Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published fiction and nonfiction author. For 20 years, she’s worked in the fields of journalism and advertising with a brief detour into the financial industry. Although she holds a BA in Communications: Journalism, she is a perpetual student of life who enjoys taking courses on a wide variety of subjects when time allows. Smart is sexy, according to Easton, which is why she writes about strong female characters who have their flaws and challenges, but who ultimately persevere.
Easton first started writing when she was a nine-year-old sitting on her parents’ roof. “Yes, I was naughty,” shared Easton. “I would scribble in notebooks and dream big dreams. Now I’m far from nine years old, a published novelist and freelance journalist who is still dreaming those big dreams. Yes, I’m still naughty more often than not.”
Some of the things that have influenced/inspired Easton’s writing are the experiences from her own life. “I attract chaos to me like a magnet, which has brought a lot of adventure and interesting characters into my life. All those experiences have enhanced my writing, given me more depth, and truly been worthwhile even if I doubted it at the time.”
For some writers things come quite easily, like creating the setting, and other things aren’t so easy, like deciding on a title. Easton, who loves writing strong female characters, shared that the ending of her novel is difficult to write. “I change them constantly, right up to final submission. I think endings are one of the most important aspects of a novel. A disappointing ending leaves a bad taste in a reader’s mouth and can ruin a perfectly good story.” As the author continues, “There are about five different endings to Riptide sitting on my computer right now, but I’m happy with the one that made the final cut.”
Riptide is Amber Lea Easton’s recently released contemporary romantic suspense novel from Siren. It is about Lauren Biltmore, an anchorwoman who finds her life shattered after a violent attack. She goes from reporting the news to the lead story on all the headlines. She escapes the spotlight by fleeing to her brother’s home in the Cayman Islands. Haunted by nightmares, all she wants is a distraction from reality.
Distraction arrives via sexy screenwriter, Noah Reynolds. His take-me-to-bed looks mask a past ripe with scandal. He knows he should stay away from Lauren, especially when the worst night of her life unlocks his writer’s block as he’s dealing with a stalker of his own, but ethics are his weakness.
Attraction sizzles beneath Caribbean sunshine. As their relationship grows, Noah’s stalker intensifies her torment. Lauren wonders if her paranoia is justified or a carryover from her past. What’s real? What’s imagined? Tentative trust is tested as their love is swept up against a riptide of deceit, murder, and revenge.
Her characters and story plots are all inspired from life, people she encounters, and just plain old human nature. Easton writes mostly romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and mystery/thrillers, both in print and eBook. “I think the electronic medium is a plus for the publishing industry because it creates a broader readership base,” shared Easton.
However, she is quick to share her thoughts on the ever-growing print-on-demand and self-publishing book industry. “I think self-publishing is good for established writers who have gone through the process and know the business. This is where people may get ‘sensitive’ on me… just because someone has a computer and can push the enter button, however, doesn’t mean they should upload their book and call themselves an author.” As Easton explains, “Quality is what I worry about down the road of publishing if people snub the idea of publishing houses and editors–which we all NEED.” And quality is what you get when reading one of Amber Lea Easton’s novels. You can tell she puts her heart and soul into every novel, chapter, character, scene and word. I’m sure her fans are happy to know how important quality means to this romance author.
Easton isn’t afraid of those nasty rejection letters many new and professional writers dread. “I, for one, like having a publisher and an editor. I don’t mind the years of rejection letters because they made me better in the long run. I’m glad I paid my dues, went to conferences, adapted, learned because some of that early stuff that was rejected… well, I’m thankful it isn’t out there haunting me now. It will be interesting to see what happens down the road. Don’t rule out the publishers and editors… they are a necessity.”
Amber Lea Easton is a tough woman who knows what she wants and takes the time to learn her craft. Her novels reflect this and the relationships she has forged with her editors only enhance her work. So far Easton only has two novels out, but was quick to share she is releasing a third novel this year.
Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains where she gives thanks daily for the gorgeous view outside her window. At the end of the day, as long as she’s writing, she considers herself to be simply “a lucky lady liv’n the dream.”
Amber Lea Easton has two blogs fans can follow. Kisses, Caresses and Whispers in the Night where she keeps things spicy with relationship advice, excerpts of WIPs, and guest posts with other romance, suspense, erotica, and thriller writers. The other blog, Moxie Girl Writing is where she shares her uncensored self-talking about being widowed, dating again over 40, and features both non-fiction and YA authors.
Feel free to follow Easton on her Facebook page to see what’s coming next.