1. For readers just discovering you, who is Elexa Wood in your own words?

I’m from a small town in Texas and now live in Utah, and I’m always reading, writing, or thinking about the next story I want to tell. I love stories that  create a little suspense and keep you invested. 

2. What inspired you to start writing, and how has your journey as a writer shaped your perspective on storytelling?

What really inspired me toward writing was realizing I had stories in my head that I wanted to see come to life. The more I’ve written, the more I’ve come to appreciate that a story can help people be pulled into another world. 

3. How does your approach as a writer differ from when you’re reading for pleasure?

When I’m reading just for pleasure, I’m simply along for the ride. But when I sit down to put my story to paper, I’m evaluating everything, from how a character dresses to how each detail fits into the bigger picture.

4. What inspired Jefferson Manor, and what drew you to combine suspense with emotional twists?

I wanted to create something that felt like a mix between the Scream series and the Halloweentown series, finding a happy in between suspense and the classic small town vibes. I really wanted to capture that nostalgia while adding a unique twist to it.

5. How do you balance suspense, mystery, and emotional depth in the story?

I try to let my characters drive the story. I enjoy adding twists readers do not expect because that kind of mystery is what keeps me turning the pages. My goal is for readers to feel fully invested, almost as if they are experiencing the story and the emotions with the characters.

6. Without giving spoilers, which scene or moment do you hope resonates most with readers?

I hope readers focus on the moment they realize that the secrets a town tries to bury or forget can ultimately become someone's motive.

7. Your book spans fantasy, romance, horror, and thriller/mystery—how do you weave multiple genres together successfully?

I try to focus on the main idea I want to get across first. When the reader feels strongly for the characters, it is easier for the multiple genres to naturally come together and help create a more layered story. 

8. How do you develop characters that feel real while keeping them part of an immersive, suspenseful story?

I focus on the emotional side of my characters and how someone might react if they were placed in those situations. I also try to use imagery so readers can really picture what is happening.

9. Are there particular themes or emotions you enjoy exploring across your stories?

I like to explore the theme of suspense or mystery, simply because this is what I enjoy reading about and what intrigues me the most.

10. Can you share a bit about your current project—a fantasy romance with a bit of mystery? How does it differ from Jefferson Manor?

Jefferson Manor is a slasher thriller,  while my current project is the complete opposite. This story is more emotionally driven and focuses on the characters’ relationships and the world that they are building around them.

11. How does writing a work in progress feel compared to completing a finished novel?

Every story comes with its own challenges, whether it is a work in progress or a finished project. A WIP feels exciting to me because I am trying to create something new and bring certain ideas to life. Once my novel is finished, my focus shifts more toward the marketing side of things. 

12. Do you outline extensively, or let your characters guide the story as it unfolds?

I do not outline, and I let the characters guide the story through their emotions and actions. This helps me create more real scenes.

13. What do you hope readers feel or take away after finishing Jefferson Manor?

I hope readers feel the nostalgia of Halloween and the thrills of the story, as if they are experiencing all the emotions with the characters.

14. How has reader feedback influenced your writing or approach to storytelling?

Reader feedback has shown me the impact of pacing the story as well as how important details are to help create the scene.

15. How do you want your readers to connect with your worlds and characters emotionally?

Emotionally I want the reader to feel as if they are experiencing the story for themselves.

16. Are there new genres, themes, or story types you’re excited to explore next?

I am excited to explore where my next work in progress is going to take me. I have not written romance or fantasy before and it is not something I read regularly, so I am excited to create a world for my characters within this genre.

17. How do you see your writing evolving in the coming years?

I see my writing evolving to hopefully multi-genre in the coming years. I want to be able to write in different genres.

18. If you could give aspiring writers one piece of advice about writing suspenseful, emotional stories, what would it be?

The first step is to simply just write, just write the story that is in your heart. The rest will follow. 

19. If Jefferson Manor were adapted for screen or audio, how would you envision the tone or style?

I would envision Jefferson Manor with the tone of the “Scream” series or “Halloweentown” series. With the style of reliving the high school days and the nostalgia of Halloween when you were younger while also having a hint of suspense.

20. Which character from the book would you most like to spend a day with—and why?

Each character is bits and pieces of people throughout my life, so technically I have spent a day with them before. But, I would have to say Berkley simply because she would want to spend the day in records stores or coffee shops.

21. What’s one fun or unexpected fact about your writing process or stories that readers might not guess?

 Jefferson Manor was actually written after a dream I had.

22. When readers close the last page of Jefferson Manor, what feeling or takeaway do you hope lingers with them the most?

I hope readers see that even the most perfect towns or people can hide secrets, and those secrets can give the nicest person a motive.