Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Ava Riley to the blog today. Welcome back Ava.
Ava Thank you Kelly so much for inviting me back to share with your followers. I am honored to be here today with you all.
Q1) Can you each tell us a little about yourself
Ava: I am a woman who wears many hats: Wife, mother, full time student & author. Although I am very busy, I try to get in as much family time as possible, as I have found that time flies by way too fast. When I am not too busy, I also enjoy photography (thank God for the iPhone & all its wonderful photography apps).
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Ava: For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to see my writing in print. I did go through a phase when I was younger, when I wanted to be a poet. I was not very good at it J.
Q3) What are your writing rituals, anything you have to have while writing?
Ava: First and foremost, it must be completely quiet. If I hear the smallest of noises, I am distracted. I usually write very late at night after everyone has gone to sleep. While I am writing, I must have my hair pulled up into a ponytail, no shoes on, and have a cup of coffee (sometimes I have several cups) LOL.
Q4) Tell us a little about your story The Beast Within, in the Indulgence Anthology
Ava: The Beast Within is actually my first try at paranormal romance and it is more in the erotic paranormal genre. It is a story of a shifter (Siona) who lost her parents at a young age and then joins a carnival troupe to become an assistant to Alston the Magician. Siona is actually the one that is the magic bearer and Alston is the mortal who the crowds think is brilliant. After a quick moment of passion the Jaguar within her feels threaten and Alston’s life is in danger.
Q5) Can you share with my followers what the Indulgence anthology is?
Ava: This is an Anthology with 9 other Lazy Day Publishing authors that will be released Oct. 19th. The anthology is a dark, steamy, and edgy erotica about a carnival troupe. It is a Moulin Rouge meets Crique De Soleil meets paranormal. Lots of hot, sexy naughtiness going on J.
Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Ava: We were given some ideas as far as characters to choose from and I thought it would be fun to write about a Magician’s assistant who is actually the one who holds all the magic. Once I figured out the characters, the rest just kind of fell into place. Because it is a paranormal, I needed a “creature of the night,” and it only seemed fitting that the magician’s assistant would be a shapshifter.
Q7) What is your current work in progress?
Ava: I am working on a new series called Jackson Valley which is erotic cowboy style. I also am working on a book called Coffee Shop Affair. They are both works in the beginnings, but as I stated earlier, I am also a full time student so that has given me little writing time at least for the next month or so.
Q8) Best piece of advice to share with budding authors?
Ava: I think my best advice would be to follow your heart and write what you want. Too many authors write what they think others what them to write and it’s not from their hearts. Stay true to yourself and your writing. Also, as far as the business, don’t ever give up. There are so many genres, so many points of view on the same kind of story, and so many different readers and you just have to push past any negativity and focus on the positive.
Q9) I love to know what authors are reading. So what have you recently read that you loved or what is an upcoming release that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Ava: Well, I just read Girls Who Bite which is an anthology of Lesbian Vampire Erotica. This is a genre I don’t usually read, but read it for reviewing purposes and I actually really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to A Taste of Midnight by Lara Adrian. The Midnight Breed Series is my all-time favorite and Lara is one of my favorite authors.
Q10) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Ava: Yes J. I am one of 18 authors who have gotten together to raise money for a young man in the UK who has an inoperable brain tumor. His name is Harry Mosley and he has recently slipped into a coma. To read his story you can go to: http://www.helpharryhelpothers.com/. An anthology called Author Moments was put together with advice and antidotes from authors just starting in the business to NYT Bestsellers. The book is available at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91305 and Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Author-Moments-ebook/dp/B005PHSOLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317416115&sr=8-1 and ALL the proceeds go to fight cancer.
Books-n-Kisses: Ava, thank you for taking the time out of your busy scheduled to sit down and talk with me about your books. What do you say we give away a copy or two of Indulgence to a few commenters? (US ONLY)
Ava: That sounds wonderful to me. How about they tell me what their favorite book of all times is (any genre). I’m always looking to expand my library.
Want to learn more about Ava?
Check out her website HERE
To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form below. (US ONLY)
To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form below. (US ONLY)
What made you decide to try your hand at this genre? What are your favorite types of romance you like to read?
Romance Reader…a few years ago a friend of mine introduced me to my first paranormal romance author (Karen Marie Moning). I've been hooked ever since. I thought it would be fun to try my hand at it :). As far as my favorite types of romance to read it is definitely paranormal and erotica. 🙂
Ava
That's like pulling teeth. I love so many books. Paranormal romance is my favorite genre. I think I'll go with my very first one – BITTEN by Kelley Armstrong. It got me into reading so much more than I ever had before.
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
It's hard to name just one book, but I think mine would have to be the first in Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, Wizard's First Rule. It is a story of a young man's self-discovery. It is based on a fantastical world that is under the threat of being ruled by a tyrant, and only the seeker has the power to stop it. There is magic, romance, and destiny.
Great interview Ava! I'm happy I got to learn more about you, I really enjoy your writing rituals. That would probably be mine too LOL. I also love The Midnight Breed series, so good!!
My favorite book of all time is probably The Giver by Lois Lowry. I read it in 6th grade and it just hit me, it's stuck with me all these years later.
What a great interview. I have a few favorites- Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, The Wedding in White by Diana Palmer and the Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.
Thanks for the giveaway.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Natasha and Joanne, thank you! I will have to check out those authors as well 🙂
SilverRose….Wizard's First Rule sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
I think that's a great idea for a story…and for a great cause. That's amazing that you guys have written a story for Harry. Simply awesome 🙂
rachie2004 AT yah00 *d8t* c-m
Awesome interview. I haven't read her books but I will soon, after my exams finish.