E.L. Bates is an independently-published writer of fantasy and adventure. Heavily influenced by the likes of Lloyd Alexander, Agatha Christie, Susan Cooper, Dorothy L Sayers, Diana Wynne Jones, Brian Jacques, and Ellis Peters, she specializes in combining magic and mischief, usually resulting in mayhem all around. She also writes historical fiction under the penname Louise Bates. These stories tend to be much quieter, focusing more on ordinary people coming of age in extraordinary times. Her biggest influences for these tales are L.M. Montgomery, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Charles Dickens. When not writing, Louise teaches her two children at home. In her free moments, she enjoys quilting, ice dancing, and puttering about the kitchen. She is usually seen with a cup of tea in hand, and keeps a stash of dark chocolate hidden in her desk for emergency inspiration. Perhaps as a result of reading and writing so many adventures, she can't help but feel that life is best lived with a sense of anticipation, seeking adventure around every corner, looking for the magic that still lurks in the hidden places of the world, waiting for those with the eyes to see it.