Stephanie Ellis
Stephanie Ellis writes dark speculative prose and poetry. Her novels include The Five Turns of the Wheel, Reborn, and The Woodcutter, and the novellas, Bottled and Paused. Her short stories appear in the collections The Reckoning and Devil Kin. She is a Rhysling and Elgin Award nominated poet and has written the collection Foundlings (with Cindy O’Quinn), Lilith Rising (with Shane Douglas Keene) and Metallurgy, as well as appearing in the HWA Poetry Showcase. She can be found supporting indie authors at HorrorTree.com via the weekly Indie Bookshelf Releases. She is an active member of the HWA.
Stephanie can be found at:
Website: stephanieellis.org
Bluesky: @stephellis.bsky.social
Tell me what inspired you to write your book?
For The Five Turns of the Wheel (which evolved from a short story), it was very much a feeling of nostalgia for my time growing up in an isolated country pub in Shropshire. I wanted to bring elements of that and the characters I knew into a folk horror which is a sub-genre I love.
What came first the character or the world?
Sticking to The Five Turns of the Wheel, it was the character – or rather three characters – Tommy, Betty and Fiddler. I just pictured a bizarre mummers’ trio going from village to village enacting their rituals. Since that book, I’ve written a sequel and short stories, developing the world and bringing in new characters.
How hard was it to get your first book published?
My first book was the gothic novella, Bottled. I submitted to one publisher and was rejected but I sent out again to Silver Shamrock and it was accepted. Sadly the publisher closed a year or two back but my work was taken on by the lovely people at Brigids Gate Press and so is still available.
How long did it take to write?
The novella didn’t take too long. A couple of months from what I remember.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
It varies according to what I’m writing but I have created one for my current WIP – Modranicht – Mother’s Night Playlist and it can be found here https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Rx3F5eNVNY1yGYIKxFgka?si=b0069b8121f045eb. It might be added to as I go on!
How many publishers turned you down?
A few, but I’ve usually found homes for my books. I’ve had more rejections for short stories and the elusive agent – those are soul-destroying.
Books – Stephanie Ellis
What kind of reactions have you had to your book?
Generally, it’s all been very positive. Those who’ve read my work, particularly the folk horror, have loved them. It would be nice to get a wider readership though!
What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?
I really enjoyed the reviews from David Royce (otherwise known as Horror Reads) which he put up on YouTube. He really got into the world I created in The Five Turns of the Wheel and its sequel, Reborn, and I truly appreciate the time he took to read and comment. That goes for all reviewers, regardless of whether they like something or not.
What can you tell us about your next book?
My next book is a post-apocalyptic book, The Barricade, which will be coming out with Lycan Valley Press. I did a failed PitDark pitch on Twitter, failed as in I scheduled the tweets but got the date wrong and by the time I realised, only a couple of tweets went out. I had one agent request the mss and then the publisher saw the tweet – not that long ago – and asked for the mss! The agent at that point declined – never mind.
The pitch for the book was this ‘The Barricade. They built an ark below ground thinking the planet was dying. But Earth didn’t die and those who were left behind had an Unbreakable Law. Those who went below, chose to go in. They can never come out. And so The Barricade was built.’
Do you take notice of online reviews?
I try not to – and fail miserably. It’s always the negative one which sticks in the mind rather than the vastly greater number of good ones. Authors are their own worst enemies.
Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?
Yes. I want to be considered a storyteller rather than just a horror writer. I’ve written a dark historical fiction that is currently out on submission and would like to write more in that vein. I also have ideas for a cosy crime series. No romance though!
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
I have been all sorts of things: Quality Assurance Technician, Computer Programmer, Project Manager/Technical Author/Librarian/Teaching Assistant. I’m writing full-time now as I was able to step away from the TA job – but I also edit/proofread/format books.
Which author(s) inspire you?
That’s hard. I think all authors do – for someone to put themselves through a process which can often lead to rejection (on a horribly frequent basis) is awe-inspiring. I will say I am looking around for female writers who started later in life (like me). I need to see that it can be done and that there is a place for us, that we are not as invisible in the writing world as sadly we seem to be everywhere else.
Which genres do you read yourself?
All sorts: literary fiction, historical fiction, Scandi noir, thrillers, crime, poetry, as well as my own writing genres.
What is your biggest motivator?
I came to writing later in life (started getting short stories published when I was 49/50, I’m currently 59) and I have so many stories I want to write and a lot less time left to do it in! I suppose you could say the sands of time are my motivator!
What will always distract you?
There’s not much. I started writing in a house which had no room for a space for working separately so I would sit on the sofa and write regardless what the family was doing around me. Nowadays, I have a desk/work area in my bedroom but I allow my family to distract me if they come to talk to me, the children are all adults but live with us. I want to make sure they know I’ll listen and as I’m finally in control of my own time – after years of work and raising children – it doesn’t hit any schedule too badly.
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
I’m always asked and then shown covers which I can freely comment on.
Were you a big reader as a child?
Absolutely! I read from an early age and as my parents worked in a pub and we lived in the middle of nowhere there wasn’t much else to do. This was pre-computers, satellite TV etc. Even transport links were rubbish when I was finally old enough to get the bus by myself to the nearest town 10 miles away!
What were your favourite childhood books?
I devoured Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven mysteries, all sorts of animal books. By the time I was 9 or 10 I would be picking up my mum’s books, Jean Plaidy (historical fiction), Georgette Heyer (regency fiction), Catherine Cookson etc. I moved on to Charles Dickens when I was 11 and through reading him, I developed a tendency to enjoy the slightly darker side of life.
Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?
There aren’t that many bookshops that are different in my area. When I find one that I love it either closes or changes so that what I loved about it vanishes which saddens me, perhaps I’m a jinx. Generally, I go to Waterstones. When we lived in Southampton, I loved that branch as it had a cafe and there was a floor manager who would always come and chat about the books you were looking at – not a hard sell, but genuine enthusiasm and enjoyment of the books. In my parents’ town of Church Stretton, there’s an independent bookshop, Burway Books, which I do like but which lost the ‘jam-packed’ layout which I adored for reasons of access – but which I do appreciate had to be sorted out.
What books can you not resist buying?
Those by favourite authors: Grady Hendrix, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Terry Pratchett or historical non-fiction and folklore.
Do you have any rituals when writing?
Not really.
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
I think there’s about 18. I have a pile near my bed but I know there are some others on the shelves. And about 10 on my kindle. I do prefer print but ebooks allow me to support more authors as I can pick up special offers etc. This helps when you don’t have a lot of money but you do have a book addiction. It doesn’t help that the Wrexham library is only a few minutes (walking) away and I have a bad habit of picking up a pile of books there!
What is your current or latest read?
Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel. I’ve read her historical fiction and she is a terrific author so I picked this up. It’s slightly different as it tells the story of a psychic and the characters from her abusive childhood who continue to haunt her. Funny, tragic, horrific, all in equal measure.
Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?
Chuck Wendig’s Black River Orchard was recently released and I think that will be the one I might put on my Christmas list! I always have to have a book at Christmas, my family daren’t NOT give me one. After I’ve cooked their dinner, I curl up and just read for the rest of the day. My ritual.
Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?
I have a couple of projects. I’m halfway through Mother’s Night which is the third in the Five Turns of the Wheel series. This one I wrote because I wanted something set during winter, a book to curl up with. It allows me to bring in elements of Yule and Norse folklore. I’m also working on a slasher horror novella in verse with Shane Douglas Keene. We’re almost at the end of the first draft and I can’t wait to see how it finally pans out.
Any events in the near future?
Sadly, no.
and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?
Accident. A call for short stories for a potato-themed horror anthology led to my first attempt – which was rejected – but which put me in contact with writer Theresa Derwin who is still very active in the community. Following her supportive comments, I wrote a story for another call and it was accepted. The rest, as they say, is history. I find I really enjoy writing horror, it’s great to be able to write something which sends a little chill down the spine.
