Author Quint Emm Ellis is in the hot seat today and we’re chatting about her new contemporary Christian romance, For Better & For Worse.
During her virtual tour, Quint will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!
The book will be $0.99 during the tour.
Bio:
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison
Quint Emm Ellis enjoys penning plots centering around unabashedly nerdy, introverted, cinnamon-roll mantic, passionate, fallible women who happen to be black, who happen to be Christian, and who happen to love an uplifting and, possibly, inspirational story.
She enjoys listening to audio books, watching movies, finding great deals and spoiling her cat and dog rotten. Her dream is to be able to walk around in loose pajama pants all day and geek out while mastering niche crafts like music production, film editing and electro etching.
Welcome, Quint. Please tell us about your current release.
For Better & For Worse is a novella recounting the struggles of two people who loved one another as young adults, but who’s burgeoning romance hit a devastating hurdle. Now, middle-aged, the couple meets again; and though they both have seemingly moved forward with their aspirations, the question remains if the love they’d once shared was ever truly extinguished for good.
What inspired you to write this book?
In my prior installments in this series, I didn’t mention the leads’ difference in ethnicity. I’m not one to ignore how that can play a factor in some of the challenges interracial couples face, but I generally try to allow books to write themselves versus forcing the dialogue or conflict. This “second chance” storyline assembled itself and it was encouraging to have an opportunity to write two loving, vulnerable characters who spoke frankly about some of their conflicts while also acknowledging that their relationship is greater than any one issue.
And for this particular installment of the series, I was able to highlight circumstances where individuals find themselves in difficult situations. I get excited about the prospect of being able to proffer the question to others of “what might you do under the same circumstances?” At best, when answered thoughtfully, that question could serve as the basis for developing more mutually respectful & resilient relationships that support growth in all parties vs impede it.
Excerpt from For Better & For Worse:
She watched him visibly flinch before grinding his teeth, seemingly steeling himself against her onslaught.
She made a move to rise from the table.
“Now, Ashe,” he said, grasping her hand to stop her advancement. “We have to talk about this. If we’re going to work together you can’t just walk away again.”
“Me walk away? Again?” she hissed, looking up at her surroundings before calmly reclaiming her seat, glaring at him.
In as low a volume as she could muster she continued.
“You’re the one that walked away, Stephen. Well before I ever left.” And there it was; the quavering in her voice. The dreaded tightening of the throat that threatened to turn her words into the mewings of a lamb. But she couldn’t stop now. “And you didn’t feel the need to resolve things, then.” She wrenched her hand from his. “So if you have even an inkling of compassion reserved for me, don’t pretend to feel any obligation to patch things up, now.”
After managing to detangle her legs from the bench, she faced him. “As a matter of fact, the best thing you can do for me right now is leave me alone.”
She turned to stomp away, crashing into the muscled arm and shoulder of a man that’d been walking up to their table.
“Hey! Slow down there,” Luke grumbled good-naturedly as he steadied her with a gentle hand on her elbow.
Ashe swallowed, her eyes glistening even as her expression shifted from shock to embarrassment.
“Sorry,” she said quickly as she darted around him to continue her escape toward the house in search of a bathroom.
Stephen stood to follow her; but Luke smoothly slid his body to block his path.
“I’m telling you, Man. Whatever it is, it’s best to let it go for now.”
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m working on the final installment of this series, featuring Rachael. It will detail the romance of the most free-spirited member of The Sisterhood of the Tiny House Revolution.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
The first time someone signed up for my mailing list via the link I include in my books is the moment I felt like a writer. The fact that someone enjoyed what they had read enough to subscribe to more content from me was probably the number one validating experience I’ve had as a new author. I literally published my first romance just over a handful of months ago. So it’s all still very new for me. But I pray I’m always as grateful for each person that enjoys my book as I am now.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I had more time in the recent past, in which case I was able to spend full days creating, developing. Currently, I hold a full-time office job and feel blessed to get to work remotely. When I can, I’ll write during breaks at work; but often I will just allot a series of days to focus all of my free time on nothing but the work at hand.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Scenes will pop up in my head even before I know the whole story. I record them and, usually – somehow – I have a vague idea of the order they’ll go in. Because of this, I often end up playing “connect-the-scenes” as I write.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Content =)
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I just wanted to write books with women who I could relate with on different levels.
For Better & For Worse is the third novel in my series, The Sisterhood of the Tiny House Revolution. And, yes, the series’ name is a nod to the well-known YA series depicting one thing binding together four very different women, their experiences and outlooks.
My books offer me an opportunity to depict black women who (1) express different forms of introversion; (2) are grappling with a desire for a sincere relationship with the Lord, in juxtaposition to their insecurities, ambitions, shortcomings and desires; and (3) don’t have it all together, really, but instead rely on help from others to navigate it all in one sane and whole piece.
And in this series, specifically, I get to showcase black women who really dig tiny houses, too!
Links:
Website | Bookbub | Amazon | Facebook
The book will be $0.99 during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
Thank you for sharing my work and allow me to share a bit about myself, as well!
nice excerpt
Thank you! Selecting the best scenes to share can be quite the challenge.