INTERVIEW: Elizabeth Watson is Drawn to Underdog Narratives

Welcome to the Tuesday Author Interview with Christina Boyd for the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

CHRISTINA: I first met Elizabeth Watson through Bianca Marais' Great Beta Reader Matchup. After a couple of exchanges, Elizabeth, Sarah Dohlman in Australia, and I decided we were a match and would like to continue working together. That was over two-years ago, and we met via Google Meet every other week to discuss the pages we had critiqued. Elizabeth and I even met in real life when her family traveled to Seattle for a quick peek at the PNW. Of course, I had to drag her to Bainbridge Island on the same route that the main characters in my novel Woman in the Painting took on their first date. (A ferry ride to the San Juan Islands features in my other novel, The Hot Quixote, too.) Her debut novel, The Rise of Scarlett Heroux, releases on February 25 in e-book, paperback, and audiobook.

That time Elizabeth Watson came to Seattle, and we took a windy ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island for lunch.

What do you wish you had known before you started writing a book?

ELIZABETH: I wish I had taken a writing class and read a few more craft books earlier in my writing career. I assumed that being an avid reader would naturally make me a competent writer, but that wasn’t the case for me personally! When I started writing, I knew what I liked about books and had enough imagination to come up with good ideas, but I didn’t yet have the skills to execute them. I didn’t understand character arcs, story structure, or how to avoid weighing down prose with passive voice and filler words.

The first book I wrote was abysmal (and I know I’m not alone in that), but I think it would have been much stronger if I’d picked up Save the Cat or a similar craft book beforehand. I read a few craft books before starting my second novel, and that helped enormously. At this point, I’ve read around fifteen craft books and taken several classes, all while writing my third book, and the difference is night and day.

CHRISTINA: This really highlights how essential craft is—ideas and passion matter but learning structure and technique can completely change what a writer is capable of. Such a relatable reminder that loving books and knowing how to write them are two very different skills.

How do you decide on the ‘heat level’ for your books?

ELIZABETH: I’m always writing love stories, and I love open-door romance. That said, I’m not bold enough to be a full-on erotica writer, so I tend to land in a medium heat range. I can’t imagine myself being inspired to write a story without romance—or sex—in it, so that balance feels like the most authentic fit for me.

That time I asked Elizabeth Watson, while we perused the stacks at Eagle Harbor Books on Bainbridge Island, where her book THE RISE OF SCARLETT HEROUX would fit. July 2024

CHRISTINA: That makes a lot of sense, and it’s great to hear how intentional you are about writing what feels authentic rather than forcing yourself into a specific subgenre.

What do you think makes a good story?

ELIZABETH: I love fast-paced books. The kind that keeps you glued to your seat, shirking responsibilities, until you suddenly find yourself in a reading slump because nothing else compares. For me, those are often character-driven stories with a gripping love story, but not always.

I’m especially drawn to underdog narratives, like The Will of the Many or Red Rising. Stories where characters face enormous adversity and seem perpetually on the brink of death. I can’t look away until I know what happens to them. I also love books that give me a window into a time, place, or experience I could never access myself, which is why I’m such a big historical fiction reader.

CHRISTINA: You’ve perfectly described my favorite kind of book: high stakes, deep emotional investment, and the kind of immersion that makes everything else disappear. It's interesting how you tie pacing to character and stakes—those narratives really are masterclasses in tension.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

The Rise of Scarlett Heroux by Elizabeth Watson. Publication February 25, 2026

ELIZABETH: Writing is my true love, but if I couldn’t write, I’d probably revert to doing my best to take care of my family. I worked in finance for years and would likely return to being an equity trader.

If money weren’t an issue, but I still couldn’t write (in what world that would be the case, I have no idea)—I’d probably work at a library. I love libraries!

CHRISTINA: If you could tell your 21-year-old-self anything, what would you share?

ELIZABETH: I’d tell her not to take a nine-year break from writing; finishing that first book in grad school would have been far better than waiting until my first maternity leave. I’d also tell her that all the suffering is going to lead to wonderful things. All the hard stuff I’ve experienced was worth it because it brought me where I am today, and I love my life.

I’d also tell her to invest more in Mag 7 stocks and crypto. Lol.

CHRISTINA: Ha! If only.

Thank you so much for taking the time for this little interview. I know how busy you are with the coming launch. I'm so excited for your release and very proud of the project and how far it has come since I've known you. I look forward to seeing your star rise when you are rich and famous, and this is the next blockbuster! Best wishes on the release. I hope it all goes smoothly. You deserve every good thing.

Elizabeth Watson, author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Watson lives in her home state of Arizona with her husband and two tiny overlords. Before turning to writing full-time, she spent more than a decade in the world of finance, living in Edinburgh, San Francisco, and London. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, Elizabeth enjoys astrology, tarot, and reading badass fantasy romance. The Rise of Scarlett Heroux is her debut novel. You can connect with Elizabeth via Instagram.