Ask the Author: Tara Ellis
Answered Questions (14)
Tara Ellis
Hi, Lindsay! My story ideas come to me in different ways. I usually pick out a setting and then brainstorm for a few days on what the main mystery will be. I do a lot of daydreaming while hiking, etc. and then come up with an outline. That tends to change while I'm writing, but the main concept always stays the same. :)
Tara Ellis
Hi, Lindsay!
Wow, thank you! I'm glad you like my stories so much!
To answer your question, I just released book #11 in The Samantha Wolf Mysteries on May 15th (The Secret of Sanctuary), and I'm now working on a new project that is quite big! I plan on writing more about Sam, so don't worry, it's just going to be a little while. However, in case you didn't know, I also write cozy mysteries under Tara Meyers: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
It's called The Secrets of Sanctuary and features Ember and Nathan from Samantha's Wolf's last book. (It was a fun cross-over) Though these are considered adult books, they're still clean reads so I think you'd really enjoy them!
Again, thank you for your support and I'll be getting more out there!
Tara
Wow, thank you! I'm glad you like my stories so much!
To answer your question, I just released book #11 in The Samantha Wolf Mysteries on May 15th (The Secret of Sanctuary), and I'm now working on a new project that is quite big! I plan on writing more about Sam, so don't worry, it's just going to be a little while. However, in case you didn't know, I also write cozy mysteries under Tara Meyers: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
It's called The Secrets of Sanctuary and features Ember and Nathan from Samantha's Wolf's last book. (It was a fun cross-over) Though these are considered adult books, they're still clean reads so I think you'd really enjoy them!
Again, thank you for your support and I'll be getting more out there!
Tara
Tara Ellis
Hi, Trinity! Sorry to have taken so long to answer this. (I didn't see it!)
Up to now, I would have to say that The Legend of Shadow Mountain is my favorite. The Mystery of Hollow Inn holds the most nostalgia for me, but Shadow Mountain is, in my opinion, the best story. The setting, adventure, and legend are all so unique and exciting that I had a blast writing it. I almost went to Alaska to do some "research", but couldn't pull it off. My second favorite would be The Heiress of Covington Ranch. Again, I think the storyline is one of the best and how it all pulls together in the end (no spoiler!) had me crying while I wrote it.
Which is your favorite?
Up to now, I would have to say that The Legend of Shadow Mountain is my favorite. The Mystery of Hollow Inn holds the most nostalgia for me, but Shadow Mountain is, in my opinion, the best story. The setting, adventure, and legend are all so unique and exciting that I had a blast writing it. I almost went to Alaska to do some "research", but couldn't pull it off. My second favorite would be The Heiress of Covington Ranch. Again, I think the storyline is one of the best and how it all pulls together in the end (no spoiler!) had me crying while I wrote it.
Which is your favorite?
Tara Ellis
Hello! I'm sorry that I didn't see this question before. This is a hard question to answer. It's a combination of things. Some of the settings I chose because I have some personal experience that prompts it. The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines was inspired by a girl scout summer camp my best friend and I attended several times (minus the mystery!), I've been to Orcas Island several times and used a real resort and real local legend (with the permission of the general manager), and I've spent many summer breaks at Flathead Lake in Montana. The mysteries themselves are random thoughts and ideas that I work on plotting for sometimes weeks before I write it. I daydream for hours (usually while hiking), thinking up different scenes and scenarios. By the time I write the story, I have pages of outline written. It's a fun process that I'm pretty much addicted to, now!
Tara Ellis
When I was a young girl (around 10 or 12), my family and I had a very strange encounter. We were driving home after a day in the mountains. It was dark, and we were on a mountain pass without any traffic around us. I was stargazing out the back window, as I often did. My mom and I spotted the lights at about the same time. It started with one, darting in odd patterns across the night sky. Then, it was joined by two others. At first, we had thought it was maybe some sort of helicopter, but when they began streaking from one end of the sky to the other in an instant, we knew that something far more unusual than a helicopter was over us. My dad actually pulled the car over and all three of us watched in awe.
After only a few minutes, a passing county deputy stopped to make sure were okay, and my parents pointed the strange lights out to him. He watched with us. It only lasted minutes, but it's something I'll never forget.
Now ... why a mystery vs. a scifi? Well, I grew up in Yakima, in Washington State. Near Yakima, out in the scrubs, is a military base. I often suspected that if those weren't alien UFO's, than they were some some sort of secret government aircraft. A GREAT story would include a camping trip, the same night time experience, and an accidental discovery of something the kids (or anyone else) aren't supposed to know about!
In fact, now that I've written this down, I think I need to go work on an outline. :)
Thanks for the question!!
After only a few minutes, a passing county deputy stopped to make sure were okay, and my parents pointed the strange lights out to him. He watched with us. It only lasted minutes, but it's something I'll never forget.
Now ... why a mystery vs. a scifi? Well, I grew up in Yakima, in Washington State. Near Yakima, out in the scrubs, is a military base. I often suspected that if those weren't alien UFO's, than they were some some sort of secret government aircraft. A GREAT story would include a camping trip, the same night time experience, and an accidental discovery of something the kids (or anyone else) aren't supposed to know about!
In fact, now that I've written this down, I think I need to go work on an outline. :)
Thanks for the question!!
Tara Ellis
Hi, Eric! Thanks for the comment, and for asking. I have my photography in a few different places. I have a FB page under taraellisphotography, as well as a page on National Geographic, and a shop. I don't want to try and advertise here, so I'll share the view-only site on National Geographic: http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.co...
Tara Ellis
Hi Janna!
First, thank you for the question. It's one that I actually think about quite a bit.
I am finding the indie-publishing world a mixed bag of amazing opportunity that was never available to me before, and a whole lot of frustration. Last year alone, I am told there were over 250,000 self-published books. How do you compete with that? Well...any way you can!
I am still learning the ropes of social media and I believe that my books are slowly being found by the right audience, but it is a hard process.
Yes, I have thought often of trying traditional publishing, but now that my books have been out as self-published, it makes it even harder. I have only solicited one agent in the past two years that I have been working on my trilogy, so I obviously haven't tried very hard. However, I might get serious about it in the next year, depending on what happens with sales.
First, thank you for the question. It's one that I actually think about quite a bit.
I am finding the indie-publishing world a mixed bag of amazing opportunity that was never available to me before, and a whole lot of frustration. Last year alone, I am told there were over 250,000 self-published books. How do you compete with that? Well...any way you can!
I am still learning the ropes of social media and I believe that my books are slowly being found by the right audience, but it is a hard process.
Yes, I have thought often of trying traditional publishing, but now that my books have been out as self-published, it makes it even harder. I have only solicited one agent in the past two years that I have been working on my trilogy, so I obviously haven't tried very hard. However, I might get serious about it in the next year, depending on what happens with sales.
Tara Ellis
My most recent book, Descent, is the third book in a trilogy, so I think I would have to answer this based on the trilogy.
The Forgotten Origins Trilogy has been a year-and-a-half long project for me. I have loved every minute of it and I'm a bit sad that I'm done with the storytelling part of it.
Let me start by saying that I LOVE the story line. The plot is incredibly complex and I worked very hard to weave just enough realism into it, to make the reader consider the possibility of it really happening.
The actual idea for it evolved as I was writing the outline. I took longer to write the outline for Bloodline, than I did to write the book. I researched the items of interest (artifacts and locations) in my book, as well as the legends and history. These real-life things helped to shape my story. I had dreams about it, daydreams and conversations at great length with myself. :)
When I think about a scene, or write it, I see it in my head like a movie. Perhaps that is why so many people think it would make a great movie.
I chose the age and sex of the main character because I knew I wanted it to be in the Young Adult genre, and told in the first-person, so it made the most sense for me. I made the setting in Washington State, because that is what I'm familiar with and it's a great location for this type of story.
I knew it would be a scifi because I have always been a HUGE science fiction fan, and I also LOVE conspiracy theories, so my reserve of personal info was large.
I don't know if I have a specific answer for the story itself. It seemed to take on a life of its own at some point and I became the narrator...if that makes any sense. :)
The Forgotten Origins Trilogy has been a year-and-a-half long project for me. I have loved every minute of it and I'm a bit sad that I'm done with the storytelling part of it.
Let me start by saying that I LOVE the story line. The plot is incredibly complex and I worked very hard to weave just enough realism into it, to make the reader consider the possibility of it really happening.
The actual idea for it evolved as I was writing the outline. I took longer to write the outline for Bloodline, than I did to write the book. I researched the items of interest (artifacts and locations) in my book, as well as the legends and history. These real-life things helped to shape my story. I had dreams about it, daydreams and conversations at great length with myself. :)
When I think about a scene, or write it, I see it in my head like a movie. Perhaps that is why so many people think it would make a great movie.
I chose the age and sex of the main character because I knew I wanted it to be in the Young Adult genre, and told in the first-person, so it made the most sense for me. I made the setting in Washington State, because that is what I'm familiar with and it's a great location for this type of story.
I knew it would be a scifi because I have always been a HUGE science fiction fan, and I also LOVE conspiracy theories, so my reserve of personal info was large.
I don't know if I have a specific answer for the story itself. It seemed to take on a life of its own at some point and I became the narrator...if that makes any sense. :)
Tara Ellis
My imagination is always running...I can't seem to turn it off. When I'm working on an outline, I have notebooks, sticky notes and note pads scattered around so that I can jot my ideas down before I forget them. (I have short-term memory issues) I have found though, that whenever I need to work through a scene, or come up with some ideas, I think best when I go for a long walk by myself (we live in a beautiful area), or...this may sound funny, but I get my most incredible thoughts when in the shower. I think it's because I'm so isolated and there aren't any distractions. :)
Tara Ellis
To be able to have fun with my imagination and do something positive with it. Oh...and for having all those times that I got in trouble for 'daydreaming' at school finally pay off!
Tara Ellis
Nick, I apologize for taking so long, I didn't realize I had a pending question.
First, thank you for taking the time to ask!
I've always been an avid reader and have read just about every existing genre, but I was sucked into YA, first-person with the Hunger Games trilogy. There are plenty of good examples out there, but there's something about the writing style of Suzanne Collins that grabbed me.
It's been a life-long dream of mine to be a writer and I started and (nearly completed) several manuscripts. However, I never attempted first-person and I was intrigued by it. It is a challenge, but I absolutely love the connection with the main character you can achieve with this style.
At the time that I started outlining Bloodline, my daughter was thirteen, which was one of the major, compelling reasons for my choice of Young Adult (I do consider it a valid genre) other than adult or contemporary. It was important to me that as she was asking to read it, that it would be appropriate for her. That's hard to do. Bloodline is definitely a Young Adult story, but I consider it a clean read, something that there isn't a whole lot of.
SO...to answer your question, I would say that the biggest reason is because I personally enjoy the fast pace of the genre and also because I wanted something my own kids (and their friends) would find entertaining.
First, thank you for taking the time to ask!
I've always been an avid reader and have read just about every existing genre, but I was sucked into YA, first-person with the Hunger Games trilogy. There are plenty of good examples out there, but there's something about the writing style of Suzanne Collins that grabbed me.
It's been a life-long dream of mine to be a writer and I started and (nearly completed) several manuscripts. However, I never attempted first-person and I was intrigued by it. It is a challenge, but I absolutely love the connection with the main character you can achieve with this style.
At the time that I started outlining Bloodline, my daughter was thirteen, which was one of the major, compelling reasons for my choice of Young Adult (I do consider it a valid genre) other than adult or contemporary. It was important to me that as she was asking to read it, that it would be appropriate for her. That's hard to do. Bloodline is definitely a Young Adult story, but I consider it a clean read, something that there isn't a whole lot of.
SO...to answer your question, I would say that the biggest reason is because I personally enjoy the fast pace of the genre and also because I wanted something my own kids (and their friends) would find entertaining.
Tara Ellis
Book three in the 'Forgotten Origins Trilogy'. It is called 'Descent' and I absolutely LOVE this story. It is my favorite out of the three and any readers who are enjoying the series....it is worth the wait!! :)
Tara Ellis
NEVER give up and always work towards being better. You can always be better.
Tara Ellis
Routine. I have found that if I stick to a routine I manage to write consistently. I actually write in the morning, when the house is still quiet. I light a candle, turn on some relaxation music (with no words) get a good cup of coffee and sink into my world!
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