Author Interview: Ava Wilder
Ava Wilder’s debut How to Fake It in Hollywood is so juicy! Grey Brooks is an actress whose long-running teen show is ending, and Ethan Atkins is out of the spotlight following a messy divorce and the death of his best friend. Grey’s publicist hatches a plan, a fake relationship that will boost both of their public images.
We caught up with the author on publication day, and she gave us a fun look into her writing process.
Q: What were you doing before you became a breakout romance star?
Still crossing my fingers about the breakout star part (!!!) but I currently live in Oklahoma City & work as a video editor at a small production company.
Q: Are you doing anything to celebrate the release of How to Fake it in Hollywood?
My sister is flying in to stay with me for a few days, and I’m doing a launch event at a local bookstore. I’m so excited!
Q: What’s a romance you recommend to someone who’s never read romance but wants to start?
It’s hard to give a blanket recommendation because romance has so much to offer, there’s something out there for everyone! But if I HAVE to pick just one, Seven Days in June by Tia Williams is the total package for me– sharp, witty writing, unforgettable characters, and incredible emotional & thematic depth. It makes you laugh, makes you swoon, and makes you cry in the span of a few pages.
Q: One of the love interests, Grey Brooks, has such a great head on her shoulders, and while reading, I often found myself siding with the decisions she made in regards to her relationship with her career and with Ethan – did you have a particular person in mind while writing Grey?
There were a few people I thought about when trying to establish her position in pop culture, but in terms of her inner life, I mostly wanted to make it feel safe and fun to be in her head– especially since Ethan’s POV is a little rougher of a ride. It’s been really gratifying to hear how many readers have connected with her, despite the fact that her background & life circumstances are not super relatable.
Q: One of my favorite elements of your novel is how healthily you struck a balance dealing with Ethan’s alcoholism and grief and, again, Grey’s impending ‘aging out’ of her career and their romance. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are looking to create the same level of care you attached to Grey and Ethan?
I try to approach my characters with as much empathy as possible. My goal is to make sure I always understand where they’re coming from and why they think and act the way they do, even if I don’t agree with it– which hopefully comes through to the reader. I also like to put them in situations where we get to see as many different sides of them as possible (and they get to see different sides of each other)!
Q: Hollywood often seems like an inaccessible, enigmatic space, especially when it comes to distinguishing publicity stunts from authentic relationships or events. What was your research like going into How to Fake it in Hollywood?
I’ve been a pop culture fanatic since I was a kid, so it feels like I’ve spent my whole life researching for this book, I just didn’t realize it, haha. Obviously I don’t know what it’s like to actually be famous, but I have spent a lot of time speculating about how bizarre (and probably awful) it would be. Since I haven’t spent much time in LA, I wanted to make sure those details felt right, so I was constantly pestering my friends who lived there with extremely specific questions (like, how many stories would there be in a Century City high-rise?). They were great sports about it, though!
Q: Are you working on anything new? If you are, do you care to share a hint of what it might be? *cheeky lil wink*
I’m currently revising my second book, which is another celebrity romance set in the same universe. Hopefully I’ll get to share more details about it soon!
How to Fake It in Hollywood is our Monthly Magic Romance Subscription pick for the month of June! To get a subscription, click here!
