Interview with the Authors of Leave Me Breathless: The Ivy Collection

What can you tell us about your new release, Leave Me Breathless: The Ivy Collection?

Response from author KL Donn: My title, Command, is one of the books in the Leave Me Breathless Ivy Collection. It was originally titled Bought Bride and supposed to be released in Fiona Davenport’s PVB Kindle world before the program closed in 2018. It’s a spin-off of my dark romance series: The Adair Empire. While it has some scenes that could have gone to the dark side (Channeling my inner Star Wars here LOL) I kept it lighter, more contemporary. Viktor is an intense man who deserved the light Emmy brought to his life after he did some not so savory things in his younger days.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Response from CM Lally: I’ve been influenced by a who and a what. First who: other Indie authors inspired me to be an author. Just seeing their reactions to my reviews and watching them post on Facebook about building the story up from overheard conversations to finding the perfect muse, it made me want a piece of that. It is an unbridled joy when a great review validates your time and efforts. For the what of inspiring me, it was the feeling of not being satisfied with some aspect of a story I was reading. My brain wanted it to go another way. Not to say my way would have been better, just what I expected with my experiences for their HEA or whatever was going on. I would become so invested in their story, I wanted control over it’s middle or ending or whatever part I didn’t like. So I decided to write my own.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Response from K.L. Humphreys:

When It Rains by Lisa De Jong

Lady Luck By Kristen Ashley

Scream for Me By Karen Rose

Yes to Everything By Shayne McClendon

Game of The Heart by Kristen Ashley

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Response from author Sophia Henry: I would have Stephen King as my first guest. (I like to aim high.) I’d ask him how he comes up with his ideas. I truly believe he is an unmatched genius in the modern literary world. It’s absolutely amazing to me that he has consistently come up with so many high-concept ideas over multiple genres. He appeals not just to horror fans but also to the masses, evoking extreme emotion with stories such as Stand By Me, The Green Mile, and Shawshank Redemption.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

Response from author Sophia Henry: Being able to use my platform to connect with readers on a personal level. Sometimes I call my books “social commentary wrapped up in a happily ever after.” It’s important for me to use real issues we face every day in my stories. I love when readers tell me they empathize with characters, see themselves in a character, or want to be friends with my characters! I love when readers tell me my books helped them through a tough time in their life. I love when readers tell me my books helped them see a different perspective.

What is a typical day like for you?

Response from author Evan Grace: I get up at 6 every morning to get everyone up and ready for school and work. We’re a one car family so after I drop everyone off I go lift weights for about an hour. Once I get home I get cleaned up and then sit down to write for a few hours until it’s time to pick everyone up. After dinner I do some admin stuff then I write until about 9 or 10pm and then lay in bed, reading until I finally go to sleep.

What scene in Leave Me Breathless: The Ivy Collection was your favorite to write?

Response from Michelle Windsor: My absolute favorite scene to write in Catching Chase was when Jasper Chase finds out he has a three year old child from a woman he fell for four years earlier. There are so many emotions that I had to write; confusion, shock, anger, betrayal, in such quick succession. It wasn’t anything I had written before, so it was a great new challenge, and I think it came out beautifully! Can’t wait for everyone to read it!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Response from CM Lally: My motto for writing is “to do the story and characters justice”. By this I mean…do the research needed, take time to find the perfect words by understanding where you want their story to go. It may be fiction but it’s an escape and the feelings still need to be real.

Leave Me Breathless: The Ivy Collection is the new romance collection from KL Donn, Ashley Lane, Evan Grace, K.L. Humphreys, C.M. Lally, Natalie Hill, Michelle Windsor, and Sophia Henry.