Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver
Every so often, I like to feature profiles on fellow creators to poke around and see what inspires them to do the amazing things they do. This time around, I’m chatting with fellow author E.S. Oliver.
I’ve had the pleasure of beta reading her work, and I’m fortunate enough to have her encouragement along my own writing journey. So, let’s dive in and see what makes E.S. tick!
Tell us a little about yourself
“I’m a serial creative, caffeine addict, and dog rescuer who lives a secluded life in the mountains with my incredible husband and our pack of dogs, alpacas and ducks.”
What kind of art do you create?
“I write poetry, short stories, and novels. In a recent past life, I was a fragrance developer and at one point a singer who worked with a lot of European EDM producers. What can I say? I’m an art dabbler.”
How long have you been writing?
“I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. I actually had my first piece published in the Las Vegas Sun while in high school, but only really started focusing on my writing in recent years after a series of huge life event changed my trajectory in life.”
What inspired you to begin writing?
“My dreams, actually. I’ve been gifted very vivid dreams my entire life, and a few of them have been so epic and enlightening that I’ve wanted to share them with the world. Also, my husband. He is my greatest cheerleader when it comes to my writing. Every time I’ve questioned my decision to dedicate my time and energy to my writing, he reminds me why I do it.”
What inspires you now?
“Nature, spirituality, history, and my own fantastical life experiences. I find the best inspiration to be when all four of those align.”
Strangest creative project you've ever cooked up?
“I wrote a flash fiction piece that was published in Alien Buddha Zine (July 2022) about a bungled fairy fashion show and ejaculating centaurs. It was my take on upper Manhattan socialites through a fantasy lens. I giggled the entire time I was writing it.”
What creative project are you proudest of?
“I’m like a parent, I am equally proud of all of my brain babies. They all serve different purposes.”
What do you do when you're not creating?
“I meditate, spend time in nature, play with our dogs, create stained glass pieces and embroidery projects… But I spend most of my free time mentoring people who are on a spiritual path through the healing and awakening process.”
Any upcoming projects in the works?
“Aside from continuing to write my dark fantasy series, Waters of Wyrd, which interweaves Norse mythology into our modern day existence, I’m also working on a standalone novel that blends the Croatian folklore of “The Black Queen” with the true story of Queen Barbora of Celjska (Barbara of Cilli). She was one of history’s most competent and powerful women leaders, and yet, the narrative that still pervades is the horrific smear campaign of her enemies. Her story is truly incredible, and I want the world to know who she was as a soul, even if it’s set in a fantasy world (I don’t have the drive to become an expert on everything 1300/1400’s Croatia/Hungary, and I dislike hate mail, haha).”
Anything else you want people to know about you and your art?
“My work is sneaky spirituality and healing in entertainment form. I’ve coined it as “theratainment”. My work is dark and violent (albeit, hopeful), but that’s because this world we live in is full of dark and violent forces that have traumatized every individual on this planet. My greatest hope is that readers see themselves in my work, and are able to confront parts of themselves that they are too scared to confront outright. Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman, and Lev Grossman did the same for me, and I will forever be appreciative of their insight and the growth it nurtured within.”
Where can we find you online?
“www.esoliver.com You will find links to all of my work there, and you can also follow me on Twitter @AuthorESOliver”
