Meet Elm Jed
My hearts, I’m so excited for you to me Elm Jed. I first discovered Elm when we were both nominees for Indieverse Awards in 2024. Now, My Dear Watson is nominated for Best Romance in 2025. This contemporary romance suspense novel has already won an International Impact Award and was a 2024 Runner-Up for a Pencraft Literary Award.
I’ll let Elm introduce themself.
ELM: I’m a queer, USMC disabled veteran indie romance author (I know it’s a mouthful), who focuses on stories uplifting the conversation around mental health, disabilities, and to help readers feel less alone. I’ve been writing for almost twenty years but have only been published for three years. I live in Ohio with my husband of five years, and when I'm not writing I'm usually going to the gym, visiting a Renaissance festival, or reading monster romances.
JEN: Amazing! I love that intro. Hi! And thank you for your service. I’m so excited to finally get to talk about your work. First of all, tell me what you most like to read. And to write.
ELM: To read: monster, alien, and sentient object romances. To write: paranormal romance. I just have so much more fun with it.
JEN: I’ve barely scratched the surface with sentient object romances. My friend wrote Sofa King: A couch elegy and it made me laugh out loud. The series is called Books I Never Wanted to Write. Cracks me up! Tell me more about the themes do you most enjoy tackling in your work.
ELM: Mental Health, representing it in a positive manner, but mostly honest. How it can affect one's life, their decisions, and everyday living. But that even with mental disabilities or trauma, you can still find love and happiness. That you’re not cured by love, but it's something that is a part of you.
JEN: Oh gaw. This is so important! Yes. I love to read mental health rep that has this vibe. I am still learning to be comfortable with writing it. I’m so happy there are authors in the world, like you, who embrace is so … I don’t know, bravely? Maybe I mean proudly? I’m just grateful.
What other creators are you friends with, and how do they help you create better?
ELM: My sister is an artist and she does the book covers for my paranormal romance series, “Mafia, Murder, and Mayhem Series” I'm also friends with a couple of other authors as well, whom I sometimes get to write with or just talk shop.
JEN: Very nice. Let’s talk about your writing routine. What's your favorite music? Beverage or snack? All that.
ELM: I love all kinds of music, but ‘70s and ‘80s classic rock is always my go to. Coffee. Mostly just coffee.
JEN: Morning bird or night owl?
ELM: Both. [laughs] I can start writing at 7 a.m. and other times I'll write until 2 a.m.
JEN: I’m exactly the same. Inspiration keeps no clock in my house. Where are you from?
ELM: I'm from Ohio, and I still do live in Ohio, but not in the same area of where I grew up in. I also grew up on a small dairy cow farm, where I learned how to have one heck of a work ethic at an earlier age.
JEN: No wonder you’re both a morning bird and a night owl!
Let's talk about your work! List your credits.
ELM: I've published seven books, and have won six awards across all of them. The one that has won the most is My Dear Watson.
JEN: Congratulations on all that success with My Dear Watson! What's coming next?
ELM: I released a book in December: The third book in my contemporary suspense romance series, "My Emerald Fire" released. Right now, working on the fourth and final book of the series.
JEN: Where do you get the ideas for your creations? What inspires you?
ELM: Other media, from movies to TV shows to books inspire me. Not to imitate, but I go through a process of “How can I flip the script? How can I take something that's the stereotype and flip it on its head?" Sometimes because that piece of media angers me and I want something to change, or because I love something about it that I want more of it.
JEN: Never underestimate the power of a creative rewrite! Most of the big steps I’ve taken in my life have come from, “They think they can do that? Watch me do it better.”
What else do you do? How have you been able to incorporate your work or education in your writing?
ELM: Apart from writing, I also do content creation on Patreon, stage manage, and work in the Ohio Renaissance Festival. I have a BA in Theatre and honestly, I use it a lot in my writing. From the education in that standpoint, I'm able to use in creating character development, creating worlds, building plot, and a lot more.
JEN: Yes! I did an interview with Megan Carver of Thorns ‘N Roses recently and she uses her acting and stage combat experience in her work, too. I’m a recovering theater nerd and use it too. I love that.
Last question. What is advice would you give to your younger self?
ELM: Always be willing to grow. You don't know everything, but also remember what you do learn and stick to your gut when the time is right.
My hearts, here’s how to find Elm Jed. Check out their Linktree, and follow them on Tiktok, Threads, Instagram, and Blue Sky. Please follow them and read their work! And join us on Instagram Live today at 4 p.m. Pacific time.
