Xlibris Publishing is very proud to introduce Erin Eldridge, author of three Xlibris books that have since been picked up by traditional publishers: Ravening Heart of the Wolf, The Ivan, and Immortal Longings.
Please briefly describe your latest book.
My latest, and fourth, book is called Days of Insult. It will be released in the States by Ravenswood on April 30th 2017. It’s a war story with lots of action, suspense, adventure, and romance. The story is set on the Eastern Front in WW2, and filters the experience of the savage Soviet/German conflict through the eyes and experiences of a Russian youth caught up in the conflict, first as a partisan and then with the Red Army as it battles on into Europe.
This book probably has the biggest scope I’ve ever attempted and I had to include quite a lot of narrative to entrench the setting, both time and place, because there is no other fiction I know of about this period. I also had to do a lot of research about, for example, what it was like to serve in a Russian tank. Man, that really inflated my respect for those kids, and they were all kids, who fought as tank crews. Very sobering, and all this for a soulless State, which saw them as totally expedient.
Do you have any particular literary influences that have helped you develop in your genre, subject and style?
It’s essential for a writer to read. I read all the time, both fiction and non-fiction. I love history, especially WW2, so a lot of my books have historical settings and I won’t tamper with historical detail. I want my books to have a sense of authenticity so I embed my plots in carefully researched, accurate, historical settings.
I love so many writers, but some of my big favorites are Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Primo Levi, Diana Gabaldon, Frances Mayes.
You should also feel free to grab ideas and words that come your way. Even Shakespeare did this. Always be on the alert for that concept for a great story.
What inspired you to write your books, and how long did it take you to finish them?
I always wanted to write and I finally got around to it after the kids left home and I eased up on fulltime work. The stories were all bubbling away within and all I had to do was get them down, so I write fast. I published three books and completed a fourth one in eighteen months! I’ve got so many books I have to get written before I shuffle off this mortal coil that I probably won’t manage it. I like to choose unusual settings and combine my love of history with a good, strong storyline and memorable characters. My first book, Immortal Longings, has a contemporary setting though.
What is the one message you would like to convey to your readers?
Without wanting to sound cheesy, I would like them to take away the idea of the importance of love, how it gives our lives meaning amongst all the suffering humanity endures. I want people to feel uplifted by my themes. That’s why I hate dystopian literature, especially aimed at kids. I want my readers to have an emotional experience that challenges their humanity and gives them hope.
Xlibris Publishing will return with Erin Eldridge in Part 2.
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