Firsts Fridays: Author, Elizabeth Sharp

I’m excited and sad for today's Firsts Friday. I’m happy because I am getting to interview Elizabeth Sharp, author of Natural Selection. Let me tell you, I read this book in one day…page turner for sure, and it’s her first published book! Yay for Elizabeth!

I’m sad because I have decided to close the door for the time being on Firsts Fridays. I have gotten to know so many wonderful people through it and learned even more. But all good things must come to an end and with the holidays around the corner I feel its time. This isn’t to say it's gone forever, but it is gone for now.

 Enough of that, lets get to know Elizabeth Sharp and see what 'First' writing magic she can teach us.

DB: Hi Elizabeth, thanks so much for stopping by Firsts Fridays while you’re doing your blog tour!

ES: Thank you for having me. I’ve been overwhelmed with the positive experience this tour has been. J

DB: For starters could you tell us about you and how you became a writer?

ES: I was always a storyteller, so when I learned to read and write, it was a natural progression to start writing. I suffered with self-esteem issues in high school (and really, who doesn’t?) and through my writing I was able to express things I never could have without it. It took a long time to get serious about writing though, and I don’t know precisely what changed. Maybe it was a combination of having a really good idea at the same time I was invited to join an amazing writer’s group on Facebook. From then on everything just fell into place and my dream of publishing became a reality.

 DB: Ugh, high school can be so hard, but it sounds like your struggles ended up being a real blessing for you.

Natural Selection is your first book you’ve had published. Can you tell us a little about it?

 ES: It is my first published book. It follows the story of Amelia, a girl who isn’t the normal human she’d always thought. As she starts to discover who and what she is, things start changing very quickly for her. While she comes of age, she is thrust into the center of a terrifying mystery that could cost her and her whole family their lives.

DB: I had so much fun reading this book! I can’t wait until you release Second Nature, the second book in the series.

You published it through 4 Corners Press, a small publisher. Why did you decide to go that route and do you see yourself sticking to this method?

ES: Honestly, I am one of the founding members of 4 Corners. I had intended to self-publish, but after some casual joking one day about how some of us with different talents should band together to create our own publishing company, things started to fall together and that’s exactly what we did. I am the cover artist. As a part owner of the company, I have a feeling I’ll be publishing through them for a while. ;)

DB: Well isn’t that cool! And what a big endeavor!

As you mentioned above, you are also an artist having done your cover and others. For those interested are you available to do more and if so how can someone reach you about this?

ES: I honestly couldn’t tell you whether I love creating covers or writing more. I have a website for my cover designs, including some premade covers and some samples of others I’ve done. Anyone who’s interested can contact me through the contact form on the site, http://sharpcovers.blogspot.com

DB: Where do you see yourself taking your writing in the future? Let’s say the next five years.

ES: Honestly, I just hope the world loves what I create as much as I like creating it. I would like to expand myself, write a little darker, maybe master suspense. But I’d be content in five years to just still be putting out quality work and have a reliable fan base who love to read it.

DB: Sounds like some great plans!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! You rockJ

ES: So do you. J

If you’d like to learn more about Elizabeth Sharp, her publishing company and/or her cover art, go HERE.

And that’s it folks. Firsts Fridays outJ