Eloise Corvo grew up in suburban metro Detroit where she impatiently awaited trips to her family’s “Up North” cabin near Traverse City, Michigan. It was here, on the shores of dozens of lakes and dense forests, where she found her unbridled love of the natural world and cultivated a curiosity that still hasn’t let up. Corvo is now an environmental policy analyst by day, and writer by night. Her novel “Off the Beaten Path”, the first book in the Stone’s Throw Mystery series, was a big hit last year and we’re thrilled to invite her back on June 13th at 5:00 to introduce the second book in this series “Tunnel Vision”. Join us!
Author Interview
On your nightstand now:
A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais
I’m a sucker for books that play with format and this one does just that! It’s an interactive story, with a fantastic whodunnit at the center. I listen to Bianca’s Podcast, The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, so it’s added fun in hearing her voice as I read the pages.
Favorite book when you were a child:
The Michigan Chillers and Goosebumps series were a core part of my childhood. I’ve always been drawn to the dark and creepy. I loved these series because they were fun introduction to the horror and mystery genres, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Your top five authors:
Robert Louis Stevenson
Stephen King
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Rachel Harrison
Kurt Vonnegut
Book you’ve faked reading:
The instant bestsellers that make the rounds through all the book clubs are almost never on my list. Not because they’re not great books, but after hearing everyone talk about them, they lose their luster for me. I don’t know if I’ve ever flat out lied about reading, but I’ve definitely nodded my way through conversations about the hot new book that everyone’s talking about.
Book you’re an evangelist for:
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is, hands down, my favorite novel. I actually collect special editions and illustrated versions; I think I’m up to over 40 different copies in my home library. It’s the quintessential adventure story that explores the challenges of adolescence. Plus, there are pirates. What more could you need?
Book you’ve bought for the cover:
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero, which is a campy, goofy mystery that’s very reminiscent of the children’s mystery show, Scooby-Doo.
The cover is bright greens and purples with a nostalgic style that drew me in immediately. I was thrilled when the story was equally great!
Book you hid from your parents:
My parents are the reason I have the love of reading that I do today. They would take me to bookstores and libraries all the time. I can’t think of an instance where they stopped me from reading something I picked out.
I started reading horror books at a really young age, and to their credit, they let me set my own comfort level and limits. My mom is another big horror buff; I think we both saw it as something to bond over.
Book that changed your life:
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is a classic for a reason. I was incredibly moved by that story and still carry it with me. The outlook on death is beautiful, especially after knowing Vonnegut’s own WWII experience. When faced with hardship or challenges, I often remind myself of the book’s stoic catchphrase: “so it goes.”
Favorite line from a book:
I can’t pick just one, sorry! Here are my top few from my favorite authors I listed above.
“So it goes.” –Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonengut
“Dead men don’t bite.” –Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
“Destiny is usually just around the corner. Like a thief, a hooker, or a lottery vendor: its three most common personifications. But what destiny does not do is home visits. You have to go for it.” –The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Five books you’ll never part with:
My first American edition of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
My annotated copy of The Shining by Stephen King, filled with my own notes and reactions
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, given to me by my parents
A 1930s Sherlock Holmes story compilation, with a loving handwritten note from a husband to his wife as a gift for her birthday
The first advanced reader copy of my own first novel, Off the Beaten Path
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie really unlocked something in my brain that would be fun to rediscover. It is such an intricately crafted mystery, with an incredible twist at the end. This was my gateway into falling for the traditional mystery genre and helped me slowly transition from reading for pleasure to reading as a writer.
Do you have any bookstore rituals?
I like to do a lap around the store before browsing the specific genre(s) I came for. I try to keep an eye out for smaller/mid-size press titles and am sure to take pictures of my author-friends’ books on the shelves!
Autumn in Stone’s Throw, Michigan, is filled to the brim with hot apple cider, chunky pumpkins, and football rivalries. The entire town is gearing up for Homecoming festivities against rival Hemlock Pond, bringing together old friends and new, to the Lake Michigan town.
With the support of her loyal (and cheeky) dog, Martin Short, State Park Ranger Maudy Lorso is determined to keep her head above water. She’s running for local office, tending to a burgeoning relationship, and scrounging to keep the park’s doors open. Already trying to mend a rocky relationship with her best friend Eli, things take a darker turn when his childhood friend, State Senator Paige Ramos, is found dead on his front porch on Halloween night. As secrets surface and old bonds fray, Maudy’s not sure who she can trust.
Stone’s Throw may seem like a postcard-perfect coastal town, but someone is hiding a much larger plan, and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it buried.
