Writer and Blogger, Ally Spotts
This post marks another installment of my “7 Questions With an Author…” series, where I ask published authors an unchanging set of questions and share their responses here.
Today’s co-featured author is Ally Spotts – my friend, author and fellow blogger. She launched her first book yesterday titled Asking All the Wrong Questions and she writes daily about relationships and other topical issues at her excellent site www.allyspotts.com.
Here are “7 Questions With an Author: Ally Spotts.”
1. Tell us about your book?
The book is based on a blog series I wrote about why Christians are waiting for marriage for sex. I was getting questions from young adults all over the country like “how far is too far” and it made me wonder if we really had any idea why we were supposed to be waiting for sex in the first place.
2. What led you to write it?
The series was really popular, in part because there aren’t many Christian writers and bloggers who are willing to talk openly about sex. There’s a huge need for honest conversation. I grew up in youth group and we talked about sexual purity, but I really wanted a book that was less about the “How to wait?” and more about, “Why are we waiting??”
3. Who is a writer that inspires you and why?
I’ve been inspired by Don Miller in a lot of ways. He lives in my hometown of Portland so I’ve always identified with him in that way. He’s a Christian who is willing to say what he really thinks about things, regardless of what other “Christians” might say. And my style of writing is similar to his.
4. What was the biggest challenge you faced writing this book?
The writing actually came really easy. The biggest challenge is releasing it. It makes me feel vulnerable because in the book I’m really honest about my story and where I stand on the issue of sex before marriage. I have friends who will disagree with me or disagree with decisions I’ve made and that’s okay. But if I’m honest I have to admit that I wonder a little about what people are going to think.
5. What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Just write. Find something that interests you and start writing about it. Don’t worry
6. Where do you get your ideas?
I observe people and my surroundings. I evesdrop a lot in coffee shops, grocery stores, etc. I listen to people while they talk on their cell phones. People send me e-mails and text messages and ask me questions. People want to talk about relationships ALL THE TIME. That’s how I got started writing about them. It was basically an accident but at least I will never run out of things to write about.
7. Anything that you’d like readers to know that I haven’t asked?
People say you should write for yourself and I get what they mean by that but I also disagree. What I’m writing is for myself in the sense that it is what I believe to be true but it definitely keeps my reader in mind. I wouldn’t have written this e-book if it weren’t for my readers. It’s a message I believe is important. I want it to be helpful. It’s written for you. I hope you enjoy it.
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To learn more about Ally, be sure to visit her blog www.allyspotts.com.
