Aubrey Brown was born in Salt Lake
City, Utah, and has had a passion for writing for as long as she can remember.
The first book she read, outside of a school assignment, was a pilfered romance
from her mother’s collection. And she has been addicted to the written word
ever since. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has one incredible
son. She started writing to tell fabulous stories to those who want to read
something different from the average erotica. She is a firm believer that there is a
happily ever after for anyone who has the courage and conviction to reach for
it.
Welcome to the blog, Aubrey.
Thanks, Susan! It's great to be here.
Where do
you live, and how has your environment affected your writing?
I still live in Salt Lake City, Utah. And the
environment in which I work in is highly supported by friends and family. My husband
is my biggest fan! Utah is a very conservative state to reside, but when people
find out that I am an erotica novelist they are either highly intrigued or
thoroughly disgusted, which they later tell me they went online out of
curiosity. We own our home, and my husband provided me an office dedicated to
my writing.
How many
books have you written?
Ravenous is my very first published novel. I
have written other works before, but I was fortunate enough to find a company
that believed in my work.
Congratulations! Give a
short synopsis of Ravenous.
Emma Westlake is engaged to a Duke,
whom she does not want to marry. There are rumors circulating through the ton
that the Duke is responsible for his wife's death.
Feeling
as if her life is in danger, Emma must flee to a castle near the sea to be a
governess to two adoptive children. She is employed by a man who is eccentric.
There are no mirrors in the home, and he is never about during daylight.
Gabriel
Saxon-Worthington has no idea who this mystery woman is, save her name, Mercy,
and the sudden impulse to sink his fangs into her.
They
are both seduced by each other's brand of secrecy and engage in an affair that
could lead to a deadly end. Gabriel is a vampire with a lust for Mercy's blood,
but will they be able to find eternity together before the Duke discovers her,
or will he remain Ravenous?
How much
of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?
Emma/Mercy is completely opposite of
me, looks wise, but her determination and spirit of heart are exactly like me.
She is a no-nonsense woman who sees the
world through eyes of faith and hope in her friends and in humanity. She loves
and supports every person she comes across. However, I must say that her
determination sometimes makes her terribly stubborn. Which is not me at all.
Do your
characters take on a life of their own? If so, which is your favorite?
When I was writing the novel the
characters did what they wanted and there were instances where I said, “No,
what are you doing?!” For example, Gabriel was infuriating when he denied his
love for Emma/Mercy. In the end, all was well and love prevailed. My favorite
character was the sadistic duke. I loved writing such a mean-spirited man that
had no morals and a non-existent soul. I loved the contrast he gave in the book
for the good versus evil sub-plot.
What
challenges did you face while writing this book?
The difficulty came before I started
to write the novel. This is a period piece and a vampire story to boot. To have
a certain accuracy, I did extensive research on 1820’s Europe and vampire lore.
I want the reader to feel as if they are there standing with the characters and
know their surroundings. Vivid detail is the key to making sure the reader can
accurately distinguish the time shift within the novel. It took months of
planning and learning before I could actually start writing.
What do
you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What
advice can you give new writers?
The greatest lesson I have learned
is that you should make sure you understand what you are writing and do your
homework. If you do not do your research, your reader will read that and become
despondent with your writing. You are giving them a fantasy. They purchase your
work based upon the synopsis and genre. They want to read historical, or they
want to read paranormal. And if you fall short they will tell you.
My advice to new writers is never
give up! Keep writing and keep submitting. Everyone gets rejection letters.
Everyone receives bad reviews, not everyone is going to love your style of
writing, but if you keep striving, someday you will fly. ‘A professional writer
is an amateur who didn’t quit.’ –Richard Bach.
Where do
you store ideas for later use: in your head, in a notebook, or on a
spreadsheet?
I mostly keep my ideas within my
head. I generally get my best inspiration when I am in bed trying to sleep. I
was blessed with an exceptional memory, and I can usually retain my idea for
later use.
Can you
tell us your future writing goals/projects?
I am currently working on the sequel
to Ravenous. It is titled Hunger, and after that is completed, I will be
composing Crave. I have also written a
Holiday novel for next November. I like to plan ahead. For now, my plans are to
entertain and please as many individuals as I can. I hope readers will find my
book pleasing and grant me the gift of buying my other future works.
Where
can folks learn more about your books and events?
I am on Facebook, Good Reads, and
Amazon. The best way to keep track of my work is my Author’s page via Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Aubrey-Brown/461280683926616
Are your
books available in print and ebook formats?
And I am currently waiting for
Barnes and Noble to upload their copy. The book can also be found on borders
KOBO, ITunes Ibookstore, Ebooks.com, Google Play bookstore, and lastly Sony
Bookstore. So if you are interested in a wonderful historical/paranormal
erotica, with a very sweet and satisfying plot and ending, this is the novel
for you. It is an easy read at 92 pages long. The work is rated Sextreme (no
purple prose, blunt terms used, extremely hot), and the reviews thus far have
been humbling and generous.
