Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alyssa-Ray Bouman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alyssa-Ray, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I started my career as a Substance Abuse Counselor when I was very young. I counseled hundreds of people and loved every part of helping others. However, in 2020, when the pandemic occurred, everything changed. I was no longer meeting with my clients face-to-face but speaking with them through computer screens. This left me feeling burned out and in need of a change. It was then that I realized I wanted to pursue a more creative career path.

After six years of counseling individuals struggling with addiction, I decided I wanted to help others in a different way. I chose to follow in my mother’s footsteps and obtained my Cosmetology License. I began working in salons and as a freelance makeup artist through my business, AlyssaRaydiant Creations—a name inspired by my husband’s business, Memory Creations Photography.

Many thought I was overly ambitious to pursue these new creative goals while pregnant. However, even after having my son, I went back and finished what I had started, ultimately earning my Teacher’s License for Cosmetology. Now, I’m happy to announce that this September 2025, I will be one of the teachers launching the brand-new Adult Cosmetology Evening Program at Bergen Technical High School in Paramus, New Jersey.

Writing has always been a passion of mine. After having my son, I dove into motherhood 100%, but after his first birthday, I began to yearn for something that felt like mine again. It’s easy to lose your sense of autonomy in motherhood, so I sought something that belonged to me. What started as a joke from my husband turned into a dream. I’ve always loved people-watching and making up stories about those I see. My husband once joked that I should write a book—I don’t think he ever imagined I actually would. But with his encouragement and many long nights, I accomplished just that, writing my first novel, Will She Run.

I never imagined how life-changing that decision would be. Writing has become such a gratifying part of my life, bringing me immense joy. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t chosen to follow a more creative path.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For anyone wanting to get to know me—Hiya! My name is Alyssa-Ray—Wife, Mother, Writer, Educator, and Professional Coffee Drinker!

I writes stories that focus on love, resilience, and personal growth. My stories feature strong, complex heroines who navigate emotional challenges and life-altering choices. I explore themes of self-discovery, romance, and the power of choosing, and sometimes fighting, for one’s own path. My male characters will make you swoon, and I’m a sucker for a slow burn romance. My goal in writing is for each story to have such emotional depth that my readers can get lost and find parts of themselves in each story.

I started my career as a Substance Abuse Counselor, helping people rewrite their own life stories. But in 2020, when the world flipped upside down, I realized I needed a plot twist of my own. So, I took a leap into a more creative path, earning my Teacher’s License for Cosmetology and eventually rediscovered my love for reading and writing.

Somewhere between chasing my toddler, teaching, and helping my clients enhance their natural beauty with my makeup skills, I rediscovered my love for writing. What began as a joke from my husband, who suggested I write a book after catching me making up backstories for strangers, turned into late night, caffeine-fueled writing sessions, and the birth of my first novel, Will She Run.

Will She Run: A story of love, survival, and the fight to reclaim what’s been lost—Will She Run is an emotional journey through one woman’s battle to confront the past that haunts her and the future she never thought she deserved, but is now desperate to protect. Running from her past and hiding from danger, Della finds refuge in the Adirondacks, only to face the one thing she can’t escape—her own heart. Torn between trust and survival, she must decide: will she risk it all for love, or keep running?

I’m so proud of all my hard work and how far I’ve come since starting this journey. I feel truly blessed to be able to be living my dreams. Each one. God is good and I wouldn’t be here without Him having His hand on my life. I’m excited to continue this journey and continue expanding my world and friendships in the book community.

How did you build your audience on social media?

First- Follow me on Instagram @AlyssaRayWrites . I’ve learned it’s important to optimize every opportunity.

I’ll keep this answer short and to the point.
Luckily, I’ve always been great at creating content but I was totally clueless when I started out on how to market and advertise myself. I had no idea what I was doing on social media.

I’d prefer to use this question to reflect back and thank every person on social media who took the time to help me grow and learn. The Bookstagram community more specifically has been insanely helpful and supportive.

There have been other authors who reach out and share their experiences, thoughts, tips, and tricks with me. At this point I’m able to give back as well and our doors, or I should say our ‘Direct Messages’ are always open. This has been super encouraging.

Even more so I’ve created my own community of amazing readers who have joined my “Street Team”. These are readers who sign up to read your book in advance and help spread the word. I didn’t know any of this when I started out.

For anyone interested in beginning this journey I’d say before doing anything, become a part of this community. Immerse yourself. Find your people. After that everything else becomes easy.

Social Media Special Thanks to:

@authorLindseySaenz
My PA @bsmithbooktalk
@authornikkicallan
@author_molliegoins
@everlyclaireauthor
@lovenotesPR
@lunaliterarymanagement

And my incredible street team!
There’s so many of you to name but I want y’all to know that you mean the world to me!!!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of my writing journey has been seeing my characters, a world I have created, come to life and have such an impact on my readers.

I love these characters. They’re like my little babies. So when people read their stories and find parts of themselves in them, when they find their own healing in their stories, or tell me they have a new favorite book boyfriend, it makes me feel incredible.

I’ve shared a piece of myself and it’s out there for everyone. I’m able to appreciate my own hard work and it’s so rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alyssaraywrites.wixsite.com/alyssaraywrites
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/alyssaraywrites
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18pN4o7zJV/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: Goodreads- Goodreads.com/alyssa-rayAmazon- https://www.amazon.com/author/alyssaraybouman

  LinkTree- https://linktr.ee/AlyssaRayWrites

Image Credits

Family Photo and Portrait by Memory Creations Photography

Cover work by @SRCLARKDesigns on Instagram”