Welcome back! Today we are chatting with up coming author Aimee- who has just released her book Little Grey Dress!
Tell us a bit about your book.
Little Gray Dress is full of weddings, engagements, breakups and laugh-out-loud moments.
Here’s the official blurb:
Emi Harrison has avoided her ex-fiancé, Jack Cabot, for nearly two years. Her twin brother Evan’s wedding is about to end that streak.
From bad bridesmaid’s dresses, a hyperactive sister-in-law, a mean girl with even meaner secrets, and too much to drink, nothing seems to go right for Emi, except when she’s wearing her little gray dress.
When she speed-walks into Liam Jaxon’s bar, things get more complicated. He’s gorgeous, southern, and has no past with Emi. He may be exactly what she needs to prove for the last time that she doesn’t need or want Jack!
Her favorite little gray dress has made an appearance at nearly every major event in Emi’s adult life. Will it make another grand appearance when she least expects it?
What would say is the genre for your book?
It falls into the romantic comedy or chick lit category.
Where did the inspiration come from?
You know, I’m a total pantser when it comes to writing. I just sit down and start. Sometimes I’ll have an idea and sometimes I won’t.
With Little Gray Dress I had zero ideas. I wrote the first draft and it was really all over the place. Giving the characters purpose and the story some structure all came to me when I outlined out the 2nd draft rewrite.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
Ugh. I suck at titles! I’ve heard of authors coming up with their book titles before they’ve even written the manuscript and it’s pretty safe to say, I will never be one of those authors. LOL
It actually wasn’t originally called Little Gray Dress. Originally the title was ‘Exes & Texas’ but my beta readers hated it. I really had to re-look at the overall story and the thing that stood out was Emi’s favorite dress (or Jack’s favorite I should say). Finally, after finishing the second edits of the second draft, Little Gray Dress was born!
How long did it take you to finish writing the book before the first edit? How many drafts were there in total?
Believe it or not the first draft took me 10 days. It was scary though. Don’t ever let anyone tell you they wrote a perfect book in just a couple weeks.
After I did a read through I knew I hated it. Lol It needed structure, and a more streamline end goal. After the first draft, I still didn’t know who the ‘hero’ would be of the two guys!! I intentionally avoided writing the ending chapter.
I sat down and made a post it for each chapter with what needed to happen. The chapters alternate between present time and Emi’s past so I knew certain things needed to be included to move the story along. After I got the post its made out, I hung them all above my screen. A few chapters (the past storyline) post it notes were blank. I didn’t have some of them decided upon until I got further in the story.
The second draft took about 2 weeks to write and then I took another two weeks to edit before sending over to my beta readers. After that I did another two edits, each taking about a week or two before finally pitching the book to publishers.
Are there any characters in the book based on people you know?
Nope. I think maybe my characters have a variety of characteristics of different people I’ve met over the years. But I can’t say any one character is anyone or mostly anyone one person in my life.
How did you celebrate being published? Did you have a launch party?
I live in Montana (USA) and I’m hundreds of miles from my family and most of my friends so I didn’t not have a physical launch party. Montana doesn’t seem to have much interest in a girly book.
My launch party was a FB Release Party. It’s so convenient to have it online where my friends and family can join in even though they aren’t here with me.
How do you beat writers block? Any tips?
Ha! I’m still trying to figure this one out. A lot of times if I’m really struggling with writers block I’ll go do something else for the day and come back tomorrow. A lot of times I’ve noticed I struggle just because there is something else on my mind that I need to take care of.
Do you have any hobbies apart from writing?
Do kids count? Lol
I have a lot going on, a husband, three kids, three cats, three dogs, a tank full of fish, home-schooling, the house chores and upkeep, a small business to run. There is just so much to do.
I really enjoy decorating and redecorating my home, reading, writing and just spending time with my family.
When you write, do you consider yourself to be a plotter or a pantser?
Definitely a pantser. When I sit down to write I have no idea where it might go or how it will even start. Because of this, I’ve trashed a LOT of manuscripts over the years.
Do you have any advice for fellow writers?
One thing I struggle with the most is just letting myself write badly for the first draft. It’s so hard to turn off the inner editor but it’s essential to keeping the flow of your story going. It’s much easier to edit something you hate than a blank page.
If your book became a film- who would you pick to play the main characters?
Wouldn’t that be amazing!?
For Emi – I’d cast Ashley Benson (Hannah from Pretty Little Liars). She just has the personality for Emi, I think.
For Jack – I’d choose Henry Cavill (yummy!) he’s exactly the Jack I picture in my head.
For Liam – I wrote Liam’s character based on Josh Duhamel and he is exactly who I’d choose to play this part.
For Lily (Emi’s best friend) – I’d cast Emma Stone. Give her dark hair and she’s for sure Lily.
The rest of the characters are kind of up in the air for me.
I see you have new work in progress- care to tell us about it?
Yeah! Right now, I’ve been working to finish a stand-alone rom/com that will feature one of the main characters in Little Gray Dress. It’s not a ‘sequel’ per say but you will get an insight into someone that everyone seems to need a happy ending for.
Lastly, where can readers find you and your book on the internet?
The eBook and paperback are both available on Amazon, here – myBook.to/LittleGrayDressU – (universal link)
You can also grab the paperback on Barnes & Noble, here – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-gray-dress-aimee-brown/1126482402?ean=9781547021802 -.
Buy the Book:
Amazon US: eBook–$2.99 | print–$9.99
Amazon UK: eBook–£1.99| print–£6.99
Barnes & Noble: print–$9.99
BookPeople: print– $9.99
Ingram: Print
Baker & Taylor: print– $9.99
Thank you so much for having me! Your questions were such fun.
Many thanks Aimee! Love the rename- and look forward to seeing your latest work once finished 🙂 I remember the cover reveal ages ago and now its here! Great release party too -congrats!
Aimee Brown is a writer and an avid reader. Little Gray Dress is her first published novel. My second novel is in the works now. She’s currently studying for her Bachelor’s degree in English Writing. She spends much of her time writing, doing homework, raising three teenagers, binge watching shows on Netflix and obsessively cleaning and redecorating her house. She’s fluent in sarcasm and has been known to utter profanities like she’s competing for a medal.
Aimee grew up in Oregon but is now a transplant living in cold Montana with her husband of twenty years, three teenage children, and far too many pets.
She would love to hear your thoughts on Little Gray Dress! If you’d like to chat with her she’s very active on social media. You can find her at any of the networks below. Stop by and say hello!
Find her here:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Website/Blog | GoodReads | Amazon Page Newsletter | Contacthttp://www.subscribepage.com/v5y6u9
Itsjennythewren's Blog 
Thank you SO much for featuring the book and I!! Loved your interview questions too. ❤️❤️