Elise Burke Brown Author
I'm an author who comes from a family of detectives, including a grandfather who filled my childhood with true crime stories I learned not to repeat at daycare. My novel, CHASE HARLEM, won the grand prize for the Monroe-Walton Center for the Arts New Writers Contest 2021 as well as the 2023 Killer Nashville Claymore Award for Best Unpublished Investigator Novel. I've had had stories and poetry published in Sojourn Literary Magazine, Dewpoint Literary Magazine, The Moonlit Road, and Southern Quill. I've also sold stories to the podcast, Chilling Tales for Dark Nights. I'm represented by Rachel Beck of Liza Dawson Associates.
The Casket Girls
The Casket Girls May 7, 2026 Hello Reader, Last week, I wrote about the submission process agented authors have to go through. As I'm now officially 2 weeks on submission with my most recent novel, I'm turning my attention to my next project. I'm not 100% sure what this next book will be, but I know that at least part of it will focus on the original New Orleans vampire legend: the casket girls. Since I've basically memorized this legend as I've read about 30 versions of it for research, I'm...
What does it mean to be "On Submission"?
What does it mean to be "On Submission"? April 30, 2026 Hello Reader, This is the question I've been getting a lot lately, both from my self-published writing besties and from friends who are wondering why I'm suddenly checking my email 72 times a day. In traditional publishing, being on submission is just one more step you have to take to get your book picked up by a publisher. For most traditionally published authors, you write the book, get an agent, go on submission with that agent, then...
National Library Week
National Library Week April 23, 2026 Hello Reader, I've probably said this before, but I love my local library and not just because they let me come in and gab about my books. When I was growing up, the library was the place I could go to get any book I wanted. My grandmother got me a library card, and I still remember the first book I checked out with it: The Boxcar Children. Now, I take my own children to our local library where they can explore and read about what interests them. Lately,...
Author's First Festival
Author's First Festival April 16, 2026 Hello Reader, Last weekend, right before Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) day, I got to experience my first art festival as a vendor, and it was a blast! I'm a member of T.W.I.G. (Tuscaloosa Writers and Illustrators Guild), and we were allowed our own section at the festival called "author's alley." I spent Friday and Saturday with some amazing authors of every genre. We sold our books, talked about our ideas, and I fished for writing and publishing tips....
It's my Birthday!
It's my Birthday! April 9, 2026 Hello Reader, Today is my birthday! I'll be celebrating by buying too many books, and hanging out with my amazing family. This weekend, I'll also be participating in my first festival, The Druid City Arts Festival, with my fellow Tuscaloosa Writers and Illustrators Guild (TWIG) members. If you are attending the festival, please stop by my booth to chat! I'll be selling and signing books! Also, since it is my birthday, if you have not bought my book, please...
Children's Picture Book Day
Children's Picture Book Day April 2, 2026 Hello Reader, It's Children's Picture Book Day! To celebrate, I'm recommending a couple of picture books that my little one absolutely loves! We recently picked these books up at one of my favorite independent bookstores, Dorothy June's in Foley, AL. My youngest sat in the floor and read Gaston, a book about a bulldog who's adopted by a family of poodles. Obviously, the bulldog feels a little left out and what follows is a beautiful story about...
The Alabama Writing Workshop
The Alabama Writing Workshop March 26, 2026 Hello Reader, The Alabama Writing Workshop is tomorrow, and I'm so thrilled and honored to be facilitating this year! Way back in 2022, when owners Brian and Chuck were still being forced to do most of their conferences online, I met my first agent at this very conference. I pitched and got an offer within a month. I was so excited that I reached out to Brian Klems, who invited me to come back to the Alabama Workshop (which was now being held...
World Folktales and Fables Week!
World Folktales and Fables Week! March 19, 2026 Hello Reader, It's World Folktales and Fables Week! (It's also my spring break, so I'm in a road-trip playlist kind of mood). Having grown up on Irish folktales, not to mention the rich folk history that comes from living in Alabama, I love reading folktales and fables from all over the world. In fact, I think the only think I love more than reading them may be listening to them. There's something about experiencing those stories they way they...
National Reading Month
National Reading Month March 12, 2026 Hello Reader, My eldest offspring informed me last week that it is "National Reading Month." They are celebrating the month at schools across America by allowing students more time to read during class time. I've never been one of those people who wishes they could go back in time to be a child again, but I admit I'm a little jealous that kiddos get to celebrate this month while adults are expected to keep things "business as usual." Afterall, there are...
Tips for Writers
Tips for Writers March 5, 2026 Hello Reader, On Tuesday I finished up my Tuesday Tips for Writers series. However, this newsletter has grown to over 300 subscribers, and many of you are writers. I didn't want my new subscribers to miss out on the information I shared before they subscribed, so I'm including those letters here with links. I hope you've enjoyed reading this series as much as I enjoyed writing it! Oh, and if you think of another writing topic you want me to cover, please respond...
I'm an author who comes from a family of detectives, including a grandfather who filled my childhood with true crime stories I learned not to repeat at daycare. My novel, CHASE HARLEM, won the grand prize for the Monroe-Walton Center for the Arts New Writers Contest 2021 as well as the 2023 Killer Nashville Claymore Award for Best Unpublished Investigator Novel. I've had had stories and poetry published in Sojourn Literary Magazine, Dewpoint Literary Magazine, The Moonlit Road, and Southern Quill. I've also sold stories to the podcast, Chilling Tales for Dark Nights. I'm represented by Rachel Beck of Liza Dawson Associates.