Good morning!
Did you realize it's August already?
It kinda snuck up on me, too.
But I didn't forget about my interviews!
First up? Ava Becker!
Ava Becker is a contemporary romance author known for crafting compelling love stories featuring strong, yet vulnerable men and smart, sexy women. Her debut novel, "Crossing the Line with Her Billionaire Coach," published in March 2023, set the stage for her engaging and heartfelt storytelling style. Becker's works often blend humor with emotional depth, creating captivating narratives that resonate with readers.
Ava Becker's books, such as "Rocked by Eli" and "Bad Boy Billionaire Protector," showcase her talent for developing complex characters and weaving intricate plots. Her stories frequently explore themes of love, vulnerability, and personal growth, often with a touch of suspense and a guarantee of a happily-ever-after.
In this interview, I delve into Ava Becker's inspirations, writing process, and what fans can look forward to in her upcoming releases. Join me as we uncover the creative mind behind these beloved romance novels.
Find her on FB: https://www.facebook.com/AvaBeckerRomance
Find her on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@avabeckerauthor?_t=8ieZOLQj5X0&_r=1
Find her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ava-becker
And read her newsletter, too: https://avabecker.carrd.co/
Star Trek or Star Wars? Star Trek Next Generation only because the character that got me hooked was Jean Luc Piccard. That did it for me. I had a college roommate who was equally gaga over him and we were both fangirling over him.
Coffee, tea, or cacao? Coffee, with tea a close second. Coffee because the aroma is like comfort food for my olfactory glands and of course, my drug of choice to boost my energy in the morning (I’m not a morning person). I love tea to linger over with friends. Not so much for the flavor but more for the ceremonial nature of pouring and steeping and holding a hot cup of tea my hands and inhaling it’s aroma.
Favorite hangover recovery recipe? Sadly, I can’t tolerate alcohol lately – it knocks me out for the day and my free time hours are precious to me.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? When I realized that all I wanted to do was immerse myself in the books that I read. As I approached my 50’s, I realized that life is too short and I’d rather be doing this than my day job. Call it a midlife moment, if you will. This is a dream of mine. I’m a practical person by nature and I went that route to make a living and support my family but I feel like I want to do something that I want to do just because it’s fun. And see if I can make a go of it as a writer. I love creating stories in my head.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? From reading or hearing stories (nonfiction or otherwise), real life, the news. Then toying with the different plot variations that I can come up with to make it more “twisty” and interesting.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing? I’m still trying to figure this out. I’m not organized and I’m not disciplined and I know these are traits that I need to cultivate. I have a full time job and have 2 school age kids with demanding schedules so I steal time when I can before work and after work.
When did you write your first book and how old were you? Just last year. 52 years old.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Sleeping and hanging out with my kids.
What does your family think of your writing? They are supportive but I don’t tell my kids much because they are too young. My husband is bemused. My friends are fascinated because it’s a departure from my image as a working mom who exudes practicality. Lol.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? Honestly, the entire process or writing and publishing as an indie writer is eye-opening and fascinating. The industry as whole is unbelievably multilayered and dynamic. The business of being a writer is 30% writing and 70% marketing, publishing and probably other things I have yet to learn.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 6 books. Rocked by Eli mainly because the male main character has gone through a childhood experience that haunts him through adulthood and he is able to find love and acceptance which transforms his life.
Do you like to create books for adults? By far. I deal with steamy romances so these are for experienced adult eyes.
What do you think makes a good story? Depends on the genre of course. I write for readers who want pure entertainment and escape. They want their emotions to be pulled this way and that but in the end, they want the satisfaction of falling in love with a couple and enjoying their journey to a happy ending. And let’s be real- these are steamy romances so for my readers, then are looking for provocative, hot moments that enhance a romantic story. So I try to give them this with a surprise twist or two in the process. I’m new at this so it doesn’t always work. I still have so much to learn.
What is the first book that made you cry? Charlotte’s Web.
Does writing energize or exhaust you? Both. It’s a consuming activity that energizes you but also can run you ragged. How’s that for a contradictory answer!
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? I am writing under a pen name now.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? If I can generalize to a certain extent, I write to those romance readers that have certain expectations such having likeable characters, happy endings, and no cheating. So in that sense, I like to deliver those fixed expectations to my readers. But I’m realizing that I like to add a twist to the story to make it just a bit more unpredictable without veering completely off the track. But I haven’t yet found that happy place yet. I think that’s why of the 6 books that I’ve written, they don’t all fall within the same category of romances. Billionaire Age Gap Romance is how I started. Then I added romantic suspense. Rock Star. Now Mafia. So I know I’m probably confusing my readers to a certain extent but the reason is that I’m still trying to find the place where I want to be in this genre. My problem is that I like them all and I love to read them all.
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? From a fiction standpoint, I don’t think so. I feel like I do my best writing when I can insert myself into the feelings and emotions that my characters are experiencing. But that’s just me. I’m not sure if everyone does that.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? I belong to a small community of indie writers and we help each other out with trying to navigate the business side of writing. Marketing, publishing.
Who shot first, Han or Greedo? Han? I hear there’s a debate about it. lol
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Start writing earlier!
Do you write novels, novellas, short stories, episodic fiction, poems, screenplays, or something else? What is your preferred format? Novels. About 200-300 words.
Are you traditionally or self published? Self – published. I’m so new to this writing business I feel like I need to feel some instant gratification by seeing my books published for a few books. That way it’ll motivate me to keep at it and not get discouraged with rejection.
What does literary success look like to you? The ability to have the time to devote to writing fulltime and make a comfortable income from it.
What do you have coming next? I’m working on building my new Mafia series after releasing the first book in the series on July 24th. I’ve fallen in love with the Andretti siblings and I’m so excited to tell their story.
Get Ava's new book here - tap the cover!
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