First
of all, let me say thank you to Bobbi Dumas, and the always amazing Sabrina
Jeffries for including me in this wonderful event. It's so much fun to be here!
I’m Ava Stone and I’m addicted to romance. In fact, I find
great joy in all things romance – writing romance, reading romance, watching
romance.
Love, as they say, is the universal language. Something
everyone can experience in any era, in any country, in every…galaxy! I mean I
think the first couple I think I ever saw fall in love was Han Solo and
Princess Leia when I was very young in the 70s (not to date myself). Then I followed that up with Rhett Butler and
Scarlet O’Hara, and then Rick Blaine and Isla Lund, in Gone With the Wind and
Casablanca, respectively. Watching romance on the big (or small screen) has
always captured my heart and my imagination. I was even writing screenplays
before I turned my attention to novels.
Some of my absolute favorite romances to watch are:
1 – Pride & Prejudice (the Colin Firth version)
2 – It Happened One Night
3 – Casablanca
4 – Love Actually
5 – Bringing Up Baby
6 – Rebecca
7 – When Harry Met Sally
8 – The Princess Bride
9 – 10 Things I Hate About You
10 – Say Anything
You’ll note a lot of those are pretty old, black and white
movies; but romance is timeless. I do spend a good part of my time in the 19th
Century England when I’m not immersed in my New Adult world of the 21st
Century. But no matter what era or country I’m in, I thrive on helping young
couples fall desperately in love and…Well, and a good part of my time making
them suffer twists, turns and various roadblocks to that final and joyful happy
ever after.
Since film has been such a big part of my life, I am curious
what movies everyone else finds to be the most romantic. Maybe there’s a really
good one I missed!
Also for a limited time, I’m offering A SCANDALOUS WIFE, the
first in my Scandalous Series for free. You’re welcome to download the book
from the following vendors, in the format of your choice:
And now for the question & answer segment:
1 - Tell us about a moment
in your life when you experienced sheer joy.
It might sound
silly, but as a brand new author, the first time I held a copy of my first book
in my hands was complete and utter joy. After all the writing and editing,
laughing and crying, self-doubt and perseverance, to be able to hold a tangible
book in my hand that embodied that accomplishment was sheer joy.
2 - Tell us about a place
that brings you joy, or is attached to a memory of joy.
I am a big
traveler and always have been. I absolutely love traveling via cruise ship. I
love sitting on my balcony and seeing the ocean as far as my eyes can see. It’s
peace and joy all rolled into one.
3 - Tell us about a sound
that brings you joy (or a memory attached to sound — music, laughter, wind
chimes… ?)
I’m probably
strange here, but – honestly – silence makes me so happy, or the lack of sound.
Everything in my life is so busy and so loud sometimes…that when I’m sitting at
home, no TV, everyone else sleeping and my kitty cat curled up beside me while
I write…there is nothing in the world like a quiet morning.
4 - What recent book have
you read that brought you joy. (Or a book you read in your life that brought
you so much joy you’ve never forgotten it.) Why?
Hmm…there are so
many to choose from. Can I cheat and say a play instead? I have read Oscar
Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest so many times. If I ever need a
pick-me-up that is my go-to. So funny, so charming and it never fails to make
me happy.
5 - And for fun, the joy
of choice ~
Pick your Chris! Chris
Hemsworth, Chris Pine, Chris Pratt, Chris Rock, Chris Evans or Christopher
Plummer (circ. 1964 aka Capt. Von Trapp?) - trying for a little diversity!
Ack! You made this
so hard. BUT as honesty is kind of my “thing” I kind of have to go with Captain
America – I mean Chris Evans – because that character is the epitome of honesty
and wholesomeness.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I spend a lot of my time in Regency England and I absolutely
love Jerrica Knight-Catania’s
whimsical heroines, Jane Charles’s
sweeping Tenacious Trents, the intrigue of Julie Johnstone’s A Whisper of
Scandal Series, and the light-hearted banter of Samantha Grace.
BIO:
Ava Stone is a USA
Today bestselling author of Regency historical romance and college age New
Adult romance. Whether in the 19th Century or the 21st, her books explore deep
themes but with a light touch. A single mother, Ava lives outside Raleigh NC,
but she travels extensively, always looking for inspiration for new stories and
characters in the various locales she visits.
