Spotlight on Elise K. Ackers and ASK ME TO STAY!

Ask Me To Stay: A Homeland Book, by Elise K. Ackers. Published by Destiny Romance.

 

Interview:

Who is Elise. K. Ackers?

 

A seven on the crazy scale, a nine-and-a-half on the dedicated scale, and a whopping ten on the “If it wasn’t this, it would be something else” scale.

 

I’m used to unusual accidents and one-off incidents – I’m a magnet for all things “Who’d’ve thought”. I have an enormous smile, an off-beat sense of humour and an all-consuming desire to write down the many stories in my overcrowded mind.

 

I’m very family orientated, I talk about TV shows as I watch them, and I’ll probably never write a book where two people don’t fall in love. Romance is key, I say!

  

What inspired you to be a writer?

 

Nothing really inspired me – there wasn’t a particular flash of direction or need, because I can’t remember ever not wanting to be a writer. When I was very young I used to write family newspapers in coloured pencils, or bang them out on a typewriter. Looking back on them now, there was a fair bit of fiction in them, though!

 

For most of my life, I’ve been writing. I can’t ever imagine stepping away from it – it’s too much a part of me.

 

How did you choose your genre?

 

Almost every story I’ve written has been romance, and I think that may always be how it is for me. I love reading about people falling in love, I love writing about it – it’s a critical element for me.

 

I was drawn to the romantic suspense subgenre because of the haunting beauty of the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, and also because the characters in Small Town Storm came to me with a lot of mystery and heartache.

 

I’m also drawn to the contemporary romance subgenre because of how relatable it is to present day readers. I’m currently writing my most contemporary book yet – complete with Twitter, Facebook and SMS – but technology aside, I love writing characters set in this time. They’re savvy, independent and challenging. And I can put them in settings that my readers can visit and similarly experience – I get a real kick out of that.

 

What made you tell this story and why did you write this book?

 

I’d signed up to participate in the global 3-Day Novel Contest; every year, hundreds of people around the world attempt to write a complete work of fiction in just three days. I was part of that glorious madness.

 

The idea for Ask Me To Stay started with a single sentence, and the story grew from there. I’d had two brothers in the back of my mind for a few weeks; one was misunderstood, and one was grieving. I knew they were fighting and I wanted to know why. And part of me wanted to fix it.

 

How did you come up with the title?

 

Initially, it was just the one book. But as the idea got bigger and the secondary characters fought for attention, the one book became three. I had a chat with Destiny Romance about a way to link the titles, and we landed on Ask Me as a starting point, and A Homeland Book to link them.

Blurb:

When family tragedy brings bad boy Ethan Foster home, he doesn't expect a warm welcome. In the small town of Hinterdown reputation is everything - and Ethan's was ruined long ago. Nobody wants him around, particularly not Sam O'Hara, the girl he left behind.

There's still a powerful spark between them, but Sam is afraid to risk her heart again. And Ethan is hiding a secret that will have repercussions for his whole family. Will the townspeople ever forgive him? More importantly, will those he loves the most find it in their hearts to take him back?

This tender tale of love and redemption is the first in a brilliant new series by Elise K. Ackers, author of Small Town Storm and the bestselling The Man Plan.

About the author:

Elise K. Ackers is from Melbourne, Australia. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense and is published with Destiny Romance and Escape Publishing. Elise is an animal foster carer, a magnet for unusual accidents and an enthusiastic couch commentator. Ask Me To Stay: A Homeland Book is her fourth book. The second title in the Homeland series will be available in July 2013.

Links:

Website: www.elisekackers.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EliseKAckers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elise-K-Ackers/145929782088997

Buy link: http://www.destinyromance.com/products/9781742536118/ask-me-stay-foster-novel

 

GIVEAWAY:  I'd like to offer one free ebook of Ask Me To Stay: A Homeland Book, open internationally. I can get in contact with the winner about what format they prefer.