A vibrant and engaged author of YA and middle grade books from northern Idaho, E. G. has published two books, both middle grade novels:
- Rowdy Days of Dom Sanders, a historical murder mystery
- Moon Daughter Rising, a Native American mythology fantasy
Do you have a writing routine? Where and when do you write?
I have seasons of writing routines, mostly dictated by my roles as mother, wife, and worker. I often spend a lot of time developing bits and bobbles of the story mentally before I sit down to write it. Usually I write late at night in spurts, tucked away either in my office or my bedroom with a hot tea and chocolate. I also try to have at least two writing retreats per year. The pandemic put a damper on that, but when I do those, I write like crazy to finish a draft usually. It’s hard to get a lot of work done in one setting at home with three kiddos who need me, so this is a golden opportunity to feel like I really accomplished something.
Do you have any patterns or rituals associated with your writing time?
Just the hot drink and chocolate I mentioned before. I also select certain essential oils to diffuse in the room to help with mood or energy if I need it after a long day.
What do you do when you hit a wall with your writing?
Sometimes, I don’t write for a while, or I work on another project. Sometimes, I write through it and edit later. Once, I took a six month hiatus, and I’ve never finished that project. Often, I hit blocks because I’ve written my characters into a place they weren’t meant to go and I need time to think out a solution or to cut the work I’ve done. That’s really hard and it creates a sort of grieving period.
Do you plan your book in advance (plotting and outlining) or are you a “discovery writer” (AKA “writing into the dark”)? Or are you somewhere in between?
I always love this question because I have a story. I was a die hard pantser for a long time. I wrote wildly for NaNoWriMo and then had to do tons of passes to edit it for publication. It worked for me for over a decade, including a period that I had a literary agent and top 5 traditional publishers interested in my work. It was working. Then I made the decision to self-publish and I realized that some of the series that I worked on were too complex to fake. I put two of those series on the back burner and they still aren’t finished. I read and tried a lot of different plotting programs and styles and suggestions for about three years. Nothing stuck.
Then January 2022, I had an epiphany. I woke up one morning with a plot that had been plaguing me for months complete in my head after reading a bunch of posts on the circular reflective structure on helpingauthorsbecomewriters.com. I outlined my current WIP “Dragonfly” in one setting. This structure is how I naturally write, and its helped me with my other projects as well. So I guess I’m a plotter now.
What’s the last book you read that made you go “wow!”?
JT Grobler has two books out. I finished the Amulet of Scion a few months ago, and immediately picked up The Seeing Scroll, which I’m reading now. Her middle grade worlds are so quirky and fun, and her characters are realistically flawed.
What book or author do you find yourself recommending and why?
I really love Elisa Tilton’s fantasy books. I also really love Juliet Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest series for her amazing immersive writing style.
A book that has made a huge difference in my life that I’ve also recommended to women throughout my life is Captivating by by John Eldredge and Stasi Eldredge.
What’s on your To Be Read pile?
Oh my gosh, so much! Because I’m a children’s book author, I have to read in those age categories to know my market. Additionally, I love fantasy in all its glory, so I read those as well.
My to be read list includes recommendations from Tiktok and Instagram, as well as award winners and authors I follow.
Let’s see, the next ones I want to read are Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. I love stories based on cultures and myths I’m not familiar with.
What advice do you have for readers?
Please review the authors you love. This keeps them writing. Also, authors love to interact with their readers, so don’t be afraid to reach out and fan girl or talk about life. We’re human too.
What author, past or present, would you wish to have a long conversation with? Why?
This is a hard one. I’ve always thought Tolkien and I could have an interesting talk about linguistics and world building. Neal Shusterman’s Scythe series also really stuck with me after, and I’d love to pick his brain about how he created such a prevalent and thought provoking story.
Do you have early memories of reading or writing you’d like to share?
My mom always tells people that I was a story teller from an early age. Not like a liar, but like a small child that could create a simple story line about a character at made sense. She recorded a cassette tape of me “reading” a book with an alternate story line about the owl that said “ruff” at two years old.
What books and/or authors have most influenced you as an author?
Bruce Coville, Madeleine L’Engle, and Jane Austen. I know it’s a strange combination. The fantasy books really helped me expand my imagination, and Jane Austen’s wit really spoke to me in my younger teen years.
What do you most enjoy about being a writer? What do you least enjoy about being a writer?
There is something magical about creating a story. It’s an expedition of a new world, a dramatic understanding of characters. It’s cathartic in a world that is tough.
Editing is my nemesis. Learning to outline and structure my story has helped a lot with this, but it still makes me cringe to think about it.
What would you tell a new writer?
That little voice that says you don’t know what you’re doing and you aren’t professional enough? Every time you get that imposter syndrome, tell it to shut up and keep writing! I see readers talk about their dream story all the time, and sometimes I know writers who are writing it for them. The world wants and needs your story written your way.
Where would we find you online?
I’m all over the internet. My website and reader collage is at egmooreauthor.com. So far, there’s only one, but I’d love to have more submissions of those that love my stories.
I also do funny author and book related Tiktoks, puzzle grid posts on Instagram, and funny reader and writer memes on Facebook. I’m also on Goodreads answering fun questions like “What mystery in your own life would make a great story?” and “Do you really live in Coeur d’Alene Idado?” It’s great fun and I update my ‘read’ list regularly. I need more friends over there.
I’ve just started my YouTube channel as well, and I like to do different things on there, including reading books, funny author videos that are too long for Tiktok, and discuss themes and other parts of my writing projects.