Interview with Ella M. Kaye
Published 2021-08-12.
Why a pen name?
My LK books tend to be long and complex, often with subplots and with a lot of societal issues and branching relationships to include plenty of family background. I call it literary romance because while it's romantic, it delves in much farther than romance formula readers expect. They will often comment on slow pace because, yes, it is literary/mainstream mixed with romance. Also, none of my LK books are spicy. They lead to the door and may hint beyond that and then fade out to let the reader fill in or not. A lot of my readers expect that from my work and appreciate it. A lot of them do not want the spice that typically comes with genre romance. Therefore, the bit of separation between LK and Ella M. Kaye, so readers know what to expect. I try to never mislead a reader. That's taboo in my book.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
No, I couldn't possibly. We always had a lot of books in the house when I was child. The impact of that, however, was quite strong. They were an escape, entertainment, and food for thought altogether. I empathize easily and every one of those characters I read about touched something inside in some way. Reading fiction is the best way to learn empathy. Empathy is a whole different thing than sympathy, and far more important.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Life. It's wonderful! It's not always easy; in fact it's rarely easy, but each next day is another chance to do something fun or educational or peaceful or to make your mark or to help someone else make her mark or simply enjoy what we have. I am life hardened, as are my characters, and yet all of it has opened my eyes and given me so much to write about and share. How could any writer, or even non-writers, not be inspired to get out of bed by merely knowing she has so much to share?
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I love water and am always anxious to swim or boat or simply walk along the lakeshore when the opportunity arises. More often, I'm taking care of mundane things such as housework or pulling weeds when I can yank myself away from my writing, or I'm spending time with my family. I also read avidly. And I have a part time online job.
What do you read for pleasure?
I read widely, to include romance, cozy mystery, historical, literary, classics, mainstream, some chick lit, and non-fic. Reading outside your own genre is a great way for writers to let their work grow.
What are you working on next?
This coming November, 2014, I will do Nanowrimo again for the first draft of the third in a series of dancers in lighthouse settings. I don't know yet what the story will be but I do know the dance style and possibly the location. Follow my blog for updates.
What's the story behind your latest book?
I had been doing Nanowrimo every year for the past nine years and wanted to do it again in November 2012, but I had several books already in progress and wasn't ready to start another long, involved story. So, I used the challenge as an additional challenge: write something farther out of my comfort zone. An idea for an injured dancer started to form, and I thought I'd cultivate my growing network of romance lovers by writing a "real" romance, shorter and spicier and more straight to the point than my literary work under LK Hunsaker.
Pier Lights started with a scene of a former dancer on a sea shore. She's been world hardened and almost feels ready for the challenge of changing directions. I took that scene and started writing. I did get to just over 50K by the end of November, with a complete first draft. I so enjoyed the characters of Caroline and Dio that edits went quickly and easily and I released it on Valentine's Day 2013. I enjoyed writing this genre with greater, and less, flexibility enough to look forward to Nanowrimo November 2013 and the first draft of Shadowed Lights. The plan is to do one a year, starting in November and publishing in February.
How do you approach cover design?
I'm an artist, trained from childhood through college, to include design classes. When deciding how to do my covers, I knew I didn't want photos of real people. I didn't want stock art. So I went with what I know and, like the romances of older days, I use art. The covers of Pier Lights and Shadowed Lights started as acrylic paintings on watercolor paper. From there, I put it in an image program to darken it and add highlights. I'm very much a do-it-yourselfer, but only because I do have that training. Indies need to be very careful about professionalism. Throwing a bunch of clips from stock art together so it looks like a hodge podge of story ideas, or cropping a photo that doesn't depict the story line and throwing a title over it in hopes that readers will be pulled because they like the picture can kill chances of decent sales. Cover art is that important.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have a Sony Reader, first edition, and that's about the only way I'll read ebooks. I don't have a smartphone or pad of any type, and I don't like to read on my laptop, so if I can't get it in pdf or epub, I don't buy it. My first question is always: can I get it on Smashwords?
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Making a difference in someone's life. Albert Camus said, "The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself." I love that. It's the most effective means of communicating from different points of view and different experiences. Even when the goal is to take someone out of their own life issues for a moment to entertain, fiction can't be beat. With this lighthouse series, I hope to focus on themes romances don't often dig into: thus, the "darker side" of life. Maybe someone will relate to one of my characters enough to feel less alone. Or maybe they'll only gain a bit more understanding of things hard to understand any other way than deeply through a character's life. That moment I hear, "You made me cry," or "I laughed out loud in the doctor's office," I know I've touched something inside of them. Nothing beats that.
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Books by This Author
The Texture of Glass
by Ella M. Kaye
(4.00 from 1 review)
Isabel, a struggling songwriter, is ready to quit doing shows, especially when a creepy guy steps in front of her and stares while she sings. James is a recovering alcoholic ready to give up again, until he is drawn to a a shy little songbird singing deep lyrics, and can't resist her pull. Presque Isle, Greenville, & Pittsburgh PA are featured in the first of the Songwriters & Cities series.
A Christmas Miracle in Charleston
by Ella M. Kaye
Since her move from Connecticut to Charleston, SC, Sandy has squirreled away most of her paychecks from the strip club in order to start a new life in a new state in the new year. When Rose, a young girl with a heart defect and her Uncle Ross, acting as her father between caring for his mentally ill sister, find her dancing on Folly Beach, Sandy's goals shift like the waves.
Shadows of Rust & Reels
by Ella M. Kaye
Holli Jacoby is a jewelry artist by day who hides in her cottage and uses clay to bang out the frustrations of her bipolar disorder. Isaac Bradshaw is a welder with most of his off hours spent caring for his ailing father. Drawn to Holli's fire and mystery, Isaac is unsure even his love of adventure can stand up to her constant roller coaster life, especially after her world crashes.
Shadows of Blues & Echoes
by Ella M. Kaye
Gillian Hart is a small-time reporter battling near-crippling depression while trying to make a name for herself. Hank Dennison is a former CEO who chucks it all to retreat to a mountain cabin as he battles health issues. It takes crashing into each other to realize their separate goal attempts may not be the right goals. An Artists & Cottages novel.
Shadows of Greens & Memories
by Ella M. Kaye
Francis Barrett returns to her hometown of Storm Lake, Iowa to take care of the family belongings. Haunted by memories of her father's dementia, Fran uses the garden and oil paints to unwind. Old flame George F. McKenry, now divorced with four kids, shows interest in remedying their past and starting again, despite Fran's reserve. What she finds in her father's greenhouse leaves her reeling.
Pieces of Light
by Ella M. Kaye
A Cape Cod grade school teacher. An Irish ballroom teacher visiting for the summer. A little girl who needs a lot of guidance and understanding. On the shores of Provincetown, Massachusetts, three independent spirits are brought together by unpredictable tides of rapid change. (Full novel version. 2018)
Shadowed Lights - mild version
by Ella M. Kaye
Delaney is a Jersey girl with social anxiety disorder and a too-full house who works at the wildlife refuge as her own refuge. Eli is a very social Indiana construction worker who comes to Barnegat, N.J. to help restore the area after Hurricane Sandy. Under shadow of devastation, fear, and forced separation, Delaney and Eli search for their own rescue light. Milder version of the sensual romance.
Shadowed Lights
by Ella M. Kaye
Delaney is a Jersey girl with social anxiety disorder and a too-full house who works at the wildlife refuge as her own refuge. Eli is a very social Indiana construction worker who comes to Barnegat, N.J. to help restore the area after Hurricane Sandy. Under shadow of devastation, fear, and forced separation, Delaney and Eli search for their own rescue light. Sensual romance.
Pier Lights
by Ella M. Kaye
(5.00 from 1 review)
An injured ballerina turned exotic dancer. A scarred farmer hiding behind a swordsman disguise. Folly Beach and Charleston, South Carolina. A sensual psychological romance. (Second edition ©2018)