More from Alexis

 

My book, Love in Pictures, was born out of my love for wedding photography!

A dream of my heart as an adult (not before then) was to be a wedding photographer. I’d always enjoyed taking pictures but it wasn’t until my college years when friends started telling me, based on my pictures, that they’re going to hire me to be their wedding photographer when they get married. These requests sparked the dream within me. After college, I formed friendships with wedding photographers through the blog world.

I’d spend hours browsing through their professional portfolios and reading their photography blogs, completely amazed at the gorgeousness of their pictures. I admired their skills and enjoyed reading their client stories.

After graduating from college, I received requests from my college friends to photograph weddings. However, I could not afford the photography equipment and I’d never actually photographed a wedding. So I kindly turned down those offers and referred my friends to photographers who had years of experience specializing in wedding photography.

Love in Pictures was a wonderful way for me to safely explore my passion for wedding photography through my story’s heroine Michelle. It was fun to showcase her photography studio in a beautiful town, travel with her to one of the world’s most romantic destinations (Italy) where she was hired to shoot her first international wedding, “eat” all the delicious food that she enjoyed, and it was really fun to introduce the possibility of Michelle’s own happily ever after by inserting Logan into her life.

When the reader meets Logan, they will see his passion for running and they will learn of his heartbreak from a previous relationship. As the reader gets to know Logan, they’ll learn that he is a successful print journalist who dreams of greater success on TV as a broadcast journalist. As they turn the pages of Love in Pictures, they will discover that Logan suffers from a personal struggle that threatens to derail his dreams.

I drew on my training as a print journalist and real world experiences in the Journalism industry to effectively write Logan’s character. I pulled on my own imagination along with some real life experience to write the scenes where he faithfully wooed and pursued Michelle.

I always said that if I knew I would never fail, I’d be a wedding photographer. But since failure is part of real-life, I explored the industry of capturing love in pictures safely, where failure is not a reality: Writing a fictional story about a wedding photographer!

I enjoyed writing this story! I hope that you will enjoy reading it.

 

 

Author Interview

 

 

Question #1: When/how did you decide to become a writer?

Answer: When? Age 9. How? I just “knew.” Always had a love for reading books and after writing my first “book” (only about 15 pages written on the family computer) and “publishing” it (printed out then illustrated by me and bound like a book with staples) when I was nine years old, something within me knew that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up!

Question #2: Which author has most influenced your own writing?

Answer: Becky Wade

Question #3: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Answer: Talking about my characters as if they are real people! Ha! On a few occasions, I went to call one of my real friends from real life and found myself typing in the name of my story’s fictional hero to look up his phone number as if I were about to call him! I think I needed a break from writing that day! Lol.

Question #4: What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Answer: Busy but relaxed sometimes.

Question #5: Do you have a favorite or special place to write?

Answer: Yes! I enjoy writing in the comfort of my own home.

Question #6: Is there a particular literary period that you’re drawn to (Regency, Victorian, Romantic, Modernism, etc.)? Why?

Answer: None of the above. I prefer reading modern day stories.

Question #7: Describe your book in five words.

Answer: Romantic. Sassy. Sweet. Fun. Swoon-worthy!

Question #8: Which one of your characters speaks most to your heart? Why?

Answer: Michelle (the wedding photographer) because of her heart for celebrating diversity with her photography skills! She’s also persistent in following her dreams and isn’t afraid of hard work. She manages to maintain a positive attitude when faced with negativity and when life hands her lemons, she makes the world’s best lemonade with sugar, fresh lemons, purified water and a hint of vanilla!

Question #9: What are your hobbies?

Answer: Food (I’m a total foodie with a love for all sorts of foods in America and from around the world that taste good and make my stomach smile!), photography, listening to music, shopping, reading good books and watching movies are inspiring to my heart!

Question #10: Who was/is your biggest inspiration?

Answer: God. My Mama. Oprah. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle!

Question #11: What is your favorite book?

Answer: Anne of Green Gables (the entire eight-book series)!

Question #12: Do you prefer traditional books, e-books, or audiobooks?

Answer: Traditional paperback books!

Question #13: If you could live inside a book, which one would it be?

Answer: My book, Love in Pictures, living as Michelle because I sometimes dream of being a wedding photographer with a successful story and business! It was fun to live through her as I wrote this book!

Question #14: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Answer: Never give up! If writing is a dream that God placed on your heart then pursue it! But be prepared for the obstacles and conflict that will threaten your dreams and work against you to prevent it from happening. That’s when you have to push through! Only do this if you’re sure that it’s your calling. And be prepared to work a day job until your dream comes true! But also be prepared for God to allow your dream to come true so grandly that you won’t need a day job or backup plan! It can happen! But every writer’s path is different. Some careers take off quickly, others do not, so don’t compare your journey to others. Stay encouraged.

 

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