Meet Liz Delton

Your Influences

Tell us about the book/film/thing that got you into SFFH: What was it? How old were you? What impact did it have on you?

The first book series I remember really imprinting on me was Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness series. I must have been in middle school, but I can still vividly recall scenes in my head (probably because I’ve also re-read the series several times, and even once or twice as an adult!). Tamora Pierce always writes amazing female characters, and the worldbuilding and magic was like nothing I’d read until then.

How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?

I’ve written over 27 books now, and the majority of them have strong female leads! Women haven’t always had strong representation in fantasy, but nowadays there is so much more variety than there used to be and I’m really glad for that. 

Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?

I try to read as much as I can in my genres, but I also draw inspiration from everywhere else. TV and movies, nature, my own family. Maybe the look of a certain character on a TV show will be who I envision in my head for a book character, or the way my own kids fight bedtime will show up in a scene with a line about a side character getting their kids to bed. Inspiration is all around! I also make sure to get downtime from media—going for walks is when I do some really great brainstorming, or even just washing the dishes or driving in the car listening to music. It can come from anywhere.

Your Work

You’re stuck in an elevator for 60 seconds with that hero, and they want you to describe your work. Give us the pitch.

Ahh, well in my case I’ve got the upper hand here, since I know them all, but here goes!

My Cozy Cottage Series is a series of standalones all set in the same magical cottage throughout the centuries, so it follows different people who discover it. From a girl pretending to be a witch to solve people’s problems, to a reclusive librarian, to a helpful tea shop owner, they all feel like a warm hug, and sometimes you need that.

At the same time, I’m revising the third and final book in an epic fantasy trilogy, Gods of Obsidian. This one has taken me quite a while in the last year to finish up because it’s the final book in the series, but I’m glad to have the first draft done.

Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?

The story that sticks out the most to me is The Witch at the Edge of the Wood. This is where my career really started becoming successful, and I find it a little funny because this book started as a simple short story in an anthology (Tales of Wondrously Wicked Witches, 2024). I enjoyed working on the story so much, I decided to expand it into a novella, right at the perfect time for cozy fantasy to really take off. It has become my most popular book in all my 10+ years of writing, and it was totally unplanned. Now I’ve got four stories published in that series, with the fifth on the way.

Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?

I’ve discovered my most productive writing time is late at night, usually after 10pm, curled up under a blanket. This is when I have no trouble cranking out 2,000 words. I think that time is best for me because everyone is asleep and I can just let my brain relax!

I write in phases throughout the year, and spend most of the daytime doing admin, design, or marketing work for my books.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?

I always remember a piece of advice from the Ghibli movie Kiki’s Delivery Service. When Kiki’s witch powers are slipping away, she’s given the advice to not even think about it. Go for long walks, look at the scenery. It’s helpful for me to do other things to keep my creativity flowing!

What’s your writing soundtrack?

I’m pretty eclectic when it comes to music. For writing, sometimes it’s trance or EDM, sometimes it’s folk metal, or sometimes something chill like Radiohead or Sneaker Pimps.

The Quick Fire Round

Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy!

Quiet or loud?
Quiet.

Dark or light?
How about dim?

Strict lines or genre blend?
Oo, genre blend.

Awards or bestseller?
Bestseller, because it means more readers are reading it!

Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction!

Poetry or prose?
Prose

Plotter or pantser?
I’m a “plantser”! I’ll have a general idea and do a list of bullet points then just go for it!

Reading or listening?
Both! I adore audiobooks but sometimes you just can’t listen.

Notebook or computer?
Computer!

The Home Stretch