B.L.Wilde
- Jun 5, 2020
- 3 min read

Author Spotlight with Carrie Elks

Carrie Elks is an international bestselling author of thirteen traditionally-published and self-published novels. Her books are sweet yet sexy contemporary romance stories. Her latest books are a series of small town romances set on the coast of Southern California. You can begin the Angel Sands series with Let Me Burn - available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited

Carrie is one of the few authors I've actually met in person. She has one of the kindest hearts in the book world, and is an phenomenal writer!

When did you first want to become a writer?

I’ve written for as long as I can remember. When I was a child I used to write continuations of stories I read. Kind of fanfictions just for me. I loved Enid Blyton stories, and then later Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams books, so I always had a lot of inspiration!

What is the muse behind your writing? If you have one.

I daydream a lot. And night dream too. My mind is a constant whirlwind of thoughts and ‘what if’s’ that inspire my writing. So I guess my imagination is my muse. She keeps me constantly entertained.

What is your writing schedule like? Do you get to write every day? Do you keep it like a work pattern like me, and write Monday to Friday?

Like you, I write on weekdays. It used to be every day but eventually my husband and kids had to pull me away from the laptop so they could actually get some attention! Nowadays I wake up, take the dog for a walk then pour myself a cup of tea and get to work. I work from 9 to 5 on a weekday, then take the weekends off.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Does reading count? I probably read less than I used to, but I still like to read a book a week. I also like watching Netflix series with my husband, spending time with my children (when they let me) and walking the dog.

Do you have any interesting quirks while you are writing?

I listen to nature sounds on Spotify. Even if I’m sitting outside where there are real nature sounds. It’s like I put my headphones on and my mind gets in the writing zone.

Do you have any advice for a newbie author?

Remember that people who have been publishing for years started out exactly like you. We wrote a book, some of us put it out to publishers, others self-published. But we all had to learn from knowing nothing. So don’t feel intimidated by those who have come before – we all started from the same place.

What comes first to you, the plot or the characters?

The characters. I tend to write in series, either about a group of friends (in my Angel Sands Series) or family (in my Heartbreak Brothers series and the Shakespeare Sisters too), so the cast of characters is there from the first book.

I write connected standalone romances – each one about a different couple, so I love introducing them in earlier books.

Do you have a picture of your writing space, or can you describe it for me?

I write everywhere! This week I’ve written in bed, in the office, and also in the garden. The one common denominator is my headphones and my laptop.