Ask the Author: A.E. Brouhard
Answered Questions (6)
A.E. Brouhard
This probably sounds dumb but seeing my book on my bookshelves among all of my favorite books has been one of my favorite parts so far. Putting my work of heart out into the world for people to read, even though they have the potential to tear it apart, has been incredible. The response I've gotten so far has been amazing and for now, I am just going to live on Cloud Nine and hope it will carry me through the criticism that I'm sure is inevitable. I know that my book is not a literary masterpiece, but I do believe in it and I believe the story is refreshing and good for the young adult genre.
A.E. Brouhard
Give yourself grace and don't be afraid to put it aside and walk away from it for a while. I walked away from Carried Away when I was 3/4 done for about a month before I could get myself to sit back down with it and keep working.
A.E. Brouhard
My biggest piece of advice for aspiring writers is not to let fear stop you. You have to just go for it. Make it a priority and make time to work every day, but also give yourself grace and understand when you need to step away from it for a bit. I wrote 3/4 of Carried Away in about 3 months, and then it took me 7 months to finish the last 1/4.
A.E. Brouhard
I'm inspired by authors who create stories that just draw me in and capture me in their world from beginning to end. I hope to make a reader feel that way someday. I'm inspired by my former students who love to read, because I want to give them books to read that are real and stories they can see themselves in. I'm also just inspired to write for myself, because it makes me feel good and it is a release for me. I am not a talker and I keep most of my thoughts and feelings under lock and key, but when I write it is much easier for me to express myself.
A.E. Brouhard
I am currently working on the sequel to Carried Away, called Anchored Home. The sequel begins about 8 months after the ending in Carried Away (before the epilogue).
A.E. Brouhard
My most recent book is my first ever published novel. I've always loved the young adult genre, and more recently love it because it helps me connect with my former students who are now at the age of enjoying young adult books. I tried for years to get started writing a novel, but always got about 20 pages in and couldn't make it go in any sort of good direction. Then I remembered something I heard a long time ago, "It's easiest to write what you know", so I thought I would reflect on personal experience and turn it into a story. I wanted to write something that, even though it is fiction, is real and the reader could connect with the characters and their experiences. When I decided to draw on my own experiences, the story just flowed out of me and it felt authentic and real all the way through.
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