Brittany Interviews Ashley Suzanne + Signed Paperback GIVEAWAY!!!

My interview with Ashley Suzanne... plus a special giveaway... 

This is me, Brittany. 

And this is Ashley Suzanne.

Let's get started. :)

Brittany: Hello, Mrs. Ashley Suzanne. We meet again.

Ashley: I feel like this isn’t going to go so well …. What do you have up your sleeve Brittany?!

Magic, my dear. No, you'll see. Just wait. 

Brittany: How are you doing today?

Ashley: Fantastic … well … I haven’t seen your questions yet … let me hold off on this until I read through this sheet LOL

Brittany: So, let’s get down to business. I’ll start off with the normal author interview questions, then I’ll ask those questions that allow the readers to really see inside you. Sound good?

Ashley: Don’t be boring Brittany … you know how I hate boring.  SHAKE IT UP!

Brittany: How did you get started writing?

Ashley: *yawn* .. no .. seriously … I like answering this one.  I’ve always been a story teller.  From the moment I could talk, I was always creating something in my head.  It wasn’t until I was in high school that my passion for writing came to the forefront.  I took as many English classes as I could.  I also had a huge passion for theater.  So, I guess that helps out with it, too.  But, then after becoming pregnant my senior year of high school, all of my hopes and dreams went away and I was consumed with the dreams of my child.  Funny thing, I got into the Indie Community in February of 2013 and met some amazing authors.  A few encouraged me to go back to my dreams and I did.  August of 2013, I published my first book … and it’s been amazing ever since.

Brittany: You’ve met some really awesome people along the way. I know you have some amazing friends out there, some you probably haven’t even met. How did you meet them and how have they changed you?

Ashley: To say I’m blessed is an understatement.  I have so many new friends since last year.  I’m afraid to name them because I’m terrified to forget someone.  But, I’ll name some of the babes that have really made an impact on my life.  

SE Hall, who has become my best friend this last year … I met her when she messaged my blog wanting me to review her new release (Emerge), and I was so geeked.  She was my first request.  We had a relationship that grew, then she found out I was writing a book, and helped me so much and I’ll never be able to thank her enough.  My debut novel is actually dedicated to her daughter, Lue, who is also my God-Daughter!!  

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Pamela Ann … I mean … they get no sweeter.  Pamela was the first Indie I ever read and the first author to ever accept my friend request.  I had some serious fan-girl issues and she didn’t care.  She’s become my family over the last year, to the point where I’m her personal assistant.  I take weekend vacations just to go see her!  She’s my rock.  

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Hilary Storm … that woman.  I met her when she did a guest review on my blog.  We even have matching tattoos.  She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met in my life.  I love her dearly.  

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Madeline Sheehan.  This woman is my idol.  I was a reader far before I was an author, and her books are my absolute favorite.  If she writes it, I’m reading it.  She inspires me more than anyone else.  When I want to remember why I write, I read her books.  She has such a way with words, I can’t even say how much I adore her.  When I have a problem, she’s my person.  I’m blessed to have her in my life and that she lets me fangirl every once in a while.  If we were lesbians, I would totally marry her.  Yeah, I went there.  

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Nicole Jacquelyn .. she’s my partner in crime.  I met Nicole through Madeline when Mad said I had to read Nicole’s book.  Then I met her in person in NYC this past March.  I was her pack mule and the bearer of donuts for her adorable, wonderful little girls.  Her mom is my mom.  Everything about Nicole is amazing and she trusts me with her secrets.  

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There’s so many more, but I feel like I’m taking up so much time.  So … real quick shoutouts to Erin, Katelynn, Heidi, Riley, and Brooke.

Brittany: Where did your ideas for the Destined Series come from?

Ashley: Dreams, yo … it was all a dream (no pun intended) … no seriously, I dreamt this story and knew I had to tell it … It was all I could think about for weeks and then, BOOM … a prologue popped onto the paper and the rest was history.

Brittany: I won’t say anything, but how do you come up with these mind fucks?

Ashley: I’m one twisted individual.  Nothing is EVER as it seems and I really like to bring that to the front when I write.

Brittany: Is there a favorite book you’ve written so far?

Ashley: I’d have to say the short story I had written for the Moments in Time anthology has been my absolute favorite.  Followed closely by Restricted (Which I co-authored with Pamela Ann) and Raven.

Brittany: Do you have a favorite character of yours?

Ashley: I think that Rian Fields might be my favorite character.  She’s who I’d like to be.  She’s strong, independent, but knows exactly where she belongs and who she belongs with.

Brittany: If your characters were real (sad that they’re not) would you date any of them?

Ashley: Listen … Skylar, Jacoby, Robbie, Garrett and Dexter (you’ll meet him on September 4th) … I’d marry each and every one of them and have all their babies.

Brittany: What are some of your favorite books?

Ashley: This is like asking which child is my favorite … I have too many to mention ... I literally have about 50 favorite books … books that I re-read all the time.  I read all different genres, indie and traditionally published, short to long … if it’s a unique idea and good writing, it’s probably my favorite.

Brittany: Do you have one book boyfriend that rises above all the others?

Ashley: Carter Mason from The Torn Series by Pamela Ann, hands down… there will never be another.  Followed closely by Hawk from The Undeniable Series by Madeline Sheehan … Rounding out my top three would be Sawyer Beckett from The Evolve Series by SE Hall (and before you try to get fresh, I claimed Sawyer before ANY of you even knew he existed)

I am also Team Sawyer. He is pretty effing hot.

Brittany: Tell us about each of your books.

Ashley:  Geeze … you’re really killing me here with the typing.  I’m gonna summarize this the best I can

The Destined Series (Mirage, Inception, Awakening, Façade and Epiphany) is the story of a group of friends who have become family during college and the years immediately following.  Each of these characters have serious flaws and life altering decisions to make.  They’re consumed with wanting to do the right thing while doing what makes them happy.  Each has their own set of issues to overcome and hopefully, if I did my job right, each will end with a happily ever after.

Mirage, Book 1

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Inception, Book 1.5

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Awakening, Book 2

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Facade, Book 3

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Epiphany, Book 4

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Or, buy the box set with all five books.

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Raven – this is my first stand alone novel.  This is the story of Rian Fields, a girl who has been bombarded with the most devastating loss and is drowning in grief.  Her childhood best friend, Garrett Rhodes, has been her only constant, always coming to her rescue when something bad happens.  Until, the one time he doesn’t, and Rian has no idea how to handle her life.  Turning to a life of drinking, casual sex and floating through life, Rian finds a way to channel her frustrations and anger through mixed martial arts.  It’s a hot story with a strong background.  A little something for everyone.

Goodreads

Amazon

Sapphire – a short story I wrote for the Moments in Time Anthology, is a tale of a young woman who has step-daddy issues coming out of her ears.  Running away from home as a teenager, away from everything she knew and loved, she ends up in a run down strip club, dancing to live.  One night, a boy from her past comes into her life and helps pull her from the depravity.  But will it last?  There will be another, 2nd part, novel coming out later this year … the continuation of Sapphire’s story, called Dallas.

Goodreads

Amazon

Moving on...

Brittany: Do you have a process you go through when writing?

Ashley: Turn on the music, grab a few cans of pop or Monster, and pray the words flow.

Brittany: Tell us about Calling Card, an upcoming release written by you and Pamela Ann.

Ashley: Calling Card .. OMG .. This story.  It’s written in 1st person, present tense and from the hero’s POV.  Dexter is a world renowned photographer who has a certain taste in women, and uses a business card to end his encounters.  He’s a dick.  A regular alpha prick, but every douche bag has one woman who can bring him to his knees, but can she get over his lifestyle and pursue a relationship with him?  OMG … I love Dexter so much … READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Restricted Volume 1 – it’s a 2 part serial I’ve co-written with Pamela Ann (the greatest experience thus far of becoming a writer … writing a book with such an amazing writer … I just can’t) … You have Violet, a New York socialite, who hates her social standing and her life.  She gets dumped by her boyfriend.  Wanting to find out where she’s going wrong and get some information about how to please a man, she begins working as a phone sex operator.  She has a call from someone she knows in her real life and the blackmail starts… PRE ORDER THIS ONE … It’s sexy and hot and Levi .. OMG Levi … he’s a smug bastard that I want to molest in the worst way.

Add Calling Card to you TBR

Goodreads

Preorder Restricted- Vol. 1 and add it to your TBR

Goodreads

Amazon

Brittany: What was it like working with another author, writing one book together? How does that work?

Ashley: It was so much fun.  Pamela and I decided that we wanted to write a dual POV story.  We knew when we started talking about this, that Levi was going to be a rich, alpha jerk and that’s what she does best.  Violet is a smart mouthed girl, and that’s what I do best.  So, the Levi POV is written by Pamela and Violet is written by me.  Each character has their own voice and responds to situations as they see fit, with no interjection from the author.  We didn’t outline the story, just let it flow … and it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fun.

Brittany: If you’re not writing, what can we find you doing?

Ashley: playing on facebook, buying stuff from Carrie Horton, on the phone with SE Hall, watching reality TV, at my son’s football games, sleeping … or at bingo.

Brittany: Okay, so we know you, Ashley Suzanne, Author. Let’s get to know Ashley Suzanne, mother, friend, wife, and butch. *winks* Tell us about your family.

Ashley:  This should be fun.  I’ve been married to the only man I’ve ever loved for going on 11 years.  We met when we were 16 and fell in love immediately.  We have three children, JT who’s turning 12 on Friday, Brady who just turned 4 and Elijah, who we placed for adoption to a fantastic family in California.  Yep, we’re birth parents.  Growing up with only my mom and my sister, marrying BP (that’s what we all call him … it stands for Big Poppa .. don’t judge us) gave me a whole slew of brothers and sisters (he’s 1 of 14).  All of my extended family lives in Upstate New York and Southern Kentucky (where I’d eventually like to move).  Our oldest son plays football and our youngest whines about everything.  I have the most beautiful niece and nephews (hey Kai, Nate, Addi, and Liam) … my real life best friend and I have been sidekicks for going on twenty years.  My mother is also a writer … and my husband is the creative force for almost all of my novels.  HE is my “get out of writers block free card” … he’s amazing.  

Brittany: What’s your happiest memory?

Ashley:  Other than my wedding day and the birth of my children … it’s the day that I passed the GED test … At the ripe age of 28, I became a high school graduate!!!!

Brittany: The most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you, that you are willing to admit.

Ashley:  I have zero shame … so I don’t embarrass easily.  Let me think … hmmmmm … okay .. .I really don’t have an answer for this one … I don’t think I’ve ever been embarrassed … I seriously don’t .. what’s wrong with me?  OMG … I’m a terrible person … I think this might be the only emotion I’ve never felt …. I might have to sleep on it and get back to you later LOL

Brittany: What’s the funniest thing that you’ve ever heard/seen/know of?

Ashley:  My kids … they’re hilarious … they do the craziest things and make me laugh on a regular basis … but other than their amazingness … last night, on the phone with SE Hall … I was telling her about a problem I was having and we determined that triple antibiotic ointment can, in fact, go on the vagina … just don’t put it inside .. that shit is topical use only.

Brittany: Favorite food?

Ashley:  cupcakes … strawberries … burnt hot dogs off the grill … prime rib … sweet potatoes … squishy French fries drenched in vinegar … and Arabic food!!!!

Brittany: Favorite drink? And no, alcohol does not count as one drink. Be specific. *grins*

Ashley:  it’s a tie between the light blue can of Monster … and … hmmmm … Blueberry Vodka, Sprite and Lime!!!!

Brittany: Favorite movie?

Ashley: grrrrrrrrrrrr … you and all these favorite questions … Dirty Dancing (nobody puts baby in a corner), How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (princess Sophia) … Pitch Perfect (are you ready for the riff offfffffffffffff) … Friends with Benefits (let’s play tennis)… No Strings Attached (you look like a pumpkin, bitch) … Grease (you better shape up … cuz I need a man) … yeah … I have a lot.

I watched Dirty Dancing for the first time ever this past weekend...

Brittany: Favorite snack to go with that movie?

Ashley: chocolate covered raisins.

ME TOO

Brittany: Answer this only if you want. If you could have a hall pass, assuming you know what that is, who would you take it with?

Ashley: Norman fucking Reedus … Jordan Knight … Donnie Wahlburg … Channing Tatum … Brian Austin Green … Norman Fucking Reedus … did I say Norman Reedus?

Norman Reedus

Brittany: If I dared you to go skydiving, would you?

Ashley: I’m actually going skydiving in September with my Brother In Law and his girlfriend!!!

There better be a video.

Brittany: What’s on your bucket list?

Ashley: #1 on my bucket list is traveling to Paris … I’ve wanted to go since I took my first language class in Jr High (yes, I speak French!!!)

Brittany: If you could trade places with another author, who would it be?

Ashley: ummmmmmm nobody … I feel like I’m in the exact right place … I’m right where I’m supposed to be … but maybe Madeline … because I think she’s pretty awesome … and I have some plans for her husband LOL

Brittany: If you could say anything to your haters, assuming you have any, what would you say?

Ashley: keep on hating … I appreciate being in your thoughts!!!

Brittany: Is there anything you would go back in time for?

Ashley:  Not a single thing … everything I’ve ever done has led me to be right where I’m supposed to be.  Changing one thing could alter my entire life and I’d never want that.  I’m happy where I’m at.

Brittany: You have an all expenses paid vacation. Where do you go and what do you do?

Ashley:  PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’d get drunk and go to the Louvre … and streak  … and eat crepes … and swim the English Channel!!!

Brittany: Paperback or ereader?

Ashley:  both … if the paperback and ebook are near the same price, I’d rather hold that baby in my hands and cuddle with it … if I have to read it right that second or I’m going to die, ebook.  And I use a Kindle Fire!

Brittany: Thank you, my dear, for taking time to do this interview. I know that authors are super busy and have deadlines and such, so it means the world that you took the time to do this for me. I love you! *squeeze*

Ashley:  Bitch … I love you more than words.  You’re one of my favorite bloggers and you’re going to be one hell of an editor one day.  Keep your dreams alive baby girl … the sky’s the limit <3

Made me smile so hard. <3

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