Interview With Author Emaline Ashe
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a relatively new writer using a pen name. I do so to protect the identity of my teenage son, who is adopted. We live on the east coast of the U.S.
Before I raised my son, I was a biologist. Once he came along, I threw myself into parenthood and science jobs are rarely part time, so I became a full-time mom under he entered school. I recently finished my first memoir, which is a novelette or short read.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Gift of Parenthood: From Infertility to an Open Adoption. Ever since we went through infertility and then adopted our son, I’ve wanted to share our story. Infertility can be so isolating and it’s rarely talked about in public. Adoption can also be considered somewhat taboo and has a lot of stigmas attached to it. I wrote this memoir to enlighten others about infertility and encourage others to consider adoption.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Just that I can’t seem to stop! I started devoting a lot more time and energy to writing last year and find it extremely cathartic. It’s one of the activites I can easily do while recovering from shoulder surgery in late March.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
“Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden just mesmorized me. It gave me such an intimate look into a forbidden world. This was a big influence for sharing my story. I wanted to give others a private look at the struggles and heartache that some go through to simply become parents.
What are you working on now?
Honestly, I have been learning to promote and market my first self-published book. It’s a huge learning curve! And, I have been actively writing personal narratives on Medium and doing a lot of PT to heal my shoulder.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
If you find out, can you please let me know? Seriously though, I will say that having a professionally done, attractive cover seems to be very important in this new digital world. You need something scroll-stopping and eye catching to get others to consider your book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The writing process is the easy part, the promoting process is tough. Start gathering an audience before you write your book. Practice your craft on Medium or Substack. Make sure you have social media accounts in place before your book launch (I did this backwards).
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Fake it until you make it” I feel this as a new author and suspect I’m not alone.
What are you reading now?
“Breath as Prayer” by Jennifer Tucker. I am always looking for ways to help calm my anxiety and am really finding this book give very easy and effective techniques for that.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to write a children’s book about adoption and a self-help book.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
-“Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden
-“The Goldfinch” by Theodore Decker
-“”Wild” by Cheryl Strayed
Author Websites and Profiles
Emaline Ashe’s Social Media Links
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