About

Beginnings

I was born in 1953 and grew up in Concord, New Hampshire, the third of four girls. After high school I went to the University of Vermont, where I majored in English, and then I went on to law school, graduating from Hastings College of the Law in 1979.

My writing life beckons

My first and only job as a lawyer was with the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, in Washington, DC. I did the whole shebang – document searches, witness interviews, court appearances, all in a nice navy blue suit. Still, every morning I rose at six to get in an hour of writing before going to work. Summer vacations I spent at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, studying with John Irving and John Gardner. Eventually I saved enough money for a sabbatical, and when my husband got a job teaching in Seattle, I quit.

Books and children

Books and children have always seemed to coincide for me: My first novel, Her Native Colors, was published in 1986 – within a week of the birth of my son. Monoosook Valley followed quickly, as did the birth of twin daughters. All this more or less put my writing on the back burner as we adjusted to life with three small children and a move to Colorado. But I did manage to write – and rewrite, many times – another novel during those years, and Crazy As Chocolate was finally published by MacAdam/Cage in 2002. The Abortionist’s Daughter is my fourth novel. (No more kids, though.)

Besides writing…

Besides writing, I like to swim, hike, bicycle, watch my kids play soccer, and goof around at the dinner table with my family. I’m passionate about the Grand Canyon, having gone down the Colorado River twice (one time as a guide’s assistant). Last but not least, I crave quiet reading time - right now I’m hunkered down with Richard Ford’s new novel, The Lay of the Land.

My main goal for the next ten years: Get my river guide’s license and run Lava.

The one question I prefer not to be asked: What’s for dinner?

Elisabeth Hyde

The writing life…