An Interview with Ashley Elston

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Ashley Elston. Ashley recently released her debut novel, The Rules for Disappearing, and she is here to discuss her book, as well as what we may have to look forward to in 2013

Before we start the interview, let’s learn a little about Ashley.

Ashley Elston lives is North Louisiana with her husband, three sons and two cats. She worked as a wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to pursue writing full time. Ashley is also a certified landscape horticulturist and loves digging in the dirt.

Ashley, we at the Reading Café would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

TRC: Please tell us about yourself

Ashley: Hi! Thanks for having me. I live in North Louisiana and I’m a wife and mother to three boys. I spent ten years as a wedding/portrait photographer and now, when not writing, I help my husband with our landscaping business.

TRC: When and how did you first become interested in writing?

Ashley: I know everyone says this but I’ve always loved to write. Honestly, I never thought I would actually publish a book. Writing was always just something I did for me. When I finished THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING, my husband encouraged me move on to the next step – try to find a home for it. I’m not sure it would have ever left my desktop computer without his support.

TRC: The Rules for Disappearing is your first book ever published? How did it feel when you found out you were going to be published?

Ashley: Yes, this is my debut. It was incredible when my agent, Sarah Davies, called to tell me about the offer from Disney Hyperion – extreme happiness with a small dose of panic.

TRC: Can you please tell us the premise of The Rules for Disappearing, and how you came up with the idea?

Ashley: The Rules for Disappearing is about a family in the Witness Protection Program and they are relocated to Natchitoches, Louisiana. I’ve always found the idea of the Witness Protection Program fascinating and it would be horrible for a teenage girl, who was forced to relocate (a lot), to hide who she really was.

Links to order The Rules for Disappearing:
Amazon / Barnies & Noble / The Book Depository

TRC: Is The Rules for Disappearing a standalone book, or is this part of a series. If it is a series, how many books do you plan on writing?

Ashley: There will be two books, THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING, and an untitled sequel.

TRC: If your book becomes a movie, do you have preferences as to whom you would like to play your characters?

Ashley: Oh, wow! I’m not sure I have a preference as far as actors but what would matter to me is that the actors chosen for the Louisiana characters have authentic southern accents. It’s a HUGE pet peeve of mine when it’s done wrong.

TRC: The Rules for Disappearing is considered a YA novel.   How did you become interested in writing YA, and would you like to write other genres?

Ashley: I love YA books! And when I had the idea for this story, it felt right for it to be written for the YA audience. I’m open to the idea of writing for other genres but I don’t have any immediate plans to do so.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Ashley: I’m working on revisions to the sequel of RULES.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you have a favorite place or time you like to write?

Ashley: With three kids and a small business, I write in any free moment I can find!

TRC: Is there a book or author that gave you the inspiration to write?

Ashley: I don’t think there is just one book or author that inspired me. I love to read all genres and I think that has influenced me more than anything.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Ashley: Just thanks so much for having me!

LIGHTNING ROUND:

FAVORITE FOOD – Any and all seafood

FAVORITE DESSERT – My mother’s German chocolate cake

MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE – Milk

FAVORITE AUTHOR – ohhh…so hard. For YA – probably Stephanie Perkins and Kristin Cashore. For adult – Ken Follett and Sidney Sheldon.

FAVORITE BOOK – I couldn’t possibly pick

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW –  I took my youngest to see The Croods. Very cute.

Thank you, Ashley for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with The Rules for Disappearing.