AskSeekKnock Interviews: Ashley Dotson
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Ashley Dotson is the Author of four
Young Adult Novels (and counting)
She loves all things paranormal,
her four kids and teaching high school
English in her home state of Texas.
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Hey guys! I am super stoked about this little interview I've got for you today!
Ashley Dotson has been a close friend of mine for four years now! She has given me countless writing tips, life advice and is a genuinely awesome human.
So without further delay, lets jump in!
Sarah: Hey, Ashley! Thank yo so much for finally agreeing to come on the blog! Lol! So, you're working on something new, what can you tell us about it?
AD: My newest book is called Only the Guilty Sleep. It is a
sequel Novella to my book released in 2016, called Black Bayou Road. It is a young
adult paranormal tale of, Finola, a girl who loses her mother and has to move in with her grandmother to Black Bayou, Texas. In the second part of the story, Only the Guilty Sleep, Finola is now not protecting the people of Black Bayou
any longer. She is faced with the reality that she alone must end the curse
that has plagued the town for over a century. She must kill the faerie that has
cursed the city. She must kill her grandmother.
Also I have a nice summary on my own website, under the
Black Bayou Road tab.
S: What inspired the Black Bayou story for you?
AD: I was inspired to write the Black Bayou story because of
my husband, who grew up in Bloomington, Texas, where Black Bayou road is a
real place. Small towns are where the action is at! There are so many secrets,
and the only people who know them, are the people residing in them. I wanted to
delve into a small town from an outsider's perspective. And I love all things
Supernatural! I love the idea of the impossible being possible.
S: Having a family and full time job, when do you find time to write?
AD: I write in the middle of the night. When the world is
quiet, and my children are asleep, and only me and my dreams are wide awake.
S: In general what inspires you to write?
AD: I'm inspired by so much that I see and hear around me. My
last book, Black Bayou Road was, in part, inspired by a conversation I overheard two
ladies having, about a man that went missing in Black Bayou road.
Apparently all they found was a bloody shoe. His body was never recovered. As
you know, my favorite show is Supernatural. I fancy myself a member of the
fandom cult. But what I tell my students, and what I do myself, is trying to
draw inspiration from other writers and other storytellers. I am a vicious
reader I love love love stories of all kinds. I think that the best place to
draw inspiration is from others who are inspired and excited about their own
craft.
S: What is your favorite type of scene to write and why?
AD: Wow, I don't know what my favorite type of scene is. I
like to write them all. I think writing and describing elaborate scenes, and
setting up imagery is important. Dialogue might be the hardest for me to
write. I think I am bad at making things funny. I think I do a good job at drawing
out the angst between characters. I am finding that it is easier and easier to
get in the heads of my older characters. I think this speaks to the age that
I'm at. Sarah, you and I have talked about how awkward writing love scenes
are!! We never know if we're good enough, or when enough is enough. I'm a firm
believer in saying less, and letting the imagination so in the blanks.
S: Ha! Totally!!
S: If you could write any already existing character from another book into one of your stories which character would you pick?
AD: I don't know if I would bring in an already established
character. Like from a different story? From a different author?
S: Yeah! Like, place Harry Potter in The Beacon for example.
AD: Like fandom
writing?
S: Not like Fanfiction but incorporating them into your own books! Haha! This is a flop question.
AD: I don't know if I would be any good at that. I would hate to worry
that I didn't do the character justice. One of the greatest things about
writing stories is actually creating characters. I do love love love to turn
them into actual beings, it might be even dorky to say I turn them into
friends, and two pieces of myself. Or maybe it's that I pull out pieces of
myself to create characters. It's almost like having children. I'm creating a
life!
S: I agree. There is a part of me in every character I write.
S: Do you have a favorite snack or drink you HAVE to have while writing?
AD: When I write, I don't really eat too much because my
hands are busy. I do drink coffee when I write, because it keeps me awake, and especially because it's the middle of the night or early early morning.
S: This is more of a silly question but, what's your favorite color?
AD: Purple. My favorite color has always been purple. I do
love Indigo as well- not teal, not green, but indigo.
S: And what is Finn's favorite color?
AD: I don't know what Finola's favorite color is. I'll have
to ask her.
S: Other than Only the Guilty Sleep are you working on any other writing projects?
AD: Right now, I am working on a project. I would like to
write something contemporary. Contemporary is very popular right now, and
although I hate being trendy, a story has been weighing heavily on my heart and
mind, and I think I'd like to get it out.
S: Awesome! I cant wait to hear more and or the soon to be released ENovella for Only the Guilty Sleep on January, 26th, 2018! Thanks so much again for stopping by my blog!
Other works by Ashley: The Finding Justus series. You can
find reviews and links to all three here on my blog!
