Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Lynn Wood.
Hi Ava Lynn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began my journey at eight years old, falling in love with writing poetry through my Gifted and Talented class. I continued writing poetry all through my adolescence but struggled with comprehending what I read when it came to text and chapter books. It was something I struggled with all the way into college and made my studies much more difficult. In time, however, I finally found my way back into reading and comprehending what I read. And as I devoured story after story, I found a love I’d been missing for many years. That love (rooted from Nora Roberts novels and the Harry Potter series) encouraged me to grow in my reading and eventually my writing journey. Growing up an only child in a severely rural area, I had a love for fictitious worlds; worlds I created in my own mind. It was only natural for those worlds to translate onto the page. After reading Twilight and hearing Stephenie Meyer’s story on how she got her start, I was encouraged to take the leap into writing. I wanted to bring the worlds that had previously only existed in my mind to life. And so, my writing journey began. But it was just that, the beginning.
I spent eight years writing and rewriting my first novel, taking time out to read books on how to master the craft and studying up on tips and trends in the writing world. I was determined to write something worth reading. Even so, a fear lingered in the back of my mind. The fear of rejection. As an author, it’s a valid fear as breaking into the publishing world is a difficult row to hoe. It was that fear that had me neglecting to put the finishing touches on my first book and kept me teetering on the fence of indecision, trying to choose whether I finally bit the bullet and sent my manuscript to numerous agents or let my dream of being a published author die.
In 2013, however, I had the pleasure of attending a book signing for Colleen Hoover, Tammara Webber and Jamie McGuire. It was Ms. Hoover who finally gave me the courage to chase my dreams. She introduced me to the world of indie publishing, a world of endless possibilities. It is that world that gave me the freedom to write what I love and reach new readers everyday!
I have now been a published author for seven years with almost twenty books published and an endless number more in the works.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Writing has most definitely been a struggle. After I published my first book, I realized there was still plenty to learn and more room to grow. I found a group of trusted authors who have helped point me in the right direction along the way, leading me to professionals who help me polish my manuscripts and make them shine. I’ve networked with incredible authors across the country who help promote me and inspire me every day. I’ve had my fair share of setbacks through personal and professional struggles, but at the end of the day, I couldn’t imagine my life without the author community!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
While my main focus in writing is romance, I have ventured into Young Adult contemporary and science fiction. I’m currently known for my rock star romance novels in The Limelight series and I’m extremely proud and invested in these rock stars – taking bad boys and revealing their humanity.
Along with my contemporary romances, I’ve also delved into the world of paranormal romance and written multiple short stories that were included in charitable anthologies, raising money for different organizations around the US.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid-19 has created many challenges for authors as well as creating more downtime for many who are not full-time authors. For me, it postponed several of the author signings I attend around the state and made networking in person that much harder. Also, being at home, writing with my children taking part in online instruction became quite difficult The quiet solitude I’d once had while my kids were at school was suddenly interrupted by the chatter of homeschooled classrooms, taking away from the calm concentration I’d grown to thrive in. It helped me to find the value in scheduling my time and using every moment wisely to make the biggest impact in my writing.
Contact Info:
- Email: authorawood@yahoo.com
- Website: www.avawood.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/btfl7
- Facebook: facebook.com/authorawood
- Twitter: twitter.com/btfl7
Image Credits
Christian Bentulan Fins and Feathers Designs
