Welcome to my coffee and cake time with M/M Authors.
Get to know a little bit more about your fave Authors as we chat over a coffee.
Today I have the company of the lovely Ana Newfolk.
Find out what motivates her, how she got into the M/M genre and her plans for the future.
If you enjoy these posts please share them and let me know. Big Hugs B.J.
Hey, I have been joined for a coffee and cake by Ana Newfolk, the amazing Author of the successful Made in Portugal. She has agreed to come along and chat with me to give us a little insight into her world.
So, while I pour the coffee Ana, Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to write M/M fiction?
I am originally from Portugal but I’ve lived in the UK since 2001, and yes, I’m still asked often why I live here when there’s so much sun in Portugal! I’ve always been an avid reader. I started by borrowing books from the library on a daily basis to asking my parents to buy me books when I couldn’t find what I wanted there. I always wanted to write but it wasn’t until I started reading MM that everything fell into place for me and suddenly I knew what I wanted to write about.
Wow, I always find it interesting to know how writers start out in this business. I've only been to Portugal once, but it was a lovely place. What would you say is your greatest success story so far?
I’m a new author with one novel and one short story published so far. I’d say the novel is my greatest success not because of sales or ratings but because I was able to give readers a tour of my country while also telling a love story. I wonder if sales of custard tarts have gone up in the world as a result!
I'm sure you have had an effect on them. Now we all need a little help when we start out I know I did and luckily, I have met some fantastic Indie Authors who have given me good advice and helped keep me focused when we get those doubts about our writing sneaking into our heads to haunt us.
Who in the M/M community has help you on your journey?
Last year I attended an author meet in London where I met AE Ryecart and Rhys Ethan. From the very beginning they were very generous with their advice and made me feel welcome. I am quite shy and introverted (Ali will be laughing if she’s reading this!) so this was really important to me. There are too many other authors to name here, particularly those based in the UK because I’ve had a chance to meet them in person and forge a few friendships. I also can’t not name my editor Antonio Rodriguez. We became friends on facebook when we sent messages to each other after spotting each other’s names on the attendees list for Euro Pride Con because we were the only ones with the Portuguese flag. In what felt like minutes we became really good friends and he’s become my editor. Made In Portugal would definitely have been a slightly different story without him.
I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting AE Ryecart or Rhys Ethan but I will certainly add them to my list of happy helpers.
Do you still have a day job or are you a full time Author?
I still have a full time day job. I work for a large retailer in the UK and my job is to offer confidential emotional and practical support to people that work in my organisation. How awesome is that? I also get to work from home, which is a major plus when I can use the time I’d be commuting to write instead.
Thats a great use of your time, here’s a couple of quick fire questions for you.
Whats is your favourite word?
Discombobulated. A colleague at work started this challenge where he’s tell me words he found out in hope they’d be new to me. It took a few attempts, but discombobulated was the first word I hadn’t heard before and I absolutely love it.
What sound or noise do you love?
The background sounds of a coffee shop. My parents had a coffee shop while I was growing up so I remember doing my homework after school at one of the tables with all the noise in the background. Now I use YouTube videos for the same effect.
Ok, here's a cheeky one on a scale of one to ten, how weird are you?
It depends on who you ask. Maybe don’t ask my boyfriend, or my sister, or my work colleagues. Ask my parents. They see me once a year...they know nothing...
Lol, I think I may ask Ali when I finally meet her.
The M/M community has its up’s and down’s I certainly see a lot of it around facebook. But what are some specific things you would advise newbies to watch out for in the community?
Always treat people online as you would if they were in front of you. Don’t rush to make judgments just because lots of people share the same opinion, wait until you gathered your own facts. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Many authors have helped me saying that they’re giving back because someone helped them. I will do the same and so will you when the time comes. This is not pie. Someone having more doesn’t mean you have less.
Thats great advice and there are a lot of helpful authors out there.
Let me throw in a couple more quick fire questions for you.
What was the last movie you watched at the cinema?
Mamma Mia, Here We Go,
Fabulous I watched that a few days ago, loved it a real feel good movie.
What was the last book you read?
The arc for Made Mine by Sloane Kennedy and Lucy Lennox.
Lucky you to get an Arc of that one i'm sure it is a great read.
I have to say meeting you today has been good and you are doing well in your career so far, What is coming up for you on the horizon?
I am once again part of the MM Rainbow Advent Calendar so I will publish a short story at date in December. The story will be free for the duration of the advent calendar. If you want to know more about it you can join the facebook group for more information. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1673039336093815/ For those who have read my first novel, Made In Portugal, you’ll be please to know I am working on Max and Isaac’s story. They met in last year’s Christmas short story and they’re finally getting their HEA. Made In New York, will release at some point in January.
Lastly before we say goodbye, How do our visitors get in touch with you?
I am on most social media channels and I also have a website, but where I am most active is on Facebook. Feel free to request friendship or follow my new author page. I am in the process of creating a facebook group for my readers where you can find exclusive information before it’s out to the rest of the world, exclusive excerpts that won’t be shared outside the group and lots of giveaways, author takeovers and general fun. As soon as the group is ready to launch I will be mentioning it both on my facebook profile and my author page so make sure to follow them. Here are all the links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ananewfolk Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ananewfolkauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ananewfolk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ananewfolk/ MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/ana.newfolk Website: http://ananewfolk.com/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ana-Newfolk/e/B078GL9YJ4/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17501380.Ana_Newfolk
Thanks for joining me and Ana for Coffee & Cake. If you have enjoyed our chat join me soon when I meet up with Sadie Rose Bermingham very soon..
Books from Ana Newfolk
Made in Portugal - Ana Newfolk
Blurb:
At 10 years old Joel was uprooted from his home and everything he knew in Portugal to start a new life in the States. At 26 he finds himself returning for the first time in thirteen years. So what if looking into the eyes of his childhood best friend again still makes his heart race out of his chest?
Living in sunny, laid-back Portugal isn't all it's cracked up to be. For David, dreams of being a pastry chef come second to working in his family's café where his renowned custard tarts draw in the crowds. Seeing Joel brings old feelings back. Feelings he’s not sure he’s brave enough to acknowledge to anyone other than himself.
With the inspiration of an old travel journal, the two friends embark on a real journey through memories in a country where looking back into the past runs as deep as the blood that courses through their veins.
Falling in love was never meant to be a stop along the way, but maybe inevitable when you have the adventurous spirit and courage to pursue what you want, make love under the stars and even figure out how to jumpstart an old Citroen 2CV in the middle of the Alentejo countryside.
Made In Portugal is Ana Newfolk's debut novel and is a standalone gay romance novel with a HEA ending and no cliffhanger. Fair warning, there will be naked man parts touching, know-it-all grandparents, a red car, and pastry, lots of pastry.
Made In Portugal is approximately 74000 words.
Like the Blurb Amazon Buy Link
Click the Cover
Made in New York - Ana Newfolk
Blurb:
Isaac’s trip to New York just before Christmas was supposed to serve a single purpose, learn as much as he could about running an LGBT Youth Center to take back home and make those much necessary improvements to the youth center he ran in his native Portugal. Max’s love of the Christmas season was only surpassed by his love for the LGBT Youth Center he volunteered at, and his job as a nurse. One last speech about sexual education for LGBT young people at risk at a conference in the same center was all that separated Max from getting started with his Christmas celebrations. Isaac didn’t count on needing to be rescued from a fire by a strapping brown-eyed nurse. Max didn’t count on Christmas coming early in the shape of a curly-haired man with the most bewitching pair of eyes he’d ever seen. With 48 hours left in New York, Isaac never thought he’d get an offer he just couldn’t resist. Suddenly, the chill in the air isn’t enough to stoke the fire that now burns in a completely different way to the one that brought Isaac and Max together.
Like the Blurb Amazon Buy Link
Click the Cover
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Come back soon for more Authors who join me for Coffee, Cake and a Chat?
Thanks B.J.
