Meet Elena Hartwell Taylor | Author & Developmental Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elena Hartwell Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elena, what makes you happy? Why?
A good cup of coffee. Watching my animals play. Having a good ride on one of my horses. The beauty of a sunrise or a sunset. The sound the river makes as it flows through my backyard. These things make me happy in the moment, either during the experience or reflecting on it later.

For me, contentment, on the other hand, is a state of being. While happiness comes because of an event or an experience, contentment comes through a life well lived. To know that my day will be peaceful, I have work that I love and that gets me up in the morning. Relationships with people who matter. To know that I make a positive impact on others and that I have everything I need for my health and well being.

In my professional life, successes make me happy, but it’s the continual enjoyment of the work itself that keeps me content. I think those two things work hand in hand. Moments of happiness strung together into a contented life. And that makes me happy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a novelist and developmental editor, both of which are part art and part craft. As a novelist, I published my first series, the Eddie Shoes mysteries, under Elena Hartwell. My latest novel, All We Buried, is out under the name Elena Taylor.

Writing is a tough business. To craft a book-length piece, whether fiction or memoir or narrative nonfiction, requires months if not years of work. There are no clear steps to take for success and no guidebook to walk you through the process. Once a writer has a solid manuscript, the process of getting an agent and an editor interested in that manuscript can be even harder. Writers are all sitting alone at their computers trying to figure out what to do next.

There’s a lot of rejection in a writer’s life. Rejection of the manuscript, then, if a writer does land with a published book, rejection by readers and critics through bad reviews or a lack of sales. All of that rejection requires a commitment to the work that transcends immediate gratification. A writer needs to be able to handle other people not appreciating their work and the fact their career will be continually impacted by things far outside their control.

On the other hand, when the successes come, they are truly sweet, because of all the hard work put in to achieving that success. Then it’s back to the computer to start all over again. I would say I overcome those challenges through grit and determination.

As a developmental editor, the most challenging part isn’t knowing what a manuscript needs to shine, but finding how to best define that for the writer so that they can grow and rewrite their best work with their own voice and their own skills. My role isn’t to “fix” a manuscript, it’s to provide a writer with the tools to do that themself. My job is part keen critical eye, part teacher, part psychologist. I strive to balance those three things. Some projects I manage that balance better than others. I try to always learn from my mistakes. I overcome that challenge by knowing that I always give my best for my clients, and that while I’m not perfect, I do the best I can every single time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Western Washington not far from the Cascade Mountain Range. My little town of North Bend was made famous by the television show, Twin Peaks. So I would start out here with visits to some of the places featured in the series. That would definitely include a trip to Snoqualmie Falls, which drop 268 feet just outside the Salish Lodge, better known to David Lynch fans as the Great Northern. The falls are stunning any time of year and a meal inside the Lodge with views of the water is not to be missed.

Then I’d take visitors up and over nearby Snoqualmie Pass to visit some of the places east of the Cascade Mountains. First up, Roslyn, home to another quirky tv show, Northern Exposure. It’s a funky old mining town with the most amazing cemetery—26 separate sections for different ethnic groups. My novel All We Buried is loosely based on the town and its history.

A little farther east, we’d visit Thorp Fruit & Antique Mall, then finish up in Ellensburg, Washington, for bar-b-que. Taking our journey north, we’d land in Leavenworth, a Bavarian-style Village ringed with rugged mountain peaks. In the winter, the town is filled with decorations and Christmas lights, and in the summer the occasional bear can be seen wandering around down at the river that runs nearby. We’d grab a bite in any of the wonderful Bavarian restaurants before heading west on gorgeous Highway 2.

We’d end the loop on the west side. First a stop in Skagit Valley to see the tulips if it’s spring, or just hang out on the waterfront in La Conner for a great meal and a view of the tidal changes of the Swinomish Channel and the Rainbow Bridge. Then we’d cut south and east and head back to North Bend through Issaquah, stopping for chocolates at Boehm’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As a writer, I am grateful for my publishers, editors, beta readers, and my agent. I’m indebted to all my readers, who support me by reading my books. As a developmental editor, I’m grateful to Allegory Editing, the home that allows me to do the kind of work I love to support other writers. And a shout out to all the writers who trust me with their words.

Website: https://www.elenataylorauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenataylorauthor/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-taylor-0540585/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Elena_TaylorAut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElenaTaylorAuthor

Other: I blog about books, writing, and writers at: https://www.themysteryofwriting.com/

Image Credits
Photo with horse: Mark Perlstein