Interview with an Author Featuring Haley Travis

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Haley Travis! Her newest release, Next Guy Through The Door: A shy girl alpha male romance novella released on May 8th 2020.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I began writing poetry and stories when I was quite small. I’d always dreamed of writing novels,
but they ended up hidden in secret files. Then life threw a few wacky curveballs. I was forced to
see where what I loved to read intersected with what I loved to write, and just get writing. People
will always want to read for escapism, for love, for an enjoyable story. It’s incredibly satisfying to
create that.

 

What time of the day do you usually write?

I usually start off writing from around 9 am to 1 pm. The afternoons might be research, making
covers, more writing, reading, editing, groceries, or staring out the window for a bit. I’ll often pop
back to the computer and write a little more before bed. I always have a notebook, or randomly
dictate ideas into my phone. I’m likely pretty annoying when I’m out to dinner with friends and
have to take a note on my phone about how to fix a semi-break up scene.

 

How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?

I write contemporary romance, mostly set in my beautiful city of Toronto. That world is already
built. Yet everyone’s neighborhood is a bit different, and very personal. I like to picture their
homes and workplaces in great detail, even if only a shred gets written down. I accidentally
wrote a pirate romance, and that was a fun world to create. I also found out that a friend of mine
is a pirate expert – thank goodness! The book isn’t historically accurate, but at least I know most
of the ship details are correct.

 

Which of your books were the most enjoyable to write?

Yikes. That’s a weird question. The one I’m in the middle of is always my favorite. But I’d have
to say that Love in the Darkness was extra special. I’m a very shy girl, who likes my space, and
likes a few things a particular way. The thought of having a stranger in my home rattles me. But
sometimes people need a good rattling to show them what they truly need.

 

Who is the author you most admire in your genre?

Tricky. I read in a lot of genres. For contemporary romance, I bounce around reading a bit from
many people. At the moment, I’m loving Penelope Bloom – her banana books are a riot!

 

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?

I usually have beta readers go through my books first. It’s great to see notes like, “That’s
hilarious!” or “Perfect joke here!” along with pointing out glitches. My ARC reviewers have a
knack for pointing out angles that I hadn’t noticed as much. I take every note to heart, and try to
learn and work harder on every book.

There are a few very enthusiastic reviewers that light me up when I’m having a lousy day. It’s
hard to write with air pressure headaches, concussion headaches, and stress. But I don’t want
to get behind, so I force myself to work anyway. Those are the days I skim the great reviews, so
that I push myself harder. I owe it to those nice people to keep giving them books they enjoy.

 

Favorite book when you were a kid.

Usually it was whatever was in my hand at the time. I lived in books. Not for them, inside them.
When I was maybe seven through twelve, I’d spend whole weekends reading in the basement.
Books are better than people. I know I’m not supposed to say that, but as a terrified, anxious,
shy little kid, that was the truth.
I loved Dr. Seuss, for making words come alive with sound. A bit later on, I adored Lost in the
Barrens, by Farley Mowat. It was about isolation, wilderness, survivalism, and taught me about
the wonderful world inside Mowat’s mind.

 

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your
readers?

You’re asking me to share secrets with strangers from the interwebs? Okay!
The most recent novel, Whispered Curses, starts with Eden’s Nana whispering a prophecy.
Now, I don’t believe in psychic whatnot. Yet there have been several times in my life where I
have known what was going to happen before it did. Clear as day. So, believing in the
impossible, and knowing things, and seeing the proof in front of you… sometimes the lines get
blurry.

 

What is advice would you give to other authors?

It’s not really my place to give advice to anyone. But the one thing that I’ve learned for myself is
that I can’t see the eagle eye view of a story until the whole thing is sketched out. Once I have a
rough draft, even if sections are lousy or point form, then I can see what’s really going on.
Never get hung up on the perfect adverb when the whole book isn’t even sketched out. That’s
polishing the steering wheel when there are no tires on the car yet. What’s the point?

 

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

Every book contains pieces of my heart, my soul, and my real life. With Love in the Darkness, I
channelled the time I had to care for a roommate who had eye surgery. With Whispered Curses,
there is a bit of my own Nana in that character. With The Librarian and the Rock Star… well, I
was once a library assistant, and I may have dated a few guitarists.

I am in love with love. I adore the idea that weird circumstances can bring the right people
together when they least expect it. Life is quirky, and I want to show the joy and tweaky bits of
the world to people who love to read.
I have a great appreciation for the people who choose books, and the visions of their own mind,
as their entertainment. TV and movies and video games are great, but I’ve always thought that
people who read a lot have a more vivid inner world. Those are my people.

 

Thank you  for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Next Guy Through The Door today!

~Synopsis~

A personal challenge. Some personal growth. And a hot guy who thinks she’s perfect.

Lindsay:
Those dark eyes – so seductive. Almost dangerous.
I forced myself to speak to him anyway.
Things flashed by so quickly, it was overwhelming.
If I wanted an amazing boyfriend, I’d have to learn how to deal with bumps in the road.

Dale:
I noticed her the second I walked in, but she was with friends.
Thank goodness she came to me.
Those sweet curves, that soft, pale skin.
Lindsay was my perfect, gorgeous doll.
But she’s fragile. Perhaps more shy than I’d realized.
I knew this was too much, too fast.
I just hope it’s also not too late.

***

A standalone romance novella. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and a sweet HEA.

Quirky contemporary romance for interesting readers. Novels and novellas about shy girls, sweet alpha males, and the strange circumstances that bring them together.