Interview and Giveaway: River Home by Elle Keaton

Lisa: We’re so pleased to welcome author Elle Keaton to The Novel Approach today to celebrate the release of her new novel, River Home, book five in the Accidental Roots series. Thanks for joining us, Elle!

Elle: Thank you for having me today!

Lisa: Let’s start off today by having you tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.

Elle: My favorite ice cream is vanilla. Right? All those flavors and I like vanilla. Go figure.

Lisa: What’s your favorite scene in River Home, and what makes it a fave?

Elle: Oh wow. The first one that comes to mind is when (trying to keep this from being a spoiler) Nate comes to get Miguel when Miguel thinks he has no one to turn to. For me, I love the open honesty of Nate’s character, he can’t believe Miguel didn’t reach out to him and he is honestly hurt. I’ve always loved Miguel but Nate really got me here – it was something I didn’t expect. Nate is probably the most honest character I have ever written.

Lisa: Would you care to share an excerpt from the scene with us?

The Excerpt: “…Why didn’t you tell them where you were? It would have saved a lot of back and forth.”

“I didn’t think it was my place to out you.”

Nate stopped straightening and gathering the papers up. He looked Miguel directly in the eyes and, without flinching, asked, “Did last night mean so little to you? Because, for me, it was big. Like, more than I can get my head around right now, but big, and not something I will ever deny. I’m not that person.”

“I just—no, it didn’t mean that little. I was trying to protect you.”

Nate’s expression softened. “Can we finish this conversation outside of the police station? Thank you for trying to protect me. I’m a big boy, I knew what we were doing,” he leaned closer, whispering against the shell of Miguel’s ear, “and I’d like to do it again, if you agree.””

Lisa: Thanks for the tease! Now, let’s move on to something completely different. If you could spend some real-life time with one of the characters in the book, who would you choose and why?

Elle: As much as I love Miguel (and I do, I’m team Miguel all the way), I think he would probably make me a little nervous – even with all his hangups he is a wild card, a little crazy and unpredictable. I’d love to sit down with Nate and chat with him about life the universe and everything. I think he is very smart, smarter than he gives himself credit for.

Lisa: On the flipside, which character would you probably least get along with? Why?

Elle: Probably Joey James (first in Storm Season then featured in No Pressure). He kind of drives me crazy. Joey doesn’t always think before he acts – or before he opens his mouth. He’s getting better though, and Buck is good for him but we’d probably only be acquaintances.

Lisa: Let’s take off your author cap and put on your reader cap for a moment: what do you look for in a book, what sort of protagonists do you love, and do you have a favorite genre/sub-genre?

Elle: I love books where the characters change for the better, they learn something about themselves and work to make their life a better place to be. Characters can have all sorts of personalities, but I can’t stand it if they whine about life but don’t try to actively change.

I read and enjoy almost everything. I tend to go through phases: all contemp, then all sci-fi and fantasy then historical. I’m on a fantasy kick right now.

Lisa: What are your least and most favorite things about being an author?

Elle: There’s nothing I don’t like about being an author. It is a life dream come true. That said, since I am indie – I hate the promo. Not stuff like this but the day-to-day remembering if I posted here or there. Trying to figure out the algorithms for certain large companies. I’d much rather just write. Oh, also – I hate query letters and novel synopsis. Every once in a while, I think I’ll submit something to a publisher and make myself do these things. Hateful or not it is a good way to find out if what you are writing makes sense.

Lisa: Let’s pretend you’re taking a road trip, and you can choose any three of your characters to go with you. First, who would you want on the ride-along, and why them? Second, who would be most likely to:

Elle: I love this question!

*Have to hit every rest stop bathroom: This would probably be Joey James, he’s a smart guy but I’m pretty sure he has trouble sitting still. He probably wouldn’t actually have to go to the bathroom just need to get out and stretch his legs.

*Whine about how long it’s taking to get where you’re going: Ok, this is a little harder but I’m gonna put Adam Klay in the hot seat for this one. He isn’t the most patient person. He would probably be okay as long as he was the one driving or Micah was at the wheel. Even then he would probably have a ‘better’ route all mapped out.

*Break wind with the windows rolled up: None of them are confessing to this…but they are all pointing fingers.

*Flip incessantly through songs on their music app: This is a tie between Buck Swanfeldt and Miguel Ramirez. Buck because he is an oldies fan and Miguel because he is a fan of everything. Buck has his say in the shop all the time, Miguel would try and take over on a road trip.

Lisa: If you could travel back in time, with all your years of experience and wisdom intact, what advice would you give to your teenage self?

Elle: In all seriousness I would tell me, listen to your heart, it is way smarter than you. Do it!

Lisa: If you were to sit down and write your autobiography today, what would the title be?

Elle: Don’t Panic with the subtitle of Watch This. As a young person I always worried about the future about what people thought of me (still do, a little) and now I mostly don’t care. If I don’t do IT now I may never get the chance, I don’t want to be a bitter old lady!

Lisa: Thanks again so much for dropping by today, Elle!

Elle: Thanks again for having me today, it was great to talk with you! :)

About River Home

If you don’t know what you want, would you recognize it if you found it?

Miguel Ramirez is the definition of pochos; a half-breed-white-washed Mexican–American who doesn’t speak Spanish (also unapologetically bisexual). Three years ago he arrived in Skagit a broken man having barely managed to escape an abusive relationship. Slowly, he’s rebuilt his life. He’s tried hard to discard his deepest desires and be happy with what life has doled out. Family feels out of his grasp, no one really wants to keep a stray after all. Except, maybe, a red-haired stranger with a galaxy of freckles covering his face who seems to encompass everything Miguel’s learned to avoid.

Nate Richardson; focused, solid, reliable, career-minded, Federal Agent. No time for relationships outside of work. Then he runs into Miguel with his crazy green eyes, rakish smile and outrageous sense of humor. Nate starts thinking about Miguel as more than just another guy. Nate was sure he didn’t care about sex and didn’t believe in love…he’d never met Miguel Ramirez before.

Things quickly heat up between Nate and Miguel. Crime is heating up in Skagit as well. Nate is sidelined when the case he is working on reaches a frustrating standstill. In the meantime, unnerving incidents transpire, some literally on Nate’s doorstep. Will outside forces—or their own baggage—keep Miguel and Nate apart? What exactly is family, and can Miguel and Nate make one of their own?

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About the Author

Author, photographer, rare Pacific Northwest Native, Elle grew up in Seattle, WA., with the Cascade Mountain range to the east and Olympics to the west. Less than two hours northwest lie the majestic San Juan Islands. To the northeast is the Methow Valley and the scrub deserts of Eastern Washington. Geography ripe with material.

A graduate of Western Washington University, Elle has a BS in biology which taught her to be tenacious. The closest she has come to biology since then is having two kids. Like an experiment or something. She’s lived in four states (none of which were gaseous), London England, and Hong Kong; always knows what time it is, and has no problem finding parking even in the most difficult places. Cannot balance a checking account.

Elle’s series Accidental Roots, mostly set in the Skagit Valley of Western Washington, will make its debut spring of 2017. Storm Season is tender, sometimes irreverent, full of nosy neighbors and help when the hero didn’t think he needed it. Writing has always been a passion but not something she was able to take seriously until recently. Now her head is full of ideas and not enough time in each day.

Connect with Elle: Website || Facebook || Twitter

The Giveaway

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