Monday, January 23, 2012

Interview with Elisabeth Allen



You are so Welcome! First of all, would you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
 My name is Elisabeth Allen. I can't remember a time when I didn't believe in Christ. Today I'm twenty-seven years old and a writer.

I would love to visit England someday. Can you describe the area you live in?
I think you'd love England. I may, however, be somewhat baised! :) I love the hills and woods. The hills are described as "rolling" and that's because, well, they roll for as far as the eye can see. The woods are cool and green and beautiful as well as ancient and mysterious. There are narrow, twisty lanes and tiny villages. There are lots of beautiful birds and fascinating creatures like hedgehogs - think of Mrs Tiggywinkle!


What is your favorite thing about living in England?
I don't have ONE favorite thing about England! Some of my favorite things about my country are ... the countryside, the history, the potential. I also love the fact that we have a Royal Family! :)

What started you writing?
I'm not really sure what got me started. I wrote my first story when I was four years old and just kept writing! I was always imagining and telling stories to myself - the sort that began, "What if there was a girl like THIS and THIS happened and ... ?" I wrote all through my childhood and teenage years and finally decided to write for publication. I felt that it was a good way to the use the gift for writing that God had given me and I wanted to reach girls and touch their hearts - to encourage them in life.

What was your favorite part of your homeschool experience?
Oh ... there are SO many things that I love about my homeschool experience! I loved being at home with my sisters; my parents poured their lives into our education and my sisters and I were encouraged by our parents to explore and discover and wonder. I read hundreds of books and studied at the kitchen table but I also learned a lot about life through living.

Is Charity anything like you?
There's a little bit of me in ALL my heroines and, like me, Charity is English, a girl, a homeschooler, the oldest daughter in her family ... and she has brown hair. I almost made her a red head at the last moment before publication! :)

What have people been saying about the Charity books?
I've been so blessed by the kind things that people have said about Charity and her story. I love it when girls say that Charity is a kindred spirit; that's exactly how I wanted them to feel. The other thing that thrills me is people saying that Charity's journey of faith has encouraged them to walk more closely with God.

Tell us about your upcoming book "The Abolitionist"!
I'm so excited about "The Abolitionist"! :) This is Anna Ashwell's story - inspired by "Pride and Prejudice" and the movie "Amazing Grace". Anna, the orphaned sister of a Member of Parliament and an enthusiast of the abolition movement and Mr William Wilberforce, is seventeen years old in 1807 when the British Slave Trade is abolished. Her grandmother Lady Hawkridge, who she hasn't seen for years due to a mysterious breach in the Ashwell family, invites Anna to Bath where she attends parties, makes friends and realises that, although the slave trade has been abolished, slavery is alive and well in her world ... and her family. Anna's enthusiasm for the abolition movement is tested when her cousins tease her and she begins to feel that she cannot make a difference. What will she do when she's given the opportunity to make a difference in the life of just one slave ... but the personal price that Anna must pay in polite society is high?

Where can people go to buy your books?
You can ask for my books in your local bookstore and if they don't have them in stock then they should be able to order them easily. My "Charity" books are also available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com; just search for "Elisabeth Allen" and there I am - or, rather, there are my "Charity" books. :) "The Abolitionist" will be available for pre-order soon ... watch my blog, Hope Scribbles, for details about pre-ordering "The Abolitionist"!

Do you have any final words?

God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) and I believe that He puts godly desires and hopes in your hearts for a purpose. Don't be afraid to embrace His plan for your life and explore His purposes in your desires and hopes. You may have to work a lot harder than you think you can and sacrifice a lot more than you want, but knowing Him and being part of His work in this beautiful, broken world is worth all the work and sacrifice you can imagine. It's not about you, it's about Him. He loves you! Remember that He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5) and makes everything beautiful in it's time (Eccelisiastes 3:11).

4 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for inviting me to participate in "Homechool Authors" with this interview. It was such a pleasure. I'm looking forward to reading the other interviews and features that you have planned! :)

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  2. It's so nice to meet you Elisabeth! It is very cool that you are from England. I plan on visiting Europe someday. It's such a beautiful country. :)

    And I'll have to check out Elisabeth's book! They sound like something that both my younger sisters and I would enjoy. I can't wait to read what other exciting interviews that you have planned Sarah! :)

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  3. Such a wonderful interview, I greatly enjoyed it and getting to know you Elizabeth! :D {Sarah, you did a marvelous job thinking up all these questions!}.

    England is such a fascinating place, I've always loved those "rolling hills" and have secretly wished I could live somewhere like that...maybe even Scotland or Ireland, too. ;) *giggles*

    I absolutely LOVE the concept for your upcoming book "The Abolitionist"! :D It sounds just wonderful and just the sort of book I enjoy reading (historical fiction is my favorite genre!). ;) I will certainly keep an eye out for it in the future when it comes out!

    God bless!
    ~Rachel~

    p.s. - Thank you Sarah for starting this blog! I am really enjoying seeing the many homeschool author's God has brought along and raised up to write good books! :D

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  4. Hello RJ! :) I think you'll have a great time in Europe. There are enough beautiful corners of England and fascinating places in Europe to make a trip truly wonderful!

    Rachel - it's nice to "meet" you too! :) Well, you never know, maybe you'll get to live in England or Scotland or Ireland someday! :D Thank you for your kind words about my upcoming book - I hope you'll enjoy the story!

    Blessings,
    Elisabeth

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