frequently asked questions
PLEASE NOTE: I am not famous, so no one actually asks me these questions.
When did you start writing?
When I was eight years old, I won a poetry contest at my local library with a poem that was an absolute ripoff of Jack Prelutsky (sorry, Jack). The high of reading said poem in front of an audience ruined me forever. From there I moved on to short stories and wrote several fantasy novels in my teens, all of them absolute ripoffs of Tamora Pierce (sorry, Tamora). Now I write things that are not ripoffs of anyone, as far as I know.
What kind of fiction do you write?
Most of my work can be broadly categorized as weird fiction, dark fantasy, fabulism, or horror. I also dip into historical fiction and science fiction from time to time.
What authors inspire you?
In no order at all: Kelly Link, Diana Wynne Jones, Shirley Jackson, Nalo Hopkinson, L.M. Montgomery, Carmen Maria Machado, Ursula K. LeGuin, Margaret Atwood, Terry Pratchett, Kate Elliott, Helen Oyeyemi, Sarah Waters, Zadie Smith, Octavia E. Butler, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Emily St. John Mandel, Joanna Russ, Catherynne M. Valente, Iain Reid, Nathan Ballingrud, Brian Evenson, Madeleine L’Engle, Junji Ito, Nick Hornby, Stephen Graham Jones, and Alice Walker. My influences are broad, and may not always be obvious in my body of work.
Have you written any novels?
Yes! My debut novel, Grey Dog, was published in 2024 by ECW Press. I wrote several other novels before that one, but they are mostly about dragons and will never see the light of day.
Do you have an agent?
Yes, I do! I am currently represented by the fabulous Geffen Semach at Westwood Creative Artists.
Are you planning to write a sequel to Grey Dog?
As of this moment, I have no plans to continue the story begun in Grey Dog. The other novels I am writing and querying are unrelated standalones. Never say never, though!
Is Grey Dog going to be a movie?
Grey Dog is not currently optioned for film or television. I would be very open to this happening, but there are a lot of hoops to jump through before novels get adapted.
Are you working on any new books?
Yes, I am! I currently have one novel and one short story collection in a state of relative completion, another novel in a state of semi-completion, and several other novels at various stages of completion. Check back for more news on those!
Where can I find your work?
If you click on the “Published Works” tab at the top of the site, you’ll see a list of my published fiction and non-fiction. A lot of it is online. I will likely also be putting some smaller, unpublished pieces up here.
If you are interested in reading my novel, Grey Dog, it is available wherever books are sold. I suggest looking on Bookshop to see what local bookstores you can support through your purchase. I also highly recommend checking the book out from your local library!
I am interested in publishing your work/inviting you to participate in an event/adapting one of your stories for film or television. Can I email you?
Yes, please do! I have a contact page on this website, but can also be contacted on Facebook, Instagram, or Bluesky.
I am interested in getting published. Can you help me?
Probably not outright, but I am happy to answer questions about my own experience with the publishing world and how Grey Dog came to be a real live book on real live bookshelves. Email me!
I have a book coming out. Will you write me a blurb?
I cannot guarantee that I will be able to write a blurb for your book, but email me with a synopsis anyway! If it sounds like something I might be into, I will do my best to accommodate a blurb request.
I hated your book. Can I email you and tell you why in 5000 words or more?
I would genuinely prefer it if you didn’t, but I certainly can’t stop you!
Are you on social media?
I am! On Bluesky I am @elliottgish.bsky.social, and on Instagram I am @elliottgish. My official Facebook page is Elliott Gish Writes. I am no longer on Twitter, due to the ketamine-fueled fascism of it all.
Wow, you use a lot of exclamation points.
I know!