Tell us about yourself.
I’m a daughter of God, first and
foremost. I’m also the mother of the smartest, sweetest 7-year-old
boy in the world, and the wife of a soccer-playing grown-up-boy whose
plain sense tends to balance out my own character extremes! I was
born and raised in mid-Missouri, and am a country girl. I love forest
rambles, tree climbing, cozy chats with friends, and reading in bed.
Oh, and I also crochet … I crochet a lot!! Usually while
watching the BBC.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since around the
age of 9 or 10. It began with songs and poems and short stories, then
I wrote my first full-length book when I was about 12. It wasn’t
any good, of course! But it gave me the true writing bug, and I’ve
never stopped since!
What gave you the inspiration for The
Word Changers?
Many things. Books themselves are what
started the idea for the story in my imagination. They are portals to
other worlds for readers … so why not make a book a true
portal for someone to fall into and get lost within? Then God took
that idea and made it something bigger – something about Him, His
love for us and the Story called Life that He has written us all
into.
Do you have a character that you relate
to the most?
I relate to Posy, my main character,
quite closely. She comes from a broken home, she has a sister she
feels very protectively toward. She is unsure of herself and yet
determined at the same time. Determined to find a way through the
darkness that surrounds her … I’ve been in that place many times!
Has anything ever happened to you in
real life that occurred in your novel?
Hmm … let’s see. There are a few
things I wish had! Posy’s inner self is much like I was at her age.
And though fantastical things happen to her throughout the story, her
emotions are ones that, naturally, I acutely understand. Bitterness,
anger, a deeper need for love and forgiveness (both given and
received). Those are things that are universal, really. So … no,
I’ve never been in a battle with owls and centaurs before
But yes, I’ve experienced many of the more profound things The
Word Changers is about.
Do you have a publishing story?
A bit of one! My story is somewhat
backward from most authors’, I think. Most get an agent first
and then a publisher. But I got a positive response from a publisher
before I even had an agent (I was querying both at the time). I
didn’t feel comfortable working on contracts and editing alone, so
I took a chance and sent an email to my top-choice agent (what did I
have to lose?), before I signed the publishing contract. And she said
yes! Needless to say, it was a very exciting couple of weeks for me!
Here at Backing Books, we do Writing
Tips. Do you happen to have a tip for my readers?
I’ve learned many things through the
years about writing. One of the most important ones is to trust
yourself, and to trust your story. Sometimes I will be writing along
at a good rate, then come to an unexpectedly difficult place. A place
where, in fact, I’m completely stuck. I just don’t feel the
passion for my story anymore. Even though I know what’s going to
happen in the scene, the words just don’t come. For a writer, that
can be a scary place. Even something so small as that can make you
begin to lose faith in your story or in your ability as a writer.
What I’ve learned through the years is to not trust that
passion. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great while it’s there –
use it. But if it leaves – no big deal! It doesn’t mean
your story stinks. It doesn’t mean you’re a horrible writer. It
just means that today, with this chapter, or with this scene, you’ll
need to make it through on pure willpower. And willpower, effort,
determination … those things just might bring that passion back
again. They always do for me. And your story will be stronger because
of it.
Bio:
Ashlee
has a passion for three things: God,
family, and books, and is happiest when all three can be enjoyed
together. Ashlee graduated from Central Christian College of the Bible
with a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education. She divides her time
chiefly between homeschooling her young son, reading
about fantasy worlds she wishes she could visit, and dreaming up fantasy
worlds of her own to write about. She loves taking walks in the woods,
drinking tea with friends, and spending time with the ones she loves
most. Ashlee lives in the heart of Missouri
with her husband, son, and cat, where she is busily at work on her next
book, also a fantasy for young adults.
No comments:
Post a Comment