” In November 2016, I co-founded 2 Elizabeths, a short fiction and poetry publication, with my mother. We are committed to reading each and every single submission we receive, as there is no slush pile for us.”
-Elise Holland
A member of the Writers’ League of Texas since October, Elise Holland lives in Houston, TX.
Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?
Elise Holland: I write articles, essays, short fiction, and poetry for 2 Elizabeths, which is a grassroots publication I co-founded with my mother late last year.
Scribe: What author would you most like to have a drink with, and what’s the first question you would ask them?
EH: That’s such a tough question! There are so many incredible authors that I would be honored to meet. A few that come to mind are Emma Straub, Erin Loechner, Gabriela Pereira, Mirtha Michelle Castro Mármol, or the literary ghosts of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I recently had the opportunity to interview Mirtha Michelle Castro Mármol for 2 Elizabeths. She continues to inspire me as a poet, but also as a woman. She is ceaseless in her innate ability to encourage women to uplift other women. Hearing her discuss how her mother helped to shape her, how her own girl friends support her, and her desire to continue to help other people to grow was both inspiring and motivating. She is truly a rare gem.
Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?
EH: Any one of Emma Straub’s books would most likely be among my top choices on a deserted island. Her witty sense of humor would keep me sane in a situation like that! If I truly had to select one, it would be Other People We Married. For one thing, I am a lover of short stories. (Very few people know she published a collection of short stories, and they are excellent!) For another thing, it could not be her book The Vacationers, as I would likely just grow far too jealous of the luxurious European vacation featured in that novel. I suppose it could be Modern Lovers, which is also fantastic, but for the purpose of this conversation, Other People We Married it is!
Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers’ League?
EH: I am still a relatively new member; however, the most important thing I’ve learned thus far is about the endeavors of other writers in Texas. I am a massive fan of Scribe, and I adore the opportunity to read these interviews of fellow writers. It is a massive honor to have the opportunity to participate as well!
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
EH: We are massively focused on 2 Elizabeths and the opportunities that it creates as a platform for other writers of short fiction and poetry. At this point, after only a couple of months, we have been able to publish the work of five writers and pay them for their contributions. In five years I hope that 2 Elizabeths grows to a point that we can offer exponentially more to writers of short fiction and poetry.
Scribe: Here at the Writers’ League, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one Texas-related book that has come out within the past year that you couldn’t put down?
EH: I just finished reading The After Party by Anton DiSclafani. The novel centers around the epitome of Texas glamour in the 1950s and focuses on Houston. Being from Houston myself, I found the entire story to be enthralling.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
EH: In November 2016, I co-founded 2 Elizabeths, a short fiction and poetry publication, with my mother. We are committed to reading each and every single submission we receive, as there is no slush pile for us. We will always pay for the pieces of fiction, poetry, and cover art that we select to publish. For a copy of our submission guidelines, click here. We would love to hear from you!
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Thanks, Elise!
If you’re a Writers’ League member and you’d be interested in being interviewed for our Meet the Members feature, email us at member@writersleague.org for more information. It’s a great way for other members to get to know you and for you to share a bit about what you’re working on!
