Elisabeth Rhoads
Author Interview - Elisabeth Rhoads
Author of Haggard House
1859. The village of Nomaton, Michigan.
After a reclusive childhood within the dank walls of Haggard House, Adam Bolton, at the age of eleven, is finally allowed to attend the village school, providing he obeys his mother, Sarai's, injunction. Against all outward influence, he must: “Keep to the straight and narrow.” m his bright-eyed, bright-spirited classmate. Frightened of the consequences their friendship threatens, Adam builds another Haggard House—only this one in his mind—and keeps Penny there, safe from his zealot mother; safe from himself.
Only, secrets, Adam ought to know, belong to God. Restless and heartsore, Adam’s narrow path suddenly widens. Now a young man, he finds himself traveling West, meeting the world for the first time, a difficult place to keep promises.
Burning with the flame of free will, Adam can no longer restrain himself from the woman he loves. But as he returns to Nomaton, so does Sarai’s dark influence, and Adam is forced to face the decaying house within—a house ready to collapse at any moment.
Author Interview - Elisabeth Rhoads
Author I draw inspiration from:
I actually chose two authors, because while one wrote my favorite book, the other is my favorite overall. They are: Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens. For Dickens, I love his wit and wordplay. When you read his work aloud, it has a musical quality to it. His words are like a metronome for me. If my writing ever feels off, I go back and read something of his, and it helps reset my own rhythm.
Now I’m going to switch to Charlotte Brontë, because she wrote my favorite book of all time: Jane Eyre. I love it because it contains a little bit of everything: romance, mystery, suspense, adventure, coming of age—I could go on and on. I never tire of reading it.
Author Interview - Elisabeth Rhoads | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
I’m always on the lookout for cozy coffee shops, and these are absolutely my favorite places to read. There’s something about drinking a heavily creamed cup of coffee, while reading an absorbing book, that makes me feel completely at peace. Or maybe it’s just the ridiculous overdose of lactose.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Grace Marks, from Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace. I find her character fascinating. If you’re not familiar with the novel, Grace is a character based on a historic woman who may, or may not have been, a real-life murderess. Margaret Atwood does such a great job of placing you in Grace’s psychology, without ever revealing the deepest part of who Grace really is. What’s left unspoken is much more powerful than what is revealed.
The reason I would like to be stuck on an elevator with Grace is because I’d love to see what I could get her to reveal about herself through conversation. In the novel, she keeps her information very closely guarded, so I would enjoy the chance to have a cat-and-mouse encounter—a battle of wits.
I’m pretty sure I’d lose.
Author Interview - Elisabeth Rhoads | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
For many authors, I think this is a gradual process; and while I can say that it was also a gradual process for me, I definitely had a sort of aha moment. At the time, I was working as a babysitter for an author couple in Chicago. When they got back after an event one night, the mom, Nami Mun, told me that she saw me as a writer. I was so surprised because at the time, I was pursuing a career in acting. Something about her saying that triggered a response in me; and I started writing my first novel.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
This is an easy one for me, because I will always prefer a hardback. That being said, my husband has devised a very interesting reading method. He reads the physical book, while listening to the audiobook. He says it helps him concentrate better. I have yet to try this, but I just might!
I love the feel of a solid book, and it somehow helps me go there—wherever there is. I used to dislike audiobooks, but I’ve discovered a new appreciation for them because they allow me to “read” more books. They particularly come in handy when driving. However, the narrator has to be good, otherwise it makes the book unlistenable.
The last book I read:
I’m pretty far behind everyone else as far as this book is concerned, but I recently finally read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.
I loved it, but I have to admit—I committed the sacrilege of watching the TV series before reading the book. The good thing is, because I watched the series so long ago, it didn’t impair my reading experience. The visuals in the novel, one of the things I most want as a reader, were very vivid to me; and the romance is hard to equal.
Author Interview - Elisabeth Rhoads | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
In Margaret Atwood’s writing Masterclass, she said that she writes longhand and then transfers it onto her computer later. I wish I wrote like that. I write in a Word doc on my laptop. Not very exciting, but true.
One thing I do while writing, is listen to music. It’s pretty rare that I write without it. Usually I try to find music that matches the tone or the emotional quality of the scene I’m writing. The musicians that often translates to are: Max Richter, Dustin O’Halloran, and John Barry.
The new novel I’m working on has been strange in that I’ve not been able to find the right music to match it. Currently, the only thing I’ve found that works is listening to recordings of the wind…
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Not to repeat myself, but I think I would be good friends with Jane Eyre.
Jane Eyre has a very introspective life, which is something we share. I would love to spend time with her, even if that time was only in silence. I think we would get along.
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
An actress. This was what I was pursuing when I came to the realization that I wanted to be a writer. Now that I’ve spent so much time on the writing side, I actually think I would have a lot more to bring to the table when it comes to embodying a character, because I have a much deeper understanding of both story and character now.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
Hands down, the 1840s. People often describe the style of dress as severe. I find it beautiful. I love the structure of both the women’s bodices and the men’s frock coats.
Place I’d most like to travel:
For my next trip, I want to visit Italy.
This is for reasons both practical and aesthetic. My next novel is set in Rome, so part of the visit would be for research. But I also find the history and buildings of Italy enchanting, and I would like to visit it for those reasons alone.
My signature drink:
In college, my roommates and I made up our own drink. It was called, “The Eleventh Absinthe.” It was a play on words—a play on the fact that we would get in trouble if we were absent from chapel more than ten times. The irony of the drink’s name is compound, because the school I attended was supposed to be a dry campus.
Favorite artist:
My favorite artist is a Chicago-based artist named Aaron Wooten. His was the first art that really made me feel something. I used to sit and write in a coffee shop that featured some of his work, and I think that it seeped into me and influenced the writing itself.
Many years ago, I asked him to illustrate a children’s book I wrote. He did, and while I haven’t had the luck to get it published yet, I hope to someday, if only to honor his amazing art. He has an incredible—what I might call absurdist—style, which somewhat reminds me of George Cruikshank’s illustrations for Charles Dickens’ novels. Just one of the many reasons I love it.
Number one on my bucket list:
Currently the number one thing on my bucket list is to become fluent in Japanese. I’ve been studying it for over five years, but my progress has slowed considerably in the last year because of all the time and energy I’ve poured into publishing my novel. To write something in Japanese would be a dream come true.
Anything else you'd like to add:
Going back to the question on where I’d like to visit, something that really inspires me has always been travel, particularly internationally. Traveling to a new location, especially if it has a different culture than what you grew up with, is such a mind-expanding experience.
I’ve never felt more creative than when I’m in a different country, with no apparent plan or schedule, couch-surfing or staying with a friend, wandering the streets, meeting strangers and learning new things. Travel keeps my mind alive, and like Aaron Wooten’s paintings, it seeps into my subconscious and works its way out through my writing. To me, there are few things more inspiring than travel.
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About Elisabeth Rhoads:
Author Interview with Elisabeth Rhoads
Elisabeth Rhoads is the author of Haggard House and numerous short stories. She holds a BA in Theatre and is the Vice-President of the California Writers Club, Orange County branch. Since 2021, she has been a volunteer juror for the Scholastic Writing Awards. Originally from Michigan, she now lives in California with her husband, and enjoys learning Japanese, fermenting foods of all types—although mainly kombucha—and pretends to enjoy exercise-related activities, such as kayaking and running.
