Interview with author M.A. Ellis

Becky Scoggins and M.A. Ellis

I sat down with Ellora’s Cave author, M.A. Ellis this morning and she had a lot to say about working with Ellora’s Cave and the readers at RT.

RT: Tell me about your books.

M.A. Ellis: My first print book is HARD AS NAILS. It’s a compilation of four stories. I have a series with 6 brothers, and I have 4 who are in this book and a story about the twins, which is coming soon. I write primarily contemporary erotic romance. I do have one romance with a fantasy element – I have 8 books with Ellora’s Cave – and I have one that is an historical. I have very strong female characters, and secondary characters that make themselves known. When I wrote the first book, it was never intended to be a series, so when the secondary characters made themselves known, I turned it into a series.

Reader feedback has been very positive that I write a very authentic male point of view and they really enjoy that. And I really enjoy writing my male characters. They are your alpha heroes, but they all have a quirk. There is a great deal of humor in my writing. We all know men in general have quirks. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are bad. But, they are always establishing what they are, and sometimes overcoming them and sometimes you just learn to love them, just like real life.

RT: What made you decide to go with Ellora’s Cave?

MAE: When I decided to write erotic romance, I had remembered when RWA recognized them as a publisher. And I thought, if I am going to go ahead and do this, which was a big step for me, I am certainly going to go to the premier publisher and try there. That is why I went for Ellora’s Cave, I didn’t sub anywhere else and it has worked for me. I enjoy working with them a great deal.

I was very hesitant at first. I am very old-school when it comes to my reading. I thought, I am not sure this e-publishing is going to work, I like to go pick up a book. And I am very glad to have been proven wrong. The response with feedback from readers is much quicker and I enjoy that. I enjoy the actual interaction with readers, which is why I love RT.

My first RT was in Pittsburgh because it was near my hometown – Go Steelers! But I enjoy RT because while most writers are introverted, which I am to a point, I enjoy the interaction. That is something that you can learn. I have a lot of friends who can’t believe I go out and talk to anyone. But I was a corporate wife and I learned that if you see someone sitting alone, you go talk to them, and you go up to complete strangers and talk to them, try to find a commonality. Perhaps that your football team just won the Super Bowl, perhaps that might work! *Laughs*

I love RT because I can get that person to person interaction. I like to talk to the readers, I like to find out what they like and don’t like. And as a writer, if you can get your finger on the pulse of what someone is looking for and can give you an edge, then let’s face it, sometime we need that edge.

I want to know if someone thinks I have written something way off base. Romance readers are very discerning. You talk to a romance reader and they will put you through your paces and that is good, that keeps you from slacking. No one wants to read a bad book. And nothing is worse than wasting your time and money.

For this RT, because like I said, last year I was brand new and didn’t have a print book in time for RT. But this year, the greatest thing was at the e-book signing, with their list, and asked me if I had this story or was signing it. And thank goodness, I had it in my compilation, HARD AS NAILS. But that is the greatest feeling in the world, so have someone come up to you and tell you they read you. I like the one on one time you get here, because you can’t that anywhere else.

RT: Where you at the Ellora’s Cave party last night?

MAE: I was and they always do a great party and it’s nice that they recognize the authors. And it’s the only time of year I get to walk across stage with a hot, semi-clad man. You can’t put a price on that good time!

RT: Where can fans find you here?

MAE: I am at the Saturday book fair. And I am always out and about and I will talk to anyone. I enjoy it, it’s not a job for me, it’s not pain and suffering. I did a workshop with Becky on Shameless Self-Promotion. It’s a joy to do that – if you don’t believe in yourself or what you are writing, then no one else will. It’s a great venue for any author.

RT: Where can they find you online?

MAE: You can find me at www.maellisromance.com, and the Ellora’s Cave web site, and Facebook.

RT: What is your next book?

MAE: I have a book coming out in summer, maybe May, and it’s called LOVE’S CHOICE. It’s set in Georgia. It’s hot Southern male fishing guide. I do like to fish, so I set it around a fishing guide and an airbush artist, and she gets stuck in a small town of the interstate. And frivolity and hotness ensue from that point on.

It’s a different male than my others, still an alpha male, but very different from the Henderson brothers, which are the men in my series. It’s one of my favorite books that I have written and I am really stoked about it coming out.

Thank you, M.A. Ellis!