August 22, 2014

Author Interview with Ashantay Peters

I am thrilled to bring to you the first author interview on Write with Fey. Please welcome my fellow The Wild Rose Press author, Ashantay Peters! 


Ashantay, tell us about your current release.

Death Rub was released earlier this month, and is a light romantic suspense novel featuring a massage therapist, her young lover, and a cast of characters in town for a class reunion.

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Word Count: 49,400
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Release Date: August 6, 2014

BUY LINKS:

   
1.    What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve written several stories about “alternative” characters: yoga instructors, a massage therapist, and my current, WIP - organic gardeners.  Seemed like a niche no one else was exploring.

2.    I love your characters’ professions! How did you pick the title for your book?

My first novel, featuring a yoga instructor gone bad, was named Death Stretch. I wanted to keep Death in each title, so Death Rub seemed a good choice relating to massage.

3.    Death Rub is an intriguing title. Why did you choose the setting for Death Rub?

My books are all set in a small fictional town named Granville Falls, NC. I like small towns because there always seems to be a quirky character or two hanging around, along with a potential for good gossip.

4.    If your book had a soundtrack, give us a list of a few songs that would be on it.

Hmm. Hot Stuff by Donna Summer for my detective hero, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun for my heroine and her best friend, then a mélange of songs by Eric Clapton, Santana, Michael Jackson’s Thriller even though I didn’t include zombies, Cold Play, salsa, and a golden oldie or two. Definitely eclectic!


5.    What movies inspired your book?

Older detective movies – The Thin Man series especially – are films I enjoy the most. The quick, witty dialogue and B&W lighting are classic.

6.    How did you come up with the names for your hero and heroine?

I love puns, especially those related to a man’s private parts. So my hero Cam’s last name became Darrow, out of the original D’Arrow. Maggie’s name was inspired by a  woman I know who is a spa manager.  

7.   What would women find irresistible about your hero?

      I don’t know about all women, but I think Dirk is hot because he’s loyal, funny, and protective. He’s handsome but not too pretty. He has a strong need to do what’s right. And he’s intelligent – that’s a must!.    

8. Dirk sounds like a keeper! What are a few things we would find in or on your desk?

A bunch of sticky notes and scraps of paper holding ideas and word snippets. I’m keeping all of them until I can remember why I wrote them in the first place.

9.    Have you ever experienced something unusual that influenced a story?

My first novel (still hidden under the bed) was based on a ghost who shared my home in Florida. He was an older man who had built the house and died from cancer there. His “tell” was a strong tobacco smell – drove me crazy until I figured out it was the prior owner.

10.  That's creepy! What's your advice to new writers?

Have fun when you write! If you’re not enjoying the process, you’re trying too hard, and your stress will show in your work. Relax, let the words flow, and don’t try to control your Muse. She knows more than you do.


About the Author:

Ashantay Peters lives in the North Carolina mountains, where she loves escaping into a well-written book. Her reading addiction also has her perusing magazines, newspapers, Internet articles and even food labels. The last is often feebly excused as an attempt to maintain health, but her friends know the truth.

Ashantay has two other releases with The Wild Rose Press: Death Stretch and Death Under the Mistletoe and is working on a fourth, Dickens of a Death.

She loves to hear from readers and promises not to stalk anyone who contacts her.

Author Links:


Thank you, Ashantay, for being my first author interviewee! I had a blast getting to know you and your book, Death Rub.


Please leave a comment and show Ashantay some love. :)


49 comments:

  1. What a fantastic approach to finding a new niche of readers. Death Rub sounds very interesting and I wish Ashantay the best of luck with her release.
    I love her advice for new writers. I still have to learn to let go of the stress because I am truly happiest when I find freedom through my writing.
    Awesome first author interview, Chrys!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Gina! So glad you enjoyed my advice, and I hope you find your joy -

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    2. I'm so glad you enjoyed my first author interview, Gina! And that you like the sound of "Death Rub"! I do, too!! :)

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  2. This interview peaked my curiosity and I decided to buy the book. Unfortunately it will be October before I can read it and review it on Amazon. Best of luck to you, Ashantay and thanks Fey for a great interview.

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    1. Thank you for buying my book! I hope you enjoy the read, and I always appreciate reviews. :>)

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    2. Awesome! That is what I like to hear, because that it my goal with my new author interviews. :D

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  3. You used to live with a real ghost - wild.
    That fictional town name fits North Carolina well.
    Congratulations on your book!

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Alex. The experience wasn't as hairy as it sounds - ghosts need love, too. (grin)

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    2. Thank you for stopping by, Alex, and for leaving Ashantay a comment!

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  4. Congratulations on your release! I like the idea of sharing a home or hotel room with a ghost, but in real life, I'd probably be freaked out.

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    1. It was a bit disconcerting at first, but as in everything, you learn to cope and eventually, ghosts do move on. Kind of like bad lovers. (smile)

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    2. I'd probably be freaked out, too. But the stories you could write... ;)

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  5. I love the questions you ask, Chrys. It's kind of tongue in cheek like her book titles. Very interesting work, Ashantay. I love the idea of a school reunion being part of the setting. Thanks for the writing tips. The muse knows better than the writer. Fantastic advice!

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    1. You're most welcome, Lisa. Thanks for commenting!

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    2. I'm glad you like my questions, Lisa. I tried to think of a lot of different ones you normally don't see in interviews.

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  6. Chrys, thanks for hosting me today and I apologize for the late appearance. Somehow I lost a day this week. (Don't ask.)

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    1. I'm a lot later than you are at making an appearance and sharing the post because yesterday was my brother's wedding!

      I'm happy that you were my first author interview, Ashantay! :)

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    2. I'm happy to be the first! I haven't been a virgin in a long, long time. (grin)

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  7. I love the jobs your characters have, Ashantay! Especially the yoga teacher gone bad :-)

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    1. So glad you like my characters, Annalisa. They are my best friends! Virtually, of course...

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    2. A yoga teacher gone bad does sound scary... :P

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  8. Thanks for the advice. It is just what I need to hear right now. Loved the book. Keep them coming.

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    1. So glad I could help, Lori. Thanks for coming to see me here!

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  9. Wow, sharing a house with a ghost must have been interesting. I'll stay away from yoga and massage people now lol

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    1. I think I might stay away from yoga and massage people, too. LOL!

      Thanks for visiting, Pat, and for leaving Ashantay a comment. :)

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    2. Just had a massage yesterday, and really needed one! I'd like to stress that the massage therapist in my story is the heroine, not the villain!

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  10. Hey Ashantay, my daughter and I are currently dancing around to your theme song--thanks for that. And as for your ghost, beats the one who used to visit my home who stank of body odor! Good luck with the book

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    1. A ghost that stinks like BO would be extremely unpleasant. *cringes*

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  11. Glad to know I'm not the only one living with ghosties, Andrea! And you can thank Chrys for the theme song - she added the video, which I thoroughly enjoyed seeing again!

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    1. I just had to add that video, especially when you said it was the theme for your heroine and her best friend, and it seemed to fit perfectly with your story. :)

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  12. Great interview. Even though I know Ashantay and her book, I learned some new things. Death Rub is a fantastic read. So happy for you, Ashantay. Love your blog, Chris!

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    1. I'm glad you learned some new things, Alicia! :)

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    2. Thanks for stopping by, Ally! Great books come from fabulous editors!

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  13. Ooops! Sorry I misspelled your name, Chrys. As soon as I hit 'publish' I knew I'd screwed up. :/

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    1. Oh, don't worry about it. It happens all the time. :)

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  14. Ashantay, I can't seem to wrap my mind around the idea of a ghost in your house, and I have to say your very calm about it. I've had a similar experience and it wasn't good. Luckily, we were renting at the time and just moved, but yes, it was very creepy.

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    1. Marlow, I've had experiences with some kind of entity and it was a bit frightening as well.

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  15. Hmm, well, sounds as if you had an angry spirit, or perhaps a restless one. Glad to know you were able to move away from a scary situation!

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  16. Great interview. Dirk sounds great. I love the "alternative" professions, too.

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  17. Great advice to new writers! Nothing ever seems to turn out well when we try too hard, and I believe the writer's enjoyment always tranfers to the reader! Great interview!

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    1. I know when I was just starting out and was trying too hard to get published, it wasn't happening. We have to relax a little more and know that if it's meant to happen, it will.

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  18. Your book sounds like a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. Love the hero's name especially now that I know how you derived it.
    Your comment about your ghost took me back. When my kids were little we lived in a house with a basement. The boys refused to do their sleepovers down there saying...and I quote...there's an old man down there sitting on the end of the couch smoking a cigar.
    The only one I ever knew who smoked cigars was my grandpa who died when I was still in Jr. High. Weird huh?

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    1. Seems like a lot of people have experiences with ghosts.

      Thanks for commenting, RE!

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