Ashley Nemer Joins the Author List for MCBF 2014

Welcome Ashley Nemer to MCBF 2014

Ashley was born in Wichita, Kansas. She is the eldest of three. She has two brothers who she completely adores and who were the inspiration for her Alpha Lead Zayn. She has always enjoyed writing and using her creativity. This started at a young age in Kansas City, Missouri when her brother Ryan and her would take scraps of wood and paint different pictures on them. Eventually when her articulation of feelings and emotions gained depth she started writing Original Oratory while attending Clear Brook High School.

Ashley participated in her high school debate team and it was there that she learned the importance of the written word. She firmly believes that the pen is mightier than the sword and Ashley has never been one to hold back her opinion, or change her beliefs. She is open and honest about how she feels and has learned the moment you write down a thought, you better be able to back it.

Over the course of 15 years Ashley’s skills as a writer have dramatically changed. During college she used to write poetry when she was sad or down, needing an outlet to safely express what was on her mind. Since then, her poetry has taken a dive into a dark undertone. She writes about the pain of love and paints them with dark pictures of expression. She isn’t afraid to show the thoughts we all have but are too timid and/or shy to say.

Ashley’s first novel, Blood Purple is based on Algula vampires who dwelled in the Middle East and were forced from their home. The idea for this series spurred from one evening of Ashley researching her nationality after talking with her Aunt Pam about where her family originated. She and one of her friends did research on the folklore of that part of the world and found there was very little information about the paranormal genre and how it tied into the Middle East. Ashley took this idea and ran with it.


Ashley is married and lives in Houston with her husband Tony. They have two dogs named Toto and Doogie. They have been together for over 8 and a 1/2 years and he brings her more joy than she could ever imagine as a child. She loves to read and has been hooked on the romance genre ever since her life long best friend Laura gave her "Ashes to Ashes' by Tami Hoag to read when they were younger.


Ashley finds her strength through her family, especially her parents. They always support her in life, they push her to strive for greatness. There once was a motto that Ashley heard in her youth through her Taekwondo life 'Reach for the Stars' and that is what Ashley has always done. It was through her upbringing that the values Ashley has and display's came from. With her Parents always cheering her on in life she was able to grow up having faith in herself and her ability to conquer the world.

In Arabic, Nemer means Tiger. Ashley has always loved tigers well before she knew the meaning of her name.

For more information, visit http://www.ashleynemer.com/.

 

An interview with Ashley:

 

Do you outline before you write or just dive in?

 

I love writing in the organic method. Everything that I have written that wasn't planned ends up pulling you in and being an emotionally charged read. The stories where I have some idea of what I want to happen are not as engaging. I think it's because I was forcing it out of me because I wanted the story to move in a certain path. When I let the Characters write and I let the words flow out in an organic fashion then the final product really is night and day compared to the stories I plan. To date, of the 10+ titles I have out only two have been planned. And you can most certainly tell which ones they are.

 

Why do you write for Young Adults or Children or Adult (whichever is pertinent)?

 

I write for adults because the things inside my head just aren't suitable for young people. haha. Honestly, I don't even know how I would go about writing a book that is targeted for young adults. My Maverick Touch series is completely clean and very PG in most everything that is written. I do that because I want to have a series that my family can read and not have to picture me doing all these 'adult' themed things or violence with. Keeping Maverick clean has been one of my challenges through both books. I am hoping by the time I start book there (Next November) I have a better hang of resisting the need to get detailed....

 

Who is your favorite character you have written or read about?

 

My favorite characters that i have written would be Leigh Khaled. She is one of the 'bad guys' in my Blood Series about Arabic Vampires in Colorado Springs, Co. She is the dark side of my mind, the one that we don't let come out to play. She makes me cringe and gives me relief from a hard day, week or month. She's vicious, and I love her.

What books or authors have most influenced your writing most? Tami Hoag. She was the very first mystery/romance writer that I read in high school, specifically, Ashes to Ashes and I LOVED IT. I fell in love with her and with story telling really then. My aunt gave me some Harlequin novels and that opened my eyes to the 'romance' but mysteries and mystery writers is where my heart lies. Catherine Coulter's FBI series has influenced me a lot too. Kay Hooper's Bishop series. And then my friends who are authors. I take from everyone bits and pieces of things that stand out and mesh it together to form my own style.

Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

 

Will Smith - because I love him - in everything that he does. I used to have my walls  plastered with his magazine photos when I was in junior high and high school in the 90's. 

And my personal favorite:  It’s the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, what 3 things are a must to take with you when you flee your home for refuge from the undead hordes??

Gun, Knife, Weatherproof Jacket

 

Meet Ashley at the

2014 Montgomery County Book Festival

on Saturday, February 15th

at Lone Star College - Montgomery

Shauna Allen will be at MCBF 2014!!

Shauna Allen joins the festivities at MCBF 2014

Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas.  She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three awesome teenagers.  She is the award-winning author of the Cupid Chronicles series, including the newly released Charlie’s Angel.  Shauna is also a freelance editor and personal assistant to two NYT Bestselling authors.  She loves anything sexy, sassy, and Gerard Butler.

 

For more information, visit http://www.shaunaallen.com/.

 

Meet Shauna at the

2014 Montgomery County Book Festival on February 15th

at Lone Star College - Montgomery

Spicing up MCBF with Jennifer Bray-Weber

Welcome Jennifer Bray-Weber to MCBF 2014

 

 

Native Texan and raised in the Spring area, Jennifer Bray-Weber has always wished for real life to mimic adventuresome tales, especially those of the high seas. Holding degrees in Music and Video Business and Liberal Arts, she continued her higher education, until a professor challenged her to write a novel. Never one to back down from a dare, her passion led to award-winning pirate historical romances. Her next two books in the Romancing the Pirate series are scheduled to release early in 2014. Connect with Jennifer at www.jbrayweber.com.

Read Jennifer's interview below:

At what age did you start writing? 

     37. Late Bloomer? You could say that. I was a career student racking up the college credits. During my fall semester in 2007, I impressed my creative writing professor with my short stories, albeit everything I wrote was grisly and ended in death. *shrug* One particular assignment, I went in a different direction. It was a romance and nobody died. *shrugs again* He enjoyed it so much, he suggested I write a novel. I took it as a dare and quit school. *shrugs once more*.

 

Patty Campbell talks about the germ for a piece of writing being like the

sand in the oyster.  What is your grain of sand?  Do you begin with character or setting or something else?

     For me, inspiration may come from a song lyric, a movie snap shot, or a random simple gesture. My mind creates a ‘what if’ scenario. From there springs a general setting and basic knowledge of a character or two. Getting from point A (the beginning of the story) to point B (the end) is as much a mystery to me as it is to the reader. It’s great fun!

 

Why do you write for Young Adults or Children or Adult (whichever is pertinent)?

     Despite the action and adventure of my books, I tend to write with a healthy portion of the dark side of humanity. It’s all doom and gloom. To balance out the macabre danger, I write romance. And not your granny’s romance, either. The spicy, steamy romance.

Who is your favorite character you have written or read about?

     I fell unequivocally in love with Captain Blade Tyburn of A Kiss in the Wind, the second book in my Romancing the Pirate series. He’s an infamous pirate libertine with devilish good looks, quick wit, and insatiable desire for women, no matter their shape or size. That is, until he meets his match in knife-wielding, pick-pocket Marisol.

     That said, I also just adore Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson, the self-deprecating wise-cracking private investigator. Oh, and she’s the grim reaper, too.

What books or authors have most influenced your writing most?

     It would be unfair to narrow down the authors and books that I could say were influential to my career in some form or another. I have learned from many wonderful teachers, writers, and friends all across the publishing spectrum. However, I do aspire to have Sherrilyn Kenyon’s fandom, JK Rowling’s fortune, Stephen King’s esteem, and Anne Rice’s legacy.

It’s the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, what 3 things are a must to take with you when you flee your home for refuge from the undead hordes??

     Assuming I would have my family and supplies, I would want to take my fully charged iPod loaded with loud bass-thumping, guitar-screeching zombie-killing rock music, a modified shotgun with an attached buzz saw for mutilating attacking zombies, and Nutella, because I love it’s chocolaty hazelnut goodness.

Meet Jennifer at the

2014 Montgomery County Book Festival

on Saturday, February 15th

at Lone Star College - Montgomery

Molly Blaisdell joins the 2014 Montgomery County Book Festival Author Line Up

Welcome             Molly Blaisdell...

Texan Molly Blaisdell started her first fan fiction group in junior high and never stopped writing. Today, she writes about geek girls with lofty dreams and about the absolute craziness of falling in love. When Molly's not writing, she's curled up with a book, heading to late night showings of popcorn blockbusters, or watching for shooting stars on a clear night. If she sees the moon in the daytime, she thinks she's lucky. PLUMB CRAZY is her debut romance novel. Molly lives in College Station, Texas with her college sweetheart Tim and two cats – one evil and one good.

 

Learn a little more about Molly in her interview below.

Do you outline before you write or just dive in?  Generally, I am a fan of the outline. If you don't give me a map, I'll never arrive. That said, I don't use formal outlines but rely on a synopsis format. I determine how many chapters I need. I add a few lines under each paragraph that sums up the action in that chapter. This is my method. I don't think there is a right way to write. I write my way, but yours may be very different.  

Why do you write for Young Adults or Children or Adult (whichever is pertinent)? Honestly depending on the season, I write for all three. My upcoming book, PLUMB CRAZY (Swoon Romance, May 2014), is a crossover for teens and adults. 
When you write a story, it's not for right now. It's for somebody, someday. It's also about once-upon-a-time, an imagined history. I write because I feel very connected to the future and the past. I'm hardwired to bring them together, to tuck something in your pocket for the road ahead. I find stories keep percolating long after you read them, and they are there to help in your trials and triumphs. 
There is usually humor in everything I write, too, because, to me, there is enough drama already. Laughing helps us all survive the degradations of this life. An excellent life is about making a difference in whatever way you can. Writing is my way.
Do you have a pet (pets)? Tell us about it (them) and how they help/hinder your writing.

I have two pets currently. Mr. Tibbs, who was rescued as a kitten from an abandoned house, and Mr. Oreo, who was a rescued cat from a local shelter.  

Mr. Tibbs is a giant cat. He is part Maine Coon and very calm. He is so huggable and when I can't find my way in a story, hugging Mr. Tibbs always helps. 

Mr. Oreo is a little tuxedo cat and a trickster. He likes to sit on my laptop keys and scratch through the manuscript pages while I'm editing. My printer jams a lot because, yes, that is also his favorite place to sit. And also in any box, the smaller the better. 
It’s the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, what 3 things are a must to take with you when you flee your home for refuge from the undead hordes??
I hope someone has written the Complete Guide for the Zombie Apocalypse because I could really use that book. I'd also take a water purifier and a ninja/superhero/immortal (because I'm not fighting zombies. No way!). 


 Thanks for the interview Molly! 

Meet Molly at the 2014 Montgomery County Book Festival on February 15, 2014.

For more information, visit www.mollyblaisdell.com/.