Interview with Rachelle Ayala

Writes for Chocolate

Today, I’m hosting author Rachelle Ayala, whom I had the pleasure of introducingto my readers in June. Rachelle’s latest release BROKEN BUILD has already earned several five-star reviews since its debut in September. Welcome back to the Realm, Rachelle!

Can you tell us about BROKENBUILD?

We hear about random tragedies all the time in the news. A school bus runs over a child. A suitcase falls off the camper in front of a minivan, killing the parents. Attention is focused on the victims and rightly so. How does the victim cope knowing that the carelessness of another person, either a stranger or an acquaintance, caused the devastating loss that ruined his life? What about the guilt of the person who caused the accident? Can he or she ever recover from the regret ? And what happens when they run into each other years later? Dave and Jen have such a history, and this is the premise upon which Broken Build was built on.

It sounds like Jen and Dave go through a lot of emotional turmoil throughout the book. As they come across all of the obstacles they must face, I’m sure they must wonder what it would be like to explore their relationship in a quieter environment. Tell me, how do you think their relationship would unfold if they were free to explore it under normal circumstances?

It’s hard to imagine what normal circumstances would be for them. Dave might have noticed how kind Jen was to small children and animals and how smart she was in terms of her job, figuring out the continuous build automation system as well as configuring virtual servers. But I doubt he would have acted on it because he was the CEO of the company and he didn’t lack for female companionship. It is precisely Dave’s vulnerability and Jen’s empathy for his tragic loss that drew them together. So if the sorrowful events had not happened, I don’t know for sure whether a relationship would have started. Kind of a bummer for the author to say this, isn’t it?

Your best-seller MICHAL’SWINDOW also depicts a struggle for freedom, but a different kind. Tell us about Michal’s story.

Michal’s story is of a woman living in a male-dominated society, a princess who is used as a political pawn. Nevertheless, she falls in love with David, the man who would someday supplant her father as King of Israel. David returns her love, but not in the way we would understand. He sees no conflict in taking other wives, while leaving Michal in Israel for her own safety.

Michal struggles with these repressive societal norms, and by her persistence and true devotion, she wins David for herself, but not before suffering through his affair with Bathsheba and asserting herself by loving another man (fictional). Michal’s Window combines factual and fictional elements to depict the yearning of a woman for love, freedom, and equality.

Your characters reflect a wide diversity of several cultures. We know in the world we live in that having such a diverse mix isn’t always easy. In fact, there are several cultures that are continuously fighting for their own freedom, much like your characters. What are your feelings of blending different cultures across the globe?

Freedom and respect are the two main drivers of peace between different cultures. You can’t have one without the other. I grew up in Los Angeles and hung out with many cultural groups. But the best groups were the blended ones where we were just friends and not samples from our culture—individuals who liked and respected each other. I never go out of my way to point out someone’s culture and I hate stereotyping. My characters’ various cultures bring richness to my story. This is true whether we are in Michal’s Window between the Israelites and the Philistines, or in present day America.

Your newest project sounds very interesting. What can you tell us about it?

Next year is the 40^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a landmark Supreme Court decision that changed an entire generation of Americans. Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, abortion has touched your life in ways you cannot imagine. Every child born after 1973 is a survivor of a single decision.

The one sentence synopsis for my book, Hidden Under Her Heart, is: “Raped and pregnant, a young nurse seeks justice while holding onto a shameful secret.” I hope this book will spark deep thinking and help those who have been touched by abortion to free themselves from their guilt and pain.

I feel like I’ve gotten to know you better by listening to you talk about your books and characters. What else can you tell my readers about you?

Thanks Andi, for having me visit with you. I like to stretch the limits in my writing. If a subject is taboo, I want to dig into it. If Bible verses and vivid sex scenes aren’t supposed to mix, I’m going to do it if it is true to my characters’ personalities. Again, I don’t like stereotyping and I’m free from genre-fiction “rules.” So expect the unexpected, and I hope you will be delighted by what you read.

I’m so glad you were able to visit the Realm again today, Rachelle! Please come back again anytime.

You can learn more about Rachelle on her website. Rachelle’s books are available on Amazon for the Kindle and in print.

What are your thoughts about the choices your favorite characters have to make regarding their own freedom? Dwell it over while picking up your free copy of BROKEN BUILD. Enjoy the remainder of the WLC Hot Babe Freebie Event!