My name is Elk A. Scott, queer speculative fiction author, poet and professional night creature. My fiction work focuses on well-developed queer characters with a macabre twist. At time of writing Iām editing two novel projects and trying out some new ideas to further push myself creatively, such as experimenting with game writing, second person POV, and serialized story telling. In my personal life I work as an art therapist and live with my partner and two pets.
Is there a special reason behind the title of your book/series?
The series Iām planning to publish on Tumblr, Adamantine, takes its title from the material that the sickle used by Cronus to kill his father Uranus. Since the sickle has a pivotal role in the story that spanned this whole thing, I wanted to reflect that.
What was the inspiration behind your story/series?
As pretentious as it sounds, my current inspirations for my projects can be summed up as coming from love and hate. For example, I love myth, legend and folklore and that's inspired one project, and a different project started as fanfiction for a property I love. On the other hand, two of my projects started as pure spite. Make of that what you will.
How many books have you written?
Iāve completed the first draft of about five books in adulthood. Six if you count a novel-length fanfiction. None of them are a series, all stand-alone work.
For people who have not read your books or series, what are they about?
I used to call my work small pieces of beautiful darkness. Currently, I think of them more like this; my work is speculative fiction and poetry with dark themes, focusing on overcoming trauma, queer themes, and the beauty found in the strange and macabre.
Besides writing, what are your other hobbies/skills?
I am an excellent cook and baker. I have to be with my dietary restrictions (one self-imposed and one medically necessary). I enjoy sewing, which Iām not amazing at but I can repair my own clothes and make cute little bandanas for my ungrateful tuxedo nightmare and velcro muppet. I also make amvs/edits and draw.
What is your favorite part of your book or series?
I think my favourite part of Adamantine is reconnecting with the kid I used to be, who made mythology paper dolls to act out the myths I was reading in my books. In terms of the content, my favourite part was getting to do that as an adult--taking these larger-than-life figures and expanding on the stories I grew up with. In my other work, my favourite parts have been writing the romance subplots, which 15-year-old me would have been horrified by, so I balance it out with cool fight scenes and angst.
Name one character you liked writing for/about in your book?
My favourite character to write was Asterius, aka the minotaur. I have a soft spot for monsters in general and especially for him, which is partly Tumblrās fault for having lots of super cute fanart of a baby minotaur. I enjoyed writing someone who has been labelled a monster for just being born and who fights to maintain their own identity outside of that label.
What three adjectives would best describe your book/story?
Hopeful, unflinching, romantic.
How would youĀ best describe your characters to someone who has not read your book yet?
I have a very specific archetype that my husband roasts me for--bisexual, dark-haired AMABs with severe mental illness. I do have more characters than just those, because it would be really boring if the work was populated only by those types of characters. In Adamantine, I would describe the characters as complex people in complex circumstances that just so happen to be demigods, monsters and royalty.Ā
Writing multiple character perspectives is that something that is commonly found in your stories?
Oh yeah. I can do work that is from a singular POV, but I enjoy letting the readers see whatās going on from multiple angles.Ā
Explain the thought process behind your book?
All my work starts from the same place--I write what I want to read. Iām my primary audience, main alpha reader and ruthless, horrible editor. I figure that maybe, somewhere out there, thereās someone with similar brain worms looking for this story too.Ā
Where do you write your books/stories?
I write primarily at home. My work is for adults and that is where we will leave it, so I donāt love writing in public. Iāll write in front of my family though, considering that they should be used to my style by now and know damn well not to look at the computer screen while I'm working if they don't want to see things too graphic for TV.
Psā¦.. I'm 100 percent against this.
110% no. Books should not be banned.Ā
Current book you're reading?
I am reading a couple--Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers, Hunger Pangs by Joy Demorra and The Maid by Nita Prose. Iām also listening to an audiobook of The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud.
Any social media pages our very few readers can find you at and were they can buy your books
Awh, donāt sell yourself short! All my social links can be found here: https://elkambrosescott.carrd.co/ as well as my published works and ko-fi. My work isnāt published anywhere yet, but if the compassionate readers so desire they can support my work there--Iām not seeking something for nothing, the readers are free to wait until they see the work published and decide from there.
