Today I'm hosting a guest as she travels on her virtual book tour through the Virtual Book Tour Cafe.
Author Ashley Dawn was born and raised in rural Arkansas where she developed her love for writing while helping in her parent's office. She graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Central Arkansas. Ashley has been writing professionally for the past seven years. She and her family make their home in TX.
Please tell us about your current release.
Shadows of Suspicion is the second book in my Shadows series. It has a lot of the same characters from Shadows from the Past but focuses on a different couple. Kerry and Luke are the focus of this book. Kerry is the sister to Jordan Reiley from book one and is a school teacher. She gets drawn into the ongoing struggle between the law and the Deveraux crime family. Luke, an acquaintance of her brother, is sent to bring her back when she is kidnapped by Deveraux. Together they have to fight to stay alive and the bigger risk seems to be to Luke’s heart.
What inspired you to write this book?
I fell in love with the Reiley family in my first book. Each member is unique and I felt like they deserved their own story. Actually, I think I fell in love with all my characters and since their characteristics are based off my family members, it makes them seem more real to me. I will write about any of them that inspire me to write a story!
What exciting story are you working on next?
At the moment, I’m working on two different books. I’m working on the third book in my Shadows series, Shadows of Pain, that is going to focus on Kami and Daniel. Also, I’m working on a stand alone book that doesn’t have a title yet, but is about an attorney and a nurse trying to find a serial killer. They are in a race against time to find the killer before he kills someone very dear to them.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always written, mostly songs, poems, and little stories for my niece and nephews. I actually sat down to write my first novel at the age of 19 and it was finished in a year. I think I considered myself a writer when I decided to pursue publication of my novel. Before that, it had just been something to do for fun, but with my family’s support (and pushing!) I got it published.
Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I don’t write full time. I have a full time job working as a legal assistant in a criminal defense attorney’s office. I find time at nights and on the weekends. There is very little ‘extra’ time in my life so I have to force myself to take the time and sit down to write. My children make that even more difficult, but I do try to get in some time every week (if not more often) to get work done on one of my books.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I would say having to write every word on a legal pad before I’ll type it is my weirdest or most interesting quirk. I have specific colored legal pads and pens for each book. I don’t know why I started it that way, but that is how I started writing my first book and now it is just something I have to do.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a biologist or zoologist and work with big animals. I actually started my degree in biology in college but changed it to accounting to be able to obtain a job more easily. The animals I really wanted to work with though were big cats like cougars, leopards, and lions. I still think that would have been great but I am happy with how my life is going.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I want to go a little sappy on you and say everyone follow your dreams! If your dream is to travel the world, go for it. If your dream is to be on TV, work toward it. If your dream is to be a stay at home mom, you can do that, too! Anything is possible and if you don’t try for your dreams, you won’t get help along the way, but the harder you try, the more likely it is you will achieve your dreams!
Thank you so much for having me today Lisa! I really enjoyed it.
It was a pleasure having you stop by, Ashley.
Readers, Ashley's next tour stop is February 12.
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