Meet Ellen McGinty | YA Fantasy Author and Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellen McGinty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Authors often dread the question, “So, do you write books?” Because it’s often asked with the assumption that writing is a creative outlet only, a hobby to fill the gaps in our day. This couldn’t be further from the truth. To be a successful indie author, you must be the CEO, marketing executive, administrator, publicist, and don’t forget the intern who refills the coffee–arguably the most important job! Publishing is a business, albeit one that runs on creativity and passion.

Of course, it doesn’t start that way for most writers. I started writing graphic novels in elementary school because I just loved story! But there comes a time in every writer’s journey when you have to decide if this author dream is the path for you. Do you want to learn the mechanics of the trade, the marketing, the editing and sharpening of your stories to make it a business? If so, why? For me, the answer came down to one thing: READERS. It’s terrifying to share my heart, my words, with complete strangers, but I want my stories to bless people. To bring a smile. To mean something. Books have changed my life and still do. But to reach people beyond my inner circle, I needed to turn my writing into a creative business.

That dream developed further when I opened my own freelance editing business to help other authors achieve their dreams too!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been writing stories as long as I could remember. Words were my friends–quiet, spunky friends–I could carry in my pockets as my military family moved again and again and AGAIN. The TCK (third culture kid) life wasn’t an easy one, but it made me resilient and gave me a strong affinity for books. I remember getting in trouble for reading beneath my desk at school until the third-grade teacher saw my copy of Call of the Wild and decided to let me keep reading. But it never occurred to me that reading and writing could become a job, so I didn’t pursue it. Surely, people didn’t pay you to make something so beautiful as books?

So I studied Intercultural Studies and Spanish in University, gradated in Spain, and then continued my TCK life until I landed in Texas where I met a group of authors at my local bookstore. I dared bring a page of my writing and they took me under their wings. Some of these authors had more than twenty books under their name and had worked with Big 5 Publishers. It was a formative experience in my writing life doing weekly meetings with those amazing authors. They helped break down walls of doubt and give me courage to try to write something to publish. Not long after, I found my first literary agent.

But things don’t always go as we plan. I struggled with mental health, continued moving as many TCKs often do, and found it difficult to finish the next story. Postpartum depression and autoimmune illness didn’t exactly help either. As I stepped back to revaluate my writing and priorities, I realized that it was important to me to keep going. Even if it didn’t make money, didn’t make sense in a profit-driven world, it gave me joy and a sense of purpose to write. And it could make a profit in the long run, I just needed to commit and make sure that my priorities were in the right place. Family first. Then dream-building.

Once I made that decision to keep going, the words began to flow. Now I’ve signed my debut YA fantasy SAINTS AND MONSTERS, a novel about an autoimmune-compromised princess who must steal a dragons heart to save her kingdom from invaders. I also have a duology releasing next year, and two short stories in charity anthologies promoting causes I adore. I also teach kids to write and mentor other authors. My TCK history and my love of culture infuses all my stories, and I hope it will be an encouragement and inspiration to others like me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I currently live in Japan, so there is no end of exciting places to explore! I’m also celiac which limits the places I can eat out at, but coffee is my go-to. It’s definitely a food group. Whenever people visit, I always take them to Blue Bottle or Oni Bus coffee, show them around Mt. Fuji, and, if they are lucky enough–cherry blossom picnics! For the adventurous at heart, I always recommend onsen, the Japanese hot spring bath. Fun fact: I have onsen in every single book and short story I’ve written. Public bathing might sound weird, but its a calm, respectful outing in Japan, and it’s said to be quite healthy too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m incredibly grateful to authors who’ve come alongside me on this writing journey. They say that writing takes a tribe and it’s true! I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the encouragement of other authors. The publishing journey is a lot like the hobbits trek to Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings. It’s plagued with step learning curves, rejections, and staring at blank pages for countless hours on end. But it’s also full of community, friendship, and laughter. Shoutout to Nova McBee, the award-winning author of the Calculated Series, for always cheering me on, and to Moriah Chavis, author of Heart of the Sea, for championing my stories and recommending this interview!

Website: www.ellenmcginty.com

Instagram: @ellenmcginty_author

Image Credits
Ellen McGinty.