Featured Author: Ashlynn Monroe

 It's Friday, and it's April Fool's Day. No pranks from us though. Instead, take a gander at our final interview in our Featured Authors series. We wrap things up with author Ashlynn Monroe, here to discuss her story, Pray for Me....

Tell us a little about yourself:

Ashlynn Monroe is a busy wife and mom. She enjoys writing about anything and everything paranormal or fantasy related.  She spends most of her time daydreaming up her next tale of romance.  She’d love to hear from you at authorashlynnmonroe@gmail.  Visit her website at http://ashlynnmonroe.com/ to learn more about the worlds she imagines.

Would you tell us about your book?

Pray for Me is a paranormal romance from Wicked Ink Press, published in February of 2011.

Gabriel put his faith in his God and his king…That was centuries ago.  Harley is proud of her heritage and when she has the chance to give her hometown historical society a boost by booking an eccentric Swiss expert, she has no idea she booked someone who actually lived the history.  Immortality is a long time to have a broken heart.  Unable to stop himself, Gabriel draws the brilliant historian into his life.  Harley discovers far more than Gabriel ever expected about history, his history!  A quest to give Gabriel an answer to an old question will introduce them to the danger of a new enemy.  Is love enough when your love wants you body, soul and blood?

What is Pray For Me about?

This is a series about ten men who were Templar Knights who went into hiding after they were named outlaws.  A curse made them vampires and my first Templar Gabriel falls for a pretty historian.

How long have you been writing? Have you been at this for a while, or is this a new journey?

I've been writing since I was thirteen.  It's the only hobby...really the only thing that's stayed a constant in my life all these years.  I was published for the first time when I was thirty-one in 2010!  This is new to me, but I've been very blessed to have over thirty titles published so some people think I've been around longer than I have.

What inspired you to write Pray For Me?

I love history and vampires so it was a win-win.  I saw a history channel special about the Templar Knights and I was fascinated so I went to the web and researched like crazy for a few months.

What tools have you used in your journey to improve your writing?

Steven King's book On Writing is wonderful, I think all authors should read it.  I've been so lucky to work with editors who have the courage of lions and the hearts of teachers.  they've tackled my work and taught me so much.  I just want to give a shout out to them all--thank you!

Are you a solitary writer, or do you utilize critique groups?

I'm pretty solitary.  My facebookies are a great support and encouragement, but I just write until my fingers bleed.  I wish I didn't work full time at the big evil corporation that holds me hostage 9 to 5.

How much of yourself is present in your writing? Do you look back and find that characters possess a little of your own self in them?

I try to get as far away from myself and my life as possible, but I think all my heroines have a little bit of flavor they owe to me, especially if they're sarcastic.

Tell us a little about you, the reader. What authors/genres do you love and why?

I read everything I can get my hands on but my favorites are Dara Joy, Alyssa Day, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Christine Feehan.

Who is your literary idol and why?

People who write limericks on bathroom walls...just kidding.  I don't have one, I respect all books and authors too much to pick.

Name one character in any book that you would like to share a cup of coffee with. What would you discuss?

In my book Reality Stinks my character of Dina Dell would be the winner of that contest.  She's probably the most like me of any of my characters and it'd be a bit like meeting a evil twin, only with a better ass and more exciting job.  We'd bitch about sisters and then dish about the hero Zane's superpower enhanced skills in the bedroom.

Want to learn more about Ashlynn Monroe and her writing? Find her at http://ashlynnmonroe.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

And we're ending our series on a high note because Ashlynn has generously offered to award a free copy of Pray for Me to a random commenter on this post! We'll pick a winner on Sunday.

A big thank you to Ashlynn for appearing on the blog, as well as one final thanks to all the authors who took the time to share their thoughts and experiences with us these last few weeks!