Fantasy Author
ELLEN STARSMORE
Ellen Starsmore (she/her) has been an avid fantasy reader since her teens, inspired by quests through wondrous worlds. One day, she started creating a fantasy world of her own… and writing fantasy became an addiction. Her debut fantasy novel, Beyond the Humming Downs, will launch in 2025.
When she’s not writing fantasy, Ellen writes for companies in the engineering and industry space. Some of these interests sneak into her fantasy world building too. She lives with a feline animal companion in Melbourne, Australia (Boonwurrung Country).
ELLEN STARSMORE
WHO AM I?
I write fantasy
… with love, hope and adventure. My stories are light on the bleak and body count; I’m more interested in character journeys and discovery. I’ve often joked that my stories are inspired by which part of my fantasy world I want to explore next. (Only it’s not really a joke.)
My lifelong love of fantasy
… began when my Dad read The Hobbit to me and my siblings as we sat around a campfire. He later started reading The Lord of the Rings, but I grew impatient and devoured the whole thing myself.
I started writing fantasy
… when I was 19 (a very long time ago)! I was reading a fantasy novel that wasn’t living up to its premise, and decided I could write something heaps better. (Ahem. I was wrong.) Out came pen and exercise book, and a writer was born.
I’m still writing fantasy
… because I can’t stop! I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words over the years, but nothing I’ve deemed good enough to publish. That’s about to change with the launch of my debut fantasy novel, Beyond the Humming Downs, in 2025.
I decided to indie publish because
… I like the idea of having full control and the prospect of learning the ropes didn’t daunt me (although it probably should have). Additionally, Beyond the Humming Downs doesn’t really fit current traditional publishing trends.
I live in Melbourne, Australia (Boonwurrung Country)
… with my feline animal companion, Leo. He’s an enormous tabby with enormous paws. I lost my darling black-tortie girl, Lucia, in early 2023. Before that, I lived with my devilcat, Chenna, whose reputation lingers to this day. I’ve pretty much always lived in Melbourne, although I was born in Sydney.
At university, I studied
… materials engineering. In fact, I have a PhD in steels phase transformations. I also have an arts degree, majoring in Japanese. (I remember none of it; please don’t try talking Japanese to me.) On the whole, I have a fascination for anything related to materials — especially metals and minerals. These interests have filtered into my fantasy world building and influenced my magic system.
My other hobbies include
… travel (especially adventure travel; I’ve been trekking in Nepal, horse riding in Mongolia, and coastal walking in Cornwall, UK), playing Dungeons & Dragons with my writer friends, growing carnivorous plants, singing in a community choir, hiking and geocaching — and reading, of course!
Adventure
Wonder
Possibility
Discovery
