An Interview with Hellcat Author Ella J. Smyth

1. How did you get started writing?

As far back as I can remember, I was a reader. Funny enough, books didn’t appeal to me at all. My parents had the genius idea to get me to read comics. For years, I read every comic I could get my hands on. In 1980s Germany, we were spoilt for choice. There was Asterix & Obelix, Lucky Luke, Tintin & Snowy, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, plus lots of local comic magazines.

Every time we went shopping, my parents would sit me in front of the magazine rack and pick me up an hour later when they were done. When my brother got married–he’s a good fifteen years older–I sat under the wedding table and read while the proceedings carried on without me.

It wasn’t until much later that I began to enjoy reading books without pictures. But once I did, I was hooked. Writing followed soon after. I didn’t get serious about making a career of it until I was nearly fifty. Frankly, I didn’t think it was possible. But then the indie revolution started, and I realized there was a hungry audience out there who shared my passion for new, exciting stories. I haven’t looked back.

2. Out of all your books, which one is your favourite and why?

I love Spirit Elfen, the second book in my Spirit Walker series. It is set in Heidelberg, Germany, a town I know intimately because I spent four glorious years there while studying for my English and Spanish degree.

Spirit Elfen allowed me to reminisce about the bars I partied in, the castle dominating the city scape, the banks of the river where we played frisbee and drank wine under the moonlight. It’s one of the most iconic and beautiful cities in the world. It was such a pleasure rediscovering the city through the eyes of my American heroes and allowing them to roam the ancient streets. I even used the old legend of the Heidenloch (Heathens’ Hole) to create a connection to the faerie realm. So much fun!

3. If your friends were asked to describe you in one word, what would it be?

I’ve been called hilarious, but that’s probably because I have no brain-mouth filter. It’s a genetic German condition, tempered by decades spent abroad. Plus, I often get the languages mixed up, so I sometimes drop innuendoes without even realizing it.

Like the time I was due for an appraisal at work. When I entered the room, my new boss seemed a little unsure which side of the table to sit on. To help him out, I said, “Would you like to do it over the table?” He stared at me for a few seconds, then replied, “I don’t think you meant to say that, did you?” I nearly died while he collapsed laughing on said table. The bastard.

4. What is your favorite thing to do outside of writing?

Reading, you won’t be surprised to learn. Also, writing has taken over my life. When I’m not writing, I’m reading about how to write. Or listen to writing podcasts. Or connect with writers’ friends.

If you’re ever bored, become a writer. It’s an obsession, comparable with golf. Looking at you, dear husband 🙂

5. What do you love most about the genre you write?

I’ve always loved fairy tales. That expanded into all kinds of fantasy literature, from Neverending Story to The Perfume by Patrick Suesskind. I studied Eva Luna by Isabel Allende in college which is one of the most gorgeous novels of magical realism I’ve ever read.

When I started writing, I knew magic would have to be part of my world. But I also love writing about my characters’ journey into adulthood. How young people grow in response to challenges is endlessly fascinating to me.

Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance allow me to combine all these themes. How does a young woman respond to finding out she has acquired a power so dangerous, she has to be locked up for her own good? And how does she respond when everything is stacked against her? Boom, instant conflict and excitement. I love those stories.

6. What do you want readers to take from your books?

I want them to find refuge in my stories. Life is brutal for so many of us right now. I want my readers to know there’s a place out there where they can experience excitement, adventure, love, and trust me as the writer to lead them to a happy end.

If they put the book down and say to themselves, “I was able to forget about my troubles for a few hours, and now I feel better,” I’ve done my job.

7. Describe yourself in 3 words.

Supportive, strong, compassionate.

8. What made you decide to write in your current genre?

I’m still writing in the same genres PNR and Urban Fantasy, but recently, I decided to write reverse harem. Initially, I was wary of the concept. I asked myself, how does this even work? How could one girl be emotionally connected to several men? Wouldn’t jealousy break them up?

What if the heroine just wants a bath while reading a book while her lovers whinge about whose turn it is?

But then I read a couple of the popular writers in the genre like Steffanie Holmes and Alex Lidell, and I realized that there was a lot more to the trope than just a whole bunch of guys lusting after one girl.

Many writers explore the societal acceptance of polyamory and LGBTQ themes. There are strong feminist undertones, and although there are books purely aimed at titillation (not that there’s anything wrong with that), most stories go far beyond that. They broadened my horizon and challenged me to dig much deeper into my characters’ journeys.

9. Tell us about your current release/or new release?

I’m working hard on a new series called Second Chance Academy. The heroine is seventeen-year-old Amber Whitman who is forced into a magical academy when she manifests destructive powers.

I love Amber because she’s so normal. She isn’t the Chosen One or has magic superior to others. Amber is a highschooler and really just an average kid.

I hope I succeeded in portraying her shock at her change in circumstance, but also her delight in discovering a whole new magical world. The three boys she meets and eventually falls in love with (I don’t think that’s a spoiler, given the trope) have all been through hard times in their lives. Each character has a backstory which will be revealed gradually throughout the series.

There are four books planned so far, and the story arcs will take account of the characters growing older and hopefully wiser.

Book 1 is finished. Book 2 is in edits. Book 3 is plotted, and I’m hoping to finish writing the first draft within the next month.

10. What does your writing space look like?

I work on a laptop perched on a stand so I can sit upright while I type. I have a bluetooth keyboard which makes clickety-clack sounds like an old-fashioned typewriter. Shoutout to Derek Murphy who was responsible for my keyboard envy when I saw his amazing wooden keyboard last year. I couldn’t quite stretch to a rosewood one, but mine is equally cool. Take that, Derek!

Our house is tiny, and because of Covid, my husband has claimed the office as his space since he has to work from home every day. I tend to write at the living room table, although I have a tiny desk in our bedroom. Unfortunately during the summer, it’s a case of finding a space cool enough to be able to write. So I tend to migrate from room to room and even into the cellar on particularly hot days.

My writing space tends to be a mess. I’ve got my bullet journal, various craft books, my Chicago Style Manual, pens, chocolate, phone, unpaid bills, and other papers strewn across the table. It’s not pretty. I blame my creative brain that prefers chaos wherever I go.

11. What’s the one piece of technology you can’t live without?

My laptop with the external SSD drive. It contains my life. Not just my books, cover art, plot outlines, and notes, but also my contacts, my photos, just everything that could possibly be stored digitally.

12. Do you find it hard to kill off your characters?

I’ve never killed off a main character. Villains need to die in my world, but they’re nasty and deserve it. Although, having said that, there will be a character death in my upcoming series. I won’t spoil anymore, though…

13. How much of your characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?

My early heroines are like I would love to be if I had the courage. In real life, I’d run like hell if I encountered what I put my characters through.

I’ve also been known to take revenge on past slights by writing those people as villains. Not so that anybody else might recognize them, but I know who they are…

14. What are you working on now? Can you share a teaser of it with our readers?

I’m working hard on a new series called Second Chance Academy. The heroine is seventeen-year-old Amber Whitman who is forced into a magical academy when she manifests destructive powers.

I love Amber because she’s so normal. She isn’t the Chosen One or has magic superior to others. Amber is a highschooler and really just an average kid.

Here is a teaser from the beginning of book one, Second Chance Fate:

“The door swung open, and a man in a black suit entered. I knew immediately this guy was a Fed. He even wore black sunglasses, for goodness’ sake. A walking cliché. I stared at him, trying to look behind the tinted glasses.

The man took a few steps until he stood directly in front of the table I was handcuffed to. I still couldn’t see his eyes, but I knew he was studying me. If I hadn’t felt so vulnerable and alone, I’d have rolled my eyes at the dramatic pause. And they say teenagers are drama queens.

I was just about to make a pithy comment when he took his glasses off. Sharp eyes in an ordinary face were trained on me.

“So you are the girl responsible for the death of three civilians.”

15. Is there one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing?

I would love to write a thriller. There would have to be romance in it, of course. And maybe something supernatural. But I grew up watching police procedurals, and I adore Miss Marple. Maybe a cozy?

It’s not something I’m planning at the moment because I’ll be busy with my upcoming series Second Chance Academy for at least through 2021, but who knows? As an Indie, I can decide what to write. If I fell in love with an idea, I might just go for it.