Ivy Smoak is the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon #1 bestselling author of The Hunted Series. Her books have sold over 4 million copies worldwide.
When she's not writing, you can find Ivy binge watching too many TV shows, taking long walks, playing outside, and generally refusing to act like an adult. She lives with her husband in Delaware.
It’s been a wild ride to chase her dreams...
“I believe anything is possible if you’re tenacious and not willing to let go of your dreams. I still pinch myself knowing how far I’ve come after all the nos I received early on. I found a love for reading in elementary school. I was in the lowest reading class and I was determined to work my way up to the highest. So one summer, I read and read and read some more. And I never stopped. I fell in love with stories. But even though I did work my way up into the highest reading class, I never would have dreamed to be on the other side of the stories I loved so much.
I always wished I could become an author. I just never thought it was possible. But in college, I decided to chase my dream. I wrote my first novel junior year and was…denied by dozens of literary agents. I could have stopped right there. I was basically told it was a pipe dream. That there was no room for my voice in the literary world. But I really hate being told no. So I didn’t let that stop me.
I wrote another book. One I thought was much better than the one I originally submitted to agents. And instead of even approaching literary agents this time, I decided to publish it on my own. I sold maybe 20 copies of that first self-published book. The market basically told me…no.
But the third time’s a charm. With the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey, my fiancé (now husband) Ryan Hauge encouraged me to read it. He was convinced that this genre was going to be the perfect fit for me. That the reason my first two books didn’t work was because I hadn’t found my niche. And I felt it. This was it. I was meant to be an author. And I was meant to write romance. I started writing right away. And I’ve never looked back.
The response from readers was overwhelming. I was constantly being told how different my romance novels are from what people usually read. How I didn’t follow the normal romance formula of happily-ever-afters. That my books were real, and raw, and riveting. They’re a rollercoaster of emotions, which makes sense. Because when I write, my emotions are all over the place. One minute I’m laughing with my characters, and the next scene I’m sobbing like a baby. I always say…if my books don’t make you cry, then I haven’t done my job!
The best compliment I get, though, is when people tell me that they hated reading until they picked up one of my books. So you know what? I just changed my mind. Making readers cry is important, but sharing the joy of reading is even more important. I want my books to be for adults what Harry Potter was for children. I want to get everyone to love reading again!
In 2019, Ryan and I made the crazy decision to both go full-time working on the business. We took the leap together as a team. And as soon as it was our sole focus…it exploded.
My first romance novel, Temptation (The Hunted series book 1), hit #51 on Amazon’s Best Sellers of 2020 in Kindle eBooks. It currently sits at #6 on this year’s list. It was also featured on Southern Livings most popular romance novels of 2020 at #9 – the only book on the list that was neither a new release or a TV show or movie.
And the best part – we’ve grown this amazing group of thousands of readers that come to discuss their love for my books in my Facebook Group – the Ivy Smoaksters. It’s the most supportive, uplifting community of readers. We always say…positive vibes only. The best part about all of this is being able to connect with readers in such a unique way.
I never gave up. I never let anyone tell me no. And now I’ve sold more than a million copies worldwide, exclusively through self-publishing. I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Because there are still so many fun milestones to hit.
I’m entirely self-published, and I love the control that gives me over my stories. But I still believe that a dream partnership with a publisher is out there. One who understands my vision and loves my characters as much as I do. We’ll find each other soon, I just know it.
And then there’s my ultimate goal - to see my stories come to life as a TV show. And it’s going to happen. Because let’s be honest…everyone wants to see that steamy, wild office scene from Temptation on the big screen. And I never take no for an answer.”
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