Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ashlee Montelongo.
Hi Ashlee, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I started writing when I was 14 to cope with the loss of a loved one. Over the 20-plus years, my writing has evolved and become what it is today. Then, I met a wonderful man who was also a writer.
After attempting to publish books the traditional way, we decided to tackle the self-publishing world on our own and are still working on figuring out all the ins and outs of gathering a following and getting word out about our works.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am under the impression that if you love what you do it is no longer work.
One of the hard things about starting Monte House Books has been learning how to do all the business side of things. If we’re just producing books, it would be much smoother, but we have to do all the business end as well, and it has been a heavy learning curve to meet.
We are both English majors in college, and neither one of us likes to put down the creative side to get the nitty gritty side of things done, but we are learning to make those strides.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I write science fiction and fantasy novels and love creating those storylines. While it’s not always easy, watching the characters come to life first in my mind and then on the page is amazing. I love the moment in my writing where the book just clicks into place and basically writes itself.
All writers are different in how they perform their craft, and they throw around words like ‘plotter’ and ‘pantser’ to see what kind of writer they are. I have decided that I am a little of both. I have some stories where a plot helps me stay on course if it’s done right, but I have some characters who thrive on shooting from and behaving from the seat of their pants and don’t have any idea where they are going from here.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I wish I had advice for finding a mentor or networking. There are some good groups online where you can find some help, but I feel that in my niche world (and because I have some social anxieties), I flounder whenever I try to do something that would help with networking.
But something that has helped is being willing to listen and bend a little. Monte House Books will hopefully be attending a science fiction convention this summer, and we will take every opportunity to make connections.
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