Ask the Author: Elora Nicole Ramirez
Answered Questions (5)
Elora Nicole Ramirez
Lindsay Tweedle :) She's been my editor for the past two books!
Elora Nicole Ramirez
I'm so excited about what I'm working on right now! It's still pretty early in the manuscript (about 25k words) so while I have an idea where the plot may be going, it all could change within the next few weeks. Here's a small peek ;)
The rumor around campus is that The Grove was purposefully built to be hidden from the rest of society. A boarding school, we manage to keep governing officials away from our course selections and graduate requirements because of our attrition rate. The new student selection is few. Not everyone who wants admission gets in — it takes power. Influence. Money.
The campus itself causes pause once you find us. Nestled in the wooded mountains behind Asheville’s arts district, the only way you can find us is if you know where we you are going. A stone wall surrounds the property and cupolas jut above the tree line. Every building is a mixture of ionic and Greek Doric design. Lots of stone. Lots of unnecessary flemish gables and marble. Our founding fathers, a mixture of politicians and highbrow society benefactors who wanted something better for their children than what was offered, created the school in 1951 and chose this piece of land because of the way it backs into one of the nearby mountain valleys. Because of this, giving directions to the campus is near impossible. What we’re trained to say: we’re a stone’s throw from where Dirty Dancing was filmed.
If you watch the film closely, some of our students found their way on the set in the opening dance scene. While Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze rock their hips and find their sultry center, members of the Grove bump and grind behind them. They did such a good job the director didn’t even mind they chose to wore t-shirts with GROVE ATHLETICS emblazoned on the front.
“Makes it seem real,” he said. As if Grove Athletics was indicative of cloudy scenes filled with boorish behavior. Parents were horrified. Administrators snickered behind closed doors. Those who knew anything understood this was hardly a blip on the overarching narrative of our campus.
Back up dancers are far from our most illustrious of alumni. One of the nation’s leading boarding schools, Grove knows a thing or two about school royalty. Every year we’re reminded of the various A-listers who boast alumni status. Movie stars. Politicians. Journalists. We’re molded for greatness and expected to show disdain toward those who live mundane lives.
The rumor around campus is that The Grove was purposefully built to be hidden from the rest of society. A boarding school, we manage to keep governing officials away from our course selections and graduate requirements because of our attrition rate. The new student selection is few. Not everyone who wants admission gets in — it takes power. Influence. Money.
The campus itself causes pause once you find us. Nestled in the wooded mountains behind Asheville’s arts district, the only way you can find us is if you know where we you are going. A stone wall surrounds the property and cupolas jut above the tree line. Every building is a mixture of ionic and Greek Doric design. Lots of stone. Lots of unnecessary flemish gables and marble. Our founding fathers, a mixture of politicians and highbrow society benefactors who wanted something better for their children than what was offered, created the school in 1951 and chose this piece of land because of the way it backs into one of the nearby mountain valleys. Because of this, giving directions to the campus is near impossible. What we’re trained to say: we’re a stone’s throw from where Dirty Dancing was filmed.
If you watch the film closely, some of our students found their way on the set in the opening dance scene. While Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze rock their hips and find their sultry center, members of the Grove bump and grind behind them. They did such a good job the director didn’t even mind they chose to wore t-shirts with GROVE ATHLETICS emblazoned on the front.
“Makes it seem real,” he said. As if Grove Athletics was indicative of cloudy scenes filled with boorish behavior. Parents were horrified. Administrators snickered behind closed doors. Those who knew anything understood this was hardly a blip on the overarching narrative of our campus.
Back up dancers are far from our most illustrious of alumni. One of the nation’s leading boarding schools, Grove knows a thing or two about school royalty. Every year we’re reminded of the various A-listers who boast alumni status. Movie stars. Politicians. Journalists. We’re molded for greatness and expected to show disdain toward those who live mundane lives.
Elora Nicole Ramirez
I try to write every single day to avoid writer's block, but when it hits me I have to get up and do something like clean or take my dog for a walk. While writing SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WATER & SKY, I hit a huge block right after we moved and it took sending a friend a mayday text for me to get out of the funk. Getting my brain OFF of the block and focused on something else (even if it's Netflix) seems to help work out some of the tangles in the plot.
Elora Nicole Ramirez
I look for inspiration everywhere: articles, music, conversations, situations I experience. Just today I watched a show that shed light on how I can work in a conflict for a book I'm processing through right now.
I've learned I can't wait for the muse to strike. I have to chase her — let her know I'm willing and ready to write + create. Only then will the inspiration continue to show.
I've learned I can't wait for the muse to strike. I have to chase her — let her know I'm willing and ready to write + create. Only then will the inspiration continue to show.
Elora Nicole Ramirez
A few years ago I visited Sunset Cliffs and I had one of those freaky-writer-moments where this girl showed up and climbed down into one of the crevices to watch the sunset. She was crying and writing in her journal. As I watched her, I felt like I knew her. That's when I knew Stephanie would be fleeing to California, but her life wouldn't necessarily be picture perfect. There's still some very significant problems she has to deal with—like Kevin who followed her and the question of her father.
Other than that, Jessa came into my head almost immediately after publishing EVERY SHATTERED THING. I knew Stephanie would get a friend in book two—one who is outside the entire situation and has no motive for wanting to hang out with her other than she just thinks she's really cool. Jessa was a favorite to write. She's spicy.
Other than that, Jessa came into my head almost immediately after publishing EVERY SHATTERED THING. I knew Stephanie would get a friend in book two—one who is outside the entire situation and has no motive for wanting to hang out with her other than she just thinks she's really cool. Jessa was a favorite to write. She's spicy.
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