#WriterWednesday Interview with Ellen Butler
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I’d like to welcome Ellen Butler to the blog for #WriterWednesday!
Things you never want to run out of: Toilet Paper. Remember 2020? ‘nough said.
Things you wish you’d never bought: A rather expensive pair of shoes that were tight. I thought they’d stretch–even used a stretcher. Nope. Can’t wear them. Gave them to a friend.
The last thing you ordered online: A belt and socks.
The last thing you regret buying online: Shoes, see above question.
Hardest thing about being a writer: Marketing! It never ends.
Easiest thing about being a writer: Meeting and chatting with readers. I’ve met some great people.
Things you need for your writing sessions: Computer. Glass of sweet tea.
Things that hamper your writing: Chores around the house. Sometimes I work at the library or Panera, so I’m not distracted.
Favorite foods: Pizza, wine, tacos, and steak.
Things that make you want to gag: Tofu.
Favorite music or song: Mysterious Ways by U2
Music that drives you crazy: Not a fan of bass pounding, hardcore rap filled with foul language.
Favorite smell: Lilacs. I had 3 lilac trees at my old house. I miss them and need to find a place to plant one at my new place.
Something that makes you hold your nose: The smell of broccoli cooking.
Last best thing you ate: Baby Back Ribs & Cornbread—hubby cooked them for Mother’s Day.
Last thing you regret eating: Hamburger from a food truck in NYC. I acquainted myself with too many bathrooms after that adventure.
Things to say to an author: I loved your last book!
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Books, who has time to read books? Does anyone read books these days?
Favorite places you’ve been: We went to Ireland last year. It was beautiful!
Places you never want to go to again: Wapakoneta, Ohio–I’m sure it’s a fine town. I don’t have good memories of an event I went to there.
Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries, Women’s fiction
Books you wouldn’t buy: Horror—just not a fan of the genre. Also don’t watch horror films.
People you’d like to invite to dinner: Living—Hugh Jackman, Dead—Robin Williams
People you’d cancel dinner on: Circus clowns. Clowns freak me out.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: Your book kept me up until 3:00 a.m.
The craziest thing a reader said to you:
Reader: So, you wrote these books.
Me: Yup.
Reader: All of them?
Me: Yes all of them.
Reader: How do I know you wrote them?
Me: Um … my name’s on them.
Reader: And you didn’t copy them from somewhere else. Because I’ve heard of authors doing that.
Me: Uh … that’s infringing on copyrights. The work is mine.
Reader: *puts book down and walks away*
Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I’ve been to all the locations in Washington, DC where I send my heroine Karina (from the Karina Cardinal mystery series)—and anything related to the DC traffic is TRUE!
Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: A lot of my readers ask if I’m Karina Cardinal. I am not. She’s much bolder than I am, and her life is much more exciting than mine.
Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Home design work and home staging.
A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Every book I write turns out different from the initial outline!
About Ellen:
Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism” and “unputdownable adventures that will take readers on an electrifying yet light-hearted and humorous journey.” Butler is also the author of the award-winning historical suspense novel, The Brass Compass. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: a Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, Indie Reader Discovery Award, Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal. The second book in the duology, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, is inspired by true events, and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction. Reviewers are calling it “riveting,” and, “a thrilling adventure.”
Let’s Be Social:
Website ~ www.EllenButler.net
Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/EllenButlerBooks
Instagram~@ebutlerbooks
Goodreads ~ www.goodreads.com/EllenButlerBooks
Karina Cardinal Mysteries
When you walk the halls of power, make sure your wits—and stilettos—are razor sharp.
An art heist, cybercrime, diamond theft, and artifact forgery. What do they all have in common? Karina Cardinal and her unchecked inquisitiveness.
As a Capitol Hill lobbyist, Karina Cardinal’s quick wit and powers of persuasion are her stock in trade. Unfortunately, her skill set includes a heaping helping of curiosity—and a talent for landing in trouble, where the crooks, conmen, and outright murderers lurk. Lucky for her, when she finds her stilettos caught in a jam, she’s got lots of friends in the right places on speed dial. Like her intrepid colleague Rodrigo, her on-again-off-again FBI boyfriend Mike, and shadowy Silverthorne Security. Without them, Karina’s next political power suit could be a body bag. And without Karina, who’d keep her building full of nosy, quirky neighbors entertained?
