Author Ellen McGinty Interview

booktalkwithbookis
Sep 9
3 min read

What three words would you use to describe your writing style?

Lyrical, Vivid, Imaginative

You have a Kickstarter going for The Last Wayfinder! What should readers expect from this book / project?

Expect a dark, hopeful, arctic adventure with a touch of slow-burn romance AND a beautiful cover! The Kickstarter edition is just gorgeous thanks to all the artists who worked on it!

You had to fight to get your rights back from a publisher and now self-publish your books. How did you feel when you finally had your rights back?

Relief! So much relief. It honestly felt like coming out of an abusive relationship. I had to learn to walk again, so to speak, and quickly. That part was stressful, but so many authors came alongside to help me. Self-publishing opened doors I wouldn't have had otherwise. I built new friendships. I got to make my books better than before. I see self-publishing on the rise and competing in the same spaces as traditional books, and that's exciting.

What are some red flags authors should look out for before signing a publishing contract?

I highly recommend joining an organization like the Authors Guild or ALLi before signing with a publisher. They have legal resources for authors and may even review contracts. Some things to keep in mind:

1) Always get contracts reviewed by industry professionals. Rights matter. Don’t sign them away without double-checking

2) Check watchdog groups like Writers Beware. But also know that new publishers likely won’t have complaints on file yet.

3) Measure value added. Can you do the same self-publishing?

4) Be wary of overly broad nondisparagement clauses and NDAs

5) Does the owner have a side hustle? Are they publishing their own books under the same publishing house?

These are just a few suggestions. You can find more publishing red flags here: https://writerunboxed.com/2023/02/24/when-your-publishing-contract-flies-a-red-flag-clauses-to-watch-out-for/

https://writerbeware.blog/2024/07/26/evaluating-publishing-contracts-six-ways-you-may-be-sabotaging-yourself-2/

Which character or theme do you most identify with from Saints and Monsters?

Meera. I wrote Saints & Monsters while going through an autoimmune flare and very much identified with her struggle to want to be functional, to be worthy. There will always be people who misunderstand and judge those with unseen illness, and that’s not easy to navigate.

How has your time living in Japan inspired your writing?

Japan deeply inspires my writing. It’s my home. I’ve been in Japan for over 8 years, and it’s the longest I’ve lived in one place consecutively. I still love the US, but when I go back to visit, I notice how Japanese I’ve become. I’ll always be “third culture” and live in that odd place between, where I don’t fit in completely with either culture, and that’s okay. I write from that place. My books are fantasy but infused with Japanese history, seasons, and ideas. The Meiji Restoration era in Japan was a time of East meets West, which feels like my daily life, so that's where I draw inspiration.

Why was it so important for you to hire a human narrator for your audiobook, instead of using AI?

I believe that the writing world is, first and foremost, a community. I want to support others in this space. When I think of writers struggling with the influx of AI-generated books, I immediately think of the artists, editors, and voice actors who are losing work too. Those human creators do a better job than AI because they put their heart into their work. Jane Maree narrated Saints & Monsters and did a phenomenal job! It was a Realm Award Finalist!

How do you feel about readers messaging you to tell you they loved your book?

I love it when readers message me about my books or post about them on socials! It can be discouraging to be an author at times, but knowing that readers enjoy my books inspires me to keep going!

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