Friday, June 29, 2018

#FridayGuest: Interview with Amber Leigh Williams, author of Navy SEAL's Match


Amber Leigh Williams is a romance writer who lives on the US Gulf Coast. She lives for beach days, the smell of real books and spending time with her husband and their two young children. When she’s not keeping up with rambunctious little ones (and two large dogs), she can usually be found reading a good book or indulging her inner foodie. Amber is represented by the D4EO Literary Agency.

Amber’s latest book is the contemporary romance, Navy SEAL’S Match.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK



About the Book:

He believes he can’t be saved—she’ll prove him wrong!

Former SEAL Gavin Savitt always knew who he was—until his last deployment ended tragically. Now he’s home, his mind hijacked by trauma and the shadow of his once-perfect sight. Yet in this new hazy, unclear world, one person stands out—Mavis Bracken.

There are a million reasons why Gavin shouldn’t be with Mavis, including that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Yet he longs for her touch, her freckles and her special way with wild, skittish beasts like him. He just needs the courage to take his life back. And Mavis won’t let him give up without a fight.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon



What’s inside the mind of a romance author?

Chaos? No, it’s probably just me. There are all sorts of conversations happening inside my head at any given time; they’re all either heated or extremely sarcastic and most of them are between other people. Needless to say, having the outlet of writing to get the dialogue out of my head has been instrumental in keeping me sane.

What is so great about being an author?

Sharing my stories with other people. Writing’s a lonely art so seeing it go from concept to an open book in someone else’s hands is something magical.

When do you hate it?

The process of getting a story onto paper has many ups and downs. A lot of times, there are more down times than ups and they’re difficult to charter. It doesn’t get easier, the more books that you write, but you do learn the ways that work to manage the self-doubt.

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I’m a homeschooling parent so I do have a full-time job outside of writing. My littlest one still naps regularly so that’s when I try to get the business of publishing done—normally while my oldest builds LEGOs across the table. After their bedtime, I work towards my writing goals—or try to. Caffeine and chocolate are my friends.


How do you handle negative reviews?

If I read them, it’s once. I take whatever constructive criticism there is to gain from them. If there’s none, then it’s best just to forget about it and move on. A writing voice doesn’t thrive with negative chatter plodding along for the journey.


How do you handle positive reviews? 

I love positive feedback as much as any other writer, but like negative reviews, it’s best to read them once and move on to the next thing. A good review won’t write the next book; only I can do that and overestimating my abilities is never not a recipe for disappointment.


What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

I’m known mostly as the stay at home mom so whenever I get into a conversation about writing, people are surprised and curious.

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

When you’re on a deadline, you have to get the words out. Something is better than nothing. Even if I have to delete the words later, I’ve found one way the story doesn’t work.


Any writing quirks?

Do hot tea and lip gloss count? I find it necessary to always have a blanket and a comfy chair on hand as well.


What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

I couldn’t imagine doing what I do without the support of my spouse and extended family. I hope I would write anyway, but it would be extraordinarily difficult. 

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

Absolutely. I love when the concept of a story becomes something more than an idea. I love the challenge of writing, though I could do without the lows at times. I learn more from the lows than the high points, however, so there’s not one without the other. It’s definitely a love-hate dynamic.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

No, success comes with completion. When you take an idea and transform it on the page into a 50,000-80,000 novel, there’s no point of failure in that—even if revision comes inevitably after.

What has writing taught you?

Writing is an intimate process so it’s taught me a great many things personally, not least of which who I am and what I believe in.

Leave us with some words of wisdom.

Never be afraid to try. The thing I admire most about my children is that, like my spouse, they’re both do-ers and triers. They’re very young but they each already have certain things that they’re passionate about. Watching them develop their interests, seeing their eagerness to learn and grow in these areas, has been inspirational both personally and professionally. If everyone, no matter their age, had the wherewithal to express themselves so freely or had the courage to try whatever they’re most passionate about—I think happiness would be much more commonplace.

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