Author interview. "Most of my books begin from a point of outrage. I’m really angry about something. Or I want revenge. And then as I explore, I find compassion."
What a rich interview. I particularly like EA’s advice on dialogue and the importance of brevity. Why are indie filmmakers cool and indie authors mere bottom feeders? Great point, EA. I look forward to reading your work.
Right?! I’m embracing the term from here on out. We’re indie authors, and that’s a fantastic thing to be. To paving the way to visibility and $ for indie authors!
Thank you ever so much for listening and commenting, Rona. You’ll enjoy Eleanor’s writing. Someone’s home there for sure. ;) And Eleanor, check out Rona’s work. She wastes no one’s time.
Good lord I gobbled this up and furiously took notes throughout. Holly, I loved your skillful approach with Eleanor, guiding her into some of the more nuanced and brilliant aspects of her craft.
And Eleanor, what can I say. I love you. I want to be you. I have so much to learn (oh yes, guilty as charged for getting precious with words!) and I so appreciated hearing how you examine and re-examine and get in late, leave early and write, write, write until you surprise yourself with what is most important. God I love that, for dialogue, but I suppose it could be applied to all aspects of writing.
At the end of your conversation together my heart rate was accelerated and my notes app was/is a mess of ideas and inspiration.
And ps. Thank you also for your superb advice re indie publishing. On the home front, Dylan is so relieved to not have gone the 45K route. He saved his money and used a bit for PR and now two months post-launch he’s sold over 500 books, has a few magazine stories and podcasts coming up and is in all Portland/Multnomah county libraries, which he’s thrilled about. Eleanor, you helped steer us and we couldn’t be more grateful. 🙏
Oh Kim that is the BEST news. I’m so happy to hear that. 500 books! That’s fantastic. It was an honour to help in any small way I could and I’m totally thrilled for him. Now let’s get it into UK bookshops & libraries….
Not too long at all, my friend! Delighted to have you tune in at any time.
And right?! I was tempted to ask for a whole section of the conversation to delve deeper into those years before she settled down to write. But such a conversation can only last so long. Maybe another time. ;)
Michael, you’ll love Eleanor’s stuff. You’re such a great writer and reader with an ear for a brilliant turn of phrase. You’ll find many in her work. :)
I can't remember what the name of the show is but, there's one out there where contestants marry someone else sight-unseen. Without the romance factor, there's something about knowing people almost exclusively through their writing, comments and occasional notes - and then seeing them live that is like discovering a new person, or in this case, people. Such a delight if a curious one. We get to know each other from the inside out.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few here off the page, and it is like meeting someone you both already know well and don’t know at all wrapped into one. But mostly the former, so instantly you fall into this long conversation you’ve already been having through reading each other’s work.
I'm coming back to this interview for a closer read, it's so rich. Like Rona, I love the shift to indie author. As a self-published memoirist I have to admit that imposter syndrome reared her head and still does..."You didn't publish traditionally so how can you say your a published writer" and all inner dialogue that goes on in our heads. Indie author shifts something in my psych and in my heart. Thank you both. And I look forward to reading Eleanor's work.
Your format is beautiful. I love the way you laid out the narrative and the video. I just did my first which ended up as audio. I learned a lot from observing you just now.. Great and generous work. 🌱🌿💚
What a rich interview. I particularly like EA’s advice on dialogue and the importance of brevity. Why are indie filmmakers cool and indie authors mere bottom feeders? Great point, EA. I look forward to reading your work.
Right?! I’m embracing the term from here on out. We’re indie authors, and that’s a fantastic thing to be. To paving the way to visibility and $ for indie authors!
Thank you ever so much for listening and commenting, Rona. You’ll enjoy Eleanor’s writing. Someone’s home there for sure. ;) And Eleanor, check out Rona’s work. She wastes no one’s time.
🙌
Holly and Eleanor, I so enjoyed this conversation between you two, and it left me wholly inspired as an indie author! Thank you both. Such simpatico.
Good lord I gobbled this up and furiously took notes throughout. Holly, I loved your skillful approach with Eleanor, guiding her into some of the more nuanced and brilliant aspects of her craft.
And Eleanor, what can I say. I love you. I want to be you. I have so much to learn (oh yes, guilty as charged for getting precious with words!) and I so appreciated hearing how you examine and re-examine and get in late, leave early and write, write, write until you surprise yourself with what is most important. God I love that, for dialogue, but I suppose it could be applied to all aspects of writing.
At the end of your conversation together my heart rate was accelerated and my notes app was/is a mess of ideas and inspiration.
And ps. Thank you also for your superb advice re indie publishing. On the home front, Dylan is so relieved to not have gone the 45K route. He saved his money and used a bit for PR and now two months post-launch he’s sold over 500 books, has a few magazine stories and podcasts coming up and is in all Portland/Multnomah county libraries, which he’s thrilled about. Eleanor, you helped steer us and we couldn’t be more grateful. 🙏
Yes, agreed! All that advice--get in late, leave early, surprise and, of course, revise, revise, revise, is a lesson for all aspects of writing.
Soooooo fantastic to hear all of this about Liberation of Being!!
Much to learn from both of you and, of course, from Dylan. ♥️
Oh Kim that is the BEST news. I’m so happy to hear that. 500 books! That’s fantastic. It was an honour to help in any small way I could and I’m totally thrilled for him. Now let’s get it into UK bookshops & libraries….
It took me too long to tune in, but this was/is such a fun conversation! Loved the new tidbits about Eleanor’s colorful bio.
Not too long at all, my friend! Delighted to have you tune in at any time.
And right?! I was tempted to ask for a whole section of the conversation to delve deeper into those years before she settled down to write. But such a conversation can only last so long. Maybe another time. ;)
You two touched on some super interesting stuff. The indie author aspects felt especially inspiring personally.
Thanks for the convo, and thanks for enlightening me to Eleanor’s work Holly. :)
Yessss! I agree. I love the term so so much.
Michael, you’ll love Eleanor’s stuff. You’re such a great writer and reader with an ear for a brilliant turn of phrase. You’ll find many in her work. :)
I loved this. Generous, insightful and something I will absolutely return to. Thank you both!!
Thank you, Cici! 🥰
I can't remember what the name of the show is but, there's one out there where contestants marry someone else sight-unseen. Without the romance factor, there's something about knowing people almost exclusively through their writing, comments and occasional notes - and then seeing them live that is like discovering a new person, or in this case, people. Such a delight if a curious one. We get to know each other from the inside out.
From the inside out. I like that.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few here off the page, and it is like meeting someone you both already know well and don’t know at all wrapped into one. But mostly the former, so instantly you fall into this long conversation you’ve already been having through reading each other’s work.
I'm coming back to this interview for a closer read, it's so rich. Like Rona, I love the shift to indie author. As a self-published memoirist I have to admit that imposter syndrome reared her head and still does..."You didn't publish traditionally so how can you say your a published writer" and all inner dialogue that goes on in our heads. Indie author shifts something in my psych and in my heart. Thank you both. And I look forward to reading Eleanor's work.
Yes! To indie authors!
Thanks so much for listening in and commenting. 😍
You’ll love Eleanor’s stuff.
Phenomenal interview for all writers. I'm looking forward to reading Eleanor Anstruther's new book, "In Judgement of Others."
Thanks, Todd! It was such a fun interview to do. Eleanor is a consummate pro, and her joy about writing and the process is intoxicating.
Thank you for everything.
Especially the publishing information.
And the process! 🌱🌿💚
Right?! Such rich, generous information from Eleanor here.
Thank you, Katharine, for listening and commenting.
Your format is beautiful. I love the way you laid out the narrative and the video. I just did my first which ended up as audio. I learned a lot from observing you just now.. Great and generous work. 🌱🌿💚
Oh, Katharine! Thank you sooo much for saying this. 🥰
Terrific interview with my dear friend Eleanor. And you, Holly, whom I call the "generous heart"! 💞
Thank you, thank you, Mary. Isn’t Eleanor just fabulous. Talking with her was such a joy.
Would love to get you on the horn one of these days, btw. ;)
It's always a pleasure hearing two thoughtful writers chat and this interview was no exception. Thanks for posting it Holly!
Thank you, thank you, Ben. An absolute pleasure having thoughtful writers join in on the conversation here.
I could chat craft with Eleanor and you and so many other brilliant minds who’d be into such dives for hours.
Fascinating
Thank you, thank you, Jan! So appreciate you being here.