Wednesday, February 4, 2026

INTERVIEW: Multi-Genre Canadian Author Emily-Jane Hills Orford

 


Emily-Jane Hills Orford

North Gower, Ontario

Canada


 

Good morning, Emily-Jane, and welcome back to Vision and Verse. It is always a pleasure to see you. What’s new with you? 

Lots, but most recently I’ve just released a fantasy/sci-fi, Arthurian myths story, “The Door, the Key and the Kingdom”.


What is your favorite genre to write? 

I have several favorite genres, ranging from creative nonfiction/memoirs to historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and time travel.


Favorite food.

Chocolate 


Mine, too. Tea or coffee? 

Chamomile tea


Pizza or ice cream?

Neither


Wine or beer or soda or what? 

Cranberry cocktail


Where would you like to visit? 

Scotland


Favorite musical artist.

at the moment – as a retired music teacher, I live for silence, especially when I’m writing.



Do you listen to music when you write?
No, I prefer silence.


This is an Art AND Author blog, so I am obligated to ask:

Favorite work of art or sculpture.

Rodin’s sculpture, “The Thinker”, a pose I often use when I’m deep in thought.


How old were you when you started writing? 

5/6 years old.


Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 

I prefer to just write, but I jot notes as I go along as ideas spark something tangent for later in the story.



Describe your perfect evening.

Quiet and a good book.


Where do you get your inspiration? 

Everywhere – the world is full of ideas.


What do you do when you get a writer's block? 

I discipline myself to write about nonfiction, usually one of my creative nonfiction stories or one of my gardening stories, as that helps me focus and get the writing juices flowing again.


Who is your favorite author? 

It changes frequently, but right now, my favorite is PG Wodehouse – good light reading, full of good, clean humor.


Best book you ever read.  

 “Very Good Jeeves” by PG Wodehouse


Last book you read. 

PG Wodehouse “Thank you, Jeeves”


What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

Something creative – I’ve taught writing to young writers of all ages and I’ve taught music. I would love to own my own bookstore, perhaps attached to a small commercial art gallery.


That sounds delightful! I always wanted to open a little bookstore with a cafe inside.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 

Gran – she was quite the storytellerand we shared a special bond. We both loved to read and tell stories, her stories were told orally. I told her once I believed she was timeless and that we would always be together. She would laugh and say I’d soon forget her once she was gone. Thirty-plus years since her passing, I still think of her often and she surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) appears in most of my stories. I’m sure she’d love the way I portray her my books. She’s even in this most recent novel, “The Door, the Key and the Kingdom”.





If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 

Gran, of course. She was my special go-to friend, confident, and soulmate.


What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? 

Don’t just think about it – do it! Write! It doesn’t matter what others think of your writing. It’s what you think that matters.

 

 





“The Door, the Key and the Kingdom” Cover: 




Blurb:


Life is complicated enough when living in one era, but when Anne finds herself gravitating back in time to the sixth century, she’s not sure what to expect, or what to believe. Pulling the legendary Excalibur from its stoney sheath, she’s amazed at the power she possesses and the chance to make some things right for the post-Arthurian era.

 

Buy Links

https://www.amazon.com/Door-Key-Kingdom-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford-ebook/dp/B0FSNVPKMP



 

Do you have some links for us to follow you? 

Social Media Links

http://emilyjanebooks.ca

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/author/B002LUV0NS?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true











VISION AND VERSE DISCLAIMER

Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information, such as email addresses or home addresses. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.

No comments:

Post a Comment