Today we’d like to introduce you to Elle Ann Brown.
Hi Elle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been a creative person, singing and theater as a child, but my love for writing grew as an adult. My first significant pieces of work were the five two-act plays I wrote for youth dinner theater fundraisers from 2005 to 2009. In 2016, at the age of 32, I discovered that I enjoyed (make that loved) reading for the first time! The new discovery re-sparked my love for writing, and I decided to give it a try. A good friend had published a few books, so I gleaned from her along the way. In 2018, I released my first book, Mental Notes. I knew it would be a three-book Chick-lit series from the beginning, but the fourth book surprised me as I wrote the third. (A retelling of the story from the male POV.) After releasing the Mental Notes series in 2018-2019, I continued publishing stand-alone novels. All of my books have a love story of some kind, but the genre is flexible. Out of Sight, Out of Mind, a second chance, sweet romance released in 2020. My latest book, The Stacks, a YA dystopian (think Hunger Games and Divergent), came out in 2021. Which means I’m working on something new now that I hope to release before the year is over. I also have a free short story available for people who want to get a taste of my writing. All of my books are available on Amazon in eBook and paperback forms.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As an indie author, I have found both advantages and disadvantages. I can publish whenever and whatever I want, not held down to dates and contracts. I have the freedom to decide everything from the cover to the prices of my books. Believe it or not, publishing a book and making it available for sale isn’t the hardest part (at least for me). Trying to get your name out there for readers to discover you is quite the challenge. Just think of how many books are available at B&N, not to mention Amazon. If you don’t have a huge marketing budget, growth can be slow. There have been indie authors who experienced major success and later received traditional publishing contracts. Likewise, there have been successful traditionally published authors who decided to go indie in order to have more control. I tried with my last two books to see if I could go the traditional route and didn’t get any bites. Getting traditionally published is still something I would love to achieve one day, mainly for the accomplishment. However, since this is something I do on the side (I co-pastor a church, help oversee an orphanage in Haiti, raise four kids, and substitute teach), it’s easier for me to continue indie for now.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My desire is to write stories that make the reader FEEL. Whether it’s happy, sad, angry, excited, or on the edge of their seats, I want to give people an escape from reality and dive into someone else’s head for a few hours. My goal is to keep my stories clean without compromising the storyline, so readers 14+ can enjoy them. My hope is at the end of every novel, there is some sort of takeaway the reader can apply to their lives. Currently, all my books are written in first person.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Man, how do you pick one? Probably a collection of the feelings I had when learning about the world. Whether on stage performing or traveling with my family across the country, I always enjoyed soaking up the surroundings, feelings, and other people around me.
Pricing:
- The Beach House- Free
- All of my eBooks- $2.99-$3.99
- All of my Paperback books- $8.99-$9.99
- Signed copies available through my website
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.elleannbrown.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elleannbrown/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Elle-Ann-Brown-729926187405929/?ref=pages_you_manage
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/elleannbrown
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fYAqi5ibsE
Image Credits
Bre Hargrove
