Getting To Know Olivia Hayes

AWAKENING ~BUY LINK

I was given the opportunity to read this book and fell in love with it.  I had to get to know the lady behind the amazing story.

RB: What inspired you to write your first book?

OLIVIA: My good friend Amy Marie asked for my help while she was writing her debut novel, Unexpected. Watching her go through the process and have so much success is what really motivated me to finally write a book to completion.

RB: Was writing always a dream of yours?

OLIVIA: Absolutely, I have been writing since I was really young. I started out with poetry and short stories and then when I was in college I wrote my first one act play and screen play. Usually I get bored with a story that I'm writing and I already know how it's going to end so I stop in the middle and never finish, but I've always felt like I had stories to tell.

RB: How did you come up with the story line for Awakening?

OLIVIA: Awakening was based on many things in my life; my best friends, my mother, my childhood, my life experiences. I previously wrote a short story about a girl who discovers incredible things at her grandmother's house. I adapted a lot of that story into Awakening, taking out the sci-fi elements and adding in a BUNCH of romance. ;-)

RB: Was there a point in the writing process, where things got difficult?

OLIVIA: Reading and re-reading the story was a nightmare. Every time I made a small change I had to go through the story and make sure that it filtered through to the end. By the time I was done with the entire book I couldn't remember all the fine details because I had changed them so many times. 

RB: What was the easiest part about writing?

OLIVIA: The easiest part about writing was doing the outline of the story and the timeline.

RB: What did you learn about yourself while writing your first book?

OLIVIA: I really didn't think that I'd ever get to the point where I'd have a book out there that other people wanted to read. I started out doing it just for myself, and with the encouragement of my friends, decided to self publish. I learned that I am better at writing than I thought I would be. 

RB: What about a support system. How does your family and friends feel about your writing? 

OLIVIA: Aside from my husband, my immediate family doesn't know I've written a book! I think my parents and grandparents would be a little outraged by the content. I was raised to be a proper southern lady, and talking about things that happen behind closed doors is a no-no! My friends, on the other hand, have been amazing! I have bent their ears about this story for months and they have all been super supportive.

RB: How did it feel when you finally finished typing the last sentence in AWAKENING?

OLIVIA: Amazing and frightening all at the same time. I was so happy to be done, but a little freaked out about putting myself out there in the world.

RB: Who are your inspirations in writing world?

OLIVIA: On the contemporary romance side of things, I really love Penelope Douglas, Abbi Glines and Colleen Hoover, but Nicholas Sparks is who really inspires me. I think his stories are powerful, beautiful, and all a testament to how love isn't always flowers and rainbows all the time. Sometimes it's about loss, forgiveness, acceptance and putting someone else's needs before your own.

RB: If you could go back in time and meet any author, who would it be and what would you say? 

OLIVIA: That's a pretty difficult question. Maybe Charlotte Bronte. I loved reading Jane Eyre. I loved the mystery and intrigue; the unlikely romance. I would love to ask her what her inspiration for that story was.

RB: What is your favorite “CLASSIC NOVEL”?

OLIVIA: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, hands down.

RB: Growing up what was your favorite book?

OLIVIA: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson

RB: Was any part AWAKENING autobiographical?

OLIVIA: Some of the situations and locations were pulled from my real life, but none of the characters are based on me.

RB: What is your favorite part of the book?

OLIVIA: My favorite part of the book is when Caroline is at the company party and Luke shows up unexpectedly.

RB: What was the toughest part to write?

OLIVIA: I don't enjoy writing the story when the main characters are apart, it's boring for me. Even when I read books I find myself skimming through parts of it to get back to the part where they're together again. I finished the book at about 64,000 words, and then I had to go back and add a TON of details that weren't necessarily important to the story, but that would make it the proper length. That was really difficult!

RB: Love at first sight, Do you believe in it?

OLIVIA: Absolutely, I fell in love with my husband the moment I saw him. I was out with my girlfriends and pointed him out to them, and told them that he was mine.

RB: Will we see more of any of the characters in the story?

OLIVIA: I am working on a second novel about Carson, Caroline's brother. Some of the characters from Awakening will reappear in his story.

RB: How did it feel to see your book complete and go on a blog tour?

OLIVIA: A bit surreal. I have plenty of friends who have read Awakening and told me how much they loved it, but having people I don't know read it and love it is something totally different. They have no reason to sugar coat it, and I have been honored and humbled by the reviews I've read so far. 

RB: Are you currently reading anything? If so what?

OLIVIA: I am BETA reading Undone by Amy Marie. It's incredible, and I'm so proud of her!

RB: Who is your Number one book boyfriend?

OLIVIA: Have you met Gavin Blake from Collide and Pulse by Gail McHugh? If not, you're missing out. I LOVE him!

RB: If you could say anything to your fans what would you say?

OLIVIA: Thank you all so much for your love and support! This has been an incredible experience!




**EXCERPT**


. Awakening - By Olivia Hayes

He rolled towards me and pulled my back into him, spooning me. His arm was around my waist and he was rubbing his thumb across my lower stomach. I shivered and he squeezed me closer. I could feel his erection against my backside and I had clench my legs together to try and squelch some of the tension I was feeling. I squirmed a little and he held me in place.

"Stop moving," he ground out.

I instantly stilled.

"You don't want to..." I knew what word I should say, because I knew which one he'd want to hear. He liked it when I talked dirty to him, but not knowing what he was thinking made me self conscious. "Have sex?" I finished.

"Of course I do. I always want you, but you made it clear you weren't ready and I'm trying to respect your decision. I'm just glad I get to hold you in my arms all night. Next time I make love to you, it's going to be because you want it, and can't go another minute without feeling me inside you."

My breath caught in my throat. Make love. "I thought that's why you wanted me here Luke."

"I wanted you here because I think we belong together and I can't go another day without touching you and having you in my bed. For now, this is enough for me."

"Then why are we naked?"

"I want you to feel how much I want you, and I don't want any barriers between us. I want you to want me as much as I want you. I want you begging me to slip inside you and I want you screaming my name when I do."

His warm breath in my ear and his words were making me soaked.

"Luke...."

"Goodnight Savannah," he said, cutting me off.

I clenched my teeth. I could feel him smiling against the back of my head and I knew he was going to make me beg.

 ***REVIEW***

Awakening by Olivia Hayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Olivia Hayes will capture your attention from the beginning!

You will be consumed by this story line. You will fall in love. You will laugh, cry, and hurt with and for Caroline.

This book is PHENOMENAL!!!!!

Caroline and Luke will capture your heart. Their story is a beautiful yet painful one. They knew from the very beginning that they belonged to one another. The meaning LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT is fitting for them. But, insecurities and mind games get in the way. They don't follow their hearts. One is to scared and the other just to proud.

Years later their worlds collide and they are tossed together again. They have been given the chance to finally be honest, to finally let each other know exactly how life should of been for them. But, will they open up? Will they continue to run from what the universe clearly has planned for them?

True love is nothing to run from. It will catch you. You can't run from feelings that are real, feelings that one can't fight. These two are also hurt, will the pain be what breaks them or what finally brings them to where they should of been so many years ago?

I won't lie... I read this and 3% in I knew I had a gem in my hands. Olivia Hayes had me. I was on a freaking roller coaster, and talking to the book from the beginning.

It will NOT DISAPPOINT.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!