Tell us about your Georgie Connelly series of novels.

They are based around Georgie Connelly who is a documentary film maker but tends to find herself embroiled in situations where she ends up becoming a bit of a crime fighter. She is surrounded by a cast of characters who are in each of the novels and hopefully there is a favourite for everyone. They are set in LA although Georgie is English. She is not the stereotypical demure English person though, she’s a bit wild and reckless and ultimately great fun.

What genre are they?

They are basically thrillers but they have a bit of romance and humour thrown in as well.

What kind of reader will it appeal to?

When I first started writing them I imagined they would appeal mostly to women but lots of men seem to like them as well. I think they probably appeal to people who want a bit of escapism with a light hearted page turner. 

You write other books outside of your Georgie Connelly series. Can you tell us about them?

I have written three stand alone books. Dare To Lose is a thriller set in Brighton. It’s about a forty something woman called Nicola Mills, who feels compelled to investigate when one of her employees goes missing. I really wanted to show that women of all ages are capable of having an adventure after reading that only heroines in their twenties appeal to readers. It’s also got a bit of romance and I hope a lot of humour to balance the tension.

Don’t Look Back is a contemporary romance set in Sheffield and LA. It is about a woman called Catherine Hayes, whose past catches up with her and forces her to re-evaluate her entire life.

Family Ties is another contemporary romance about a woman called Beth Spencer, whose mother dies and this causes her to try and connect with her birth father and a family she has never met. The novel starts off in Edinburgh but then moves to LA.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

I love writing and so the best thing is doing something that affords me a lot of pleasure. I love creating characters and then imagining adventures for them to embark upon. I find people fascinating and I like to use my writing to imagine what motivates people to behave as they do.

What is the worst thing about being a writer?

I am very old fashioned and have no idea when it comes to computers which makes my life very difficult. I write all my novels longhand into notebooks first and then type them up. I loathe the typing up part and often end up with a horrible backlog. Editing is pretty dreary as well.

The very worst thing of all though as far as I am concerned is trying to market my work. I find it excruciating to have to constantly be promoting myself and live in fear that people will think I am hounding them to either buy my books or write reviews. I have broken out in the shivers now just thinking about it.

E.L. – those are really useful initials for a female independent writer in 2012. Or are your books too different from 50 Shades of Grey for there to be any impact?

Maybe it could be useful if people thought we were similar but sadly if anybody bought my books hoping for a bit of sauce they would be bitterly disappointed. There is very little bedroom action I’m afraid. I think it is great that so many women feel empowered by this new erotica craze but I am a bit prudish. I’ve never read any so I am not sure how rude they actually are but I don’t think they would be my cup of tea. Lots of people obviously disagree though and it’s a massive market so I am clearly at odds with the rest of the world on this.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am an English teacher by trade although these days I just work when I need the money. I spend the rest of my time writing, reading, travelling. Unfortunately I’m a bit of a spendthrift which brings me into contact with the world of work far more than I would like. I live in Sheffield in the UK although I have lived and worked all over the UK. I have spent quite a lot of time in the USA because I studied at university and still have friends there.

Have you got a site where readers can keep up with your work?

I have a website which is www.ellindley.weebly.com

You interview other authors on your site.  Isn’t that promoting the … competition?

I don’t see other writers as competition and I don’t think promoting other writers has any impact on my own success. Ultimately people either like what you write or they don’t and there is room for all of us. I have found other independent writers to be amazingly supportive and helpful especially on twitter. Also I am an avid reader and I love the fact that independent publishing has opened up the market for readers. I love finding exciting new writers and sharing them with other readers. I don’t think there has ever been a better time to be book lover.

Where can people buy your books?

My books are currently available only as eBooks (on Amazon): Business as Usual, The Righteous Path and The Ties That Bind.

What’s next?

I am currently working on the fourth in the Georgie Connelly series which I am hoping will be published sometime in October. After that I am thinking about doing another stand alone. I am not sure what it will be about yet, I’m still mulling my ideas. I like to get my character first and then the rest falls into place.