E. L. Winters

Magical Realism; Urban Fantasy

E. L. Winters, ex-surgical nurse and Death Midwife, lives in Madison Wisconsin with her artist/musician/writer husband, James. When they’re not traveling, or treasure hunting in antique and resale shops, they spend their days making up stories, creating art with pen and ink, clay, mixed media, or fiber and cloth, while binge watching sci fi/ fantasy/superhero shows, and British crime dramas. E. L. is the author of several short stories, one recently published in Creative Wisconsin magazine, and two novels: MythMatched and The Ghostwriter. She is currently working on sequels to both novels!

Books by Author E.L. Winters

Mythmatched An Autumn Grove Tale

August 27, 2023

The Ghostwriter: A Story of the Guild

October 31, 2023

MythAligned The Second Autumn Grove Tale

July 2024

The Reliquarian

Octover 31, 2024

My Story

I began telling stories when I was quite small. First to my menagerie of stuffed animals and troll dolls, then to my friends at sleepovers. I invented entire worlds that were filled with adventures and fantastical Magic.

I did not start seriously writing until 2019 during a NaNoWriMo when I completed 50,000 words. Continued that story in a writing workshop, and it will be my first published book in 2023.

Now, that’s Magic.

Genre

“I write Magical Realism because when I was in a dark place and all the Magic and whimsy had left my life, I read a book that helped me, once again, see the Magic that is all around me. No matter the circumstances, no matter the troubles or trials I went through, I was able to come out on the other side stronger, and more content with my life because of the Magic. I hope that my stories may help others to see the same, to remember their “invisible” friends from childhood, to look for the little Magics that make life amazing.”

MythMatched

“MythMatched is actually the first story, I believe, that I put down on paper. That first really rough draft was the catalyst I needed. It was the first little trickle that I hope will be a flood of stories to come. I know the characters in my head are becoming more numerous and quite demanding, “Tell my story next! No ME! Me. “

Inspiration

“What inspires me? EVERYTHING! I’m not kidding. Everything has potential to become a story, the guy walking down the street with a corgi and a golden retriever, the dragonfly that lands just so on the sunflower so that the light makes his wings explode with rainbows. The ripple on the still, mirrored surface of the lake that appears out of nowhere. My granddaughter, who named a roly-poly bug Frank.”

Favorite Authors

“My favorite authors?! Wow, so many to choose from. Charles deLint has to be at the top of the list as it was his book, Someplace to Be Flying, that brought the magic back into my life. All of his books will wake up that magic in you. Emma Bull and her War for The Oaks is another that will make you question those things that you think you see out of the corner of your eye. Alex Bledsoe and his Tufa series, totally magical and so well written I reread them again and again. Neil Gaiman, of course. You can’t talk about this genre without mentioning him, Good Omens, Coraline, The Graveyard Book. Terri Windling’s, The Wood Wife, OMG! Another one to read again and again. Ellen Kushner, Deborah Harkness, Charlain Harris, Kelley Armstrong, all of the books edited by Teri Windling and Ellen Datlow, Seanan McGuire, Natasha Pulley…I could go on and on.”

What I love about writing

“What I love about writing is I finally get to share these stories again, this time down on paper (or ebook) as my days of entertaining at sleepovers are, I’m afraid, over. It took me over 10 years after an early retirement to find something that I am so passionate about that I lose time over it. I don’t like to say “I lose myself in writing” because, in fact, I’ve found myself in writing.”