Amateur Angel Blog Tour

Hi everyone! Today Catching Books is a part of the Amateur Angel Blog Tour!!

Amateur Angel Character Interview

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself to our fellow readers out there?
Hello readers!  My name is Brett Ashley Baker, but I go by my middle name, Ashley. I’m 18 years old, and after dying in a car accident, I’ll be 18 years old forever – at least physically, in terms of my “angel” body, – but not in terms of my “angel” soul. My soul will live forever and continue to age as I watch the world and time pass around me. Before I died, I had just graduated from high school and planned to go to college. My major was undeclared; I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be, but now none of that matters anymore, since I have a new career – guardian angel – and I will be an angel for eternity. Now that I’m am angel, it’s hard to talk about myself because my life on earth, my physical life, shouldn’t matter to me. As an angel, my job is to “watch and wait” and protect my assignment, rock star Cannon Michaels, from physical harm, but I will say that I’ve become less judgmental since I’ve died, and I have a greater appreciation for life – all life – and I’m learning to love and respect all people unconditionally. 



How would you describe your family in 3 words or less?
“Close and supportive.” I miss them so much!

Whats your favorite part being an angel?
Protecting my assignment is definitely the best part about being a guardian angel. There’s a deep satisfaction in “watching and waiting” and feeling an unconditional love for another person, but flying comes in at a close second. I hated flying at first. I was so uncoordinated when it came to my wings. I’d fight the wind instead of adapting and working with it. My feathers would ruffle up and get out of place, but now I love it. Now I can keep up with Cannon’s Porsche.


Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I’ll still be with Cannon, unless it’s “his time” to die, and even me, with all of my “angel” protection, can’t keep him alive. Since I apparently “specialize in adults” I’ll be with Cannon until the day he dies, and then I’ll be assigned to another adult. Hopefully within 5 years, my touching skills will be perfected, and I’ll be even better at flying.  In 5 years, I also want to be as non-judgmental as fellow angels, Will and Margie. There’s something else I hope will happen within 5 years, but if I tell you what that is, it will give away the end of my story, so you’ll need to read the book, and then you’ll be able to figure that one out for yourself.


What's your favorite fairy tale? My favorite fairy tale has always been Sleeping Beauty, and when I first died, I honestly kind of felt like Sleeping Beauty, too. Since I missed my “Welcoming,” I didn’t accept my death right away. I felt numb, in a bad dream, waiting for Prince Charming to kiss me and bring me back to reality. Of course that didn’t quite happen, and with time and the support of Will and Margie, I realized that I’d been awake the whole time, but the Prince Charming part? Well, you’ll just have to read my story to find out about that.

If you'd have one wish, what would it be?
If I had one wish, I’d wish to have a few minutes with my mom, dad, and my sister, Stephie – not before I died – but right now as an angel. I’d want them to be able to see me and hear me, so I could tell them that I’m okay and not to be sad anymore because my soul continues to live, and I’m happy with my guardian angelship. 

About the Author:

As a first-time author, I cannot express- not even in words- how excited I am about the release of my debut novel, Amateur Angel.  It took a lot of hard work and sleepless nights.  There were many disappointments and rejections along the way, but in the end, my persistence and determination eventually paid off.  In many ways, I think writing a novel is easier than finding an agent to represent it and then a publisher to buy it.  Two years ago, I almost gave up on my dream to become an author, but then my son, Kyle, wrote a special poem for me, and it inspired me to write a new book and try again.  The new book was Amateur Angel.

Here is his poem:

        You fail and you fail,

        You fix and you fix,

        You wait and you wait,

        Until you succeed.

I hung this poem in my closet and read it every day when I was getting ready to go to work and each night before I went to bed.  It is still there and always will be.  I know what I’m about to say will sound like a cliché, but based on my own personal experience, the best advice I can give anyone is to always believe in your abilities, hold your head high, swallow your pride, accept criticism and then learn from it, and most importantly, never give up.

I grew up in San Diego County and attended San Diego State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in education, and my teaching credential.  I am a high-school English teacher in the East County of San Diego where I also live with my husband, our son, and two dogs.

Being a lover of Victorian literature, my favorite author is Charles Dickens although I haven’t quite finished reading all of his books.  Someday I’ll finally finish David Copperfield- I promise.  If you are one of my students, you are either laughing or shaking your head at this.

I lead a very busy life, but when I’m not teaching, grading papers, or attending my son’s soccer games, I find time to write novels, my greatest passion. 

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