Literary thriller writer Elizabeth Brundage appeared at the Wellington Branch Library in January for her first book signing in Florida. Her love for language and desire to tell good stories inspired her to be a writer. She loves to write fiction because she can express herself best through this type of writing. She can express her vision of the world through her fiction writing, especially with the thriller genre. “I like stories about people who get pushed to their limits and are forced to make a decision, for better or worse, that significantly changes their lives,” she revealed.
In her latest novel, Somebody’s Else’s Daughter, she tells the story of an adopted teenage girl searching for her identity. A psychological thriller filled with secrets and dark motives, the book addresses the misconceptions about what it means to be adopted as a teenager. As the plot unravels, the readers learn that not knowing about one's history is sometimes more disruptive than knowing the truth. A sense of mystery pervades this character-driven work.
An adoptee herself, Ms. Brundage revealed to the audience some personal aspects of her life. She was the youngest child in her family, and her brother was also an adoptee. Though she has tracked down her biological parents, she did not want to ask them questions about why she was adopted.
Ms. Brundage also discussed her professional life and what it means to be a writer. She explained that the writing process is a craft that is improved through practice. She feels that a book can be popular if you can keep readers turning pages and engaged in the story. She does extensive, in-depth research to give her readers a sense of realism. She also likes to do on-location research, often interacting with people of and visiting places within a community. She said that she has a love-hate relationship with the book while working on it; she thinks about it continuously until it is finished. It is her love of writing that sees her through the book’s completion.
An avid reader, Ms. Brundage makes daily visits to the library. She reads about five books a week. She loves the library, and feels that it is a welcoming place open to everyone. “You feel like you belong here,” she said. Reading books helps nurture her imagination, and she thinks that reading is the key to writing. She encourages everyone to read. Ms. Brundage has taught fiction writing at Florida Atlantic University. She likes to help budding writers and encourages them to take classes or join a writers’ group.
Ms. Brundage is currently working on her third novel, a literary thriller set in Hollywood. Her book, Doctor’s Wife, is in development with a film company in Hollywood. |
