Ashlyn has graciously joined us today to answer a few questions and I also have two copies of Strange Neighbors to giveaway. So join us for the interview and then enter the giveaway. So without further ado, here is my interview with Ashlyn.
1.
How did you
celebrate the first time you found out you would
be published?
I was alone. My husband was at
work and all my writing friends
were at our local conference. Those were the days before Twitter and
Facebook
and I very nearly internally combusted! LOL. When my hubby got home, he
took me
out to dinner and we celebrated each new contract that way...for a
while. E-book
contracts and releases became sort of ‘routine’ for him until I was
lucky to
get a hug and a ‘yay you.’ Now that I have paperbacks coming out, he’s
taking
me out to dinner again. Probably because they don’t come out as often,
each one
is a big deal.
2.
Was it just
as exciting to find out Strange Neighbors
would be published?
More. This was my ‘breakout’
novel. The first Mass Market
paperback with a traditional publisher. Getting that multi-book deal
also
helped me hire an agent. Now I have professional advice on my career,
not just
my books.
3.
You have a
lot of great humor in Strange Neighbors
and I really enjoyed it - does this come naturally to you in life as
well as
when you write?
It depends on who I’m with. If
I’m comfortable and know my humor
will be taken in the right spirit, I let it out. If I’m not sure about
the
company, I may keep it under wraps a little bit. Some of my comments
can be pretty off the
wall. You should hear my husband and I watching the news.
4.
Without
giving anything away - what is Strange Neighbors about?
It’s a series that takes place
in a Boston apartment building—one
that tends to attract paranormal residents. Birds of a feather flock
together,
as they say. Book one is about the Landlord, a professional baseball
player who
happens to be a shapeshifter. Pardon my blatent self promotion for a
moment:
Strange Neighbors
When star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco
buys a small
apartment building, he sees it not only as an investment but as a place
to
escape the demands of major league baseball.
That is, until he meets his tenants--a sarcastic unemployed vigilante vampire; a wereraven with a morbid sense of humor; a werewolf thief who sells security systems; and two witches with an owl who work as phone sex actresses. Not to mention a beautiful, all too human nurse. But with all the hooting, howling, and hollering going on, how's an all-American shapeshifter supposed to sweep a girl off her feet?
That is, until he meets his tenants--a sarcastic unemployed vigilante vampire; a wereraven with a morbid sense of humor; a werewolf thief who sells security systems; and two witches with an owl who work as phone sex actresses. Not to mention a beautiful, all too human nurse. But with all the hooting, howling, and hollering going on, how's an all-American shapeshifter supposed to sweep a girl off her feet?
The book can be found at all major bookstores
and online
retailers!
Okay,
commercial over. You are hereby returned to your previously
scheduled interview.
5.
As I read Strange
Neighbors, I really was hoping this was going to be a series, is it?
Yup. Book two is finished and
awaiting line edits. It stars our
werewolf Konrad and Merry’s best friend Roz Wells. And just like the
town in
New Mexico, she seems to attract weirdness. Book Three is about Vampire
Sly and
one of the witches. I won’t tell you which one yet. They’re cousins from
opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon line. Since both women want him, a
mini-civil
war breaks out. (Picture magical fights in the hallway.)
6.
Strange
Neighbors is
full of paranormal creatures of
every type, where did you get the idea for Strange Neighbors?
I blame everything on Thalia,
the muse of comedy. In truth, I don’t know where my ideas come from.
Just my warped
imagination, I guess.
7.
I loved
Merry and the fact she is own her own for the first
time and trying to experience life to the fullest but then she falls in
love,
and that worries her because she’s not sure she’s ready to settle down.
Do you believe love often happens when we
least expect it?
Yes, although I was always
ready for it. Ready, willing, and
waiting to pounce. I’m what you’d call a cougar. My husband is 13 years
younger
than I am. Now that he’s prematurly gray and my hair stays “magically”
blonde
(with the help of L’Oreal) you can’t spot the age difference as easily
anymore.
8.
How much
research did you do for Strange Neighbors?
Not much was needed. I used to
live in the neighborhood I wrote
about, in the kind of building I wrote about. I’ve invented my own
‘mythology’
regarding shapeshifters and vampires from past books I’ve written, and I
keep
those things consistent. The only thing I needed help with was my
baseball
hero! I’m a faithful football fan.
9.
Do you plan
your books out or do you just write and see
where it takes you?
I used to write by the seat of
my pants, but with a long story,
and especially a series of them, I need to plot. Sometimes I’ll just
start
writing and at about chapter three I’ll stop and decide where I want to
go and
how to get there. It’s like going for a ride in the country, then
saying, “Hey,
since I’m heading toward the lake anyway, maybe I’ll just pull out a map
and
see how easy it is to get there from here.”
10. Do you get
time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?
I try to read a little every
day. My brain usually shuts down in
the afternoon and I’ll either do errands or relax with a good romance. I
prefer
hot to sweet, but if there’s a good story that captures my attention,
I’ll wait
for the sex scenes. (wink) I look forward to that precious time each day
if I’m
involved in a really good story. I rarely finish a book in one sitting.
If that
happens, I neglect my own work and have to chew out the author for
writing such
a good book.
11. What is your
favorite room in your house?
Interesting question. I like my
husband’s office. I know, Weird
huh? Maybe it’s because I don’t work there. I visit. It’s plesantly
decorated
too, thanks to yours truly.
12. What is your
favorite spot to read in?
We have what I call a
“puzzle-pit.” It’s 3 oddly shaped microfiber
sofas that fit together and make a huge lounging area. It’s filled with
pillows
and I pile a whole bunch of them together and lean back. A tray sits
next to me
holding a glass of ice tea or coffee. There’s a reading light right in
the
corner too. It’s the perfect spot.
13. What is your
favorite snack food?
Mixed nuts. I usually have a
can of those on hand. Whether I’m on
a low carb diet or not, I can have those.
14. What is your
favorite season?
Summer! I like Spring because
it means summer’s coming. Fall makes
me sad because it means summer’s gone. Yes, autumn is beautiful here in
New
England, but with winter being my most hated time of year, it puts a
damper on
the lengthening nights and cooler days.
15. Do you have
a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?
I’m usually pretty disciplined.
It’s how I get as much done as I
do. I get up early with my hubby, and when he leaves for work, I got to
my
office and answer email. Usually when that’s done, I begin writing. When
writers complain to me that they can’t get motivated, I tell them to
make it a
habit to get in front of the keyboard at the same time of day each day
until it
feels funny if you don’t. Recently when I was at a conference, I got up
early
and took my laptop into the bathroom to write so I wouldn’t disturb my
roommate. It felt good and ‘right’ to start my day that way.
16. Where do you
do the majority of your writing?
My
daughter’s old bedroom became my office. That’s the best thing
about the kids leaving home. If you do your job as a parent right,
they’ll grow
up and leave you an office.
17. Did you find
writing Strange Neighbors to be difficult or did the book just
take off
with no problems?
It was one of the most
frightening experiences of my life! I had
signed the contract based on a proposal and three chapters. That meant I
had to
write the rest on a deadline—with no plot! Eek! I sat in front of my
computer
each morning and greeted my characters, then said, “So, what are you up
to
today?” That’s the definition of a character-driven novel.
18. Any book
signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?
My whole month of June is a
blur. Yours is my next to the last
blog in a month-long tour of 23 or 24 (I’ve lost count) blog stops. Plus
toss
in 5 book signings, a conference and a newspaper interview. I called my
blog
tour the “I Must Be Nuts” blog tour since I saw this insanity coming. It
didn’t
stop me from doing it to myself though. Never again...until the next
book.
19. Do you have
a new book in the works?
I’m working on book three in
the Strange Neighbor series. And I’m
letting some ideas for future projects simmer on the back burner until
I’m
finished. My deadline is Sept. 30th, but I should finish before that.
I’m
starting the third act now. I have an unfinished project for Ellora’s
Cave
after that. By the time that’s finished, I hope to have plotted out a
whole new
series. I’ve been discussing a couple of ideas with my agent.
20. Anything
else you would like to say?
Yes, I enjoy chatting with
readers and have a yahoo group where we
can do that. I’d like to invite anyone interested in joining to check us
out. http://groups.yahoo.com/ashlynsnewbestfriends/
Thanks so much for agreeing to
do an interview with me!
Thanks for the opportunity
to meet more readers!
STRANGE
NEIGHBORS BY ASHLYN CHASE—IN STORES JUNE 2010
He’s
looking for
peace, quiet, and a little romance…
There’s never a dull moment when hunky all-star
pitcher
and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston
A girl
just wants to
have fun…
Sexy Jason
seems like the perfect fling, but newly
independent nurse Merry’s not sure she’s ready to trust him with her
heart…especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy
lifestyle.
Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason
will
never get it together without a little help from the vampire who lives
in the
basement and the werewolf from upstairs…
About the Author
A
multi-published, award-winning author, Ashlyn Chase
specializes in characters who reinvent themselves, having reinvented
herself
numerous times. Among her many day jobs, she has worked as a psychiatric
nurse,
run blood drives for the Red Cross, and now uses her degree in
behavioral
sciences to avoid writing exhaustive character sketches. She lives with
her true-life hero husband in
beautiful New Hampshire
GIVEAWAY
Danielle Jackson at Sourcebooks, has kindly allowed me to giveaway 2 copies of Ashlyn's book, Strange Neighbors to two lucky readers who comment. Simply answer this question and leave me a way to contact you - What is your favorite paranormal being/creature?
Open to US/Canada only. Additional entries for being a follower (rss, twitter, google friend, networked blogs, etc), tweeting (1 per day), and posting on your blog. Please comment for each entry. Giveaway open through July 6, 2010.
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