About Aven Ellis: Aven Ellis has been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency.
But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel; Waiting For Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista(New Adult romantic comedy) will be published this year.
Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.
**Contact Aven: Website Facebook Pinterest Twitter
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INTERVIEW
Describe yourself in five words: Talker, Creative, Funny, Supportive, Caring
What does being a writer mean to you? It means being able to bring characters and their stories to life. I love it, it is one of my biggest joys in life, to bring life to a character.
Tell us about your book, “Waiting for Prince Harry”: Waiting for Prince Harry is the story of Kylie Reed, a young women who is waiting for the right time to live her dreams: when she’s been at her job longer, when she has more experience, when she’s married…her life is filed away for the future because she’s afraid of the now. But all of that changes when she meets a gorgeous ginger who happens to be even hotter than Prince Harry, her dream crush.
What was your writing/editing/publishing process like? Waiting for Prince Harry was written in about seven months. My publisher knew I was working on it and asked to read it upon completion. Once she read it, I was offered a contract for it. This process has been easier, because I had already been through it before with Connectivity and knew what to expect. But the reader reaction surprised me! They loved Harrison, and loved the hockey angle so much I’m working on another hockey book right now.
Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Both!
How did you celebrate when “Waiting for Prince Harry” was published? Ha, I was at work all day so there was no big celebration in my cubicle.
Which other authors inspire you? Holly Martin. We’ve become the best of friends and her writing blows me away.
Describe what would be your ideal day: Grabbing a cup of coffee, turning up Spotify, and writing for hours on end. Then getting in a workout and chatting with people on Twitter and then making a healthy dinner while watching any show with Gordon Ramsay in it.
As an author, what is the best advice you’ve been given? Write your brains out, then write some more, and don’t let anyone tell you no.
What is your favorite writing quote? I really don’t have one.
Every writer must have a…: Thick skin. People aren’t always going to love what you write, and they will let you know it!
Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista is going to be released on September 10th, and the companion book to that, Surviving The Rachel, will be released in February 2015. And right now I’m writing a story about one of Harrison Flynn’s teammates in a second hockey story.
GUEST POST
Social Media for Authors
I am by no means an expert on how authors should use social media properly. In fact, I’m the LAST person that should be talking about this because not only do I not follow “suggested ways to use social media” but I pretty much ignore advice on the topic.
Why, you ask?
Because being a proper business minded author on social media takes all the fun out of it for me. It’s a place to be myself. If you follow me on Twitter, I’ll talk about anything from the Duchess of Cambridge (Love her) to hot hockey players (hello Tyler Seguin) to what workout I did that night (boxing/weight intervals this evening by the way.)
And I have met so many people on Twitter just by doing that-not necessarily by promoting my own books (which I do, of course) but by engaging people in conversations. By being the goofy, fun, neurotic person I am. On my Facebook page, I post hot guys who helped inspire my heroes in my books. Readers got involved and suggested I add Tattoo Tuesday to the rotation, which I did.
On Instagram, I post pics of my other passions: working out and cooking healthy food. So readers get to see that side of my life, and people who follow me for food find out I’m an author. I have loads of pins on Pinterest, and boards for each character in my current and upcoming books. But I also have pins on my fashion favorites, my TV shows, more recipes than I will ever cook, and hot British actors. Once again, this is all me, Aven Ellis, and people can connect with me on a personal level.
So this is what social media is to me, a place to be myself and meet amazing new people. Is this a marketing approved strategy? Probably not. But am I having fun with a bunch of new friends? Absolutely yes.
And that is what matters most to this author. 🙂
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“Waiting For Prince Harry”: Twenty-four-year-old Kylie Reed has always been a rule follower. Organized and cautious to a fault, her dreams for life are often filed away for future use—when she has a house, when she meets her future husband, when she has been at her visual display job at a chic Dallas boutique longer. Kylie always has a reason for living her life in the future, not in the present, and fears not living her life to the fullest and reaching her dream of becoming a fashion designer.
The only exception to rules, of course, would be running away with Prince Harry. But living in Dallas and not knowing Prince Harry make this a non-option.
Or does it?
Because when Kylie accidentally falls into the lap of a gorgeous ginger guy—yes, even more gorgeous than the real Prince Harry—all bets are off. Kylie’s life takes some unexpected twists and turns thanks to this encounter. Could this stranger be the one to show Kylie how to live in the present?
EXCERPT
We get up and step into the store next to our bench, which happens to be a fancy stationery and candle shop.
As soon as the door closes behind us, Harrison moves over to a candle display on a large round table and takes off his sunglasses. He clips them onto the collar of his shirt, while I push mine up on the top of my head. Now we can see each other’s eyes, and Harrison’s green eyes are sparkling at me.
“That’s better,” Harrison says, smiling at me.
“I agree,” I say, smiling back at him.
“Hello, can I help you find anything?” a saleswoman asks.
Harrison looks at her, but then glances back at me. “I think,” he says, “I’ve already found what I need.”
I rest my hand on the edge of the table to keep myself steady, because the way he’s staring at me right now makes me almost dizzy with excitement.
“Oh, wonderful,” the saleswoman says.
“Yes, it is,” Harrison answers, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Well, please let me know if you need anything else,” she says before walking away.
Harrison then looks straight at me. “I do need something else.”
Ooooh, I really love this place where we are right now.
“And what would that be?”
“Well, obviously I need to buy one of these candles now,” Harrison says, picking up a Seda France box.
“Perfect. These are my favorite candles,” I say smartly.
“Are they now?” Harrison says, raising an eyebrow.
Okay. Candle shopping is an extremely hot activity. Who knew?
“Yes,” I say, picking up one to inhale. “Would you care to smell Japanese Quince?”
Harrison nods. I extend the candle toward him and he wraps his hand around mine, so we are both holding the candle.
And any nerve I had left just completely imploded the second his hand wrapped around mine.
“While I see many things I like at this table,” Harrison says, leaning forward to smell Japanese Quince, “there’s one thing in particular, other than this candle, that I need.”
He stands up straight but keeps his hand wrapped over mine.
“What would that be?” I ask softly.
“Dinner with you. At my place. Tonight.”
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**Click HERE to see other stops on Aven’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!
