Today I’d like to introduce Elena Kincaid

Tell me about yourself. What inspired you to write?

I actually cannot recall what inspired me because I basically started writing as soon as I learned to write. And I would tell stories before that. I had a super active imagination as a child and would get lost in stories I read, or watched on TV and definitely the ones in my head.

Describe your desk / writing space.

An organized mess! I have sticky notes everywhere. I have so many journals. I lost count. And yes, I am that person that thinks that most of them are just too pretty to write in, but yet I can’t stop buying more.

Do you have a writing routine or do you write when inspired?

I have to be inspired. I am very much a plotter, so I’ll be jotting things down constantly, sometimes in the middle of doing something, sometimes even when I am trying to sleep, but when it comes to actually writing, I have to be in the headspace for it. I do have times set aside to write, but if it’s not coming, I can’t force it.

What was the hardest scene for you to write? Which scene was your favorite to write?

The hardest one to write for Dragon impact, I don’t want to give too much away, but it was toward the end. It was an action scene with a lot of characters involved. Those are the hardest to write in general. I saw the scene in my head so clearly; there’s something major that happens and the characters are reacting to it and you just have to keep track of everyone’s position and write it in such a way where the readers can see what you see in your head. My favorite scene to write was probably the very first scene. Again, I saw it clearly in my head and the words just absolutely flowed, but I particularly enjoyed it because of the context. At that point, the plane is about to crash, we have no idea there is such a thing as dragons, so the hilarity of the calm discussion from the dragon shifters as seen through my heroine Georgia’s eyes was comical in a tense situation.

What are you working on next?

I am currently working on another anthology. I am going to be signing at Tempted and Tantalizing in Staten Island on October 15, 2022. Readers can get more info here, including tickets: https://linktr.ee/TNTNYC Every year, this event puts out two exclusive collaborative anthologies, which are only available for purchase through a pre-order and at the event. Each individual story though will be available for purchase in e-book and paperback format. This year, we have Locked Up/Lawyered Up. I’ll be writing for Lawyered Up and I’ll be posting more details about this soon. What I can say, is that this story takes place in the same world as my Down In Flames story, which was in last year’s Pinched anthology.

What inspired your book/series?

Dragon Impact was actually part of the Fate’s Call anthology. All the proceeds went to a lovely fellow author, Ava Campbell. Her family had been in a very bad car accident. The element that tied the stories in the anthology together was a wedding that took place fairly quickly in honor of Ava’s sweet story with her husband. They got married less than two weeks after meeting and have been together for many years.

Who is your favorite character from your book and would you get along?

Well… Angel is a super-hot, protective, dragon shifter. I think we’d get along very well. Maybe he could help me get over my fear of heights.

If you could live anywhere, in this world or fantasy, where would you live?

I would definitely pick a fantasy world. I’d love to live in the Harry Potter Universe, go to Hogwarts, and do some shopping in Diagon Alley. Would also be nice to wave a wand and have the house clean itself.

How do you come up with the title to your books?

Sometimes it just pops into my head, other times I just brainstorm using key elements of the book I’m working on. If it’s a series, I may come up with the titles for all the books at once. I actually need to know the title before writing or it will block me from writing. I may end up changing the title later, but I need a working title, otherwise my brain will be stuck on it.

What authors or books have influenced your writing?

Probably all of the ones I’ve read and loved have influenced me in some way. There are those types of books just stay with you long after you’ve read them, forever even.

What is your favorite meal?

I love Thanksgiving dinner. I look forward to that every year. It’s the only time I ever really eat Turkey other than in cold-cut form. Add the cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and then dessert—so much dessert.

Coffee or tea? Wine or beer?

Definitely Coffee. I can’t promise to be pleasant without it. Wine, preferable sweet, or semi-sweet. I recently had a wine slushy for the first time…YUM!

Describe yourself in three words.

Introverted, Kind, Nerdy.