The Incomparable Elyse Draper: An Author You Should Know About

The Incomparable Elyse Draper:

An Author You Should Know About

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of incredibly talented, best-selling authors out there, that every avid reader knows about like: Stephen King, J.K. Rowlings, John Grisham, James Patterson, J.R. Tolkien, Danielle Steel, Sidney Sheldon, Ann Rice just to name a few. On the other hand, there are just as many, if not more, incredibly gifted writers and authors, who have not broken into the mainstream yet. I say yet, because some of them will get the break they deserve and find themselves among the greats that I just mentioned.

One of those “soon to break out” authors is an amazingly talented young lady you are about to get to know. Based on her brilliant writing skills alone it is only a matter of time before her work sky-rockets her to the top of all best seller lists. She is simply that good. As her literary agent has told her, “You truly have something kid!”

I am referring to Non-fiction Essayist, Young Adult Novelist, Sci Fi /Fantasy & Dark Fiction devotee, Elyse Draper.

Elyse is one of the most gifted “word-smiths” you will ever have the pleasure of reading. She brings to the reader a brilliant unique style that truly sets her apart from most. Her masterful use of the English language is genius and truly unparalleled. She effortlessly creates images that are: indescribably vivid, bone-chilling, mesmerizing and hypnotizing. These gifts are extraordinarily effective in her genres of expertise: Sci Fi, Paranormal & Dark Fiction. 

Elsye is well on her way to stardom. She already has a nonfiction book to her credit. She contributed to a truly inspirational compilation titled, Voices of Autism: The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength.

She also co-authored Ladies of Horror of 2009 in which she contributed an absolutely chilling piece called I am Morte. Morteis one of the most mind-boggling Dark Fiction / Paranormal pieces I have ever read. It is truly “Elysesque” with ghastly, unnerving, and at times disturbing passages that will have you questioning what death really is. This tantalizing short is available NOW absolutely FREE! To receive your free copy in e-book form, just send an email to this address IamMorte@gmail.com

I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I will even go so far as to say, you will be hooked and yearning for more!

Currently, Elyse has a trio of fiction novels that are sitting on a publisher’s desk pending publication. The package is called, “The Free Will Trilogy”. It includes the titles: Free Will, Consequences & Vindication.  

As we speak, she is working on two more spellbinders. The first is titled, The Watchers, which is in the reliable hands of her editor. The second is called Mirrorscape, which she is currently working on. For tantalizing intros to each of these books please visit Elyse’s web site. http://elysedraper.webs.com/aboutus.htm

It is only a matter of time before you see all of these novels available in book stores and on Amazon.com!

Elyse is not only a fabulously gifted writer she is as genuine and as sweet a person you would ever want to meet. She is incredibly passionate about her craft. She embraces and cares about her fans and friends and makes it a point to stay connected whenever she can.

It is my honor and distinct pleasure to share with you an exclusive interview with the incomparable Elyse Draper.

Tell us a little bit about your background: Education, degrees etc.

I’ve had a remarkable lifetime of education: I am blessed by having the most remarkable parents any child could ask for. Surrounded by books, from an encyclopedic collection of the classics, biographies, and poetry, to history of architecture, art, and governmental doctrine … my mother is a master of the liberal arts, specifically philosophy, history, and constitutional law; and my father is an artist, architect, and municipal government expert. I attended college here in Denver, at Metro State and UCD, studying Law, Philosophy, Theology, and French … but looking back on my educational background, I have to credit my parents above and beyond any ‘educational’ institution. I have come to a point in my life, where I agree wholeheartedly with Mark Twain – “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

How and why did you start writing?

I remember when we were children, one of my closest friends was always writing, always expressing her thoughts and desires so adeptly in her journals and diaries … I wish I could say I was the same. I was never able to slow my brain down, never able to focus on the substance of the words … I couldn’t make my thoughts flow with enough sequence to find a way to purge my angst, or express my joy. I liked to paint though, oil or acrylic for the detail and watercolor for its movement. With my father’s guidance I learned to express myself through the physical mediums of paint, pencil, charcoal, and clay.

 My sister was in a permanent vegetative state from 1962-1992, and my family learned the depths of particular kind of hell … but we survived by getting out of ourselves: volunteering, donating, supporting each other, and working to remember the little blessings that greet us all every day. Creating with my hands, physically making something I could touch helped considerably on the darker days. As I grew older, I started working with the elderly, the infirm and terminal, and with special needs children. All the while, I was very sick, physically in a lot of pain, from the time I was about 13 until my soon after my 30th birthday … needless to say, my focus was spread a bit thin. Luckily I was extremely blessed with an awesome family, an amazing husband, wonderful friends, and a beautiful, brilliant, healthy baby girl. I never stopped looking for a way to express myself though, a way to find an outlet. After my last major surgery in 2005, during a class on biomedical ethics, while grieving through the hospice care of a cherished member of my family … I started having reoccurring nightmares. With the pain sated, and a focus, like I’d never known, found … I started to write and discovered a cathartic medium that helped in ways I am unable to express.  

What authors inspire you?

            Sartre, Camus, Dean Koontz, and Terry Pratchett … I think I really have too many authors to recognize, as I love so many; but these four seem to be the most responsible for my inspiration.

What were and are your goals in writing?

            I found a miraculous way to express myself … a healthy release. Considering that I had better odds at winning the Mega Millions Lottery, than having a child, I think I may have used up all my luck for this lifetime … but if I were to admit one of my biggest goals: It would be to tap into enough luck (the right place at the right time kind of luck) so that I can make a living at doing what I love, writing. This goal is constantly spurred on by things like: needing a new roof, affording my kiddo’s future college education … etc, etc.

What inspired you to write your nonfiction book titled “Voices of Autism”? Can you tell us a bit about that book & where people can find it?

            “Voices of Autism” is actually a wonderful compilation, put together by the Healing Project. It can be found at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

 Unlike any other anthology that I’ve taken part in, the contributions for this book were made by the families, teachers, doctors, and individuals, who cope with autism spectrum disorder. My piece was about a seven-year-old boy with Asperger’s. I worked with him five years ago, as a care provider; and he left a lasting impression.

Your web site states you are a YA Novelist, Science fiction/Fantasy & Dark Fiction devotee. Can you elaborate a bit on these genres and where your inspiration comes from?

            My first three novels were written with the Young Adult age group in mind; but once they were put in front of the publishers … a number of genres were thrown around. I figured out that (besides the fact publishers will put one’s work where they feel it will sell … not necessarily where the author would like it to be sold) what the writers deeply enjoys reading, will ultimately soak through into their writing. As a devotee of the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Dark Fiction (as well as history, biographies, and philosophy) I can safely say that those genres apply to my work … no matter where the publishers end up placing them on a bookstore shelf. As a fan of the genres, I am able to pull inspiration from the pictures that so many writers helped to build in my mind.

When a reader ventures into a world created by Elyse Draper, where are they going and what are they in for?

            The stories that I’ve always loved, were the ones that took me to other worlds … factual ages of long ago, or fantastical places that couldn’t exist. I love it when characters feel so real that they stay with me, even after the book is closed … when places and times are malleable and genuine. Writers may open the door, and if they do their job well and the wardrobe actually does lead to Narnia, the reader will be the one to give substance to the woods, and the lion’s mane. I hope to bring my readers to that doorway, with enough conviction that they can deliver themselves to new worlds, and touch beautiful characters, with whom they never want to forget. 

You co-authored a project called “Women of Horror 2009”. Can you tell us about that project and how it came about?

            The project was the original idea, and publication, of Jennifer Miller. She started the Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror in 2008, and has brought in new authors every year since; where she pulled together, and highlighted the talents of 20 amazing dark fiction and horror authors.

In this book you contributed a piece titled “I Am Morte”, which if you don’t mind me saying is one of the most intense chilling and hypnotizing shorts I have ever read. Where did the inspiration for this piece come from?

            Thank you for the compliment; I’m glad that it made an impression. There is a commonality within virtually all individuals in the world … when they’re being honest with themselves; they’d admit fear comes from dark places, the shadows of the unknown. The grandest of the unknown is death, and that was my inspiration. 

I understand you are offering this short for free? Why for free? How can people get it?

            The “Ladies of Horror 2009” is out of print, and thus difficult to find in hardcopy … unless, of course, you would like to purchase the eBook, which is available at Sonar4publication.com. I decided to offer my short for free in eBook format, as a means to give away a sample of my writing to those who are interested. Just email me at IamMorte@gmail.com and request your own copy.

You also did some artwork for Women of Horror and another book called Ladies and Gents of Horror. So you are an artist as well?

            I did the cover art for “The Ladies of Horror 2009”, “The Gentlemen of Horror 2009”, the combined work only which was only available for a limited time, as well as the cover for “I am Morte”.

What projects are you working on now? Will we see these in book stores soon?

            The “Free Will” trilogy is in the most capable hands of my agent, and on the very finicky desks of a lot of publishers. Hopefully, they will find a home soon. February marked the end of the initial writing phase of “The Watchers”. It is also in the skilled hands of my agent, and revision editor, and will be whipped into submission shape within the next couple months. I’m hoping it may be available within the next year. At the moment, I am working on my new project “Mirrorscape”.

Is there any sound advice you can offer to aspiring authors and writers out there, maybe some valuable lesson you have learned along the way?

            Hmmm … All roads begin and end with a good editor, and don’t get discouraged … you’ve already done the hardest part: writing the book in the first place. Oh, and develop a very thick skin; just remember that most critics seem to have a tendency to attack fudge sundaes with chainsaws.

Almost daily on Facebook, you post some kind of quote from a famous person. Where do you find these?

            I love quotes … we have an amazing gift, humans I mean, within our ability to share our thoughts and dreams; no matter the medium, we can share pieces of ourselves. Quotes are wonderful little tidbits, with beautiful immortal insights … and they can fit nicely into 140 letters or less status updates.

Besides writing, what are you passionate about?

            I love working with children. I love the outdoors: hiking, fishing, gardening, swimming. I adore animals, and have a very special place in my life for the unconditional love of dogs. As a matter of fact, virtually all of my work thus far, has dogs in the list of main characters.

The closing part of this interview is what I call Open Forum. The floor is yours to make any statement(s) about anything you’d like

            Art, whether invoking hatred or love … must invoke an emotion to truly be art. Whatever the medium may be, song, paint, or words, there has to be a source of emotion to invoke an emotion. Much like Robert Frost said, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.”

           If you are interested in getting to know more about Elyse, you can go to her web site, friend her on Face Book, My Space and Linked In.To Elyse: Thank you so much for agreeing to do this piece with me!