BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Eleanor’s Gift

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Isis Sousa to talk about Eleanor’s Gift (30 October 2015, Tragic Books, 54 pages) a Gothic Dark Fantasy Paranormal Horror.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Tour Stops >

A very warm welcome to artist and author Isis Sousa. Thank you for joining us today.

Here at BooksChatter we love music, so Isis Sousa has shared with us her music playlist for Eleanor’s Gift... which happens to kick off with a band I really love - enjoy!

Solitary Man – HIM
A song which represents very well Lord Welton, a very solitary guy…
Temptation – Cradle of filth
Rosette has a strange power over Lord Welton sometimes…
Spellbound – Lacuna Coil
How Lord Welton feels when Rosette’s presence takes over his mind.
Strangelove – Depeche Mode
A song for Lord Welton and Rosette
Strange Little Girl – Tori Amos
A song for little Ellwyn.
Once My Light – Sirenia
It fits the mood of the deaths and losses in the story

What was the inspiration for Eleanor’s Gift?

"There were many things, but three of them I can list as main influence/inspiration. The first one was the illustration of the cover (more about it on question 3), the idea that I could have a dark short story out during Halloween, for the sake of fun… and Gothic Literature classics, which are an eternal source of admiration and inspiration for me."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"That would be a lot, really. For the autumn season and environment in the story, I got the ideas of my day by day, the area where I live in Mid-Norway. As for character traits, both leads, Lord Welton and Eleanor Rosette, they have contrasting aspects of my own personality. Lord Welton is pensive, skeptical, intellectual, introspective. Rosette is mysterious, compassionate, and sometimes instinctive."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover, and I just had part of this tour once I saw your cover for Eleanor's Gift. Can you tell us about it - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Yay! Very nice that you like the cover :) I did it myself! (I am an illustrator who writes by accident.) Initially it was done as a study to hone my art skills and have a new portfolio piece, through the “Flavor of the month” session of John Howe’s forum. (If you’re not familiar with his name, he is one of the main concept artists who worked at The Lord of The Rings & Hobbit movies, also artist who have done Tolkien book covers and illustrated his universe).

Months later, in the beginning of October this year, I had the idea for the story and used the illustration as cover."

Why should we read Eleanor’s Gift and what sets it apart from the rest?

"Tough question, I must say! Readers who like speculative Fiction / Gothic Fiction will certainly be the most interested. The story has a certain degree of mystery, a little bit of the domestic life of the Victorian Era, a pinch of lust and a touch of darkness. It also has some illustration sketches. Perhaps a combination of them all can make Eleanor’s Gift a cozy quick read for your evening or rainy day."

Can you tell us something quirky about Eleanor’s Gift, its story and characters?

"There are a few things. Lord Welton is a name mentioned on Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. I liked the sonority and used it for my lead.

Eleanor is a medieval name and there are famous women who had that name along History. Because my character is from an old lineage – and whose age is obscurely old as well, I thought that was a suitable name.

There are other things… But I don’t want to spoil the story ^.^"

Who would you recommend Eleanor’s Gift to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"To anyone who like short reads, dark and classic stuff. People should be aware that there are some deaths in the story, and a scene where the lead male is mesmerized to oblige the lust of the female lead. But this is nothing out of the (extra)ordinary of the genres Dark Fantasy and Gothic."

If you could / wished to turn Eleanor’s Gift into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Hm… I would love to have Tim Burton to direct most scenes, and Ridley Scott to direct a few scenes with “the creature”. I’d like the photography/art direction with Rafael Lacoste (Assassin’s Creed games) and I could contribute with my ideas sometimes… And I’d love to do the concept art and costume design.

Snillfjord, where I live could be the ideal location for external scenes…

Eleanor Rosette would be Jodi Lyn O’Keefe and Lord Welton would be played by Tony Curran :)"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I like to write Dark Fiction, sometimes speculative, sometimes psychological, sometimes off beat, all with a Gothic twist. To be honest, I don’t like the craft of writing, at all. I’d prefer the words would write themselves as I think of the story… :D I like to read the genres I write. However, I prefer classics 99% of the time. Modern fiction has something banal, shallow and trendy to it, in most cases… Ew!"

What is your writing process?

"Chaos. I write when it fits my busy artist schedule – and it can take a whole year before I write down a story I have been imagining or dreaming about. I like to seat comfortably in an armchair or lay in the sofa… And I listen to music and take notes in a sketch book while typing. ^.^"

What is in store next?

"I have many ideas popping up in my head and a few stories that are screaming out loud to be written. Next year I have in store the third book of “A Cold-Hearted Phoenix” series, which mixes screenwriting with prose. I will also write another illustrated novella (50-60K words), which promises to be very moody and atmospheric."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"My favorite thing or special thing… That would be my computer and graphic tablet :D My best friends and companions after my husband. It is with them that I create universes, world of beautiful shapes and colors."

I do like your workstation... especially your big double monitors! :-)

"Many thanks for this amazing opportunity to be at BookChatters and keep up with the great work of reviews for the reading community and supporting the indie authors’ scene :D"