Live.Love.Write.
About Me
My name is Elise Julia Guay. In the spring of 2010 I made a major life decision; I followed my heart and decided to transfer from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, to University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland. This was one of the best decisions I had ever made, having since received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and a Master of Letters (MLitt) in Publishing. I rediscovered a sense of creativity and inspiration that I had subsequently lost over the years. This inspiration lead me to writing my first novel. Writing a book of some sort is something I have always wanted to do. If I could get it published, that would be a dream come true.
I have always been a creative writer and enjoyed writing in general. When I was a "youth" I would always write little short stories inspired by things like Harry Potter or a movie I had watched. This novel, entitled Fledgling ©, is something I came up with one night lying in my little single bed at University. The birds around here, which if anyone was questioned about this would agree, don't seem to know what time it is and are constantly chirping, even at 3am. Birds, and animals in general, have always been an interest to me and to be able to draw inspiration from them is great. I do love nature and I'm trying to include it in my novel as much as possible as the setting is Scotland, a very naturalistic place.
As far as personal life, I pride myself on being just that: myself. I'm a very outgoing person and I love to simply enjoy life, whatever and where ever it may bring me. I would say I'm pretty easily pleased and equally as easily entertained. I love to laugh, and I love to surround myself with people that can make me do so. I have been a swimmer most of my life, though surgeries have set me back with that a bit. I had the opportunity to compete with a Masters team based in Glasgow, Scotland- Glasgow Western Masters. It was an incredible experience and a great way to end my stay in Scotland. Now that I have returned back to the States, I decided to further my swimming career and have joined a USMS Masters team, finding great success and happiness with them.
I love Scotland. I love the people I have had the opportunity to meet. While in Scotland, not only did I travel and rediscover myself, but I studied as well. I received my Bachelor of Arts in English, and my Master of Letters in Publishing, both from University of Stirling, as aforementioned.
I have four tattoos. The first reads, in Scots Gaelic, "Beatha. Gaol. Gaire." or in English "Live. Laugh. Love." around a trinity celtic knot on my left ribs, next to my heart because my heart will always belong to Scotland. On my right ribs I have the outline of the state of Massachusetts with a little red heart over Boston, because you can never forget where you came from. The third is on the inside of my left bicep. This one is my favorite; it is an ampersand (&), which resembles a broken infinity to remind me that although nothing lasts forever, there is always an and. My fourth is by far the most special. It says "Beauty for Ashes" in Norwegian (Skjonnhet for Aske)- now totaling two tattoos I can't pronounce!- with traditional Norwegian Rosemaling (better known as Moose Calling) underneath the lettering. It is so special because my best friend and ink sister, Sonja Scutaro, and I got them to match, bonding our deeply rooted friendship even deeper. On that note, I'm also an artist along with a writer. Photography is my preferred media, but I've been dabbling back into sketching and charcoals.
I hail from the city of Peabody, Massachusetts (it's pretty close to Boston, right next to the famed Salem, MA- yes, the Witch City). Boston is an incredible city, filled with rich history, beautiful architecture, and incredible people, I'm very proud to be from Massachusetts (which lead to my second tattoo).
I hope you enjoy my site, and hopefully my book as well!
I have always been a creative writer and enjoyed writing in general. When I was a "youth" I would always write little short stories inspired by things like Harry Potter or a movie I had watched. This novel, entitled Fledgling ©, is something I came up with one night lying in my little single bed at University. The birds around here, which if anyone was questioned about this would agree, don't seem to know what time it is and are constantly chirping, even at 3am. Birds, and animals in general, have always been an interest to me and to be able to draw inspiration from them is great. I do love nature and I'm trying to include it in my novel as much as possible as the setting is Scotland, a very naturalistic place.
As far as personal life, I pride myself on being just that: myself. I'm a very outgoing person and I love to simply enjoy life, whatever and where ever it may bring me. I would say I'm pretty easily pleased and equally as easily entertained. I love to laugh, and I love to surround myself with people that can make me do so. I have been a swimmer most of my life, though surgeries have set me back with that a bit. I had the opportunity to compete with a Masters team based in Glasgow, Scotland- Glasgow Western Masters. It was an incredible experience and a great way to end my stay in Scotland. Now that I have returned back to the States, I decided to further my swimming career and have joined a USMS Masters team, finding great success and happiness with them.
I love Scotland. I love the people I have had the opportunity to meet. While in Scotland, not only did I travel and rediscover myself, but I studied as well. I received my Bachelor of Arts in English, and my Master of Letters in Publishing, both from University of Stirling, as aforementioned.
I have four tattoos. The first reads, in Scots Gaelic, "Beatha. Gaol. Gaire." or in English "Live. Laugh. Love." around a trinity celtic knot on my left ribs, next to my heart because my heart will always belong to Scotland. On my right ribs I have the outline of the state of Massachusetts with a little red heart over Boston, because you can never forget where you came from. The third is on the inside of my left bicep. This one is my favorite; it is an ampersand (&), which resembles a broken infinity to remind me that although nothing lasts forever, there is always an and. My fourth is by far the most special. It says "Beauty for Ashes" in Norwegian (Skjonnhet for Aske)- now totaling two tattoos I can't pronounce!- with traditional Norwegian Rosemaling (better known as Moose Calling) underneath the lettering. It is so special because my best friend and ink sister, Sonja Scutaro, and I got them to match, bonding our deeply rooted friendship even deeper. On that note, I'm also an artist along with a writer. Photography is my preferred media, but I've been dabbling back into sketching and charcoals.
I hail from the city of Peabody, Massachusetts (it's pretty close to Boston, right next to the famed Salem, MA- yes, the Witch City). Boston is an incredible city, filled with rich history, beautiful architecture, and incredible people, I'm very proud to be from Massachusetts (which lead to my second tattoo).
I hope you enjoy my site, and hopefully my book as well!
Special ThanksI would like to take this opportunity to thank my family and friends for all the love and support they have given me over the years. I would not be the person I am today without them.
I'd like to especially thank my parents, Lisa and Donald, and my brother, Alex, for always being behind me and accepting me for the person I am. To my Aunt Cathy for introducing me to the series, Outlander, that stole my heart away to Scotland. To Sonja Scutaro for being my driving force, motivation, fellow writer, reader and editor of my work, best friend, amazing woman, the list could go on. Thank you for being my muse. To Scotland- for taking my heart and my mind, and making me creative again. And finally, to all of my predecessors-thank you for writing the books that took my mind to other places; to my future and fellow writers- keep the creative juices flowing and never stop! |
Favorite Books and Authors* The Outlander Series {Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow And Ashes, An Echo In the Bone} ~Diana Gabaldon
* The Wicked Lovely Series {Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, Radiant Shadows, Dark Mercy} ~Melissa Marr * The Harry Potter Series ~JK Rowling * Into the Wild ~Jon Krakauer * The DaVinci Code ~Dan Brown * A Walk In the Woods ~Bill Bryson * Watership Down ~Richard Adams * Fallen~ Thomas Sniegoski * {Shiver, Linger, Forever}~ Maggie Stiefvater * Blood Magic- Tessa Gratton |