NEW RELEASE

Pieces of Me: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories by Elle Henry

I would like to welcome Elle Henry to my blog.  Her book Pieces of Me: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories as been released this week, so I took some time out of my schedule to ask Elle a few questions about the book and what it's like being a writer.


Q: Welcome Elle. Can you give the readers a brief overview of your Book, Pieces of Me: A Collection of Poems and ShortStories.

Pieces of Me is the descriptive of me as a writer at the moment.  I took the poetry and stories that I felt captured my heart the most.  Each poem reflects a different part of me as a person, as well as the three stories; they show my growth and comfort in my writing.  I wanted this book to mean something, to inspire.  This book is a reflection of my favorite forms of writing poetry and short story.  The inspiration came from loving writing and wanting to share that with the world.  I chose poems that had meaning for me, rather it be love, lost or whimsy.  In the storytelling I wanted the reader to enjoy a good story and get lost in the moment.  

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and when your interest in writing began.

I have always been a person who wrote in a journal. Journaling was my therapy.  I was more reflective of my thoughts by using words than getting them out verbally.  I started back in high school.  I was a shy teenager, sheltered by my parents. My only outlets were reading and writing.  Once I became an adult my writing took a backseat and slowed down for a minute.  I wouldn’t pick up a pen and begun to write again until in 2011.  I was working for the government realizing that my passion was somewhere else.  I picked my pen up and I’ve been writing ever since.

Q: What prompted you to write Pieces of Me?

I had all these poems that I had written and I felt the need to share them with someone with the hope of inspiring someone along the way.

Q: What challenges did you face when writing Pieces of Me? 

Definitely edit and revision of the last story “The House on Weather Road” was very traumatic for me.  I sensed that story going in another direction maybe even a novella. Only characters had a different plan, it kind broke my heart.  I think the ending was beautiful and even though I cried. I will give some insight, “Wake me up when December ends...” That’s a true story.  All of stories have a special meaning.  This book is really a piece of me.

Q: Are there any messages in Pieces of Me for readers or is it simply to entertain?

The theme of this book is love and heartbreak; however I wrote this book only to encourage writing and entertain the reader.

Q: When writing, do you have any specific routines?  What are the best and worst things about writing?

I tend to write mostly late at night, that’s my most specific routine.  It’s quiet in the house its just my and my thoughts.  For me the worst thing about writing is the revision.  As a writer we tend to believe that every word we write is the holy grail of sorts...No, you need the revision to cut out extra unnecessary parts.  The best part about writing is the feedback from readers saying they liked your work or it has helped them cope.  That makes it all worth it. 

Q: Do you read?  If so what type of books does you read?

Yes, I love to read.  My favorite books are Rebecca, The Great Gatsby, and Wuthering Heights, Ariel and Selected works by Robert Frost.

Q: Do you have a your favorite author?  If so, who and why?

It would a toss between Stephen King and Sylvia Plath.  I love Stephen King for his brutal honest, vast knowledge and love of writing as a craft.  You, may ask well why didn’t she list his books as her favorite?  Well, I love his work; however my preferred genre is Victorian literature.  I’m a sucker for romance.  I listed Sylvia Plath, because I fell in love with writing after I read Ariel. More specific the poem “Daddy”, she was a tragic soul gone too soon who left beautiful words behind.  She is my writing inspiration.

Q: What other writing work can we expect from you in the future?

I’m working on a Young Adult novel that I hope to self-publish around January and another poetry book.

Q: Tell the readers something interesting about yourself that others may not know.

I have Crohn’s a gastrointestinal disease. It’s my motivation for achieving my goals and living my dreams.  Writing has been my salvation when crohn’s has been my depression.

Quick fire round

Sweet or savoury

Sweet

Beach or countryside

Beach

EBook or paperback

Paperback

Classic or modern

Classic

Sun or Snow

Snow

About the author

Growing up in Florida Elle was always called the girl with a book.  Which suited her just fine; because she enjoyed the escapism in reading and the fact that reading was like taking a journey anytime she pleased.  She developed that passion for reading from her grandmother who is now deceased, but that love books continued.  She considers some of her favorite places in the world libraries and bookstores.

Elle now lives with her family in Central Florida.  Her education in includes English/Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire.  She credits some of her favorite authors as Bronte sisters, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daphne Du Maurier, Sylvia Plath and Stephen King.  Her life and love is writing and reading, and she has a site dedicated to her work called AvidWriterElle.com.

If you would like to learn more about Elle you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter. 

Click here to buy a copy of Pieces of Me: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories