Finding Elara

Episode Description 8 Show Notes: Interview 1 - Paul First Book fair. Plans for the series to have 5 books Never read growing up until about 17 Hobby while working FIFO Wrote 2 book in a year while working Great community in the fiction world Went into publishing blind had so much support from authors and family Used Arc Readers, friends and family before publishing. 5 words: Magical, Mysterious, Exciting, Adventurous and Familiar Likes writing on the couch with the dog Interview 2 - Chris Complicated process Inspiration - Lives in a modern world and wanted to write about what supernatural elements don't have Humans are inferior in her world Writing process changed during the telling. Has plot twist in the story that has surprised readers.   Where the Excerpt Came From: Snippet from Chapter 1 of Mystic City Souls and Spirits   Guest Bio: Isabelle Fleay is an Australian author with a passion for all things romantasy, supernatural intrigue, and epic worldbuilding. Obsessed with

Episode Description (number) Show Notes: Interview 1 - Paul Started writing when a teenager Took it seriously in 2019 Published in 2024 inspired him to keep going Feedback had been good 5 words: Creator of unique magical worlds Loves D&D and Indepth worldbuilding Worlds have magical tech Fantasy and scifi is favourite genre his story is a mix. Didn't know the extent of indi author requirements until he did it. Learnt alot in the pre-release and has had to take onboard. Tips: Get on social media and build your network in advance.  Interview 2 - Chris Loss of someone close inspired first novel Portal fantasy and the other world is unique 1800-1920. Discussed the creation of his world TV show Arcane was an inspiration. Believes the relatability of the characters invest people in the world New story - a perfect fantasy is contemporary romance Change genre to see how it went.   Where the Excerpt Came From: Sample provided    Guest Bio: Mark Aeschlimann hails from Perth,

Episode Description (number) Show Notes: Interview 1 - Dianna Has awesome accent - mixed Published first book in 2023 5 words Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Indi, Addictive First book to reclaim a Kingdom Wrote during maternity leave - baby was good sleep Took academic approach to self publishing so was aware of requirements 1 round of edits for each of her books Tips: Do your research, treat it like a business, network with fellow Indie Authors and book stores. So many great Indie book stores in perth Next book in Feb is interconnected and late next year adding gothic to the repertoire Ideal writing is silence Not a plotter - writes on her couch scene by scene.   Where the Excerpt Came From: First Chapter Of Sand and Silk   Guest Bio: Claire wrote her first book before she knew how to write the alphabet. It consisted of scribbling on a page and having her sister illustrate the page next to it. She has since refined her books to include actual words. Claire has a background in Psycholog

Show Notes: Interview 1 - Paul Writing all his life and took it serious in 2014 with first book Akin Literary fiction writer - subjects are generally darker and confronting. 5 words: Human, Intense, uncensored, Verbose Drew him into writing LF - comes natural to him. His writing is sort of Poetic. Indi journey - intense. Not genre. Tips: Keep writing alot!  Most recent novel The Pedophile does not promote or condone any form of abuse.  Exploring the perspective of someone born with a mental condition that they need to control their whole life. Interview 2- Chris A lot of things make peoples skin crawl bit we still watch crime shows Wrote book to experience characters that are on the fringes of society Character has proclivity (mental disorder) but doesn't act on it. How people deal with mental disorders Discusses repugnance of pedophilia Does not glorify and sense of abuse. The more you isolate people limits the opportunity for empathy   Where the Excerpt Came From:   Guest

Episode Description (number) Show Notes: Interview 1: Paul Always loved reading School loved writing stories Studied creative writing after getting teacher quals 5 words: Organic, Conservative, Compassionate, Diligent, Optimistic You have to be optimistic to take on writing Had no idea how hard Indie writing was. Used Ians Services. Couldn't have done it without him. First manuscript was written 30 years ago on floppy disk Have a few other stories on the go.  Interview 2 Very Conventional in her writing Based on a small town but it has a fictitious name Trying to capture what a real family would go through in this situation. Book two has nothing to do with surfing. It is an analogy. Teaching did influence but it is always something she has been interested in.   Where the Excerpt Came From: Second book. Jumping over waves   Guest Bio: Tricia Trevaskis lives in the South West of Western Australia.  Born and raised in Geelong, Victoria, she studied teaching, before completing her

Show Notes: Interview 1: Dianna Best contact is looking up Khaiah or Hawkeye books Loves YA fiction and fantasy. The first book was entered into a competition with Hawkeye and won. Great supportive and encouraging publisher 5 words: YA Fantasy Coming of age. Help shape who people want to be through story with YA Had no idea how hard Self publishing would be Her book has common Supernatural abilities in a world similar than our own. Story expanded after writing the first Ideal writing environment is a cafe. Likes the white noise. Tip: Just write. Start and finish it FIrst Draft is really rough! Shannon Hale Quote: Life is simply heaping sand into a sand pit so that later I can build castles Not sure how many drafts. Interview 2: Chris Always been an avid reader Could hold baby and read at the same time Could find the book she was looking for so wrote her own. The Blackwood is inspired by blackwood river Drew on pieces of places that she knew. The first on came to her b

Show Notes: Interview 1: Paul Always been a reader Stared story 10 years ago Psychic encouraged her to finish the story Hubby pusher her over the line Has 2 covers for the book depending on peoples interest 5 word: Emotionally driven, Raw, Love, Romance, Spicy  Loves a happily ever after. Had no idea what was involved in publishing. Used Self publishing services for first book. The writing was the easy part - Marketing and promotion are harder. The Journey has been worthwhile Tips for writing: just do it!! Meet different authors and immerse yourself in it all. Other Authors are so supportive and encouraging. Launch Party for the Second book is on the 17th of January. Interview 2: Chris Ilsley Uses a Pen name for confidence and ability to detach. Return to sender harks back to letter writing. Always been very creative Story started as a dream Nicole and real persona are the same. Pen name just gave confidence. Getting easier because of amazing support from community Ha

Show Notes: Interview 1 - WIth Dianna First Book Fair Grew up in a creative family (Artists) Started writing writing with Covid 5 Words: Chaotic, Brainfoggy, Slow Writer - she takes her time, Perfectionist. Always Fantasy fan. Shirley Barber books when growing up. Has Tolkien tattoo Lots of Fantasy video games Researched alot on Authortube which help, but it is harder than you expect. Self publishing is very rewarding. Tries to keep as much Australian as she can. Her books are second world but inspired by Australia's multiculturalism. Learn to do as much as you can yourself and splurge on an editor Strongly recommended Affinity https://www.affinity.studio/ which is a free program Interview 2 - Chris I Talked about gaming and she plays Skyrim and Legend of Zelda Was disillusioned after finishing a book and thought she could do it better. Couldn't find what she wanted to read Son was a great sleeper so there was plenty of time to create Has a morbid curiosity and that draws h

Show Notes: Huge Thanks to everyone that Helped with the Show.  Link to the Livestream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=207JEYON-ps    Sponsor Info This Event has been sponsored by the Australian Cultural Fund https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2EMn00000Y6idtMAB/findingelara-livestream-from-book-fair    Links Contact Finding Elara Instagran: https://www.instagram.com/findingelara/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingelarapodcast    Contact BCP Finding Elara Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingElara Discord: https://discord.gg/Ap8EWpPn BCP Website: www.bcpcreative.com.au BCP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcp.creative/ BCP facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577758720164   Contact Paul Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.van.der.mey.2025  Forrest.chat: http://forrest.chat/episodes    Contact Chris Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/chris.ilsley.5 

We will be back on the 7th of January for Season 3     Contact the Team Finding Elara Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingElara Discord: https://discord.gg/Ap8EWpPn BCP Website: www.bcpcreative.com.au BCP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcp.creative/ BCP facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577758720164   Contact Dianna Website: www.dlnix.com Facebook: (DL Nix) https://www.facebook.com/Faepatriantales Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingelara/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingelarapodcast   Contact Jules Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/jaduxbury1/p/the-secrets-of-crickley-hall?r=376hxo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=j%20a%20duxbury Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3357069671029525 Discord: jaduxburyauthor   Sponsor Info Shadow Lair: https://ko-fi.com/findingelara Selva's Ality: https://www.facebook.com/awakinningality Selina Shapland: htt

Guest Bio Tony James Slater is an unusual combination of science-fiction author and travel-memoir writer. He is a very, very strange man. He believes himself to be indestructible, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. He is often to be found making strange faces whilst pretending to be attacked by inanimate objects. But perhaps his biggest problem is this: he has a mouth so big he is at risk of swallowing his own head. It is for this reason (amongst others) that he chooses to spend his life far from mainstream civilization, tackling ridiculous challenges and subjecting himself to constant danger. He gets hurt quite a lot.   Links Contact Tony James Slater Facebook: www.Facebok.com/TonyJamesSlater Website:  www.TonyJamesSlater.com   Things you can enter TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel. From Elizabeth: Winners Choice of any 1 thing from her etsy store/a copy of her book. From Lourna: A winners choice of one of her Anthologies Fro

Guest Bio Tony James Slater is an unusual combination of science-fiction author and travel-memoir writer. He is a very, very strange man. He believes himself to be indestructible, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. He is often to be found making strange faces whilst pretending to be attacked by inanimate objects. But perhaps his biggest problem is this: he has a mouth so big he is at risk of swallowing his own head. It is for this reason (amongst others) that he chooses to spend his life far from mainstream civilization, tackling ridiculous challenges and subjecting himself to constant danger. He gets hurt quite a lot.   Links Contact Tony James Slater Facebook: www.Facebok.com/TonyJamesSlater Website:  www.TonyJamesSlater.com   Things you can enter TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel. From Elizabeth: Winners Choice of any 1 thing from her etsy store/a copy of her book. From Lourna: A winners choice of one of her Anthologies Fro

Episode Description Guest Bio R A Sandpiper (she/her) is a British fantasy author from the south of England. She has a law degree she's never used despite spending five years in government-adjacent roles, loves games of all kinds (the nerdier the better), and will always dance at weddings. She's passionate about creating strong and complex characters in unkind and twisting worlds, but despite what she puts them through, there will always be a heart-pounding romance. Her debut trilogy, Amefyre, commencing with A Pocket of Lies, is out now. Her next duology will launch with To Touch A Silent Fury in September 2025.   Links Contact RA Sandpiper Instagram: rasandpiper Website: https://www.rasandpiperbooks.com/ Tiktok: oyster_rach   Things you can enter TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel. From Elizabeth: Winners Choice of any 1 thing from her etsy store/a copy of her book. From Lourna: A winners choice of one of her Anthologies From RA: The fir

Guest Bio R A Sandpiper (she/her) is a British fantasy author from the south of England. She has a law degree she's never used despite spending five years in government-adjacent roles, loves games of all kinds (the nerdier the better), and will always dance at weddings. She's passionate about creating strong and complex characters in unkind and twisting worlds, but despite what she puts them through, there will always be a heart-pounding romance. Her debut trilogy, Amefyre, commencing with A Pocket of Lies, is out now. Her next duology will launch with To Touch A Silent Fury in September 2025.   Links Contact RA Sandpiper Instagram: rasandpiper Website: https://www.rasandpiperbooks.com/ Tiktok: oyster_rach   Things you can enter TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel. From Elizabeth: Winners Choice of any 1 thing from her etsy store/a copy of her book. From Lourna: A winners choice of one of her Anthologies From RA: The first book in her A

Guest Bio Lorna Woulfe was born and raised in the state of Ohio. She has lived in such exotic locales as Denver CO, Los Angeles, CA, and Nashville, TN. She is the alter ego of L. Anne Wooley who writes nonfiction under that name.  Her pen name was created to honor both sides of her family; Lorna was her maternal grandmother (also a writer ). Woulfe is what Wooley descends from, Ireland is here the clan lived. She's a poet, writer, editor and flutist ; also a jewelry designer.  She is a co-admin and co-host of an event called Writer's Night, held via the Facebook group Writer's Night Quills for over 11 years now. Also a 16-year veteran of NaNoWriMo and has run many workshops on Nano prep including the history of NaNoWrimo, tips Character Creation, Plotting and Outlining and, of course, World Building. She is published in multiple anthologies with both short stories and poetry. Her latest is a poem in Ohio Bard's Poetry Anthology 2025  Links Contact Lorna Instagram: @velvetdelenn Facebook: https://www.faceboo

Guest Bio Elizabeth Chaffin is the creator of Bearded Rat Mysteries, through which she has written over 14 digital-download murder mystery games that have been sold around the world. She is also the author of two novels, Dead Man's Swamp and Newfangled Madness, published under the name E. M. Chaffin. Both books feature homeschooled protagonists and explore themes of friendship, courage, and the pursuit of truth. She lives in Oklahoma, USA with her own personal creatures Paisley and Tricki Woo. She enjoys eating mashed potatoes, adventuring to beautiful places, and taking vitamins. There was this one time she floated on the Yellow River on a raft made of inflated sheepskin, but that doesn’t have anything to do with this podcast.   Links Contact Elizabeth Website: https://www.emchaffin.com/ Instagram for EM: https://www.instagram.com/emchaffinwrites/ Instagram for BRM: https://www.instagram.com/beardedratmysteries/ Facebook for EM: https://www.facebook.com/emchaffinwrites Facebook for BRM: https://www.faceb

Guest Bio Elizabeth Chaffin is the creator of Bearded Rat Mysteries, through which she has written over 14 digital-download murder mystery games that have been sold around the world. She is also the author of two novels, Dead Man's Swamp and Newfangled Madness, published under the name E. M. Chaffin. Both books feature homeschooled protagonists and explore themes of friendship, courage, and the pursuit of truth. She lives in Oklahoma, USA with her own personal creatures Paisley and Tricki Woo. She enjoys eating mashed potatoes, adventuring to beautiful places, and taking vitamins. There was this one time she floated on the Yellow River on a raft made of inflated sheepskin, but that doesn’t have anything to do with this podcast.   Links Contact Elizabeth Website: https://www.emchaffin.com/ Instagram for EM: https://www.instagram.com/emchaffinwrites/ Instagram for BRM: https://www.instagram.com/beardedratmysteries/ Facebook for EM: https://www.facebook.com/emchaffinwrites Facebook for BRM: https://www.faceb

Guest Bio Poppy Rose Solomon's novels are inspired by both her coastal childhood in Queensland and her love of escaping into magical worlds. Her debut series is four-book YA fantasy saga Woken Kingdom. She's also a professional editor and loves to help other authors cultivate their voice and tell their story. You'll often find her posting rosy-filtered pictures or yapping about publishing on social media. Find her at Poppy's Pages Editing .com or @PoppysVintageBooks.    Links Contact Poppy Website: http://www.poppyspagesediting.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppysvintagebooks/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poppysvintagebooks   Things you can enter TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel.  Treasure chest Give-away 3: (open 30/07/2025 closes 8/10/2025)  https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/treasure-chest    Contact the Team Finding Elara Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingElara Discord: https://disco

Guest Bio Poppy Rose Solomon's novels are inspired by both her coastal childhood in Queensland and her love of escaping into magical worlds. Her debut series is four-book YA fantasy saga Woken Kingdom. She's also a professional editor and loves to help other authors cultivate their voice and tell their story. You'll often find her posting rosy-filtered pictures or yapping about publishing on social media. Find her at Poppy's Pages Editing .com or @PoppysVintageBooks.    Links Contact Poppy Website: http://www.poppyspagesediting.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppysvintagebooks/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poppysvintagebooks     Things you can enter TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel.   Treasure chest Give-away 3: (open 30/07/2025 closes 8/10/2025)  https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/treasure-chest   Contact the Team Finding Elara Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingElara  Discord: https://d