Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to Aubrey Mayes' Belvedere Series!
***Synopsis***
Belvedere is a new Contemporary Romance series from Indianapolis author Aubrey Mayes.
After working his way up from an orphaned, teenaged debt collector in the Libera Organization to a thirty-two year old Underboss, Simone Belvedere becomes captivated by Estelle Presswood— an accepting and unafraid librarian that shares his unrequited love for literature.
As Simone's first romance turns into many more firsts, he's faced with a new, unknown threat to the organization, jeopardizing the lives and livelihoods of all involved.
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or was that decided before the story began?
The Series is a contemporary Mafia romance (not a dark Mafia romance).
The characters were definitely in charge, but I was leaning in that direction.
Are you more character or plot driven?
I am more character driven.
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep them separated in your mind? Do you have a story/vision board above your workspace?
They don’t seem to blur on me. It’s like watching a movie play out in my mind and just writing down what I see.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a life of their own. Were any of the characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of where you initially wanted them to go?
Al Landini completely took on a life of his own. He started out as a minor merc friend and now he’s a major character.
Are any of the male/female POVs based on anyone you know?
Nope.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
The aftermath of the climax of the second book was extremely hard to write.
Also, there is a scene in the upcoming fourth book that had me crying for half an hour while writing it.
What is your favorite book in the series?
Pyrrhic, without a doubt.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
Al Landini is my favorite character, I think. He’s just a lot of fun to write.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
Oh, man. That’s a hard one. Probably Simone and Estelle.
I wanted to write a relationship with balance, and that’s why Simone and Estelle are the way they are together.
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
I sit with my arms crossed and stare at the wall for about twenty minutes when I need to get back in the zone.
Just focusing on nothing but the characters at hand (This used to be a two-cigarette problem but I quit about a year and a half ago).
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
The climax of the first book, Belvedere, sticks out the most for me, because I had written it before most of the rest of the book. So I’m pretty partial to it.
Series - Were any of the books harder to write than others?
The fourth book that I’m currently working on is proving to be the most difficult because I decided it would be the last in the series and I want to do it justice, and keep it true to the story I want to tell.
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just the hero and heroine - I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further depth. Do you think you will write another book or series following this multiple POV outline? (if applicable)
I write in third person omniscient, and follow not only the main characters, but several “side” characters, too.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
The first book took a couple years to write, edit, and self-publish.
How did you come up with the title for your book and series?
I wanted to name the book and series after my leading man, Simone Belvedere.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
I don’t know, it could honestly go either way.
Series question – Did you know in advance that you were going to write this as a series or did one of the characters in book one demand their own story?
It started out as a short story and just kept snowballing.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
I would really love to see Don Libera played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and maybe a cleaned-up Jensen Ackles as Simone.
Other than that, I’d love to see some newbies take on the roles.
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect next? Whether a new book and series or a sequel to an existing series? Can you share a small tease?
I’m currently working on the next and last book in the series, Belvedere: Empire.
There is a major death coming, but I won’t say who or when…
Check out all my interviews/reviews for Aubrey Mayes!
https://readingbydeb.blogspot.com/2023/02/author-at-glance-aubrey-mayes.html
aubreymayes007@gmail.com
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