers, spotlight authors, and host writing challenges. I’ve also been known to swap short critiques on occasion. Reach to me here.
Melissa Muhlenkamp 