S02E25-063 The way to it is through it with Elizabeth Chaffin

Finding Elara

Guest Bio

Elizabeth Chaffin is the creator of Bearded Rat Mysteries, through which she has written over 14 digital-download murder mystery games that have been sold around the world. She is also the author of two novels, Dead Man's Swamp and Newfangled Madness, published under the name E. M. Chaffin. Both books feature homeschooled protagonists and explore themes of friendship, courage, and the pursuit of truth. She lives in Oklahoma, USA with her own personal creatures Paisley and Tricki Woo. She enjoys eating mashed potatoes, adventuring to beautiful places, and taking vitamins. There was this one time she floated on the Yellow River on a raft made of inflated sheepskin, but that doesn’t have anything to do with this podcast.

Links

Contact Elizabeth

Website: https://www.emchaffin.com/

Instagram for EM: https://www.instagram.com/emchaffinwrites/

Instagram for BRM: https://www.instagram.com/beardedratmysteries/

Facebook for EM: https://www.facebook.com/emchaffinwrites

Facebook for BRM: https://www.facebook.com/beardedratmysteries

Etsy: https://beardedratmysteries.etsy.com

Things you can enter

TREASURE CHEST GIVEAWAY

From Poppy: 1 e-copy of Woken Kingdom and d1 e-copy of How to edit your own novel.

From Elizabeth: Winners Choice of any 1 thing from her etsy store/a copy of her book.

From BCP: A copy of one of the BSP Low/Medium Content Journal range

Treasure chest Give-away 3: (open 30/07/2025 closes 8/10/2025)

https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/treasure-chest

Contact the Team

Finding Elara Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingElara

Discord: https://discord.gg/Ap8EWpPn

BCP Website: www.bcpcreative.com.au

BCP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcp.creative/

BCP facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577758720164

Contact Dianna

Website: www.dlnix.com

Facebook: (DL Nix) https://www.facebook.com/Faepatriantales

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingelara/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingelarapodcast

Sponsor Info

Shadow Lair: https://ko-fi.com/findingelara

Selva:s Ality: https://www.facebook.com/awakinningality

Selina Shapland: https://empoweredwords.com.au/

Show Notes

• Her creatures are Dogs
• Talked about writing Bio challenges.
• Wrote first Murder Mystery when she was overseas
• Next one was for family. She found it rewarding and put it on her Etsy page.
• Had a rat for her 7th birthday and used to joke about having a beard. That’s what lead to the name Bearded rat mysteries.
• Has 4 brother, all are creatives and creative endeavours where encouraged.
• Being the 4th child she didn’t have to make any rules as a kid, she always found a way to adapt.
• She focuses on the reality of homeschooling in her books
• Celebrate every win along the way. It doesn’t have to be wild or fantastic.
• Using lists that she can mark off has been rewarding > Trello
• Good to have some sort of writing ritual – she always makes sure she has a drink and a candle.
• She plans on learning the Guitar – will have to check back in a couple of years.
• Favourite game she has created is murder at the masquerade
• You get what you put in to these games.
• When writing a series – write them all first.

Quotes By Elizabeth

Motivation: The way to it is through it.

When it comes to writing focus on the Joy

Fast Fire Questions

1. Would you rather be a table or a chair? Table
2. Are you a Dog or Cat person? Dog
3. Who is your favourite Superhero? Spiderman
4. If you were to have a magical power what would it be? Talking to animals
5. The first thing you would do with a huge lotto win? Build or buy a castle

Buffy Night

Lord of the rings

Her dad read it to her when she grew up but it really impacted and inspired her when she saw the first movie.