5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Aaron Ashford, author of Closure

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Aaron Ashford, author of Closure
(Xlibris)

Some people believe that any two people in the world are separated by a chain of no more than six acquaintances. Best friends Kevin and Jason are living proof of this theory. They have endured a friendship that has panned a decade. Despite their differences, their bond seems unbreakable. Kevin is married to his college sweetheart Sharon, and they are living the American Dream with their two children. Life appears perfect.

Jason is a successful marriage therapist. He seems to have everything going for himself but one thing: he can’t seem to make his own relationships work. When Kevin discovers his wife’s affair, everything that ensues will intertwine this human web and make everyone involved extremely uncomfortable. The consequences are as serious as life and death. Relationships will be pushed to limits unimaginable, as lives will forever be changed.

Everyone is looking for answers while searching for Closure…

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Closure?

Aaron Ashford: I always flirted with the idea of writing a novel. I am an avid reader, and as you know, writers are readers and vice-versa. Closure was birthed from my love of fiction writing. Whenever I read a good novel, I become inspired.

I am a people person. Therefore, I love to socialize. The more I wrote and shared my characters with readers, the more their encouragement fueled me to finish.

JP: How were you able to weave the concept of “Six Degrees of Separation” in this novel in a way that will keep readers constantly guessing?

AA: The “Six Degrees of Separation” theory was actually realized near the completion of this story, not in the beginning. I actually worked backwards in that I did character sketches near the conclusion of the book. It helped to illustrate the connectivity of everyone despite most of them not even knowing one another. The consequences of one character impacted the other, so on and so forth.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Closure getting out to the public?

AA: Given the fact that Closure is a self-published project, it will be critical that I think outside the box. In fact, I gotta crush the box entirely, which suits me well. Closure will of course be available directly from the publisher at Xlibris.com. It will also be available via Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and Borders.com.

The thing that I feel most excited about is that you will also be able to purchase it in stores at the large retail chains as well as smaller book dealers. I was able to take advantage of bookstore returnability, which will allow stores to place the book with no risk whatsoever. I also plan on utilizing Myspace, Facebook, On-line book clubs, expos and other venues where book readers gather. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Closure?

AA: My writing process for Closure was trial and error. I began writing Closure shortly after I got married back in 2002. Maybe that explains my insomnia. Anyway, I pecked on and got busy with two kids and opening up my own business.

I never lost sight of the project. I finally got a laptop in 2007 and finished my first draft in April of 2008. I added the prologue to the book in December of 2008. After lots of back and forth with Xlibris, alas here is Closure.

JP: What’s next for Aaron L. Ashford?

AA: Now that I have my first one down, I understand a lot more about the process. I have enrolled in a writing program to help me to smooth out my rough edges as a writer. I have a couple of ideas that I will be working on shortly. You can bet it won’t take 7.5 years. Expect great things from me. The best is yet to come!

Aaron is a native of Columbia, SC.Â He is a proud graduate of SC State University.Â Aaron works as a therapist with ASY Counseling Services, Inc. which is also the company he help to co-found.Â He is a proud member of Omega PSI Phi Fraternity Inc.Â Aaron resides in Columbia, SC with his wife Tamala and their two children Aaron, Jr and Arrington.

http://aaronashford.com
http://www.facebook.com/ashforda.writes

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