BYS asked Award-winning author Calista Fox aka Ava McKnight, a woman who went from a PR career specializing in writing speeches and Congressional testimonies to spinning romance stories, what went betwen the pages of her newest steamy release, Island Fantasy. Here's the inside scoop: "I'm a big fan of the beach and summer romances, so I guess it's only natural I'd write about both. In fact, I was on the beach when I wrote Island Fantasy. Not just any old beach, though. A gorgeous stretch of nearly deserted beach in Maroma, which is on the Riviera Maya outside of Cancun, Mexico.

BYS: What went Between the Sheets of this book?  Either what was happening in your life when you wrote it, or what was happening with the book as you wrote it.

AM: I’m a big fan of the beach and summer romances, so I guess it’s only natural I’d write about both. In fact, I was on the beach when I wrote Island Fantasy. Not just any old beach, though. A gorgeous stretch of nearly deserted beach in Maroma, which is on the Riviera Maya outside of Cancun, Mexico. It was rated one of the Top Ten Beaches in the World by the Travel Channel, and Most Romantic Beach by a couple of other credible sources that escape me now.

During my first visit, I could easily see why it ranks so high with travel enthusiasts. From large palapas on stilts in the water, you can enjoy a couple’s massage as the waves crash onto the shore below you. Take some tortillas on a snorkeling expedition and you’ll see some of the most amazing, vibrantly colored fish in the turquoise water. Stroll hand-in-hand along the sandy white beach, which feels like flour between your bare toes. Enjoy a sunset cruise with champagne and sultry Spanish ballads. Wake up the next day and do it all over again… *sigh*

I just talked myself into booking another trip!

BYS: Where did you find the idea to write this novel?

AM: I’ve always wanted to run away to a remote island (with signs of civilization, of course, because I really couldn’t fend for myself on a deserted island!) and hang out for a year or so with my laptop and some tropical cocktails and whatnot. I met a couple in Cabo San Lucas who’d just moved down there from the States. They’d visited once, fell in love with the beach and the town, and decided to stay! I thought that was hugely adventuresome and I admired them for it. So I thought, what the heck? If they could do it, so could my characters!

BYS: How long did it take to develop your characters for this book?

AM: Both Jewel and J.T. came quite easily to me. Jewel is a girl from Jersey whose father, a pro bass fisherman, migrated to the island with her in tow after Jewel’s mother died. Being a teenager, she resented the move at first, because it meant giving up everything familiar in her life. But, turns out, island life never suited anyone more perfectly!

As for J.T., he was living the high life in Manhattan as a stockbroker when he decided to head off to the island for a little R&R. His character fell into place when Jewel started to challenge him.

The chemistry between them ignited from the onset, and this story turned into one that sort of wrote itself!

BYS: Take us through a typical writing day and your creative process.

AM: Every day for me is a writing day, no matter where I’m at, what day of the week it is or what I’m doing! I wake up and start brainstorming about my current works in progress. I write every day, either on my laptop, my Pocket PC or my AlphaSmart. I’m a fast writer because I always have the story fully plotted in my head before I start, but I like to read and refine a chapter several times before I move onto the next one. I’m not good at doing an initial brain dump. I have to have a solid chapter before I can move on.

I also like to take time out during the day to find stuff on the web that inspires me while I’m writing a book. In addition, I have to build in time for administrative and promotional activities, and I also give talks on various topics, so I have to work on my workshops!

BYS: Are you a visual writer?   Do you see scenes and characters in your head?   Or do you hear the characters’ voices?

AM: All of the above! I play the stories like movies in my head before I start to write. The unfortunate side is that I don’t type as fast as my mind moves, and it gets frustrating when I’m mentally moving further ahead than my fingers are typing!

BYS: What is your re-writing and editing process?  Do you let anyone read your work in progress before it goes to your editor? 

AM: I do have critique partners and we have varying levels of read-throughs, ranging from high-level analyses to in-depth line editing. It all depends on the particular book, its length, my deadline and how comfortable I am with the plot and characters. For more complex works, chapter one can involve days of discussion!

BYS: What keeps you going and motivated when life throws you a curveball?

AM: My fans and reviewers!

BYS: Were you an avid reader as a child?

AM: Absolutely! My parents were avid readers and that’s where I picked up the habit!

BYS: Who or what influenced you to write and what inspires your imagination?

AM: I have no idea what influenced me to write. My English teachers kept telling my parents I had an aptitude for creative writing. I loved creating new stories, so that was the path I followed!

BYS: Anything special that you want to tell your readers about yourself?

AM: I’m all about reader appreciation, so be sure to visit my blog to enter my contest and have a chance to win an autographed copy of my print book, SIMON’S WICKED WEB! www.avamcknightauthor.blogspot.com  I also write as Calista Fox! www.calistafox.com

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