Interview with A.L. Goulden, Author of Chasing Swells

Interview with A.L. Goulden

1. What was your inspiration in coming up with the plot in the story?
   This book was my baby. I knew I wanted to write it before I wrote my first trilogy series. I wanted to focus on the world of professional surfing and the toll it takes on the love lives for those in it. I also wanted a love story from a man’s point of view. There are too few romances that I feel portray a man’s experience of falling in love realistically. My other inspiration was surfing itself. It’s a sport I love and follow, but few people know much about it or think of it as a legitimate profession, so it’s the perfect unique situation for a great book.
2. How long did it take you to write this book? What is the amount of research that went into writing it -- ie. did you need to travel somewhere or interview someone?
   I wrote the first draft of Chasing Swells over a three month period when I was still working full-time on How To Get Away With Murder. The real work came between seasons when I focused on my 2nd draft full-time for seven weeks. Then I worked for another two months with my editor before I had the final draft. All in all, it was about seven months. I’m already a pro surf nut, so my basic knowledge of the sport was there, but I spent a lot of time watching videos and interviews with athletes to get a better understanding of the lesser known career aspects. These professional athletes travel to beautiful places, but have to live like nomads in a sense to do what they love. I wanted to understand how that affected marriages, kids, and love.
3. Any favorite quote or scene from the book?
   There are so many great scenes in this book. It’s got humor, action, and seriously hot passion. That makes picking one favorite scene impossible. The tension and sarcasm between Dean and Azure make for sparks in every way.
4. What's your daily routine when you are working on a book?
   When I can write full-time, my day begins early. I’m up by 6 am to workout, then I write when my ideas are clearest. I go for 3-4 hours then take my dogs for a walk or the dog park. Walks are great for keeping the juices flowing. After I grab a bite, I dive back in for another 3 or so hours depending on errands or evening plans. I try to leave social media and emails to later in the day since the distraction is dangerous for me in the morning.
5. Have you always aspired to be an author? What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now?
   I have always been a storyteller, but I wasn’t planning to be an author. I went into filmmaking and clung to my architectural and design skills. The art department on any TV show or film creates an environment to tell a story you may never hear, but without it, the story you’re watching would not feel right. The biggest challenge since I discovered how much I love writing novels has been juggling my career as a Production Designer & Art Director with being an author. I firmly believe I can achieve both, but balancing it tricky.
6. What keeps you passionate about being an author and continuing to write books?
   I love the challenge of writing. The puzzle of building the story is the most addictive part for me. Each time I step into a story I’m compelled by some crazy force to figure out how to tell it best. There are always times when you question if continuing to pour your time into this is worth it, but when that happens I step away and read. The more I read the more I’m drawn back to writing.

Loved it! A. L. Goulden knows how to keep you turning pages. The characters are fully developed and don't fall flat.

- aclaremont, Amazon Reviewer

Catching waves has never been sexier! This story is beautiful because you have a woman that is not confident doing a job where confidence is key to getting what you want and a guy who has all the confidence for both of them.

- The Book Fairy Reviews, Amazon Reviewer

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