Indie Support Sunday: Elizabeth Bright

Anybody else pick up a book by a new author and then get totally obsessed with everything they write? That’s how I found Elizabeth Bright and I’m forever grateful. It all started with Make Me Love You and since then, I’ve been slowly working my way through all of Elizabeth’s books. In fact, earlier this year, I binged her Lodestar Ranch series and while I’m excited that she’s finished it, I’m also sad to say goodbye!

She got her writing start with fanfiction of children’s books—gender swapping and adding her own dialogue—and never looked back! While Elizabeth started out in traditional publishing with a series of historical romances by Entangled (and became a USA Today Bestseller!), she’s stayed in the indie scene with both her series. And don’t worry, there’s more small town cowboys coming this year!

Elizabeth recently published her 13th book, Carry Me Home! All her contemporary romances are available in Kindle Unlimited.

BEING AN AUTHOR

Who or what inspired you to write?

I’ve been writing so long that I truly can’t say. Little Golden Books, maybe? When I was about five years old, I used to write “fan fiction” of children’s books. I would change the main character to a girl if it was a boy, and make up my own dialogue. Very derivative! I’ve been writing ever since. Everything inspires me. Snippets of conversations between strangers I happen to overhear, graffiti, any new experience at all—I wonder what if, and then my brain goes wild from there.

What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author? 

It’s the same answer for both: being in charge. I have to make all the decisions, and inevitably some of those decisions are wrong. Someone said (maybe Becca Syme?) “fail faster,” so that’s what I try to do. Make the decision as best I can, learn from it regardless of whether it worked, and keep moving forward.

Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?

I’ve done both. I started in traditional publishing with historical romances, and my fourth book with Entangled was a USA Today Best Seller. And then suddenly the historical romance market tanked. I had a new contract with Entangled at that point, but I was aware that it was unlikely to do well given market conditions. I also realized it was the perfect time for cowboys, and I had always wanted to write a cowboy romance. I ended the contract on good terms, and I’m grateful they were kind about it. 

For my cowboy romances, I knew I wanted to indie publish. Trad publishers move too slowly; going that route might have meant missing the moment. As it was, several other amazing authors got their cowboy romances out first and then got scooped up quickly by publishers. I think I made the right decision for me. 

When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?

Do something new, something outside my comfort zone! I try to learn one big new thing every year. Sometimes it sticks, sometimes it doesn’t, but it always inspires me. I’ve taken up skiing (didn’t stick), rock climbing (still going), embroidery (still going), and this year belly dancing is my new thing and I love it. Embroidery ended up being a big inspiration in my cowboy romances.

If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?

That changes based on who I’m talking to! For you, Anna, I would recommend Kelly Reynolds’ romances. They’re great, cute and funny and very sexy. I recommend Wild Life by Opal Wei and Ana Maria and the Fox by Liana de la Rosa to anyone who will listen. Catherine Cowles is a very bingeable author. Brooke Montgomery writes some of my favorite cowboy romances. If you like adventure non-fiction, I really loved the audiobook of A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko.

What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?

1. Authors are now your colleagues. Be professional and keep it positive.

2. Finish the first book before worrying about how to sell it. There is so much to learn drafting and revising that first book. Maybe it’s publishable, maybe it’s not. Just focus on the work.

3. Read widely. Start looking at books you love from a craft perspective. What happens when? Highlight everything you love, and pay attention to what you don’t.

4. Burnout is real. Take social media breaks and writing breaks. Whoever said writers need to write every day was a dumbass.

5. Reach out to other authors and ask questions. Almost everyone I have talked to has been so helpful and kind. And those that weren’t or just ignored me…eh. You don’t want to be them.

ROMANCE AS A GENRE

Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?

I’m not sure it ever occurred to me to write something that wasn’t romance. It’s what I love to read, and it’s so interesting to write. As Hannah said in Wild, Wild Cowboy, it’s a genre where women win. Sometimes terrible things happen to her, and sometimes she does terrible things, but she still wins. That’s so rare in life and in literature. It’s a genre of hope.

If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?

Domestic thrillers, for sure. I would love to play more with dark humor.

What are your most and least favorite tropes?

Favorite tropes: grumpy x sunshine and friends to lovers. Least favorite: I’m not sure I have one. I used to think I hated anything pregnancy, but that’s not true. Not his baby is a superior trope! I thought I hated amnesia, too, but I really loved Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella. Execution is everything. Tropes don’t matter nearly as much as the writing and story.

What are some tropes you want to write in the future?

Marriage in trouble. I would love to go full angst. 

What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?

Abortion. So many accidental pregnancy books just pretend it doesn’t exist. It’s fine if the characters decide having a baby is right for them for whatever reason, including religious and spiritual beliefs, but it should at least be discussed.

If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?

I think sex is an important part of relationships. As for what inspires me to write them, it’s the characters. None of them have sex the same way. I like to think about how sex will bring them closer together or pull them apart.  

YOUR BOOKS

What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?

Honestly, I have more ideas than I know what to do with. Anything can inspire me. A snippet of overheard conversation between strangers. Sidewalk chalk art. Other books. Passenger princessing my way through a road trip, staring out the window and wondering what those random people do all day.  

Can you briefly tell me about your book(s)?

Carry Me Home is my 13th book, and the last book in the Lodestar Ranch series. It’s a small town cowboy romance, single mom x manny. But it’s also about home as a person, and if you can’t find the place where you belong, maybe you should create it instead.

Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?

That’s hard! Maybe Michael from Trust Me. 

Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?

Friendship, both men and women. 

What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?

I have a new series coming in 2026! Still small town and cowboys, but with a side of suspense.

When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?

I want readers to close the book feeling satisfied and hopeful. Hopelessness—that we can’t do anything about our circumstances or all the shit that’s happening in the world, so why bother trying—I’ll fight that with my dying breath. It’s so easy to succumb to that feeling. Anything that can make us feel like something is worth striving for, that’s a good thing.

AUTHOR’S CHOICE

• Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks—Ebooks for reading, audiobooks for walking, paperbacks for collecting

• Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense

• Single or Dual POV

• Standalones, series or standalones in a series

• Open door, ajar door or closed door romances

• Music or silence when writing

• Plotter, pantser or plantser

• Water, tea, coffee or….wine?

• Cold or warm weather

• Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?

• Illustrated or photo cover?—Totally depends on the cover

To stay updated on everything Elizabeth Bright, follow her on Instagram and TikTok. And make sure you sign up for her newsletter!