Dana Elmendorf

Podcast Interview: New Books Fantasy and Adventure with A.E Lanier

🎙️Podcast Interview: New Books Fantasy and Adventure with A.E Lanier.

Loved getting to chat with A.E.! Thank you so much for inviting me on. To hear the podcast, click here!

Show Notes:
In this interview, Elmendorf describes the evolution of her novel from a romance to a murder mystery and the role that death and grief play in the story. She discusses Appalachian folk magic, abusive family structures, and shapeshifting crows. We also talk about poverty and rural healthcare systems, and the intermingling of the interpersonal and supernatural in contemporary fantasy.

Dana Elmendorf’s novel In The Hour of Crows (Mira Books, 2024) takes place in small town Appalachia and follows Weatherly Opal Wilder, a young woman with the ability to talk death out of the dying. Our story begins shortly after the death of her cousin, Adaire, as Weatherly struggles to find justice for her cousin and to navigate small town politics in a place where her family is treated with increasing distrust.

In the Hour of Crows is an empathetic, dream-like book and it was so much fun discussing it with the author.

Authors over 40 Interview

You’re never too old to get published. I had a wonderful opportunity to interview with Kerri Maher over on her Substack called Sandcastles. She has an “Authors Over 40” interview series that I find so inspirational. I was 44 years-old when my first book came out. (YA contemporary, SOUTH OF SUNSHINE) Fast-forward 8 years later and my second book IN THE HOUR OF CROWS was published one month before my 52nd birthday. I’m living proof, it’s never too old to get published.

My journey as a writer began in 2009. In the beginning I hid my identity, because if I failed at writing, I didn’t want anyone to know it was me. I wasn’t even sure if I could write a book. And I couldn’t, but I did. It was a terrible 113,000 word Twilight fan fiction. But for some reason, I decided to do it again. And again. Until eventually I decided to come out of the closet and admit publicly I was a writer. Your age has nothing to do with getting published. It’s your tenacity, perseverance, and the stubborn will to never give up.

If you’re looking for some publishing inspiration, follow Kerri over on her Substack: Sandcastles with Kerri Maher is a reader-supported newsletter offering book news & behind-the-scenes glimpses into the novel writing life. It is also home of the “Authors Over 40” interview series.

Read my interview here!

In the Hour of Crows is Good Morning America's Buzz Pick of the Week!

OMG!!!!! You guys! I was picked on Good Morning America's Book Club this morning as their buzz pick for the week! Holy cow! I’m bawling like a big baby. Lol. 😭😭😭😭 shout out to the best Indy bookstore in the country, Novel Memphis, for helping make this happen! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Watch the video here!

Fresh Fiction Interview

FRESH FICTION INTERVIEW

Want to get to know me in 20 questions? I got to chat with Fresh Fiction about my book, my writing life, my author inspiration, and my favorite movie that’s a little embarrassing to admit.

I’d like to ask you one of the questions that they asked me. Is there a book that changed your life? Comment below! And if you wanna hear my answer to my Fresh Fiction interview, read it here!