Author Spotlight: Elizabeth Eulberg

If you’ve never had the chance to meet Elizabeth Eulberg you are certainly missing out. Besides being one of the sweetest authors I’ve ever met, she’s also very talented and very cool. Not only can she write amazing books, such as The Lonely Hearts Club and Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality, she also knows how to play multiple instruments and is an exquisite traveler. Check out my interview with her below.

What first inspired you to start writing?

“I always enjoyed telling myself stories as a kid and thought it would be fun to write a book, but I was too intimidated to start. Then Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants) encouraged me to write. It was the boost I needed to start. I’m so thankful for him!”

What was the first book you ever wrote and what was it about?

“My very first book was The Lonely Hearts Club, which is about a girl who has decided to give up dating guys in high school because they aren’t worth the trouble. What started as something for her to get through heartbreak ends up taking over the school and craziness ensues!”

When will the sequel to The Lonely Hearts Club be released?

“We Can Work It Out is coming out early next year! There are going to be three e-short stories about Penny Lane and the Lonely Hears Club that will be online for FREE this fall [as well]. I can’t say much about them, but the first [one] is coming out Oct. 1 and will be Halloween themed. The others will be out Nov. 1 and Dec. 1. Hopefully I’ll get to share more soon!”

Besides the TLHC sequel, are you working on any other projects right now?

“I’m working on a couple different projects. Unfortunately I can’t say anything about them yet but I’m excited about them both!”

What was the best place you ever visited and where do you still want to go?

“Australia is one of my favorite places – it’s a gorgeous country with wonderful people. I got to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef and hold a Koala – what more could you want! I really want to explore South America more – especially Brazil and Chile.”

Who is your favorite music artist?

“I’m a huge fan of CHVRCHES, Ingrid Michaelson, Tegan and Sara, Panama Wedding, Bastille, Ed Sheeran, and of course, The Beatles!”

What instruments do you play and what kind of music do you like to play?

“I play mostly the guitar and piano (although I can play the clarinet and drums, but it’s been awhile for both). I generally play rock music on the guitar (The Beatles, Oasis, OK Go, Snow Patrol, etc.), but play classical on the piano (Mozart and Beethoven are favorites).”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“What is this ‘free time’ you’re referring to? I’ve actually been working on one of my secret projects for nearly three years now in any spare time I have in between edits, but at night I go to concerts, read, or go to karaoke and pretend that I’m a rock star!

Who are some of your favorite writers and what are some of your favorite books to read?

“So many! I’m fortunate that I get to be friends with a lot of the writers I admire. Some recent favorites are Don’t Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski, The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith, Only Everything by Kieran Scott, and I’ll read anything by Ally Carter and E. Lockhart.

How do you come up with ideas for your novels?

“My ideas come from a lot of different places. The seed for Better Off Friends was planted by my editor, so that was the first book where the original idea didn’t come from me. Take a Bow was inspired by my love of music and my desire as a teen to go to a performing arts high school. The Lonely Hearts Club came from a friend who always dumps her friends when she gets a boyfriend. After I get the original idea, I start building the character and plot from there.”

Do you think you’ll ever write adult novels?

“There may be a possibility that one of my projects that I’m working on is not YA. That’s all I can say.”

What’s your writing process like?

“Everything starts with one idea. Then I work on building on the characters and the arc of the story from there. I spend a lot of time on the characters before I sit down to write. I use index cards to do a basic outline of the plot and I also have a notebook for every book that includes character profiles and chapter outlines. I usually have everything figured out before I sit down to write a single word. I’m a very fast first drafter (I believe in just getting to the end) and then I revise several times on my own before a single person reads it.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Write for yourself, first and foremost. Don’t worry about if anybody will like it or if it will sell. Write the story you want to read. And no matter what, do not give up!

Is there anything else you would like to add or say to fans?

Yes, a BIG THANK YOU! I get to have the best job in the world, which wouldn’t be possible without readers. XOXO

To learn more about Elizabeth Eulberg and her writing check out her website and Facebook page.