Thanks to BookSparks, we have FIVE copies for some lucky US readers!
Ava Finch was born in Sechelt, British Columbia, and now makes her home in Minneapolis. When not writing, she hikes with her dog, ties flies, and collects vintage lures and outdoor magazines. Her current secret fishing spot is a stream running from the Laurentian Divide to Lake Superior. Follow Ava on Twitter.
Synopsis of Fishing with RayAnne:
Having fled the testosterone-soaked world of pro fishing to finally settle in her Minneapolis fixer-upper, thirty-something RayAnne unexpectedly lands at the helm of the first all-women fishing and talk show. Between her dad's falling off the wagon, unwanted advice from Mom—a life coach to the menopausal rich—and her clingy dog, she needs the advice of her beloved grandmother more than ever. With the show’s surprise success, producers press for celebrity appearances, but fans tweet support for RayAnne and her quirky guests, real women with unique stories and something to say. And though handsome Hal tempts RayAnne, he is a sponsor, rocketing him to the top of her don’ts list.
Just when she’s shedding uncertainty, RayAnne’s world nearly capsizes, and she’s faced with gut-wrenching choices. Will she live by the rules, or by her heart? (Courtesy of BookSparks.)
At what age did you discover writing?
Such a late bloomer, I didn’t start writing until I was over thirty and didn’t publish until after forty. Before that, I toyed with painting, but the images in my head never quite translated into what I’d hoped for when the paint hit the canvas. I’ve had better luck with words. It feels like a lucky break to finally have cornered my real creative outlet – no matter what age. And I’m not telling mine.
What kind of research did you do for Fishing with RayAnne?
Not much. I usually do just enough to sound like I might know what I’m talking about – there’s my fear of facts and sounding ‘teachy’ which I sometimes run across when an author seems compelled to educate the reader or just sound smart, or both. Some of my research is pretty casual. After skimming a history of Naples after WWII (mostly for the pictures) I decided to place Dot there. I meant to research fly fishing in more depth, but…time. I will do more actual fishing and research for the next book in which, hint hint we might meet a familiar character, perhaps in a boat.
What do you do when you get writer’s block?
I’m not sure of that term – but I do get in the way of myself sometime – not for lack of ideas – I’ve actually got too many of those. I interpret the blocking as not sitting down to it with the time and abandon the craft deserves. So to me, writers block is just a writer blocking herself.
Sadly, I just read Betty White has retired from Hollywood. But surely after reading Dot’s character she will make a third comeback? Bernadette would be nicely portrayed by Meryl Streep, who never seems to do the same schtick twice and maybe all that is left for her is a trilly new-age woo-woo maven. Big Rick could only ever be played by Alec Baldwin since I had him in my head the whole time I wrote dialogue - only his sonorous voice and delivery could make Big Rick’s brand of man-spew tolerable. RayAnne naturally would have to be played by an unknown. To all of the above, just kidding. I wouldn’t care - RayAnne could be played by Miss Piggy as long as there was a check involved.
With Halloween coming up, tell us what your favorite costume was.
I spent much of one October making a padded stegosaurus costume for my little boy, just three. It had great paws and feet, claws, the whole deal. Then I made a white fleece spine of bony plates to strap onto our white husky. So awesome I took them both to a photographer friend for a studio portrait. My son hated the costume and bawled the whole session – I’ve got great shots of him all tears and snot, with the dog always trying to skulk away. As costumes go, it was definitely MY favorite. For Halloween he wore his Superman pyjamas.
From your collection of vintage lures, which is your favorite?
This isn’t actually mine, so rare I couldn’t afford it, but isn’t it darling? And - best part - is called Crazy Eye crawler.
Thanks to Ava for chatting with us and to BookSparks for sharing her book with our readers and including us in their blog tour.
US only. Giveaway ends November 3rd at midnight EST.
12 comments:
I really don't have favorite Halloween costumes. I just like it when someone puts a lot of thought and work into it instead of just slapping on a mask or store bought costume
I used to make my kids' costumes and I had numerous favorites. I did not sew, but made up things such as bugs (made with garbage bags), goofy looking people (wigs, giant sunglasses, makeup, pajamas, slippers, ets.), and they usually won the costume prizes at parties. One year I did it for half the neighborhood. I never thought about it ahead of time and started maybe an hour before they were scheduled. It was fun.
I love to see scarecrows!
A cat
I liked it when I dressed up as Nicole Richie a few years ago.
Anne of Green Gables.
The Carmen Miranda costume (complete with the bowl of fruit on my head) that my mother made for me when I was a child.
I don't have any one favorite--I love seeing children get excited wearing their costumes. I remember my brother, when he was in elementary school, being dressed up as a raggedy anne doll--so adorable. :)
bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com
A thousand years ago when I was single, young, and cute I was Daisy Duke.
witch
Morticia Addams.
I have a Martha Washington costume that is cute.
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