Elsa Joseph is the author of Best Kept Secret and Dylan’s Cozydoze. She gained her writing degree at London South Bank University, UK.

From an early age, Elsa had an ambition to be a writer. She often tried her hand at writing by entering writing contests, although little came from her early efforts.

Besides her love of writing, Elsa has a passion for theatre and sits on the committee of a community theatre group which promotes new writing and encourages people to go to the theatre regularly.

Elsa draws inspiration for her books from travelling, art, theatre, reading and conversations with friends.

Living in London proves to be inspirational to Elsa as she sits at her desk in her office where she writes her stories and can merely look out the window at the hustle and bustle of city life to renew her creativity.

Elsa strives to make stories with interesting plots and beautiful scenery. Characters with great strengths and weaknesses that readers can identify and fall in love with.

 Where are you from?
I’m from London, UK.

 Why do you write? 
There’s no better way to escape daily life than to engulf yourself in fiction. This is why I write. Fictional worlds are just way more interesting than real life.

 What do you write about? 
I write about love and romance.

 Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m very descriptive in my writing. I like using metaphors, as well as adjectives, adverbs, and language that activates the reader’s senses.

 What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 
Time! I work part-time and sometimes it can be tricky finding the time to write.

 What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?
A reader once described one of my books as: “chick lit” which I found amusing.

 How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since age ten.

  When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
When I was in sixth form college studying English Language & Literature.

 What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I tend to write at weekends. I wake up very early and head down to my local coffee shop. I prefer to write in the morning because my head is full of words, and I just need to get onto my laptop and start dumping them into a file. I always wake with sentences pouring into my head. So getting to my laptop every day feels like a long emergency. It’s a funny thing: people often ask how I discipline myself to write. For me, the discipline is turning off the laptop and leaving the coffee shop to do something else.

 What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I often write in my local coffee shop so I have to have a cup of coffee sitting on my table to sip.

 How long does it take to write a book?
My latest book Chloe After Dark took one year to write.

 Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?
I think any aspiring writer should join a writing group. The purpose of a writing group is encouragement and improvement for all members.

 What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story? Cliché or not, I have experienced writers block. I’ve sat at my laptop for hours not knowing what to write next and stuck for ideas.

 What do you think makes a good story?
The key elements of a good story include:
Conflict
Tension
Surprise
Extraordinary characters or character behaviour
Controversy
Mystery
Suspense

 What does your family think of your writing? 
My family are very supportive. They are always asking me what my next project is?

 Do you see writing as a career?
Yes, most definitely!

 Do you have anything specific you’d  like to tell the readers?
My new book Chloe After Dark is out now. If you like your romance novels dark and mysterious then you’ll love Chloe After Dark.

 When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always considered myself a writer. Once you can write, you’re a writer.

Visit Elsa’s page here www.elsajoseph.co.uk