Welcome everyone to the first of what I hope is many installments of Finding Fiction Friday, a chance for us to share authors with you. Today it is my extreme pleasure to host up and coming writer Ashley Nemer, author of the "Blood" series among other works. Let's see what makes her tick ...
First, let’s get to know you a little better, Ashley. How did you get started writing, and what
made you decide to take a shot at getting a story published?
Well I started writing in junior high and high school,
they were mainly poems back then; but in high school I was a member of the debate team
and I found writing original oratory was my favorite UIL (University Interscholastic League) competition. Honestly,
taking a shot at getting published came from Teri, you know, our friend Teri.
She convinced me I was good enough to put my name on paper and get out there.
In college I had a couple poems published but that was it. It has always been a
dream and it was her who pushed me to really see it through.
What’s your favorite writing environment? At a desk, on the couch with your feet up, music
or not, etc.?
In my little library room, feet up, chilling in my
comfy chair, music blasting away, my dog on the arm of the chair or the back of
the chair just hanging with me.
We know what your bio says.
Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might surprise us.
That surprises you …. Hmmm, well that’s hard I have a
lot that surprises my family. I’d have to say maybe that even though I put on
this front about being courageous and brave, inside I’m really scared and
worried that I’ll fail.
What about being published and the book industry in general
has most surprised you?
How hard it is to get people to actually buy your
books. Everyone says they will when you are writing them but in reality times
are hard and there are cuts in the money people
have that can spend on books, I never really realized it until I was on
this end of things.
Ok, well we really want to talk about your book, “Blood
Purple”. Now this is a vampire story,
but what do you think is different about this story?
Well I know you have read it, so you already know, but
my vampire story really puts its focus on the family bonds, the family
relationships. The vampire part is very much a secondary fact. While yes it’s
important, it’s what they are it isn’t WHO they are. It’s not all about blood
blood blood you know, like other books. My people really pay attention to the
relationships they all have together.
The story centers around Zayn and Nikole, the sibling
leaders of the Algula in North America.
Tell us a little about them.
Zayn and Nikole are the technical Hero and Heroine of
my Blood Series but at this stage of the game I do not consider them ‘heroes.’
They have not earned that title to me. Yes, they are King and Princess, brother
and sister. But they are flawed and they have to prove to each other,
themselves, the reader and me the author that they are ready to take over.
That’s what the Blood Series is truly about, their growth. They are going to
fall apart and fail. You will be mad and disappointed at them throughout the
whole series and in the end, not everyone will end up with a happily ever
after. But in the end they will have earned that Hero and Heroine title.
Zayn is over protective and over bearing. Nikole is
sarcastic and impulsive. Together the two of them have everything they need to
lead the Algula into many years of success but they have to find the balance
among themselves first.
There are lots of other great characters in the book as
well. If you had to pick one of them
that you’d most like the readers to get to know, who would it be and why?
-
Leigh, because in BLOOD YELLOW, she’s the game changer.
When I read "Blood Purple", there were quite a few unexpected
twists and turns the story took, at least to me. When you’re writing, do you consciously say
“wow, they will never see this coming!”, or do you just kind of go where the
story and characters take you?
I do not plan. I lay there and close my eyes and type.
I let the characters lead me and typically when I read what I’ve written I
don’t change it. BLOOD PURPLE was a great foundation but Aaron I assure you, if
there were unexpected twists for you in this one, BLOOD YELLOW will knock your
socks off. Somewhere around page 60 when I was editing it I forgot I wrote it.
Just completely got sucked in and was like ‘holy crap when did this happen.’
The book definitely leaves some unanswered questions, and you've already talked about the upcoming sequel, “Blood Yellow”.
How long do you anticipate the series going?
BLOOD YELLOW picked up at the very next sentence of
where BLOOD PURPLE ended. I literally cut the chapter in half. That being
said…these story lines will not end until BLOOD GREEN. Book Three. There will
be a book four, BLOOD BLACK which will
focus around Ikram, Tamman, Hashim, Afaf and Haydar then BLOOD WHITE which will
be a compilation of everything I couldn’t fit into a book. I expect two to
three short stories and a bunch of facts, more like an insider’s guide.
Do you have any other upcoming works or even just ideas
bouncing around in your head?
Maverick Touch: The Cat comes out March 25th,
2013. Think April O’Neal meets Dexter. This is going to be a self-published mystery series. I’m VERY excited about it. I have been told it’s even better
than BLOOD YELLOW. That was hard to hear given the Blood Series is my baby so
to speak but I love Nadia Maverick and the whole little world I created. It’s
all humans, no paranormal supes there. I also have my poetry book, WHISPERS IN
THE DARK, coming out any moment now along with my short story duet, SOUL MATES,
coming out hopefully early summer.
Ok, I’ve always wanted to do this … to close the interview,
I have ten questions for you, plus one.
(I loved watching “Inside the Actor’s Studio”.) Here they go!
- What is your favorite word? Fuck (sorry Dad)
- What is your least favorite word? Sorry
- What turns you on? Knives
- What turns you off? Smoking
- What sound or noise do you love? The best sound ever is my husband and dogs sleeping, laying and night listening to the three of them gives more peace than I could ever ask for.
- What sound or noise do you hate? Sounds of traffic, cause I’m usually stuck in it.
- What is your favorite curse word? See question #1, my first curse word was ‘son of a bitch’ after watching Back to the Future 2 as a toddler
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Writer of course ~winks~ I mean Lawyer
- What profession would you not like to do? Accountant
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Your Grandpa and Daughter are right over here.
- What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? Are you happy?
Ashley is married and lives in Houston with her husband
Tony. They have two dogs named Toto and Doogie. They have been together for
almost 8 years and he brings her more joy than she could ever imagine as a
child. She loves to read and has been hooked on the romance genre ever since
her lifelong best friend gave her "Ashes to Ashes' by Tami Hoag to read when
they were younger. Ashley finds her strength through her family, especially her
parents. They always support her in life, they push her to strive for
greatness. There once was a motto that Ashley heard in her youth through her
Taekwondo life 'Reach for the Stars' and that is what Ashley has always done.
It was through her upbringing that the values Ashley has and display's came
from. With her Parents always cheering her on in life she was able to grow up
having faith in herself and her ability to conquer the world.
Follow Ashley and buy her books here:
BLOOD PURPLE
BUD’S CHRISTMAS WISH
Maverick Touch: The Cat
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Follow Patricia Laffoon and I here:
Loved this! Great questions...and answers too.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work, Ashley and Aaron too!
Nice, I followed you!
ReplyDelete