Author Spotlight: Ali Marie
February 20, 2024 • News
CJC: How did you get started as an author and what made you want to pursue that field?
AM: I have always loved to write, even all those essays in school/college and seemed to have an imaginative mind. As I got older, I wanted more for myself than just my job and family (not like that shouldn’t have been enough), but I felt like some part of me was missing. I wanted something for myself that I would enjoy doing and just maybe bring joy to other people. Plus, I had this story I constantly dreamed about and decided to put it on paper. Said story is Bluebonnet Days.
CJC: What do you find to be the most rewarding and challenging part of being an author and what hurdles have you overcome while striving towards your goals?
AM: Most rewarding is having readers reach out telling me how much they enjoy my books and wanting more. Them finding me at signings for a hug and a signature. It’s a feeling I can’t even explain in words, but I know it makes me feel whole. Challenging part is finding time to be creative when my day job gets overwhelming and all consuming and having to juggle family in the midst as well.
CJC: Which novel has been your favorite to write and why?
AM: O goodness! Um, that’s a really tough question and my first instinct is Heart Like Mine because it allowed me to push limits with my own writing and fall more into the darkness I like to toe the line with. Also, want to say Caught In a Storm, where it’s not super spicy. I was able to work through a lot of the emotions I pushed down after my mama’s passing and then my dogs and then my dad’s. It was like an emotional cleanser for me and I’m finally in a place where I can start writing book 2 of the duet.
CJC: For first time readers of your work, which book would you recommend?
AM: Right now, going with Save Me. I think it’s my best work yet and gives the readers all the emotions of Love, Loss and Lust.
CJC: If one of your books were made into a movie, which would you select and who would you like to star in it?
AM: Bluebonnet Days – Ashley Greene for Sam and Scott Eastwood for Weston.
CJC: For those looking to become an author, what advice would you give them?
AM: Just start writing and let the story and characters take you for a ride. The scariest part is putting the pen to the paper.
CJC: If you could co-write a book with any author, who would it be and why?
AM: This would really depend on my mood. But T.L.Swan, 100% because I love her character dynamics and play on words. Same genre of writing which is contemporary romance with a slight edge with Alpha males and billionaires. I think her and I could crash and tear some worlds apart and put them back together. On the flipside, Shantel Tessier, because I think she would be able to pull out the grunge and darkness that lurks my head to paper. She puts so much detail into her characters and storylines giving us these 400 plus page books of memorizing excellence.
CJC: Favorite motto?
AM: Everything’s fine, going to be fine….. Even when I’m barely meeting deadlines, life’s fallin’ apart or just bad day, I remind myself that everything is going to be okay. Might say it with tears, but I know I repeat it daily.
CJC: What do you do to overcome writer’s block?
AM: First thing I try is to re-read what I’ve already written and edit/ change things around to get the story flowing in my head again. If that doesn’t work, I dive into a book to get lost for a while. I’ve learned over the years pretty much with a lot of what I do, I work better under pressure. Nothing like having to spit out the last few chapters within twenty -four hours so your editor can work her magic so we can meet an upload deadline.
CJC: In one word, how would you describe your writing style?
AM: REAL.
CJC: Which do you find harder to do… writing the blurb for your story or selecting the cover?
AM: Writing the blurb, HAHA. Don’t ever ask me to describe my books in words lol. My fabulous editor does the blurb writing for me. Covers are easy. Especially when you find talented cover designers and have wonderful photographers to work with.
CJC: Do you have authors who inspire you? And if so, who and why?
AM: Oh goodness, so many. T.L. Swan – her books made me fall back in love with reading all over again. Life happened and I lost that piece of me for a while. Which led me back down the rabbit hole of all things books and thinking again that maybe I can write and be a published author. Between her, Tara Sivec, Kate Stewart along with several others and being able to get lost in the worlds they create, makes me want to write the worlds I can envision and bring them to life with words. And if I can make a reader fall in love, cry and laugh and have a roller coaster of emotions that my favorite authors give me, then I’m motivated to keep pushing along.
CJC: What is your writing process like?
AM: Lots of notes on my phone and scattered pieces of paper on my desk and nightstand that I then have to go work through. Sometimes I can sit and write several chapters in one go, others I need to work through the emotions and moments the characters throw at me. Lots of late nights and early mornings for me.
CJC: What new projects are you currently working on and what are your goals for the remainder of the year?
AM: Well, with Save Me just releasing, I can announce this book is actually going to be part of a four book Destination series, so Find me will be next for the series. Also, will be publishing my first dark romance this year and so freaking stoked for that. Then finishing the last two books in the Heart series along with Heart Like a Truck and Heart Like Mine will be released in a duo audible in March of 2024.
CJC: Any final thoughts you would like to share with the CJC Photography readers?
AM: Can we just say Chris is the best!!! So happy to have met you in Tampa a year ago and now we get to plan these exciting covers. For the readers, I hope you give me a try and find a love for my characters and stories, maybe find a new trope you didn’t know you liked and if not, that’s fine too. I think just having a love for books has built such a beautiful community that I’m elated to be a part of not only as a reader myself, but as an author. May we continue to get lost in stories, build friendships and connections, and create a happy place we can turn to when the real world becomes too much!
Come find me on my socials or look for me at book signings. Love meeting new people and making new friends. And yes, as others have asked before, you can absolutely hug me. 🩷
CJC: Save Me by Ali Marie featuring Bryan Jordan is now available!
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