Author Elle Middaugh #interview

Please give a warm welcome to

Tell us a bit about yourself

Hey! My name is Elle Middaugh, I’m a USA Today Bestselling author of paranormal romance—including reverse harem!
I’m a wife, and a mother of three crazy kids (plus two cats lol). I like hot tea and sweet red wine, and curling up with a good book—especially a steamy one!

Have you always wanted to become an author?

As a child I had an infinite number of ‘dream jobs’ lol From being a paleontologist or a marine biologist, to being a nurse or a teacher. By the time college rolled around, though, I decided to major in English education with a minor in creative writing (because I knew I loved writings stories, but I honestly didn’t think it’d be a very ‘practical’ career choice. It was too exclusive. Too elite.). Due to medical reasons, I was forced to withdraw from my courses. But thanks to indie publishing, I was able to make my actual dream—of becoming a published author—a reality.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I’ve been reading the RH genre for a couple years now, and LOVING it, but it never occurred to me that I could write a book like that for myself until just recently. When I first started publishing in 2016, I was on a more YA/NA track. But paranormal romance has always been my passion, and the steamier the better lol so I’ve been gradually switching over into hotter waters.
My current series is: Storms of Blackwood. And my newest novel is the first book in that series, Taken by Storm.
I loved the idea of gods (thanks to Curse of the Gods—I LOVE that series), and I liked the idea of a snarky heroine who wasn’t just inherently born with powers. It was sheer luck that she ended up with power at all. And I wanted her to have an unusual pet, and that’s how Speedy—a SLOTH—was born lol
This book is my favorite so far, and I hope that it shines through in my writing!

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on book 2 in the Storms of Blackwood Series, Stormy Nights! It’s a bit darker than the first book, but hopefully just as exciting!

Do you have any quirks while writing?

I sort of do lol

I get easily distracted, and I’m a bit of a perfectionist. So if I’m looking at the page, and there’s a typo or an extra space or a word that doesn’t flow right with the rest of the sentence, then I’ll drive myself crazy fixing each and every bit… and at the end of the hour, I’ll only have like 100 words written. Obviously, that’s no way to finish a novel in any practical amount of time.
So, sometimes I’ll BLINDFOLD myself. Hahaha! It sounds crazy, right? But I’ve found that if I don’t look, just put my fingers to the keys, and allow my brain to just kinda vomit words out, without care of how pretty or perfect they are, then I’m able to get SO MUCH more of the story out SO MUCH faster. It’s not very pretty afterward (LOL) but I at least have a completed chapter or entire book that I can work with, rather than just a few paragraphs 😊 “You can edit an ugly manuscript, but you can’t edit a blank page.”

What are your hopes for the future?

My hopes and aspirations are huge! I want to be one of the biggest names in indie publishing. I want my books to be read all over the world. I want to be a household name. I want to constantly improve in my craft, and constantly strive to be a better person. I want to prove to my kids, my family, my friends, my enemies, total strangers, etc. that you can do ANYTHING you put your mind to, no matter how impossible people think it is.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

I wish I did. I may have been in this game for three years, but I still feel like there’s an infinite amount of learning to be done. I made mistakes, and wasted a shit-ton of money…

I guess my advice would be:

A) Skip the courses (you don’t need them. All they’ll do is drain your bank account and make you doubt your own unique style of writing).

B) Get that first draft written as quickly as possible (even if you have to blindfold yourself lol).

C) Don’t skimp on covers (people really DO judge a book by its cover. And even some of the “professional” designers out there are not all that good. Take your time and understand that you get what you pay for).

D) THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT: Never give up.
You know that saying “it’s always the last place you look”? Well, that’s because you never stop searching until you find the missing thing. I think that’s how success in ANYTHING is. As long as you keep at it, do your very best, make conscious decisions, and keep your goals at the forefront of your mind, you’ll find whatever you’re looking for. Stay positive. Your mind is a powerful, POWERFUL thing. It can shift your life without you even realizing it.

Do you have anything to say to your readers?

THANK YOU! You’re amazing! I’m so grateful that you read my words and love my stories, characters, and worlds! It’s an absolute dream come true, and it could never have happened without your support! I hope you’ll be with me for the long haul, because I don’t plan on giving this up anytime soon. Xoxo