Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?
Well, it was by accident or dare I should say. I was one of those terrible students who was always daydreaming in class, doodling or writing something anyway, so I guess it was bound to happen. A friend of mine, who is an avid romance reader, and I were discussing a particulary bad novel and I said, “I could do better..” Her response, “So why don’t you?” That got the wheels turning and in a few months I had wrote my first full length novel. It stunk of course, but after five rounds of editing, I finally got it right. This story will actually be coming up by Siren/Bookstrand in September of this year.
Who or what has been your biggest influence as a writer?
Jane Austen, Star Wars, and The Princess Bride. How’s that list for you? Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, although I do not write anything close to her work. Star Wars was my first true love when I first saw Han Solo and Princess Leia on the screen, I was hooked. The Princess Bride is one of those movies, and books, that you can’t help but love and laugh with. I strive to convey humor into all of my works, no matter how dark it may be. If I can create the tension that Han and Leia had in Return of the Jedi, the humor of the Dread Pirate Roberts, and the wit of Jane Austen I would be perfect in my mind.
Your work is very popular with readers and reviewers; how does it feel to have such positive recognition for your work?
It rocks! LOL Any nice reader comments make my day, and it only goes to show that I am not just funny in my own head, but on paper as well. I am proud to be able to write something that people “want”
What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?
Obviously romance, but not that sigh, oh so sweet stuff. I want some realism, even in my fantasy. It has to be believable and honest. Characters need to be consistant and well developed, adn no one should be flawless.
Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?
You know, I find it easier to write male characters than women. Isn’t that strange? I usually start out with a mental image of my character and let them tell me who they are and what they would do. I would have to say my favorite character thus far, is Hector from Royal Cargo. He’s a wolf in pirate’s clothing.
Here’s a blurb and Excerpt of his Sci-Fi Romance
Royal Cargo
There was more to this girl than what she let on. He smelled it in her blood. The scent of her arousal tasted like syrup upon his tongue, warm and sweet. He watched the vigorous beat of her pulse at her throat.
“Listen, sweetling, I don’t know what you were doing in there, but I want answers,” he said, the tone of his voice gruff.
Good, maybe she’ll answer quicker.
Her features changed drastically. The whimsical look and the spell that he’d cast over her a moment earlier now lay shattered. She retreated from his touch as if he were abhorrent.
“Sweetling?” Fire shone bright in her focused eyes. Her chin lifted a degree in defiance. She stepped closer to him. “Sweetling! I’ll have you know that I am a royal princess of Caethern!” She raked him with an indignant glare. “And to touch me is punishable by death, you boar-brained flaggert!”
It was one of the poorest insults flung at him lately, but he could tell she wasn’t done. No, she pushed aside an errant lock of hair and readied to attack.
“Don’t you dare touch me! Ever!” she shouted in his face. Even with her chin raised high and mighty, the top of her head only came to his lips. Her eyes burned hotter than a sun from the Apollo sector, her glare murderous.
“Listen, princess,” if you even are one, “if I touched you….” He let the words trail, and his gaze slid slowly down her body.
His bold assessment excited and alarmed her all at once.. The princess in her immediately retreated, and he followed her backward steps. Priya moved another step back. He didn’t speak and closed the distance between them. His lips hovered over hers, their bodies inches apart, and he stopped.
His lips mesmerized her. Masculine strength rolled off his body in waves, and she held her breath. She waited for his next word. Or move.
She leaned a hair’s breadth closer into him and expected him to kiss her.
“You would not forget it.” His words, warm like a caress, heated her exposed flesh.
As if he sensed his power over her, he bent teasingly close. A satisfied smile curved the corners of his lips. Abruptly, he turned and walked away, down the dim corridor passage. Stunned silence lingered in his wake. Her body hungered for more.
Heady intoxication took over her senses. His nearness drove her mad. That was it—it had to be it! Perhaps he was the sort of creature who possessed certain abilities, ones she wasn’t supposed to have ever heard of. The kind that made women scream in passionate ecstasy as burning blue flames consumed their bodies and carnal bliss drained them.
She gave herself a mental shake. A new determination to show this dark stranger that she would not fall prey to whatever powers he possessed consumed her. I am a princess, for the gods’ sake!
Please tell us about the projects you are currently working on; what can readers expect to see in the coming months?
I am always working on something. In September I look forward to the release of For One Dark Knight from www.sirenbookstrand.com , and sometime before them I will have a short erotic entitled Once Cuffed released from www.excessica.com . On top of those, I am working on a series of God/Goddess and paranormal short stories.
Catch me tweeting at http://twitter.com/AuthorAvaJames or blogging at www.avajamesromance.blogspot.com and then there is the website www.avajames.weebly.com. I also have a fabulous yahoo group that everyone is welcome in http://groups.yahoo.com/group/castleintheskyflightoffantasy/ .
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4 Responses to “Guest Author Day- Ava James”
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Hi Ava,
Thanks for coming today and sharing your latest book with us. So you love that mummy guy too?! So do I. I was so upset he wasn’t in the thrid one. *pouts*
LOL
Raine D.
It may have been for the best that he wasn’t. I was disappointed with that one.
But the mummy guy, if you follow my link on him, is naked in some pictures at that site. (Not that I looked) wink wink
Ava
Great excerpt! Another one for my wish list. Interesting casting for the movie of Royal Cargo.
Great interview….and I loved the excerpt…the book sounds so good….