Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Featured Author Ashley Wilcox


Recent college graduate, Kayla Reynolds was ready to leave the university, sorority life behind. Leaving her boyfriend of over three years, she packed her bags and moved four hours south to the big city…New York City.  Bright lights, streets that never sleep, and a business lifestyle that she yearned to have were all at her fingertips.
Kayla Reynolds was chasing her dream.
Determined and eager to make it in the corporate world, Kayla changed everything- her image, lifestyle, and outlook on life, putting her career first and her personal life second. That was until her first day, the first time she got a glimpse of Miles Blackwell. Corporate CEO and part owner of ETV, and not to mention, incredibly handsome, Miles Blackwell took Kayla by surprise, stealing her heart as he did.
But nothing had ever come that easy for Kayla. Life had always seemed to have a personal vendetta against her, stepping in when everything seemed too good to be true, reminding herself of whom she really was. It wasn’t until she met Merrick Drake that she realized when to stop; when running was no longer an option. For the first time in her life she had someone she could relate to; someone who wouldn’t judge- who saw the person she was inside. She and Merrick connected…on more levels than one.
When life was too much to handle, they ran.
But there was only one person that could make Kayla stop for good. Only one man that made her want to stay.
Would Kayla finally stop running or would it all be too much to handle?


AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE

REVIEW
5 HOT, FUNNY, ROMANTIC, AWESOME STARS! Kayla is everything you could want in a female lead character. She is funny, sassy, beautiful and has plenty of ambition. She has a past but who doesn't? I think that might be what I like most, she is so relatable. She isn't the perfect blonde haired, beautiful, innocent virgin next door. She is real and funny. The Miles and Merrick are perfect! Hot, sweet, funny, caring.....did I mention hot?! The spark and tension between Miles and Kayla is intense and it takes them both by surprise. But then there is Merrick and the pull and connection they feel towards each other. This book had it all and I was more than happy to go along for the ride. This is definitely a book that has something for everyone!
 ~ Leslie       Add to your TBR!!!!!!!

EXCERPT
She let out an exasperated breath. “No. No, I gotta figure this out.” She turned to face me, legs crossed, intertwined. “I don’t know what to do, Merrick.”
I felt it in my chest. She was lost, pleading for help. I didn’t know if I was the best person to help her. I’d lived just as fucked up a life myself. From the age I could run, I did, staying at friend’s houses almost every day of the week, stopping home quick after school just to make sure my mom hadn’t overdosed and was dead on the floor. I did this almost my whole life…up until I ran here.
“I can’t really help you, babe, if I don’t know what happened,” I told her as sympathetically as I could, looking into her sad eyes. Even if I wasn’t the most qualified person to give advice, I wanted to help, but I also needed to know what happened first.
Kayla rubbed her face with her hands, keeping them over her eyes for a minute longer. She was thinking; questioning if she was ready to spill. I didn’t want to force her to do it, so I sat there quietly. I wish I could just sweep her up and run far, far away; take her away from all the bad in her life permanently, but that would mean I had to run again, and I was done running. I couldn’t do it anymore.
“I loved him.” Her voice was a whisper. She removed her hands from her face but only to look down to her crisscrossed feet. She couldn’t look at me while she told me, and I was okay with that. “I let my guard down when I knew I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help it.”

INTERVIEW

1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Hmm.  I didn’t really have a set time. I always loved writing in journals, making little notes to myself of random things. I always thought it was weird, but now, being a writer, it kind of made sense- though I’ve only been writing for a little over a year, I think it has always been inside of me- the need/love to write.

2. Do you have a specific writing style?
 I never really understood this. What makes a certain writing a style? I honestly just write. I used to write in the present- as of right now you will find most of my books that way. It wasn’t until Running From Forever that I gave writing in future tense a whirl, and I actually like it much more, so that’s something you will find my future books in. Other than that, I just write how I talk- I’m emotional, sarcastic, and just like to have fun- that’s pretty much my style.


3. Do you ever write naked? ;)

I literally spit my water out when I read this question- hilarious! And the answer is…no. BUT there are times, at night or early morning, that I may be writing in just my underwear and tank.

4. Do you ever write while under the influence?
Well, I’m pregnant right now, so no, not now, but I have noticed that I write much more fluently when I’ve had a couple of drinks ;) So yes, I have in the past.


5. What's the hardest part about writing?
Getting your books out there. Writing the actual book is the easy part- it’s all the extra marketing, promoting, etc. that is a lot and can get stressful.

6. Are any characters or scenes based on real life?
Yes and no.  I don’t have one character that is anyone specifically. Are they maybe some people I know mixed into one? YES. And this is true for scenes too. Not one book or character is “real” but some are made up of people in or have been in my life- same thing with situations. Some situations you read are some that I have gone through- tweaked, of course, but similar, yes.

7. Where are you from?
Syracuse, New York. The Snow Belt!

8. Three words to describe you?
(I had my husband answer this one for me because I hate talking about myself) Strong, Perfectionist, and Creative.

9. Favorite quote?
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

10. What authors inspire you?
Nicholas Sparks, Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, Rebecca Donovan, Abbi Glines, J. Sterling, Karina Halle…soooo many! Favorites? 
All of the above J

11.If you could meet anyone past present or future who would you meet and why?
Channing Tatum <3 Do I really need to explain why??? Oh mah gawd!!!

12.Favorite color?
 Brown- it looks good with almost any color!

13.Dogs or cats?
DOGS!!!  100%


14. Most embarrassing story.
Okay, I’ll give you a juicy one, and it was in my college days (Go Cortland!!!  The setting of Waiting on Forever, by the way), and my boyfriend was visiting for the weekend. It was Cortaca Jug weekend- if you don’t know what that is then you need to read Waiting on Forever or look it up- BEST weekend for a Cortland or Ithaca student. Anywho… we were drunk (it was Cortaca Jug, remember) and took a little break and sneaked off to my room. Well, I think you know for what…apparently we weren’t being quiet because we heard a few hard knocks on my door followed by a man’s voice saying, “University Police.” I threw on my bathrobe, face flushed, I’m sure, and answered my door- mortified. They were checking to see if everything was okay inside my room…”Um yeah, everything is great, sir…” So yeah, it was quite embarrassing!!!

15. Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla!!  I like chocolate but not ice cream or milk

16. What are you working on right now?
Permanent Lines- Merrick’s book!  It’s 100% a standalone and not part of any series J To get a glimpse of who Merrick (dreamy) is, he has a part in Running From Forever, but it’s not necessary to read that book first- hence the not being a part of a series ;)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Some may consider me a jack of all trades, but I consider myself well rounded. 
I’ve waitressed, styled hair, answered phones and, most recently, worked full time as mom to my two beautiful little boys.
Then there was this book… Everyone and their brother started talking about this book series titled Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James. I didn’t really pay attention to the craze at first, since I wasn’t a big reader- okay, I didn’t read at all. But curiosity got the best of me, so I downloaded it to my kindle.
I was immediately hooked. I read the whole series in three days. Yes, three books in three days.
I kept finding all these great books that I HAD to read (just ask my credit card!).
Then I started hearing voices. Voices that turned into stories; stories that were begging to get out of my head.
I started writing them down on scraps of paper. Then I transferred them to my computer. Before I knew it, Planning on Forever was born.
The voices in my head are still talking, so I’m still writing.


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