Please give a warm welcome to author Elizabeth Brown

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Elizabeth Brown, I prefer to go by Beth! I’m a thirty-something mom of a toddler and fur babies. I live in southern New Hampshire but grew up in the Boston area. 

I’ve got both an education degree and a law degree. Before I became a stay-at-home mom, I worked for corporations drafting, negotiating, and editing their legal contracts while also doing immigration work on the side.

When I’m not writing or chasing after the tiny human (or sleeping), I’m reading, sassing my husband, annoying the cats, walking the dog, or hiding in my hammock. I also advocate for mental health awareness, ending the stigma, and getting support. I suffer from CPTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and Panic disorders. My journey certainly wasn’t easy, and I want people to know that they aren’t alone during their journey. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it!

One of my biggest idols is Ruth Bader Ginsberg. She did a lot for women in the States and I was devastated when she died. So much so, I named my car after her. I have a weakness for strong female characters who kick ass, take no names, and are fully comfortable with their sexualities. 

I also believe in having a diverse cast of characters in my novels. So while I’m the definition of a white girl (seriously, when I go outside I’m surprised y’all can’t see me on the other side of the damn planet), I want my books to reflect the world around me. This means that I talk to friends and family members about their struggles and triumphs to make sure that I can reflect them as accurately as possible. I also do an insane amount of research (no, straight up google doesn’t count).

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Funny enough, yes! I actually wrote it down on a class project when I was in middle school and out of the “I want to be a princess,” phase. I’d always had a higher-than-average reading ability and always carried a book around with me wherever I went. And this was before ebook readers, so my bitch-ass was lugging around massive books for fun. 

When I originally entered undergrad, I went in with the intent to become an author. I was turned from that path when all my family ridiculed me and said that wasn’t a real job. I’m still a bit salty about that, but we’ve all come to terms with the fact that being an author is an actual job. 

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

For the Resurrection of Queens series, had actually been a dream I had a few years ago. I wrote down the details I could remember and then it took off from there. 

Blood Crown, I was looking through Pinterest one day (I like to look at the art on there sometimes), and I found this amazing piece of art of a woman in gold on a black throne. And I wanted so badly to write her story. Torri and I had been friends for a while. I sent her the picture and told her I wanted to write her story. She got excited and then I told her that we should do it together!

What are you working on now?

Blood Crown is being released June 15. Vengeance of a Queen is being released July 1. I’ve stopped writing for a few weeks to make sure those releases go well. But next on the list is the sequel to Blood Crown, and the solo PNR RH I’ve been working on—Reign.

Do you have any quirks while working?

There are times when I will listen to the same song over and over again because it just feels like the scene I’m writing. I also 100% have to write the book in order. I’ve tried to jump ahead… It does not end well.

What are your hopes for the future?

Torri and I would love to do an audiobook for the Blood Crown books, and we’re also looking to do special editions. 

I’ve got a long list of joint projects with Torri and solo projects. I’d love to see those lists continue to grow!

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

Always, always, always, invest in an editor. You want to do the rest yourself? Go for it. But get a damn editor! Every book needs at least line edits. Every. Book. You’re far too close to your project to do it yourself. 

So make sure that you request sample edits. You can find an editor that won’t break the bank and is still amazing, but you need to vet them first. 

If you can also swing it, pay for a professional to do your book covers. I haven’t once regretted having both an editor and a cover artist. When my first book came out, I had saved money specifically for those two expenses. And I make sure that whatever profit I get off my books get saved until I hit the amount I need for both for the next project. Sometimes I have to dig into personal funds (if I’m publishing a few in close timeframes). But I see that money back in book sales. 

Finally, make sure you have one hell of a good blurb. You could have an amazing cover, but if your blurb isn’t edited and it’s poorly written, it’s a pass for a lot of writers. I—personally—am drawn in by the cover. Then I read the blurb. And I’ve stopped myself from purchase what could have been an amazing book because the blurb was just…eh… Writer groups on FB help with that a lot! All you have to do is ask. I always run my blurbs by my author friends and my beta readers to make sure that they are impactful enough.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

The comments and reviews we’ve seen about Blood Crown has honestly been so amazing. I know how hard it is for indie authors to “make it big” so never in a million years did I expect this. And a lot of you have also gone back to order my solo works after Blood Crown. I am so damn humbled and so very grateful that I have you guys. 

There are days when imposter syndrome hits hard that’s when I turn to my reader groups. I love interacting with you. I love seeing private messages on any of my social media platforms. I love just talking (doesn’t have to be about my books) with all of you. So please, don’t be shy. I can promise hearing from you will make my day!