Meet Elle DeYesso
If you’re a reader who craves romance wrapped in adventure, snark, and just the right amount of cosmic chaos, it’s time to meet Elle DeYesso—a rising voice in sci-fi and fantasy romance whose stories blend heart, humor, and out-of-this-world excitement.
Elle has always been drawn to the magic of sci-fi and fantasy. Now, she channels that love into stories filled with found families, complicated characters, sharp sarcasm, and banter strong enough to carry a plot all on its own. Her writing is equal parts romance, action, and interstellar adventure—crafted by someone who devours every genre imaginable and is powered almost entirely by iced coffee.
Elle’s debut novel, Stardusted, launches readers into the It’s Definitely Not Aliens series with a story full of slow-burn tension, swoony spice, and aliens absolutely worth phoning home about. It’s witty, adventurous, heartfelt, and the perfect entry point for anyone who loves their romance paired with high-stakes, high-fun escapades.
Elle lives in the Midwestern United States with her husband, her bonus kiddos, and the cutest French bulldog known to humankind. A self-proclaimed extroverted introvert, she’s a foodie, a weightlifter, and a lifelong learner who squeezes gaming and binge-reading into whatever quiet moments she can find. Her guilty pleasures include K-dramas, popcorn with far too much butter and salt, and collecting coffee cups with sarcastic sayings (because one simply isn’t enough).
When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her cooking, hiking, playing video games, or valiantly attempting to keep houseplants alive. (Results may vary.)
Learn more about Elle as we dive into a quick Q&A and discover the magic and madness behind her stories.
Q&A
Tell me a little bit about your writing inspirations and/or how you got started.
My dad was an aspiring novelist and some of my earliest memories were of him tapping away at a typewriter. As a result, I grew up scribbling stories and with a massive love affair with reading, particularly in any genres that allowed me to escape into faraway worlds. I always had my nose in a book (I was the weird kid who got in trouble for reading in class). As I got older, I remember getting this restless feeling after finishing a book, like I didn’t want it to end. I started writing fanfic in my teens to try to scratch it. Those evolved into my own books eventually. And here we are!
Can you explain your journey of being a self-published author? Are there any tips you would give an aspiring writer you wants to self-publish?
I actually started this journey going the traditional route. I thought that’s what I wanted, but ultimately, self-publishing proved to be more my jam. Retaining creative control, for one, was very important to me—especially since I write things that don’t quite fit what you’d call a mainstream mold. Having the freedom to market both my book AND myself how I wanted were also things I didn’t want to compromise on. Now, having gone this route, I will say the biggest thing for me is the community! That has by far been the most amazing part of this journey. The indie world is one, big, giant family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In fact, that would probably be my biggest piece of advice to an author starting off: find your people. Having a genuine support system has been incredibly impactful when it comes to the emotional and logistical aspects of this. Whether it’s bouncing ideas off other authors, networking, or merely venting emotions on the harder days, having friends who understand this world is a game-changer.
How do you handle writer’s block or periods of low creativity? Are there any specific strategies you use to get back on track?
This is a tough one! If there’s anything this year has taught me it’s been that I can’t force the muse. Creativity is a big mood for me, and there are times it just doesn’t flow. Music plays a huge part in my writing, and it can SOMETIMES jumpstart it. I read a lot–all sorts of genres–and I’m also a big movie buff (horror and lots of sci-fi), and I do tend to escape into those things when I can’t write. I’ve also found a long walk and some fresh air can start the juices flowing, too.
Sometimes, though, you just need a break. I’ve found if I’m forcing it and it won’t budge, it can also be a sign something’s not working with my story, and maybe I need to rethink where it’s going. If I listen to my instincts, usually they’re telling me something…even if I don’t want to hear it. :)
Could you share some insights into your writing process? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you stay productive and creative?
Coffee! I’m also an early writer. I am my most creative first thing in the morning. I binge write, as well. My debut series, It’s Definitely Not Aliens, was written all at once, in a binge-writing episode over six months last year. FIVE whole books. It wasn’t pretty (both the writing OR me during the process), but they were all vomited out in one go. It’s the only way I know how to do it. Once it starts flowing, I have to get it all out at once. Then I can go back, polish, and mold it into something people would actually want to read without gouging their eyes out.
How do you create complex and relatable characters in your novels? Are there any specific techniques or inspirations you draw from when developing their personalities, motivations, and arcs?
I think the biggest part of character-building is paying attention to the people around you. You can’t write people without knowing…well, people. Understanding what makes real individuals and relationships tick translates into writing. For me, anyway!
When it comes to my actual writing, characters come to me first in voices. In dialogue, specifically. Usually just a few snippets, and from there, it’s habits/motivations, and I’ll flesh them out after I “hear them”. Oddly enough, descriptions will typically come last! My favorite part of character building is conflict. Especially intra-character conflict. I love me some angst. If you can find what hurts a character, you can find what makes them human. Or alien. Whatever.
What have been the most rewarding moments in your writing journey? Conversely, what challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
The most rewarding moment ever for me was the first time I received a message from a stranger telling me they enjoyed my book. I cried. To this day, I still remember that person’s name and the message, and I will probably never forget it. That moment is followed closely by holding my book in my hand for the first time. The surreal feeling of the physical representation of an entire life of “someday I’ll do this” was…pretty wild, to say the least.
Imposter syndrome is the biggest challenge, hands down. It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison game and to question yourself–especially when surrounded by so many amazingly talented writers like I am! It’s very, very humbling, and I have to constantly remind myself it isn’t a competition. We’re all here writing our stories because we love to tell them, and that’s the real magic. I’m just happy to be here.
How do you connect with your readers? Do you have any memorable interactions or experiences with fans that stand out to you?
Every single message, comment, like, and share is a connection to me! I spend WAY too much time on social media because each of those interactions means so much to me, I just can’t stand to not be there for them. I wish I could find words to convey to readers what those messages, reviews, and little notes feel like. You’d think, being a writer, I’d have a way to do that, but I’ve yet to really be able to capture it. There’s nothing like it. Just knowing that the silly little romcom story about hot aliens I wrote has touched somebody enough to prompt them to reach out and say something is something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.
What advice would you give to new writers?
My biggest advice is to not lose yourself. This entire journey is a rollercoaster in the most literal sense. The highs are so high. Watching page reads go up. Watching likes and follows soar. The tiniest recognition. But the lows are also LOW. Engagement slumps. Quiet days. The times you second guess everything. Don’t let yourself get caught up in that. Don’t forget why you’re doing this: the writing. To tell the stories. The fact that we get to do this—we get to write and put our books out there—is a dream come true. Don’t lose sight. If you can hold onto that, then every day is a gift. And that’s pretty freaking cool.
What future projects or ideas are you excited about? Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on next?
I’m getting ready to release the second book of the It’s Definitely Not Aliens series (Starfalling), and book number three will be dropping next year, too! That will complete the trilogy, but there is a spin-off duet coming with two characters from the trilogy that I’m so excited about.
After that, though, I have two other projects–an urban fantasy romcom I’m dying to talk about but can’t yet and a romantasy duet that’s a bit darker. I’ve been a busy, busy Elle over here. All the things! It’s going to be an exciting next few years!
Her Work:
Where to Find Her
Elle DeYesso loves connecting with readers as much as she loves crafting new worlds. You can find her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook—and she absolutely wants to hear from you.
