Mentee Biography

About the Author

Elisabeth Hamill is a nurse by day, fantasy novelist by night. In seventh grade, she had “Famous Author” inscribed under her name on her yearbook cover – an aspiration that, while delayed, was never forgotten! Her first published work, SONG MAGICK, saw its first draft finished during recuperation from cancer treatment and surgery, and is the fulfillment of that lifelong dream of being an author. She lives in eastern Kansas with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse. Elisabeth has a new adult urban fantasy gearing up for submissions called NECTAR AND AMBROSIA, and is working on Telyn Songmaker's next adventure. 

I think that all writers love to live in the fantasy world of their own creations in their spare moments. But most of us are also avid readers, and I’ve always loved to live in the worlds of others as well…I started out with the Wizard of Oz, like many other kids, but then was introduced to Lloyd Alexander, Ursula LeGuin, and Madeleine L’Engle. My dad presented me with a hardback copy of The Hobbit when I was about twelve, and I saw Star Wars eleven times at the theaters when it came out in 1977. In high school I discovered Katherine Kurtz, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and later in my adult life, David Brin and Nina Kiriki Hoffman.

I can’t remember a time I didn’t love sci fi and fantasy. I started writing my own stories when I was twelve. Too many years later (too many than I want to admit to, anyway; I'm still a kid on the inside!) I'm still a novice writer. 

 Writing my first, recently published novel started in serialized form as a way to amuse myself and my friends. When my life took an unexpected, devastating turn, it became a way to keep my mind occupied while undergoing radiation, chemotherapy and extensive surgery due to cancer. 

As I learn to navigate this crazy world of writing and querying and pitching and revising, I'm still a padawan [:)] ...and the only nurse on the block with a TARDIS license plate holder and an Evil Dead ID badge.

Welcome to my world!