An Alternative Author Interview:

TCL’s Countdown Questions.

This week I’m featuring author
Elise Hooper!

I’ve had my eye on Elise Hooper’s books for some time now, but I never got the chance to read her books until I got the ARC for her third novel, Fast Girls (link to my review). I was so impressed by that book that I now know I need to read her back-list. Let’s see her replies to my five, fast, and fun questions.

• If you could visit five (5) places you’ve never been, where would you go and why?

As soon as I started working on FAST GIRLS, I knew I needed to go to the Olympics someday, so that’s not exactly a place, more of a thing, but it’s currently my #1 pick. #2 is Vietnam because it looks beautiful and has a fascinating history. #3 is Rome because I’ve been all over Italy, but never Rome so I need to fill in that gap. #4 is a wildlife safari in Africa and #5 is Argentina because it just sounds amazing.

Photo: Etai Chazan

Photo: Etai Chazan

Photo: Etai Chazan

• Name four (4) foods or dishes that you enjoy so much that they’ve practically become part of your personality.

Since I live in the Pacific Northwest where it’s often dreary and chilly, I love spicy Thai food and am always eager to try new dishes. I also enjoy Mexican food for the same reason. I’m not a very good cook, but I do make great carnitas tacos. French toast for breakfast is a favorite too. I’m also a dessert person and can never get enough ice cream.

• There is the past, the present, and the future – if you could choose, which of these three (3) would you prefer to live in, and why?

The past, that’s why I enjoy writing historical fiction!

• Best and/or worst – you choose which – name two (2) of either your best moments of your life, worst moments of your life, or one of each.

I have great and sometimes not-so-great moments every day and try to focus on moving forward and learning.

• Name one (1) book you’ve read in the past year (or so) that you wish you had written, and why.

I loved Winter Sisters by Robin Oliveira and was so impressed by how she wrote such a masterful historical thriller.

Thanks Elise! Those pictures of the wildlife safari were taken by my son Etai in Tanzania. All three of my kids have been on these (but not me). Me? I’m more of a Rome person, and I hope you get there soon – I love it! By the way, I also enjoyed Winter Sisters!

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

“I grew up in New England as a bonafide bookworm. My love of reading, paired with an overly active imagination, led me to believe I was born in the wrong era. Instead of living in the ‘80s, I was supposed to be traveling across the prairie in a covered wagon (Laura Ingalls), chasing fauns through Narnia (Susan or Lucy Pevensie), or exploring Prince Edward Island in “puffed sleeves” (Anne Shirley); instead I crossed town in a station wagon to chase field hockey balls and wore Tretorns to explore the mall, all while dreaming of leading a more storied existence somewhere like Thornfield Hall, Manderley, or Tara.

“After eventually moving to the West coast and attending graduate school, I started teaching high school English and history and writing whenever I had the chance. My main characters tend to be based on the lives of real women who have been frequently overlooked in history books. Many of these women, like May Alcott, Dorothea Lange, Betty Robinson, Helen Stephens, and Louise Stokes can help us better understand the past and draw important connections to our own times.”

A native New Englander, Elise spent several years writing for television and online news outlets before getting a MA and teaching high-school literature and history. She now lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters. Elise is the author of three novels: The Other Alcott (2017), Learning to See (2019) and Fast Girls (2020).