About the Book
Common girl – one of a million. A face you see every day. Someone passing by your life in the background to the eyes of many. But beneath the surface, she is far from common. She carries uncommon grief and trauma from heartbreak and betrayal. Somehow, she still yearns for affection, even after everything she’s lived. It’s a complex, cruel cycle.
“Common Girl” is a poetry collection that captures the complexity of the life of an every-day girl some see as ordinary – heartbreak, grief, loss and frustration. Through raw emotion, each poem highlights the emotional highs and lows felt from traumatic events. Each poem unapologetically reveals the vulnerability of a life many can relate to.
About the Author
Elizabeth Pridgen is an author from Castalia, North Carolina. Pridgen graduated from Nash Community College in 2020 with an associate of arts, and NC State University in 2022 with a bachelor’s in creative writing. At 18-years-old, she published her first novel, “The Life of David Earl Penning”, followed by “NEVERAFTER”. At 21-years-old, she published her first Amazon-best-seller, “Zero Gravity. She is also the author of the best-seller, “Records You Don’t Care About: A Poetry Collection”. Whenever she isn’t writing, she spends time with family and friends, and her three dogs, Hershey, Daisy and Jack.
Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book What is it about?
My book is a narrative poetry collection following the experiences of an unnamed woman. She goes through many complex heartbreaks and traumas that are unique to her but feel common to others which is where the name “common girl” came from. In short, it’s a book about how we as people might look like the average every-day person, but we carry unique stories and traumas to us all.
Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?
Like all authors, my hope is that everyone can be interested in this book. By far, I wrote this for the younger women who feel like they don’t have anyone who understands their hurt and frustrations. Youth is a painful thing, especially for women like myself. We are often-times put at double standards – often are forced to be gray in a world of black and white. And there’s other harder life lessons we have to learn and carry with us. So, I wrote it with the younger women readers in my mind.
Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?
My favorite book is The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan because that’s what inspired me to be an author. I read it during my childhood – a time where I wasn’t the biggest fan of reading – and when my mom bought it for me, I fell in love. I always knew I wanted to do something that had a creative outlet, but after reading that book, it solidified that I wanted to be an author. It’s not just that, it’s a well-written book countless generations have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy.
Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?
Like all authors in the past have said, of course, I recommend reading as many books as possible. It’s not just because it will help you find your own voice, but being introduced to various voices and genres can help inspire your own story. But I’d also recommend writing things that are not only familiar to you, but passionate for you as well. I write a lot about small-town experiences because it’s not only something I know, it’s something I’m passionate about because not everyone is from a big city. And often times a lot of people from small towns like myself don’t have proper representation and I believe every voice deserves good representation.
Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?
You can find out more about me on my website at: https://authorelizabethpridgen.squarespace.com/
You can also find my Instagram: @justadaeli.
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