An Interview with E.L. Ambrico
E. L. Ambrico is a writing warrior inspired by the written word and she delights in mentoring aspiring novelists. Her thriving blog, wordytips.com, is devoted to budding authors and writers and spans over thirty-six countries on five continents. She is a chocolate lover and exercise enthusiast, and has a soft spot for fantasy, romance, and sci-fi. She is the mom of two sons, works as an editorial assistant at Newsday, and lives on Long Island with her husband, their four beautiful cats, and their sweet dog.
Follow her at:
www.instagram.com/wordytipsandtidings/
Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
After discarding two working titles that just didn’t click and realizing the story was missing something, I stumbled upon the Red String of Fate myth—and Threads of Red was born.
How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?
The first time I laid eyes on the atmospheric cover of Threads of Red, I was struck by a feeling of euphoria deep in my being. Everything lined up perfectly. The border of red strings that framed the front cover, wrapped around the clasped hands on the spine, and stretched to the back reflected the ancient red string of fate myth beautifully. Crimson fog set the mysterious mood, a gold subtitle matched the hilt of a dagger on the back, and the elegant font captured the exact tone of my story at a single glance. All my hard work had finally paid off. Holding the novel and seeing my name on the cover evoked a profound sense of pride. My dream of becoming a published author was fully realized—and my book was the tangible proof.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
The desire to write has lived in my soul from a young age. Poetry, essays, and a few short stories came first. Once I read J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, I was overcome with inspiration, and my fingers started typing frantically. My first foray into writing a novel came in the form of a YA story titled “Pineapple Stew.” I’ve heard it said that the first book an author writes may not be the first one that gets published. That was true for me. Though the novel still sits on my laptop, I learned a lot from the experience and hope to publish it one day. With the knowledge I gained, I took a left turn and drafted something darker, fated, and suspenseful for Threads of Red.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
Upon graduating from college, I worked as an activities specialist on a locked children’s psychiatric unit at a well-known hospital. I also taught mixed martial arts to preschoolers and worked at a local Long Island news station before becoming an editorial assistant at Newsday.
As for a few fun facts about me that my readers might not know: I’m highly intuitive, a proud cat and dog mom, the queen of crunches, and a toes-in-the-sand gal. I’m also a lover of fae, dragonflies, and moon magic, and nothing makes me happier than singing Christmas songs.
What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?
Publishing this book means everything to me. I poured my heart and soul into every scene and character, choosing every word, sentence, and paragraph with great care. This story was sixteen years in the making, with multiple revisions, deletions, and additions to get it just right. To finally see it out in the world makes me feel both satisfied and blessed.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
There are so many songs that inspired various scenes and characters in the book. Here are a few that are associated with the three main characters:
• Ellie Tanner (ordinary citizen) – “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Kacey Musgraves cover)
• Ezekiel Larson (Hollywood superstar) – “This Night” (Billy Joel)
• Alana (the stalker) – “Creep” (Radiohead cover by Haley Reinhart)
These tracks and others perfectly mirror the emotional highs, dark moments, and intense suspense running through the story.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?
I hope readers get lost in this luscious, magical escape and find a reason to believe in second chances and deep love. My perfect reader is anyone who believes in destiny and enjoys atmospheric, ancient retellings with a paranormal twist—someone who loves a side of mystery and a dark, suspenseful edge to their romance. Threads of Red delivers all the feels and struggles: the possibility of fated mates, the excitement of Hollywood glamour, and the thrills of a slow-burn stalker plot.
What creative projects are you currently working on?
I’m delving into a possible prequel or sequel to Threads of Red and also beginning to polish the first book of a different series which I wrote twelve years ago. The working title of this fantasy is “Not of the Knot.”
How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?
I didn’t know it at the time, but Atmosphere Press was exactly what I needed to take Threads of Red to the next level. My team helped me to finally place the novel in the sweet spot I had always envisioned. I would tell aspiring authors that writing can be very isolating so it’s important to have a supportive team standing with you, especially a good developmental editor. Publishing and promoting is exciting but not for the faint of heart. With the right support system to guide you through the process, you can make your dream of becoming a published author come true.
Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.