Hi everyone! Today we're adding Elisa Marie Hopkins to my list of Author Idols. Elisa has written two books so far in her Diamond in the Rough series, and I LOVE IT. The first book I got through a goodreads giveaway. Y'all know I typically don't do romance because I feel like there's no plot, but as fate would have it Diamond in the Rough and Black Diamond were both books I was loathe to put down. We're talking hermit level bumped up to ten. Coworkers were ignored. Customers were dealt with swiftly. Lunch was barely eaten. If you click the pictures below, it should take you to each book's amazon page.
What is your favorite food?
Is it too Mexican of me if I say Mexican, lol? I would eat tacos any day of the week. I also indulge in pasta and sushi. You know, carbs.
What is your family like?
My mom is my biggest cheerleader and my best friend, and I get success secrets from my dad. I have two younger brothers who are my homies, and a 10-year-old bulldog who lives for belly rubs. We are all super close.
Who is your best friend?
I have so many best friends. Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley. Mindy Kaling, Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer, Jenna Marbles. Oh, and Lisa Simpson. Does she count? Elisa, be serious. You don’t even know these people! My best friends are people who are with me through thick and thin, who love me and support me no matter what. Most importantly, people who get me. My mother is on the top of the list. I, fortunately or unfortunately, know a lot of people but I don’t have many genuine friendships just because it’s very rare for me to find someone whom I can really talk to and relate myself with. I hate small talk; I don’t want to be asked what’s up. I want to talk about the world, political instability, what life means, what happens after we die. In my relationships I seek depth, and God knows that doesn’t come by very often.
How long do you spend on Social Media every week?
There’s a joke online that goes, “does running social media count as cardio?” If that were the case, I’d have the body of a supermodel.
Where do you get inspiration for your books?
J.K. Rowling answered this in an interview once and it was spot-on. “The inspiration factory!” People inspire me, failed relationships, movies, books, pain, injustice, discrimination, rain, a meadow of flowers, sunsets—anything that breathes life into me.
I’ve seen you post fan-made earrings, shirts, etc. on your Facebook. What is your favorite fan-made craft?
Anything that readers create with their hands makes me want to sit down and cry. I especially love a pair of ADITR earrings.
What is the most unfortunate thing about being a writer?
I could write a book on this. For me, it would have to be insecurity and self-deprecation. That horrible voice in my head going “what are you doing,” you’re a joke,” “you should quit.” Even now as I sit here and write, I’m thinking, “I suck,” “I’m the worst,” “people only like reading erotica.” I’ve been an author for seven months now and I’m always telling everyone it’s absolutely terrifying. You have to put yourself out there. Writing is about being vulnerable, intimate, and personal, and we put so much of ourselves into our craft, it’s actually dangerous if we think about it. For a long time I was a closeted writer. I was afraid to come out and say I have a blog, I wrote a book. Bottom line, if anyone reads my books, you know everything about me. Well, maybe not my favorite color or that sort of thing, but you know my soul. And it’s incredibly scary and mindboggling to be naked before strangers. You know, because people judge. At the same time though, it’s liberating. You can’t afford to not have faith in yourself, in whatever you do, not just in writing. But especially in writing, you gotta be strong and believe.
What is the most awesome thing about writing?
Connecting with readers. And I don’t just mean saying hi and talking to random strangers about your writing, but having a connection with someone you don’t even know. Making them feel something. The first time I learned about someone who cried reading A Diamond in the Rough, I was like WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING?
Whenever people ask me about my characters, I feel like we’re talking about people that we know who just live in a different world. The paper world. I think characters in general are people with problems like ours, feelings like ours, personalities likes ours. Call me crazy! Jodi Picoult says writing is successful schizophrenia because she gets paid to hear voices in her head. I don’t claim to know my characters to perfection. I think it’s amazing when someone can tell me something about my characters that I didn’t even know.
The last time I was in New York, I was walking on the ADITR trail, as I like to cheesily call it (actual places and locations written about in the book), and the characters were playing out in the scenery around me. This is where Sophie likes to eat, this is where Oliver lives, etc. I felt like I was going to bump into them. It was too real. Again, call me crazy!
Where do you most want to travel to?
Psh, everywhere. If I had to choose a region, I would say the Middle East-ish. I need to ride a camel across the Sahara desert, visit the Taj Mahal, roll around in the Dead Sea. I’m dying to meet a mummy and stare into the eyes of the Sphinx in Egypt. Check out the Parthenon in Greece. Oh, and Japan. Japan kills me with its culture, cherry blossoms, temples, and Zen gardens. It wouldn’t hurt if I meditated on Mount Fuji. Man, I need to start travelling like yesterday. Any willing companions?
What is your favorite scent?
Freshly printed books, new cars, puppies, a real Christmas tree. Don’t tell anyone I said so, but petrol smells soooo good.
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