About Ashley Amber:
Ashley Amber is a 26-year-old author who calls Boston home. Whether it was her first picture book that she entered in a Reading Rainbow contest at 9 years old, loads of fanfiction as a teenager, or her own novels, Ashley has always been writing. When she's not writing, she's making videos as an "Authortuber." Ashley released her debut novelette The Flip Side Of Sad in 2021 and is still seeking a home in publishing for her LGBTQ book series.
What inspires you to write?
Real life, always. The majority of my inspiration comes from real life experiences, whether they're mine or others'. For my novelette The Flip Side Of Sad, the general idea of almost the entire first chapter was based on someone's real-life experience. For my LGBTQ book series, the majority of homophobic and bigoted comments made by people are direct quotes of things I've heard people say in real life, whether directed at myself or others.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I've become so inspired by authors like Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott, learning how tough they had it as authors in the 1800's. As for more recent authors, I love Chris Colfer and Casey McQuiston.
Tell us about your writing process.
This is always a tough question for me because I feel like I have such a boring answer. I see so many authors post pictures of their workspaces, with their computers and notepads and candles and such. I, on the other hand, don't really have any of that. When I write, it's usually unplanned, when that spur-of-the-moment inspiration or longing to hang out with my characters hits. As for outlining, I definitely outline the plot and characters in either a notebook or the first page of a Word document.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I love this question! I feel like I've become so close to my characters that I don't need to actually listen to them, I know them well enough. As for talking to them, it's not something I've actively tried but I definitely want to!
What advice would you give other writers?
Just. Keep. Writing. The biggest mistake I made was when I stopped writing for a few years. I completely lost the mojo when I finally got back into it.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
When it came to The Flip Side Of Sad, I bounced between a few different ideas before finally deciding self-publishing was the best way to go, so I could have full control over the launch, cover, illustrations, etc. But for my LGBTQ book series, that I feel has far too much potential to not reach a bigger audience, which is why my goal is traditional publishing for that one.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think self-publishing and indie publishing has really taken off, and I hope it becomes more respected down the line. If indie musicians can be respected for wanting to own and control their artistry, then so should indie authors.
What genres do you write?: LGBTQ, romance, fantasy, magical realism, new adult
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Ashley Amber Home Page Link
Link To Ashley Amber Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
YouTube
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
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