Ashlee Vitz is a teacher, actor, and writer from Indiana who discovered her Aztec heritage years after being adopted as an infant. She enjoys life in the Midwest with her husband and daughter, performs with Crossroads Repertory Theatre in the summers, and cherishes teaching her students at Center Grove High School. Her debut novel “Amber Armitage and The Aztec Trials” is a young adult fantasy adventure that takes readers on a fast-paced journey through ancient Aztec myths, family secrets, and self-discovery.

Interviewing an author is always an exciting experience. It offers a unique opportunity to ask about their creative process, explore the themes in their work, and uncover personal insights that often aren’t found in the books themselves. I love asking about their inspiration, challenges, and the journey that led to the creation of their latest project. This allows readers to connect deeper with the author and their work. Whether it’s debut authors or seasoned writers, each interview brings fresh perspectives, making it a rewarding experience for the author and my readers.

Last week I had the chance to ask Ashlee a few questions about her debut novel “Amber Armitage and The Aztec Trials.”

Sandra: What inspired you to write “Amber Armitage and The Aztec Trials”?
Ashlee: The common advice is to write what you know. Amber is an adopted girl from Indiana, and so am I. I met my maternal biological grandmother many years ago, but it was only a few years ago that she shared that I was the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of an Aztec chief. I knew nothing about Aztec society, and I thought writing this novel would be a great way to dive into research on that culture and finally make myself write a novel. Publishing my own fantasy work has been a dream of mine since childhood.

S: Can you share a little about the main character, Amber Armitage? What makes her unique?
A: Amber takes us on a journey of discovering what family really means. There isn’t a lot of work out there that has a young adult character leading us through this aspect of the coming-of-age story.

S: What challenges did Amber face during her trials, and how do they reflect her character development?
A: This is a hard question to answer without giving away any of the story! In general terms, much of what Amber has to endure requires her to take an extremely honest look at her life and herself. This is one of the hardest trials we all face. Amber is doing it in the heightened world of fantasy. Yet, just as we all grow in the real world when we understand ourselves better, that’s the kind of character development she undergoes as well.

S: Were there any specific themes or messages you wanted to convey through this book?
A: I want readers of this book to consider this question: What is family? I also want my readers to consider the complexities that come along with adoption for all parties involved.

S: How did your research process look when writing about the Aztec civilization?
A: That was a fascinating journey. I devoured several books and tried to find films on the topic. Film was much harder to find. I even came across a movie called Quetzalcoatl, but it ended up being a B-level horror film. It made me laugh a lot, but did not help me write the book! I did find several online history experts with interesting short videos, which were extremely helpful.

*Note: Quetzalcoatl is a highly revered god of the Aztecs. He plays an extremely important part in the novel.

S: What was the most surprising lesson you learned while writing this book?
A: Just like Amber, I met my biological mother during my first year of college. While writing this book and bringing each character to life, it was the first time I truly stepped into what it must’ve felt like for my mother when I met my biological mother. That was an excellent lesson in sympathy for me.

S: What role do supporting characters play in Amber’s journey and how do they influence her decisions?
A: Amber’s roommate, Kess, is both comic relief and her guide through much of Aztec culture. I hope readers love her as much as I do! In addition to Kess, Amber’s mother and her biological mother present her with many choices and their own advice, leaving it up to Amber to decide whom she’s going to listen to.

S: Do you have any plans for a sequel or further adventures for Amber Armitage?
A: Some of my favorite authors often say that their readers ask excellent questions that they hadn’t considered when beginning to write. So, if there are questions that I find intriguing, yes, I would love to address them in a sequel to this first story.

Thank you to Ashlee Vitz for taking the time to answer my questions. Fantasy novels centered around mythology and ancient civilizations are fascinating, especially when the protagonist is out to learn more about her family history. Such is the case in this book.

Read more about the Aztec culture: Aztec Civilization and History: Aztecs.

You can read my review of “Amber Armitage and The Aztec Trials” and get your own copy here.

What are your thoughts on ancient civilizations such as the Aztec? Have you used any DNA testing site as a tool to finding relatives?  Was it a positive or negative experience?