Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Elizabeth
Hi Laura, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey of writing island mysteries began one April day, many years ago, as I waited to board the ferry to Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, for the very first time. My son assured me, in a knowing voice, we would be back at that exact spot many more times. He felt what I felt: the wonder, the pull that only this special place offered us. We were captivated as a family. Through all of our vacations and adventures, we always left energized, restored, and whole again.
The island went through years of hard times including multiple resort bankruptcies, hurricanes, and other events that had significant economic impacts. Although I had spent years researching the history of various deals to try to understand how the island ended up in the spot it was in, I didn’t do anything with all that data until 2020. With more free time on my hands, my passion project was born!
With the knowledge I had and my experiences on Daufuskie, I tried to connect people who may be interested in learning more about the island in an effort to help with some of the challenges it faced. I connected with people all around the world and through this, I reconnected with someone who thought this story (of work done altruistically and anonymously) should be shared. He introduced me to a publisher who invited me to write about all the things I love about the island and to tell my story through the characters I developed and the community the built.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Without prior knowledge of the writing process and publishing industries (including book marketing), it has not been easy. There was a lot to learn and there has been significant financial, emotional and energy investments to bring these stories to life. Finding ways to crack into a very crowded genre has been very challenging.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Being an author is just one thing that I do professionally. I have an extensive career in business serving in the insurance, healthcare and sports marketing industries. I have worked in businesses of all sizes and in several states on the east coast. I firmly believe that my professional experiences have all helped prepare me for the role of an author – which includes serving as your own “small business operator”.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always looking for new distribution channels for my work. My stories have been turned into Murder Mystery Dinner Theater productions and my ultimate goal is to have these stories brought to other media. I am particularly interested in small screen avenues. I would love for people to connect with me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter (www.theislandmysteries.com) to learn more about my events. People have contacted me about touring the island to see the spots that inspire my writing and I have also taught a few classes on character development and book distribution. I am open to exploring ideas and ways to introduce the island to new readers and visitors.
Pricing:
- a paperback edition is $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theislandmysteries.com
- Instagram: theislandmysteries
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theislandmysteries/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-elizabeth-923704266/
