Today I am so pleased to welcome Elvira Bell to Joyfully Jay. Elvira has come to talk to us about her latest release, Astray. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Astray Tour Banner

 

When did you write your first story and what was the inspiration for it?

I wrote my first novel-length story when I was twelve, and it was inspired by a TV adaptation of Henry Fielding’s classic 18th century novel Tom Jones. Other inspirations were various Virginia Andrews novels, and Gone With The Wind.

 

Do you have a writing schedule or do you just write when you can find the time?

I sometimes have a schedule, but most of the time I just write whenever I can. It depends on where in the process I am.

 

Briefly describe the writing process. Do you create an outline first?  Do you seek out inspirational pictures, videos or music? Do you just let the words flow and then go back and try and make some sense out it?

I always create an outline (except for short stories). I usually write down about 8 scenes/events that will take place in every chapter, and arrange them chronologically. I often use inspirational music when I write, and I have a lot of Pinterest boards with pictures I use for inspiration or research. An important part of creating the characters is to get an idea of what they look like, so I spend a lot of time looking for celebs who look like this or that character.

 

Where did the desire to write LGBT romance come from?

I think my interest in LGBT romance started when I watched the British original version of Queer As Folk as a young teen. After that I went looking for other m/m stories, and gradually that kind of content also made its way into my own writing.

 

How much research do you do when writing a story and what are the best sources you’ve found for giving an authentic voice to your characters?

It depends a lot on which story it is. For Astray I made lots and lots of research, and learnt many useful things about the research process. I’m not the kind of writer who aims to recreate the way people actually spoke during that particular time period, though.

 

What’s harder, naming your characters, creating the title for your book or the cover design process?

Definitely the cover design process! Book covers are so very important, and with Astray I felt certain that I’d never get a cover I was happy with, since I had so many ideas but didn’t think I could get a designer who’d be able to turn those ideas into an actual cover. I was lucky, though, and got a cover I immediately fell in love with.

 

How do you answer the question “Oh, you’re an author…what do you write?”

I usually say something vague about writing horror and romance, before changing the subject.

 

What does your family think of your writing?

They are all very supportive. I don’t discuss the topics I write about with them, though, not because they’d disapprove but because I’d be too embarrassed.

 

Tell us about your current work in process and what you’ve got planned for the future.

I’m currently editing the sequel to Astray. It’s too early yet to say when it will be released, but it will be in 2019. As soon as I’m done with that book I will move on to write the final part of the series. I have lots of ideas for other novels and series, so I won’t be idle after I’m done with Wavesongs either.

 

Do you have any advice for all the aspiring writers out there?

To write and read a lot, and to read many different genres.

Astray Tour Graphic


Blurb

ElviraBell_AstrayNick Andrews has grown up in poverty in a tiny village. All his life he’s been told that he’s useless. After getting one scolding too many he decides to go far away, off to sea. But his experience as a farmhand has done little to prepare him for the hardships of a sailor’s life.

When his ship is attacked by pirates, Nick’s life is miraculously spared by the notorious pirate captain, Christopher Hart—a man in charge of a crew feared for their brutality. Nick is forced to join the pirates, and he dreads finding out for what reason the captain has saved him.

But Hart is nothing like his reputation suggests, and Nick soon finds himself entangled in a relationship that could endanger both their lives. Unless Nick can help Hart on his quest to find a long lost treasure, their forbidden love may tear his new life apart.

Warning: This book ends with a cliffhanger, and it does not have a happy ending. The series as a whole will have a HEA ending.

Content note: This book contains dark themes and depictions of torture, murder, and rape.


Bio

Author-PhotoElvira Bell lives in Sweden and spends most of her time writing, reading or watching movies. Her weaknesses include, but are not limited to: vintage jazz, musicals, kittens, oversized tea cups, men in suits, the 18th century, and anything sparkly.

Elvira writes m/m fiction with a touch of romance and has a penchant for historical settings. She adores all things gothic and will put her characters through hell from time to time because she just loves watching them suffer. It makes the happy endings so much sweeter, after all.


Giveaway

Elvira has brought a copy of Entertaining the Sombrevilles to give away to one lucky reader on her tour. Just follow the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

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