Author Genre: Literature & Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
Website: Ashley Fontainne
Blog: Google +
Twitter: @ashleyfontainne
E-Mail: ashleyfontainne@gmail.com
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Author Description:
International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne is an avid reader of mostly the classics. Ashley became a fan of the written word in her youth, starting with the Nancy Drew mystery series. Stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters that lurk within us are her favorite reads.
Her muse for penning the EVISCERATING THE SNAKE series was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Ashley's love for this book is what sparked her desire to write her debut novel, Accountable to None, the first book in the trilogy. With a modern setting to the tale, Ashley delves into just what lengths a person is willing to go when they seek personal justice for heinous acts perpetrated upon them. The second novel in the series, Zero Balance focuses on the cost and reciprocal cycle that obtaining revenge has on the seeker. For once the cycle starts, where does it end? How far will the tendrils of revenge expand? Adjusting Journal Entries answered that question: far and wide.
Her latest work, a short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five, touches upon the sometimes dangerous world of online dating.
Look for Ashley to delve into Christian fiction in late 2013 with her exciting thriller The Lie.
SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author
Let’s start with what’s next. Rumor has it that you have another book on the horizon called The Lie. Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?
Check out the The Lie book trailer. It really gets you going.
Well, I’m happy to report that the rumor is true. The Lie is scheduled for release in October of 2013. Currently, it is in the final editing stages. Although the story falls into the suspense/thriller category, it also incorporates Christian themes, so the genre it will be listed under is Christian/suspense/thriller. I am really excited (and nervous) about this book because the idea hit me one day and just wouldn’t let go. Within the space of about thirty minutes, the full story was alive in my head and I couldn’t wait to get to a computer each day.
Here is the back cover blurb:
Karmen Moncrille's name has been known throughout the world since the age of sixteen when her first book shot to the top of the bestseller's list. Now everything she writes is an instant hit, and her legions of devoted fans eagerly await her next release.
The mysterious Karmen always blamed debilitating panic attacks as the reason she avoided publicity and has become a recluse. Which is exactly what she wants the world to think. Only Karmen knows the truth behind her introverted nature. Terrified of being asked where her ideas come from, she fears being branded a raving lunatic.
Now just a week before her twenty-third birthday, Karmen’s world implodes. The madness that haunts her dreams spills over to her reality and she questions her sanity. Suddenly everything has changed and now the world will transform with her. Her last book will unleash the truth and alter mankind—forever.
Is Karmen's ability to write a gift or a curse? She's about to find out if her entire life is a lie. And why she was destined to write it.
You have a good following on twitter. How important have your social media relationships been? Do you see a carry over to your writing success?
Social media is the lifeblood of Indie authors. Every post, tweet, share, mention, etc., helps get our names noticed. The Indie community is full of supportive authors who will help in a variety of ways using social media, which is incredible.
Do you do book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?
I have in the past but haven’t recently. I simply have not had the time. There are a few exciting things in the pipeline for the anticipated release of the book my press imprint is publishing, but I can’t disclose those just yet. November, 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination and will coincide with the release of the memoirs of former Dallas police officer, Maurice N. “Nick” McDonald entitled Oswald and I. There will be some exciting news about that announced shortly.
You have great covers. They carry a theme and your brand with them. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?
Thank you, although I can’t take any credit for them. I use the amazing team at Blue Harvest Creative to design not only my covers, but also prepare the interior ebook files as well as print.
From start to finish, they do it all. I do give them input for the designs that I envision in my head and they run with it. It’s sort of creepy how they can peek inside my mind and extract what I see!
You have several great book trailers. (See links below.) They look very professional. Do you know how much impact they have had on your book’s success? Tell us about the process that you used to create your trailers?
Thank you for the compliment—and I can take credit for those! I may not be able to figure out the technology to create a book cover or format my books properly, but I am fairly competent in designing book trailers. I use Animoto to create them and absolutely love the entire process.
Do I believe it has an impact on my sales? In the beginning, when the trailers are first released, I believe it does help generate great buzz for an upcoming title. And after the excitement of the release wears off, they are a great marketing tool to introduce new readers to your work.
It is an easy transition for me to visualize the book trailers and how I want them to flow since I see every story I write in my mind first. It’s like watching a movie—I cut scenes, add drama, kill off characters, etc. So, creating a book trailer is just a natural extension for me.
Between your book writing, blogging, marketing, radio show, family and all the other things that can get in your way, how do you manage your time? Do you have a set schedule or do your sort of play it by ear?
Well, the name of my blog says it all: Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman! My life has been insane ever since April of 2011 (when Accountable to None was published). Time management is not one of my strong suits. Things became so hectic that I had to cut down on some of the things I was involved in, and the radio show was the first to go. Although I enjoyed it tremendously, I simply couldn’t continue with the heavy load I have been under.
I write usually at lunch and in the evenings before I try to get some sleep. I have a very long commute to work every day (90 miles round trip) so I have plenty of time to work out the scenes in my head before I ever sit in front of the computer!
What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?
I will let my last blog post tell that story…To Free or Not To Free…
What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews or no you rely on your reading audience to supply them?
All reviews are welcome! I have submitted my books to the bigger blog review sites and reviewers in the past. Some have answered back and reviewed, others have not. I don’t have a strict set of rules I follow, I just play it by ear.
I will say this—the KDP program has been a wonderful tool. The thousands of downloads of my books when they went “free” truly helped get my name out in front of a large amount of readers.
The majority of those who read/reviewed my books enjoyed them and each time a new book was released, those who enjoyed my previous work picked up the new release.
Author's Book List
Number Seventy-Five
Dating can be deadly…
Three years after the demise of her seventeen year marriage, Mandy Russell decides to jump back into the choppy waters of the dating world. With very little options available in her small town of Bainsville, Tennessee, Mandy lets her best friend Shawna persuade her into joining an online dating site.
Feeling she has met someone she can really connect with, Mandy decides it’s time to meet face-to-face with her new suitor, unaware of his true plans for her. Dark, sinister plans that will test Mandy’s physical strength, mental fortitude, and will to survive.
Will Mandy prevail or will this first date be her last?
Book Trailer: Number Seventy-Five
Order the Book From: Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
Zero Balance
- Eviscerating the SnakeINTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER - Suspense/Thrillers
Nine months ago, Audra Tanner exposed the hidden secrets locked away at the prestigious accounting firm of Winscott & Associates. No one escaped her wrath. And once the smoke had cleared, everyone watched as the diabolical Olin Kemper was led away in handcuffs. Now Audra's meticulous revenge has thrust her into the role of managing partner.
But the firm is struggling to survive amidst the turmoil and media attention surrounding the shocking arrest and upcoming murder trial of Olin. And Audra must face the fallout left from her explosive revenge while trying to heal and recover from the trauma of her past.
Audra thought she had ended the evil lurking within and that her revenge would set her free. Unfortunately, it's only the beginning. Because evil never dies, it only assumes a new form. Soon everyone at the firm will discover that no one is safe when you are dealing with a psychopath that has zero balance.
Book Trailer: Zero Balance
Order the Book From: Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
Adjusting Journal Entries
- Book Three of Eviscerating the SnakeFor every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. But when it comes to human emotions, the reaction is never equal. No one understands this lesson better than the partners at the prestigious accounting firm of Winscott & Associates. Greed, power, money and sex left six people dead and four in the hospital.
Audra Tanner never realized how far and deep the ripple she created in her revenge pool would extend. Now as the dust settles on the explosion that rocked not only her life, but the lives of countless others, Audra must fight to gain control over her life.
Because others are out to end it.
Book Trailer: Adjusting Journal Entries
Order the Book From: Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
Accountable to None
- Eviscerating the SnakeINTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER
Amazon Bestselling Kindle, Fiction, Suspense
What if the unspeakable happened to you? Would you fantasize about seeking personal vengeance? How far would you go...and how much would you sacrifice to hold those responsible that believe they are accountable to none?
Welcome to the prestigious accounting firm of Winscott & Associates. Welcome to Audra Tanner's personal hell. She had heard the rumors about her employer. The whispered secrets. But she had thrown herself into work to escape the pain of her miscarriage and demise of her marriage. Idealistic, she thought if she worked hard she would be rewarded. She thought wrong.
Savagely initiated into the brutal underbelly of the firm, Audra learns too late that the rumors are true. Now after five years of careful plotting, Audra is ready to push the wheels of justice in motion. Her goal of retribution has turned into an obsession and she will stop at nothing until everyone responsible pays. Will revenge set her free or is Audra's quest for personal justice only beginning?
Book Trailer: Accountable to None
Order the Book From: Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
Author Recommended by: Judy Shafer
Judy Shafer is a Book Reviewer and Voracious Reader. She is a must contact for authors seeking honest reviews. Her Five Star Ratings are a badge of honor.
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Thank you so much for hosting me today!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Let's do something with The Lie. It looks great.
ReplyDeletejames