Writing the Books That Change Your Life: An Interview with Ava Miles

Tell us a bit about your writing background.
First, thanks to much for having me on the awesome B&N Blog. I love you guys! My first big swell of readers started at B&N, and I’m so grateful.
So, a little about me. I’m one of those people who always wanted to be a writer. Three years ago I did what most people thought was both brave and unthinkable: I walked away from a successful six-figure career rebuilding war zones in D.C. to launch myself as an author. My first book was one you might have heard of—a #1 bestseller on B&N and a USA Today bestseller—Nora Roberts Land. Now I have three bestselling series, which include Dare Valley, Dare River, and Once Upon A Dare. My books have been translated into seven languages so far, and more readers around the world are finding my books every day. I LOVE what I do, and it’s the greatest blessing to be living my dream and inspiring so many others to do the same.
What made you decide to go the self-publishing route?
I’m self-published in the U.S., but traditionally published overseas. Honestly, I found myself becoming an independent publisher because the traditional publishing folks in New York didn’t know what to do with Nora Roberts Land. Everyone thought it was a unique book, with Nora’s blessing involved, but Nora’s publisher thought it was a conflict of interest for them although they loved my voice. Other publishers didn’t publish Nora, so they weren’t sure how to handle that internally. In the end, my agent and I knew readers would love the book, so I decided to put it out there. I released the first five books in the Dare Valley series every six weeks from July to December. It was a marvelous, incredibly life-changing time. I hit the bestseller charts in January and haven’t slowed down since. I just released my twenty-fourth title this month. It has been a remarkable journey so far.
Did you work with other professionals—editors, cover designers, etc.—on your path to publication?
When you essentially run your own business, yes, you need to hire everyone who supports your work. My editor, originally from Bantam, has been with me for every book, and she’s my best partner. I look for the best people to support me. Happily, there are lots of talented people out there, and they want to work with me. It’s awesome.
How did it feel to hit publish on that first book, sending it out into the world?
I chose my publication date for the July 4 weekend and termed it my own Independence weekend. So many people have regrets about not following their dreams. I’m not one of them.
Can you describe how it felt when you saw your first self-published book finding a readership?
It was terrific. Like I said, my first huge readership started at B&N and then grew from there. Now I’m pretty much read across platforms. My books are in libraries and bookstores here and there, both in the U.S. and overseas. I’m not a household name yet, but we’re going that way. It’s incredible!
I love having this beautiful book family, who I connect with on social media and in personal messages. I used to help a lot of people in my old career in war-affected areas, but now I’m able to talk about important issues in my writing such as PTSD, domestic violence, the power of love and forgiveness, and finding yourself again after divorce. I have the best job in the world and am touching people all around the world like I used to, but in a different way.
What does it mean to you to have achieved success and connected with an audience outside of the usual publishing avenues?
It pretty much means the world. Tons of people first tell you that you can’t get a literary agent, least of all be a successful author if you’re able to get published. The odds against you are like a million to one, just to give readers a sense. Most agents receive up to 30,000 manuscripts to read every year and maybe decide to take one or two. Then the publishers have to buy it, and after spending sometimes years on your book, the best offer for a new writer is maybe $1,500. If you’re lucky you might get a little more.
As an independent author, you don’t have an advance or the publicity department of a major publisher behind you. There are barriers to having your books in print, in stores. Regardless of how you’re published, no one can predict whether readers will buy your books. Do you see what we’re talking about here? It takes a lot of courage and grit to be successful, but when you believe in yourself and tell fabulous stories, miracles happen. They happened to me and continue to happen every day. I don’t take it for granted, and I continue to do what’s required to keep it all expanding.
How do you determine when your books are ready for publication?
With every book, there’s a sweet spot. You know when it has reached its highest version, when it has all the magic you can put into it. The balance is having a schedule and allowing the magic to swirl. It’s doable, but takes intention.
I have a writing schedule like most writers, with agreed-upon publication dates I set myself. My editor knows when she’s going to receive the story. It’s a process, and to be successful, it’s important to be consistent.

How do you handle publicity around your work?
I’m on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as having a personal newsletter for my readers. But my best “publicity” is word of mouth. My readers are my biggest publicists. They tell their family and friends. I love hearing a daughter tell me how she bought her elderly mother a device and downloaded my book so she could enjoy my story, too. It’s the finest compliment I could receive. And interestingly enough, my cookbook companion to Country Heaven has spread the word through food. People have made those recipes and taken them to work functions or a neighborhood potluck, and when someone asks about the recipe, people hear about me and my books. My other favorite is the massive swell of interest in chocolate plants because of my book The Chocolate Garden. I had readers walking into nurseries all around the world asking for these plants, and it prompted more sharing of my stories. It’s pretty terrific and totally unplanned. I love spontaneous abundance like that.
How do you interact with your readers?
I do tons on Facebook because it’s rather like sitting down on the front porch with someone and chatting a spell. I share a lot about what I’m cooking or growing in the garden as well as inspirational posts about how I followed my dreams or experienced PTSD like my hero in The Promise of Rainbows. Readers tell me all the time how much they appreciate me being myself and asking them to tell me their stories too around various topics. Readers have stories too, and I love hearing them.
I also answer the awesome slew of messages from readers, which always touch me. I have tons of readers around the world sending me pictures of rainbows because of my book. It’s wonderful. Did I mention I have the best job in the world?
How has being a self-published author changed your life?
I decided to change my life and live a happy one doing what I love. That was becoming a writer and being myself. When you decide to do that, everything changes.

Tell us a little bit about your most recent book.
Speaking of everything, I am known for having unique titles, and my recent book is called The Gate to Everything. I love to write about families, especially since I am the oldest of six children. This is a special book about two people taking a second chance at love and discovering love and family are the gate to everything.
What are some of the books and authors that have inspired you?
No surprise, I pretty much gorged on Nora Roberts’ books in college, but I also love the old Iris Johansen historicals like The Tiger Prince. She had a unique way of telling a story in the past in unusual locations. I love stories that stand apart from the crowd and say something different. I also love ones about families that feel real to life. Add in a bighearted, strong man and an independent woman in touch with herself and what she wants, and I’m there.