I feel very honored and very fortunate to have been able to interview Elizabeth Richards - the genius behind the books which you see above, Black City, Phoenix, and her latest installment Wings.
About the Author:
Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist, who spent her early career reviewing videogames before making the bold (or crazy) move into travel writing, despite suffering from terrible travel sickness.
In her spare time, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls, where she got to interview many of her favourite bands, go to gigs and basically blag loads of free swag all in the name of ‘research’.
Elizabeth lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband. Black City is her debut novel.
In her spare time, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls, where she got to interview many of her favourite bands, go to gigs and basically blag loads of free swag all in the name of ‘research’.
Elizabeth lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband. Black City is her debut novel.
More about the author:
Were you not a writer, what do you think you'd become?
I love to paint and draw, so my other ‘dream’ profession would be illustrating children’s books. But realistically, before becoming an author I worked as a magazine editor and website editor, and I enjoyed the work, so I’d probably still do that!
How do you fight writer's block?
I step away from my computer and go and do something mundane like washing the dishes. For whatever reason, it frees up my creative mind and within minutes the problem is solved. I also read, as sometimes you can get so entrenched in your own writing that you can’t see the wood for the trees, but reading other books gives your mind a rest, plus you can analyse how that author tackled a particular problem, which might give you inspiration as to how to fix the issue in your own work.
Was there a book that made you say, "That's it, I am taking this pen, and write my own story!"?
There’s been a few over the years, actually! The Ghosts of Sleath by James Herbert, The Poet by Michael Connelly, Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell, The Liar by Stephen Fry, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. But really, it was Harry Potter that properly kick-started my writing career, as prior to that I’d been noodling away on adult thrillers and horror stories, but they just weren’t working for me. Then I read that book and I was smitten and I realized I needed to take my writing in a new direction. I started reading more MG books, which led to me to reading YA novels and then that was it!
What's the best thing about writing?
Getting to spend all day in a fantasy world.
If you are a box of cereal, what would you say and why?
Rainbow Starships (actually, that sounds like an indie band), because despite writing about dark, dystopian worlds I’m actually a colourful, friendly person and I’m a sci-fi geek!
I step away from my computer and go and do something mundane like washing the dishes. For whatever reason, it frees up my creative mind and within minutes the problem is solved. I also read, as sometimes you can get so entrenched in your own writing that you can’t see the wood for the trees, but reading other books gives your mind a rest, plus you can analyse how that author tackled a particular problem, which might give you inspiration as to how to fix the issue in your own work.
Was there a book that made you say, "That's it, I am taking this pen, and write my own story!"?
There’s been a few over the years, actually! The Ghosts of Sleath by James Herbert, The Poet by Michael Connelly, Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell, The Liar by Stephen Fry, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. But really, it was Harry Potter that properly kick-started my writing career, as prior to that I’d been noodling away on adult thrillers and horror stories, but they just weren’t working for me. Then I read that book and I was smitten and I realized I needed to take my writing in a new direction. I started reading more MG books, which led to me to reading YA novels and then that was it!
What's the best thing about writing?
Getting to spend all day in a fantasy world.
If you are a box of cereal, what would you say and why?
Rainbow Starships (actually, that sounds like an indie band), because despite writing about dark, dystopian worlds I’m actually a colourful, friendly person and I’m a sci-fi geek!
More about the series:
How did the idea for Black City start?
It all began with Ash. I was watching a movie one evening and his character just popped into my head. I became fixated with the idea of this drug-dealing, supernatural boy who gets a heartbeat when he meets his true love, and as soon as the movie finished, I grabbed my laptop and started writing!
Which among your amazing characters could you relate to the most, and why?
Probably Day! Although she’s well-meaning and has a good heart, she’s also quite blunt and can be a little insecure and petty at times, plus she’s a book geek like me!
Who is your dream cast for Ash and Natalie?
I think Ezra Miller would be perfect casting for Ash, as he has that edgy, bad-boy thing going for him, plus he’s beautiful in a strange way. For Natalie, I think Aimee Teegarden from Friday Night Lights would be good – she looks just like her!
Which character surprised you the most while writing the series?
Oooh, that’s a good question. Elijah surprised me a lot; I didn’t think I’d fall in love with him quite as much as I did, or feel so sorry for him. But as the narrative progressed and I got to know him better, I realized there was more to this seemingly vain and shallow boy than first meets the eye.
Will the fans be happy about the epilogue of the last book?
I hope so! I think it wraps up the story threads nicely and hopefully they’ll find it a satisfying ending to the series.
It all began with Ash. I was watching a movie one evening and his character just popped into my head. I became fixated with the idea of this drug-dealing, supernatural boy who gets a heartbeat when he meets his true love, and as soon as the movie finished, I grabbed my laptop and started writing!
Which among your amazing characters could you relate to the most, and why?
Probably Day! Although she’s well-meaning and has a good heart, she’s also quite blunt and can be a little insecure and petty at times, plus she’s a book geek like me!
Who is your dream cast for Ash and Natalie?
I think Ezra Miller would be perfect casting for Ash, as he has that edgy, bad-boy thing going for him, plus he’s beautiful in a strange way. For Natalie, I think Aimee Teegarden from Friday Night Lights would be good – she looks just like her!
Which character surprised you the most while writing the series?
Oooh, that’s a good question. Elijah surprised me a lot; I didn’t think I’d fall in love with him quite as much as I did, or feel so sorry for him. But as the narrative progressed and I got to know him better, I realized there was more to this seemingly vain and shallow boy than first meets the eye.
Will the fans be happy about the epilogue of the last book?
I hope so! I think it wraps up the story threads nicely and hopefully they’ll find it a satisfying ending to the series.
Read the book:
In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-old Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.
When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.
When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.
I already have a book boyfriend named Ash from the Iron fey series hehehe. maybe I end up adding another ash to my list. I hope to be able to start soon on this series I have the first book. Great interview and happy for you for this accomplishment. Many more to come yeah? Good luck :)
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