Monday, October 25, 2010

EXPOSED - Ashley Weis

Welcome to my blog, Ashley. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I would say all of myself, in a sense. I pour my heart into all of them, so there are pieces of me (or my life) in every person. For example, Ally’s Dad in Exposed is my idealistic side. Ally and Jessie are very loosely based off of my own situation with my husband, except I was more angry and mean and George was even more passive than Jessie.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Quirky is my middle name, so I’m not sure if I can answer this without writing a novel. Let’s just put it this way … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg-gd3pT-zw

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I always wrote when I was a kid. Stories, plays, business plans. My grandmother always told me I’d grow up to be a “writer,” but in my mind I already was.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Mostly non-fiction. It’s rare that I love a novel. When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin is the recent one I adore. I love non-fiction by Thomas Kempis, St. John Chrysostom, Mother Teresa, and really anything that convicts me to be a better example of Christ.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I don’t run. That’s about as simple as it gets. I am simple. We don’t have a TV or watch very many movies. We have three kids under three, so that keeps us running, but we take time to smell the roses. We don’t stress out when everything is going nuts. When I clean up spilled milk and turn around to a kitchen drizzled with chocolate syrup, I clean it up, discipline the monkey, then look at my husband and laugh. I think the best medicine to a hectic life is laughter.

I so agree. One of my novellas was titled The Best Medicine because of that. You can read it in Snowbound Colorado Christmas. How do you choose your characters’ names?

It’s very random. I just look through baby names until I find something that fits.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Giving birth naturally more than once and having three beautiful children who haven’t suffocated in their cribs, no matter how many times I panic that they aren’t breathing.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A horse. I think it fits my personality best. A wild horse, that is. :-) I like to run and dream. Stables make me feel like a wilting flower.

What is your favorite food?

Hm. Wow. I don’t know if I can answer that. My husband and I love food. Lately we’ve been enjoying homemade soups. One that I love is very simple. It’s a chicken pot pie, but it’s more like a stew. A dutch thing. We’re from Lancaster, PA so it’s big around here.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Just finding time. I wrote Exposed while pregnant with my second child and my first was only 16 months old. I also work for our design company. I overcame it by becoming friends with sleep deprivation, which I don’t recommend. I’ve stopped writing for a little while. There’s no way I can do it with my current lifestyle. My family is more important right now.

Tell us about the featured book.

Exposed is a snapshot of my heart. It’s about a couple trying to re-tie the laces of their marriage after tripping over them when porn entered the scene, and a young girl looking for her worth as she stumbles into the porn industry. When I discovered my husband’s addiction I was writing another novel that never took off. This idea came and it flew from my heart to the page. I think my heart needed to write this story.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The sound of my cell phone buzzing across the dining room table, the scent of Pine-Sol from the kitchen sink, the strange feeling that my life might change forever—I remember that Friday as though it were yesterday. I picked up my cell phone before it slid off the edge of the dining room table.

“Ally, are you home yet?” Jessie’s voice forced its way through bad reception. “Yeah, I left work early.”

“Oh.” He paused. “So, you’re home? What time is it?”

“4:30 or so. About to start dinner.” I paused. “Is that okay?”

Silence.

“You’re not planning something romantic, are you?” I smiled. “Did I ruin it?”

“Maybe,” he said. “I’ll be home soon. Love you.”

We hung up. I sat down at the dining room table, tapping my foot, daydreaming about a growing belly. We’d been trying to get pregnant for two years. No luck. My hand moved to touch my stomach, but I accidentally jostled the mouse of Jessie’s shiny Macbook Pro. The screensaver displaying our wedding pictures disappeared, then an image of a naked woman starred at me from the screen.

My foot stopped tapping.

Very intriguing. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’ve stopped personally blogging, but readers can find me at http://www.morethandesire.com/ .

Thank you, Ashley, for taking time from your busy day to be with us.

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. New information: Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. I’m trying to get a good idea of where the people live who leave comments on my blog. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

31 comments:

Linda Kish said...

I would like to read this book. Sounds interesting.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Casey said...

Sounds like a great story, please enter me. Thank you. :)

grannyvon said...

This sounds very different and I would love to win it. Thanks for the chance. ybutler@oppcatv.com

Anonymous said...

Knowing this story comes from the author's own life makes this something I would be interested in! Thanks for the chance to win.

fredamans said...

Thanks for the chance, I hail from Ontario, Canada.

Claire Koenig said...

Sounds intriguing ... sign me up ...

Jan Marie said...

Enjoyed this interview - I thought that we were the only family that didn't have a television in our home and it is good to know that there are others who don't also.

This sounds like a very sensitive topic and it needs to be addressed - would love to win this book. Please enter me. Thanks.

janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

Lourdes said...

Would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win.

Lourdes11743[at]gmail[dot]com

holdenj said...

Ashley sounds wonderful, three kids under three and still has time to write! The novel looks very emotional. Thanks for the info.

Bakersdozen said...

I would love to read this. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Thank you everyone. :)

Jan - I absolutely love not having a TV. Isn't it refreshing? I feel like we truly live so much more!

holdenj - No, no ... I no longer have time to write. :) Every now and then. But not too much. I gave up writing for now to focus on my family. :)

Roanna said...

Please enter me. Thanks
ohiobuckeye91 (at) gmail (dot) com

Patsy said...

This book sounds really intersting. Would love to read it. Thanks for giving away a copy.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Deborah Lynn said...

I really enjoyed your interview with Ashley Weis. I want to be a Christian writer and I was very intrigued by her answers. Would love to read her book.

Coolestmommy said...

Wow! Powerful first page.

I'm from the midwest. coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Deborah M said...

I really enjoyed the interview. I went and looked at several of Ashley's youtube skits. Yes, pretty quirky! LOL She is a beautiful young woman. I didn't think I would ever see anyone with bigger eyes than mine but Ashley beats me.

Interesting plot for a book I would like to read it. I think this is probably more prevalent than we know. I like the fact that it is addressing a "real" problem.

Deborah M

Robin Steinweg said...

What a courageous lady, to write about a subject that apparently impacts so many; and is admitted by so few.
It sounds like an important book.

Good job keeping your family a priority for this season,Ashley! It's a decision never ever to be regretted.

apple blossom said...

Please include me in this giveaway. thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read ashley's novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Edwina said...

I am a Christian counselor and woud love to read this book from someone who understands what other women go through when this happens.

I live in Georgia.

edwina(dot)cowgill(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kristen said...

I've heard such good things about this book. Please enter me:)

Anonymous said...

thank you all. :) i wish i could give every one of you a free copy!!

Renee Ann said...

I'd love to read this book! Please enter me. Thanks!

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

The book sounds like a great book. I would love to be entered in this one. THanks!

dancealert at aol dot com

MaureenT said...

Reading that little teaser, makes me want to read this book!
Please include me!

Ann Lee Miller said...

Oooh, I'd love to win this book!

Ann Lee Miller

Mozi Esme said...

Sounds like an interesting one.

(Oregon)

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Nancye said...

Sounds like a very interesting book! I would love to win a copy.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Linda said...

Knowing this book could help many other women, I would love to win this book. Please enter me.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Great interview, I liked what Ashley said. I'm quite impressed with her honesty and courage to write about her husband's problem, which of course became her problem too and sadly affected their marriage. This is a story that I can relate to in a personal way and I'm encouraged that Ashley wrote of a problem even in Christian marriages that needs to be approached within the church and clergy. Congratulations to Ashley and her husband for their bravery. Living in a large metro area like Arlington, TX, we see evidence everywhere of influences hurting peoples lives. Thank you for the giveaway and the chance to win this important book. I hope I do.

Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com