Interview ft. Elaine L. Allen

Interview: Get to know that book & Author of Changing Stiles

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Around 14 or 15 after reading, The Winter Women and already having read so many other books including Flyy Girl. I was like, I can do this.

2.  How did you come up with the story for Changing Stiles? Alieas was a character that I introduced in my 1st published novel, No Ordinary Love when I was 19 years old. I wanted to write about a girl who had kind of sworn off love (but deep down inside be aching for it), have her find it and then mess it up. Growing up, more often than not it was always the girl who is a single parent, it's usually the guy messing up  and wanting the second chance. So I just flipped it and allowed it to be a woman instead.

3. When you wrote Changing Stiles characters did you already know who they were before you began writing or did you let them develop as you wrote the story? I started this at 18/19 years old and I pretty much had a clear idea who the characters were.  I had profiles and outlines. There is a real 10 + years time gap from when I started with the past and concluded in what was their present day.  I think my characters matured as I did.  It would've been a completely different story if I'd finished it 15 years ago.

4. How did you come up with the titles to your book Changing Stiles? CHANGING Stiles was specifically about changing Alieas' heart, her rough around the edges and in your face approach turning her into something softer. As far as coming up with titles, I generally try to take the most basic theme and word play with that. (I'm stuck right now on a title for a project I'm working on.)

5. Where did you get your inspiration for the character Carter Reed? I love strong Black Men. I hate when men lie and are indecisive about relationships. I prefer my truth, straight no chaser delivered with a cushion of respect. I thrive on honesty. I respect it and demand it. I wanted him to be a reflection of that. In my experiences men generally weren’t fulltime single fathers and it was important to show that black men have fatherhood on lock and handle it masterfully. His love of family is all my father and the rest of him is a collection of qualities from men I've come in contact with somehow or another.

6. Did you have a similar relationship experience like Alieas Stiles? She was me when I was in college. The 1st guy I really love walked in and out of my life for a while and then I was like, enough is enough.  I'm hitting these streets. HAHAHAHA... 

7. What is the key theme and or message in the book? Honesty is the best policy. Second chances are real. Real love is real. Lack of communication will have you wasting your time. Believe in yourself.

8. If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it, and why? I honestly don't know. I think Carter is perfect so, it's hard.

9. You mentioned you are a Romance book junkie. What are some of your favorite romance novels? At least 25 Nora Roberts books. No Regrets and A Woman's Heart by JoAnn Ross. Read them all at least 10 times.  More recent favs include; Winner Takes All and Sweet Obession, D.A. Young. Snowflake, Nia Forrester. Blind Expectations, Jacinta Howard. Equivalent Exchange, Christina Jones. Outlander, Diana Gabaldon.

10. How many books have you written? 6 total (2 unpublished) and several WIP.  Which is your favorite? It's tie between CHANGING Stiles and Hurricane.  

11. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Resilient, Loyal, Authentic .

12. How can your fans connect with you? IG and Twitter @MsSheWrites & FB: Elaine Allen 

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