Q&A with Author Ember Davis
Winter holidays are novella season for me. I know, odd intro to a blog post, but hear me out. It’s September. Schools are back in session, leaves are starting to think about turning, authors who aren’t writing holiday-themed books are busting butt to publish before Halloween… because once Halloween hits, Romancelandia turns into a sparkly wonderland of winter books. And I love it!
That joy for holiday stories is how I found Ember Davis—see… told you to stay with me—and I look forward to her holiday novellas every year.
Ember is an absolute goddess when it comes to spicy, heartfelt novellas, but she’s also a goddess at writing strong, alpha heroes who give their all to take care of their HEAs. And her heroines are smart, sassy, and so much fun. Rowan, from A Very Pierced Christmas, is still one of my favorite FMCs ever.
And Ember’s stories span the romance genre with everything from small-town, to protector, to mafia, to motorcycle club, to rockstars, to dark, to… yep, you get the picture. Ember is an incredible versatile author, and one thing her stories all have in common is that incredible HEA. So, really, no matter what you like to read, you’re definitely sure to find it in Ember’s backlist.
Getting to meet Ember at Charm City Romanticon 2023 was so freaking wonderful. She’s an absolutely amazing human with an incredible smile and huge heart. When she came back for CCR2024 I did a little happy dance. (Ok, maybe it was a big happy dance). And knowing she’s coming back for CCR2025 just makes my heart so incredibly happy.
Ember’s entire backlist is on my tbr. Her stories are bingeable, interconnected, and so heartfelt. I’ve already loved everything I’ve read by her, I can’t wait to dive into everything I haven’t yet.
I really loved reading her answers to our Q&A. Honestly, reading about her favorite scene had me reaching for the tissues. And yeah, I will definitely be reading that book. But what hit me hardest was reading about her mom and the relationship they have. I’m so glad Ember shared so much with me, with us, about her journey.
How did you get started writing?
I’ve written on and off throughout the years, but then life got in the way for a long time. Adulthood for me meant a lot of years where I wasn’t writing or reading. After having my daughter, who just turned 8 over the summer, I decided it was time to change things up and I wanted to stay home with her, at least for a few years. When I did, I found Kindle Unlimited and a whole world of indie publishing that I had no idea existed. I became a voracious romance reader for a few years, but never thought about it more than being impressed. One night I had a dream, really it was just one scene, but it was so vivid. While I normally don’t remember my dreams, this snippet stuck with me. I figured there might be a reason I wasn’t forgetting it and couldn’t shake it. I wrote On Stage around one scene, thinking it would be a novella, but it wound up being a full-length novel. I had no real idea what I was doing beyond having a good feel for romance expectations based on my reading habits. Once I was done with it, I called my best friend and said, “So, I did this thing.” She insisted I send it to her and after her encouragement, I dove into learning about the business side of indie publishing. She might be my best friend, but she doesn’t blow smoke and I had the time to try my hand at putting it out there.
Where do you recommend a new reader start in your backlist?
Since almost all my books are connected in one universe, no matter what subgenre of contemporary romance I explore, I think it’s best to start at where that universe starts–Protecting His Home (Banks Ink. Book 2). It’s the second book I ever published, but Amelia and Beckett are still one of my favorite couples. Just don’t tell the others!
Do you have a favorite/most memorable scene/ part in a novel you've written?
I have a few favorites in every book. Sometimes it’s something embarrassing the character is experiencing, something really sweet, or maybe a turning point in their story. The first scene that came to mind when I read this question is a scene in Ask Me to Stay which is an older woman/younger man, curvy girl, interracial, fresh start, small town romance which is set in my Sweetwater Valley series.
The first book in that series, Unexpected Love, is kind of my swan song for myself. Not long before I wrote it, my sister unexpectedly passed away. When I had the chance to write Ask Me to Stay, I wanted to give my sister a happily ever after in my writing universe.
There’s a scene where Poppy, after having a not so great introduction to Nash, her next door neighbor and the MMC, is sitting and watching a storm roll in. She’s unsure if she’s made the right choice to move to Sweetwater Valley even though it’s where her sister, Lark (the MFC from Unexpected Love), nephew, niece, and parents are. Before she can get too deep into wondering if she made the right choice by leaving her boyfriend–who she had to mother more than anything else–behind and searching for a new future, it starts to rain. She gets a phone call from Lark telling her to go outside. When Lark, Everly (niece), and her mom pull up to the house, they pull Poppy into a dance party in the rain.
It’s a really beautiful moment where three generations of ladies, all of whom are modeled after the ladies in my life, dance in the rain. It’s something I did with my mom and my sister when we were growing up. It’s a moment I didn’t get to share with my daughter, at least not with my sister dancing with us.
It’s also a turning point in the romance because Nash comes out and witnesses Poppy smiling and joyful instead of the snarky attitude he got in response to his own brusk behavior when they first met.
Writing that scene was one of the only two times when I’ve written a scene out of order. I’m normally very linear in my writing, but I knew that scene needed to be in there and it was so vivid in my mind. Then I had to get there when I went back to the beginning.
Is there a part of your career as an author you thought was going to be difficult but has wound up being really wonderful?
The graphic design aspect of being a published author. It was slow going and I had a lot to learn at first, but I have a visual merchandising background since I worked in retail management for years. I used a lot of that knowledge and marketing to help me along with being really observant. I love finding marketing material that is eye-catching and trying to figure out how it was put together. It’s been a lot of fun to try different techniques and grow. It’s also another way I control my brand. It’s fun to be able to stretch my creative muscles in a totally different way than I do when I write while still putting in work for my business.
Are there specific themes, tropes, or subgenres you’re more drawn to as an author, reader, or listener?
I love instalove and found family themes! When it comes to instalove, I am a sucker for that ‘BAM!’ moment where one (or both) know they found their person. It’s a really special moment and something I grew up hearing about. My dad has always said that he saw my mom come out of a building on their college campus and he knew she was his.
Found family always feels cozy to me and you get to meet more characters who enrich the world you’re reading about. I think everyone, no matter how big or small, needs people in their corner and having a found family vibe in my books allows me to go on so many tangents, but still come back to the heart of it all–family with non judgemental support and love.
I’m a big reader of both tropes. When I’m in the mood for Paranormal Romance, fated mates gives me this same fuzzy feeling that instalove does. I’m pretty open as far as reading goes and am definitely a mood reader. I’ll go from sports, to mafia, to motorcycle club, to why choose and so much in between. Really, the only tropes I don’t tend to read are second chance and love triangles.
What is your favorite part about being an author?
Getting to visit with characters who have become my friends. Writing love stories that are healing, hopeful, and explore aspects of life that are not my own reality.
What do you like to read/listen to? Any favorite authors you want to send a shout-out to?
Wow! I’m all over the place when it comes to reading, but it’s always romance. I’m a huge fan of instalove authors–Camron Hart, Hope Ford, Jenika Snow, Penelope Wylde, Brill Harper, Mae Harden, Fiona Davenport–just to name a few. I love Ashley Rostek’s WITSEC series and have re-read it more than once. Tessa Hale is a go to when I want epic, why choose PNR. For MC romance I stalk Crystal Daniels and Sandy Alvarez, Ciara St. James, and EC Land. I adore the Mount Macon series by Ashley Munoz and Lex Martin’s Varsity Dad’s Series. There’s so many more, but I’ll leave it there…for now.
Is there someone(s) who’s been influential in your life as it relates to your career?
My best friend, Kristen. Without her encouragement, I wouldn't have published in the first place.
My mom, who has always had my back and supported me, no matter what. When I first published, I told her my plan, but wouldn’t tell her my pen name because I don’t hold anything back when it comes to naked time. It took a few months, but I realized I was doing myself a disservice by not opening up and letting her in. Not only that, but I wasn’t walking the shame free and sexually empowered walk my heroines do. She’s become a super fan who will tell anyone who will listen for more than a few minutes about my books, and my final proofer. It’s been really amazing witnessing my mom find her love of reading again after putting so much into her career and then becoming a little lost after an accident 9 years ago completely changed her life, forced her into retirement, and took part of her leg.
Without either of them in my corner, I don’t think I would still be writing.
How have your life experiences influenced your career as an author?
There are bits of myself, sometimes small and sometimes not so small, in all of my heroines. I mentioned already that Unexpected Love is kind of my swan song and is a great example of my life experiences influencing my writing. I was trying to wrap my mind around my partner’s terminal cancer diagnosis and how to look past all the really hard moments I knew were coming my way. So, you meet Lark, who is a romance author (wink, wink) after the death of her partner and father to her children when she’s moved to a small town to be close to her parents as she navigates the next chapter of her life. Now, that’s pretty much where my real life experiences stop and the fictional world takes over other than character traits, but it was incredibly therapeutic for me to put my vulnerabilities, fears, and worries into the story.
Beyond that, life has taught me to be mindful and to be grateful. There have been so many times when things could have gone another way in my life, which I’m sure we can all say. I started publishing with the hope that one person would read my book. Just one. I’m incredibly thankful and lucky that far more people connect with my characters and want to read my books. A reader spending their time, because we all know time is valuable and there are a lot of amazing books and authors to choose from, reading one of my books is something I’m incredibly grateful for. No matter how many books I publish or how many readers I have, I keep the original goal of one reader in mind because every reader after that is a win.
This or That: 7 random questions that may or may not be book related:
Kindle or Paperback- Kindle
Beach or Mountain Vacation- Mountain
Dogs or Cats- Dogs
Ice Cream or Cake- Ice Cream
Action Flick or Rom-Com- Action Flick
Tea or Coffee- Coffee
Road Trip or Air Travel- Road Trip
Connect with Ember:
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