AVRA'S GOD - Ann Lee Miller - One Free Book

Bio: Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn't writing or muddling through some crisis--real or imagined--you'll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids' lives.

Welcome, Ann. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write twenty-something contemporary romances because I feel like this is one of the most exciting times in life. This is when most people fall in love for the first time, find their place in the world, resolve issues left over from childhood, and make spiritual decisions. Or maybe I’m just living vicariously through my children.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I really enjoyed falling in love with my husband, but I think it took a bit longer than a day. From an early age in a sad childhood I had looked forward to discovering that special someone to share walks in the woods, laughter, conversation. My husband was a godly man who was, and is, an easy man to respect. Through him I first experienced unconditional love. Falling in love with him was a joy—and continues to be after 33 years of marriage.

How has being published changed your life?

While penning novels for 16 years before publishing in 2012, I focused on God’s kindness in allowing me to pursue the desire of my heart by writing. I concentrated on improving my skill, learning to write in concert with the Holy Spirit, and for the most part, waiting patiently for God’s timing to publish. Now, I need to move my focus off myself and onto my readers. I am struggling to learn new habits like praying regularly for my readers. Also, the business side of publishing takes a big chunk out of my writing time. I have to work hard at keeping writing as my priority.

What are you reading right now?

I’ve been gravitating to southern writers lately like Anne Rivers Siddon, Beth Webb Hart, and Dorthea Benton Frank. But Charles Martin has been at the top of my list for several years. I also enjoy Jenny B. Jones and Ann Brashares (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants).

What is your current work in progress?

Tattered Innocence launches March 1. It’s a tale of passions indulged, denied, and ultimately forgiven:

        On the verge of bagging the two things he wants most—a sailing charter business and marrying old money—Jake Murray’s fiancée/sole crew member dumps him. Salvation comes in the form of dyslexic, basketball toting Rachel Martin, the only one to apply for the first mate position he slapped on Craigslist.

       On a dead run from bad choices and guilt, Rachel's salvation is shoving ocean between her and temptation.

       Rapid fire dialogue and romantic tension sail Jake’s biker-chick of a boat through hurricanes, real and figurative. A cast of wannabe sailors, Rachel’s ex, Jake’s, a baby—go along for the ride.

       The many-layered story weaves together disparate strands into a seamless cord. Mother and daughter look eerily alike—down to their lusts. Their symbiotic bond, forged in the blood of childbirth on the kitchen floor and cemented by their secrets, must be cracked open. A son must go home. Sin must be expunged. 

      Tattered Innocence is for anyone who’s ever woken up sealed in a fifty-gallon drum of their guilt. 

What would be your dream vacation?

A cabin in the woods beside a stream.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

All four of my books are set in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the place that still feels like home even though I only lived there six years. Setting my books in New Smyrna Beach gave me the opportunity to revisit the “happy” in my childhood.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I would spend it with one of my girlfriends whom I don’t get to see often. She makes me laugh, and she’s one of several friends who feel like sisters.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

My weekly date with my husband is hiking. And I love to go to garage sales, attend Zumba class, and play Scrabble.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

When I am connected to the internet, my mind is too cluttered to write effectively. I find myself checking my e-mail every five minutes. It takes a lot of self-discipline, but I don’t go onto the internet until my writing for the day is completed.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Marinate in craft books, find a critique group, and write every day.

Tell us about Avra’s God.

         In the tradition of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, four friends navigate college and the drama churned up by their Florida beach band to cement friendship and more.

                 
          Avra wants love, but drummer Cisco—self-medicating from his parents’ divorce with sex and intoxicants—is a poor choice. Cisco hungers for fresh-baked cookies and the scent of family he finds at Avra’s.

         Kallie shares her classically trained voice only with lead vocalist Jesse and fights to keep her heart safe. Jesse feeds on fame and hides more than insecurity beneath his guitar.

         The friends surf ego, betrayal, and ambition and head for wipeout.  But somehow, when they're not looking, Avra’s God changes them all.

Please give us the first page of the book.

A hot blast of pepperoni-laden air rolled over Avra as Stavro’s Pizza kitchen door swung shut. She inched ahead in line for a table with her family.

“Yep, me and the idiot sisters are eatin’ fine tonight.”

She swiveled. That voice.

The guy from Humanities 301 thumbed through change he pulled from the pocket of his cutoffs. Cisco. And she didn’t shower and change after soccer practice—why?

Her brother’s elbow knocked into her. “It’s gotta be meat lovers,” Drew’s stuck-in-puberty voice rasped.

Cisco glanced in her direction. Her gaze skittered back to her brother. Please, God, tell me Cisco didn’t just catch me staring at him!

Her attention drifted to Cisco’s corkscrew curls that brushed the shoulders of his ancient Whitey’s Bait & Tackle—Size Counts T-shirt. The girl behind the register tracked Cisco from under dark lashes as if she were having a conversation with the back of his head.

“I want ham and pineapple.” Her brother, Kurt, shot an I’m-slumming-in-Stavro’s-with-my-family look at a couple of girls behind them.

“Veggie,” Avra said, distracted by Cisco’s gaze on her. “Let’s get three.”

Cisco’s forehead crinkled like he was trying to remember where he’d seen her.

Avra feigned fascination with the Best Pizza in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, plaques on the wall. She frowned at the reflection in the window of her droopy ponytail and unisex soccer uniform. Beside her reflection in the glass, the counter girl wore her Stavro’s polo as a second skin. What was the use? Avra turned toward her family.

Mom eyed them. “We’re celebrating Kurt’s first day of college, the beginning of Avra’s junior year, not graduation—”

Drew huffed. “What about my senior year of high school?”

Mom dropped her gaze from the illuminated menu on the wall. “We’ll get two large pepperonis.”

The girl bit a hangnail and watched Cisco. The gummy corners of Isabel curled off her red plastic badge. Overhead, a cardboard pizza twirled in the draft from the air conditioning vent. Isabel blinked at her customer and scrawled the order on a guest check.

Dad threaded an arm around Mom’s waist. “And spicy cheddar cheese poppers.” He batted his eyes through his glasses at Mom and made her laugh. They melted against each other and glided toward the empty bench talking in quiet voices.

I want a guy who will love me like that―forever.

She looked at her brothers. “When I’m married, my kids will have whatever kind of pizza they want. And I’ll bake cookies―”

Drew’s blue eyes brightened in his freckle-spattered face. “Make some chocolate chips tonight.”

Kurt shot her an evil grin. “Who’d marry you, Avra? Morgan?”

“Puleeese.” Avra made a gagging noise. She caught Cisco’s smirk out of the corner of her eye and stopped, mid-gag. Warmth crept into her face. Oh, great. Cisco and everyone in Stavro’s was going to see her face go apple-red under the track lights.

Cisco’s smirk widened into a smile. “I can’t remember the last time I had really good entertainment in the pizza line.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

AnnLeeMiller.com

http://www.facebook.com/AnnLeeMillerAuthor

Twitter: @AnnLeeMiller

Thank you, Ann, for the interesting interview today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. 
Avra's God - paperback
Avra's God - Kindle


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KICKING ETERNITY - Ann Lee Miller - Lots of Free Books

Bio: Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives.

Note: Anyone who would like to receive a free e-book copy of Kicking Eternity may request one on the contact page at www.AnnLeeMiller.com.

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Some heroines include parts of me, but writers are vultures. We circle our lives and pick the flesh off everyone around us.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I can’t take credit for this, but my father spent several years building a forty-foot sailboat in our backyard. We launched it in the Miami River and lived aboard at Dinner Key Marina when I was eleven until I turned thirteen. At the time I didn’t realize how unusual it was to live on a boat and ride my bicycle down the dock each morning to attend school. All my friends at the marina did the same. After school every day, I tossed my books onto my bunk, shimmied into a swimsuit, and jumped overboard. Sailboats show up in all my books thus far.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I always say I became a writer the year I discovered Sister Sheila had hair. I was in fifth grade at St. Hugh’s Catholic School in Miami, knee deep in nouns and verbs, when Sister Sheila walked through the door in a new habit that showed two inches of mouse brown hair threaded with silver. Thanks to Sister’s encouragement, I went on to earn a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University. I’ve been writing novels for the past fifteen years.

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

I especially enjoy reading romance and coming of age stories. My favorite authors are Charles Martin, Francine Rivers, Anne Rivers Siddon, and Ann Brashares (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants).

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

I start my day by spending time with God. That’s the easy part. The hard part is having the self discipline to stay off the internet until I have accomplished the day’s writing. If I check my e-mail or plug into Facebook, my brain gets cluttered and short circuits. I can’t focus and end up frustrated, unproductive. I’ve always been nosey. I think that’s why the internet is such a temptation. But I need a peaceful well to write from.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I use a stack of baby books. Names are difficult to choose and hugely important. Sometimes I will change a character’s name after the book is written, but I don’t recommend this.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m proud of completing four books. Writing them was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. When I won a swimming race or graduated from college, I didn’t feel the sense of satisfaction I felt typing The End. In addition to Kicking Eternity, The Art of My Life debuts in September, Avra’s God in December, and Tattered Innocence next March.

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

A monkey. They look like they’re having fun swinging around. I would go crazy lying around like my dog does all day!

What is your favorite food?

Cheesecake.

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

I detest plotting, but consider it a necessary evil. I plot every scene for the whole book before I actually write the book. It takes… forever. My first two books were written without plotting. Going back through whole books to fix plot lines felt counterproductive. I tried Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake method of plotting for my third book and Karen Wiesner’s First Draft In 30 Days for my most recent book. I also use Jack Bickham’s Scene and Structure as I build scenes. To me, it feels so much easier to make changes to the book’s skeleton than to rewrite large portions.

Tell us about the featured book.

Kicking Eternity is all about chasing dreams—our dreams, God’s dreams, and the mixed-up tangle of both.

Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her.

The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would send him caterwauling into his parents’ life. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full.

Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex.

Raine's brother tweaks. Her dream of Africa dies small deaths. Will she figure out what to fight for and what to free before it's too late?

For anyone who's ever wrestled with their dreams.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Raine pushed the beads on her African bracelet back and forth like the balls on an abacus. Her stomach kneaded, gurgled. She could almost feel sweat dampen her upper lip.

Drew’s forehead creased as he stared at her. Fluorescent tubes hummed overhead in the night air. Shouts and back-slapping ricocheted around the Canteen porch in the sticky-sweet scent of orange blossoms. If she wasn’t fighting to keep her dinner down, she’d tell him where they’d met.

His frown melted into a smile of recognition. “Rainey. Hey. Welcome to Triple S Camp.”

She bristled at the nickname her brothers used to irritate her. “It’s Raine.”

 “I remember you as Rainey from the skit you did in junior high youth group. You cried all over the place—a pun on your name.”

“That was my total acting career… and ancient history. Better off forgotten. Please.”

“Sure, Rainey, whatever you say.”

“Drew!”

“You remember my name.”

“You weren’t exactly low profile either.” She, like every girl in the youth group, had spent way too much time mooning at the high-school-Drew hunched over his guitar.

Jesse, the camp director, gave a shrill blast on his whistle. “Welcome to New Smyrna Beach Surf and Sailing Camp orientation.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.AnnLeeMiller.com

Twitter @AnnLeeMiller

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Lee-Miller/356653761022022

Thank you, Ann, for sharing your life and book with us.

Please leave a comment, and Ann will interact with you on the blog. Be sure to come to the actual blog to leave the comments. That's where Ann will be reading and replying to the comments.

If you're reading this on Facebook, Feedblitz, or my Amazon Author page, here's the link to the actual blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com