Ask the Author: Kristen Ashley
Answered Questions (697)
Kristen Ashley
Hey there, Fran,
If you can't think of the book, then this is a good catch because this is indeed referencing another book I've written. The woman Cassidy is referring to is Nina in THE GAMBLE which is book one in the Colorado Mountain Series. So if you've just read JAGGED in that series and you're interested, pop back to book one to get the whole story!
Thanks for your question. xx
If you can't think of the book, then this is a good catch because this is indeed referencing another book I've written. The woman Cassidy is referring to is Nina in THE GAMBLE which is book one in the Colorado Mountain Series. So if you've just read JAGGED in that series and you're interested, pop back to book one to get the whole story!
Thanks for your question. xx
Kristen Ashley
Hello there, Ava,
Well, first thing to write a good book is not to listen to anyone telling you shouldn't write a book if you don't blah, blah or blah.
If you have the drive, the stories bubbling inside you, and the desire to go for it -- then go for it! I didn't know anything about writing or publishing. But I loved reading. I loved writing. I never thought I'd get anything out of my writing except my enjoyment of it. I never thought I'd get published. I certainly didn't think I'd make a career from it. And I didn't care about that.
Did I want that? Yes. Did I think it would happen. No.
I just loved writing. So I wrote.
And wrote. And wrote.
And the more I wrote the more I realized it was crucial to write for me. To write what I loved to write. How the stories came to me. What I loved to read. More and more, I threw out what I thought were the "rules" and just WROTE.
I think that every writer out there could give you a different answer to what the key is of writing a good book.
But I always go back to the EB White quote, "The whole duty of a writer is to please and satisfy himself, and the true writer always plays to an audience of one."
In other words, if you have a story to tell, tell YOUR story how it comes to you in the telling. Don't worry about what anyone will think of it. Don't worry if it'll get published. Don't worry about anything except if it's the story YOU want told and in the end, YOU love it.
If you can finish it and read it and it makes you happy, then you've written something good.
Good luck!
Well, first thing to write a good book is not to listen to anyone telling you shouldn't write a book if you don't blah, blah or blah.
If you have the drive, the stories bubbling inside you, and the desire to go for it -- then go for it! I didn't know anything about writing or publishing. But I loved reading. I loved writing. I never thought I'd get anything out of my writing except my enjoyment of it. I never thought I'd get published. I certainly didn't think I'd make a career from it. And I didn't care about that.
Did I want that? Yes. Did I think it would happen. No.
I just loved writing. So I wrote.
And wrote. And wrote.
And the more I wrote the more I realized it was crucial to write for me. To write what I loved to write. How the stories came to me. What I loved to read. More and more, I threw out what I thought were the "rules" and just WROTE.
I think that every writer out there could give you a different answer to what the key is of writing a good book.
But I always go back to the EB White quote, "The whole duty of a writer is to please and satisfy himself, and the true writer always plays to an audience of one."
In other words, if you have a story to tell, tell YOUR story how it comes to you in the telling. Don't worry about what anyone will think of it. Don't worry if it'll get published. Don't worry about anything except if it's the story YOU want told and in the end, YOU love it.
If you can finish it and read it and it makes you happy, then you've written something good.
Good luck!
Kristen Ashley
You can learn all about the Rock Chicks, and what I might do with the spin-off series here: http://www.kristenashley.net/titles/r...
And you can always keep up-to-date on what I'm doing/working on/thinking for future books here: http://www.kristenashley.net/titles/c...
As for Hawk's men, this is a consideration. I don't have it planned right now but I think it'd be fun. So we'll see! :-)
And you can always keep up-to-date on what I'm doing/working on/thinking for future books here: http://www.kristenashley.net/titles/c...
As for Hawk's men, this is a consideration. I don't have it planned right now but I think it'd be fun. So we'll see! :-)
Kristen Ashley
We do know that ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING will be on audio. However, I haven't heard yet when you can expect it. I just know it's happening! And I promise to shout it out everywhere I can when it's coming, pre-orders, the whole shebang. :-)
Kristen Ashley
Sady, we don't yet have dates when to expect the last two (FAIRYTALE COME ALIVE and LUCKY STARS).
However, I do know they're in production.
When I know when you can expect them, I'll spread the word!!!!
However, I do know they're in production.
When I know when you can expect them, I'll spread the word!!!!
Kristen Ashley
I can recommend a bunch of them!!!
If you're talking romance, then you could try Jill Shalvis. Or Kylie Scott. Or Alessandra Torre. Or Mia Sheridan. Or Julia Quinn. Or Judith McNaught (my all-time fave author - start with KINGDOM OF DREAMS or SOMETHING WONDERFUL but don't miss ALMOST HEAVEN and ONCE AND ALWAYS).
Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series is DA BOMB.
Johanna Lindsey's WARRIOR'S WOMAN is vintage deliciousness.
For BDSM erotica, I can't recommend Joey W. Hill's NATURAL LAW highly enough.
Or another erotica that's brilliant, the anthology THE DEVIL'S DOORBELL, every story is superb.
SCATTERED ASHES by Annie Anderson is funny, badass and fast paced (the Ashes to Ashes series now has four books, I've only read the first but I intend to read them all).
Hope you find a gem in there (or many of them) that you love! )
If you're talking romance, then you could try Jill Shalvis. Or Kylie Scott. Or Alessandra Torre. Or Mia Sheridan. Or Julia Quinn. Or Judith McNaught (my all-time fave author - start with KINGDOM OF DREAMS or SOMETHING WONDERFUL but don't miss ALMOST HEAVEN and ONCE AND ALWAYS).
Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series is DA BOMB.
Johanna Lindsey's WARRIOR'S WOMAN is vintage deliciousness.
For BDSM erotica, I can't recommend Joey W. Hill's NATURAL LAW highly enough.
Or another erotica that's brilliant, the anthology THE DEVIL'S DOORBELL, every story is superb.
SCATTERED ASHES by Annie Anderson is funny, badass and fast paced (the Ashes to Ashes series now has four books, I've only read the first but I intend to read them all).
Hope you find a gem in there (or many of them) that you love! )
Kristen Ashley
He's totally faithful to her. He might have a strong libido, but he has a stronger loyalty streak and if he needed to "get some" he would have quit waiting for Tess and gone to her sooner! :-)
Kristen Ashley
Hey there, Colleen,
In the writing world, I'm known as a "pantser" -- that is, I write by the seat of my pants. I don't have anything sketched out, blocked, outlined or even notes made! I just go with the story (and with the Rock Chicks, the stories were all over the place, I think I had RESCUE, REDEMPTION, RENEGADE and REVENGE done before I finished ROCK CHICK). So I just ride their wave...and pray it turns out in the end!!!
In the writing world, I'm known as a "pantser" -- that is, I write by the seat of my pants. I don't have anything sketched out, blocked, outlined or even notes made! I just go with the story (and with the Rock Chicks, the stories were all over the place, I think I had RESCUE, REDEMPTION, RENEGADE and REVENGE done before I finished ROCK CHICK). So I just ride their wave...and pray it turns out in the end!!!
Kristen Ashley
Hey there!
I definitely love to read the love for Lily and Nathaniel (and Fazire!). I'm not entirely certain how I got inspired to write a genie book...but I'm glad I did!
As for more Fazire/genie books, I'd definitely love to see how Fazire (and Lily and Nate), handle Tash and Jon finding their one and onlies, but alas, I have nothing in the plans right now to do that. I have recently discovered a love for writing novellas so that means I could be able to write some exciting things to see some old characters to catch up and to tie up some stories I've long wanted to do...so fingers crossed I'll find the time and then anything goes!
I definitely love to read the love for Lily and Nathaniel (and Fazire!). I'm not entirely certain how I got inspired to write a genie book...but I'm glad I did!
As for more Fazire/genie books, I'd definitely love to see how Fazire (and Lily and Nate), handle Tash and Jon finding their one and onlies, but alas, I have nothing in the plans right now to do that. I have recently discovered a love for writing novellas so that means I could be able to write some exciting things to see some old characters to catch up and to tie up some stories I've long wanted to do...so fingers crossed I'll find the time and then anything goes!
Kristen Ashley
Elizabeth Cameron and Ian Thornton, first because they're fabulous, second because they were the first I discovered of Judith McNaught (in her novel ALMOST HEAVEN) and they lit a wildfire that was always healthy and relatively raging for my love of romance.
I'd been reading romance for years, and loving doing that, but Elizabeth and Ian were simply everything. Everything. The book was swoony and funny and heartbreaking and dripping with romance and characters you loved to have the privilege of loving. I went on to devour everything Judith McNaught and I went on to love all of them. But Elizabeth and Ian will always hold a special place in my heart because they were the first when I'd finally discovered the best.
I'd been reading romance for years, and loving doing that, but Elizabeth and Ian were simply everything. Everything. The book was swoony and funny and heartbreaking and dripping with romance and characters you loved to have the privilege of loving. I went on to devour everything Judith McNaught and I went on to love all of them. But Elizabeth and Ian will always hold a special place in my heart because they were the first when I'd finally discovered the best.
Kristen Ashley
Well, I'm currently writing the finale to the Magdalene series so I hope in the next few weeks to have an understanding of when you'll be getting that. And I'll definitely shout it out when I know the date for certain!
As for authors who inspire me, although I'm trying to get back into reading (I fell out of a very obsessive habit when I started writing), I don't get as much fodder for inspiration as I once did.
That said, Judith McNaught is my absolute favorite romance writer. We have very different styles but her brilliance set the groundwork for me to write strong but flawed alpha heroes, very likable (and relatable) heroines, to inject humor in even an intense story, and to pay attention to fully developing side characters not only because they help to define the heroes and heroines, they draw the reader more deeply into the story.
Recently, the brilliance of Joey W. Hill definitely inspired me. I've read three of her books (NATURAL LAW, ICE QUEEN, MIRROR OF MY SOUL) and they each were superb. She's a master of the craft, a stellar talent with words and storytelling. NATURAL LAW inspired me to write my new Honey series, my own spin, my own voice, but the kind of story that's been screaming in my head to be told and Joey gave me the courage to do it.
As for what I like to read (and thus inspiring just because I enjoy them), favorites for years are Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood and recent(ish) discoveries include Jill Shalvis, Kylie Scott, Annie Anderson, Alessandra Torre and Mia Sheridan.
As for authors who inspire me, although I'm trying to get back into reading (I fell out of a very obsessive habit when I started writing), I don't get as much fodder for inspiration as I once did.
That said, Judith McNaught is my absolute favorite romance writer. We have very different styles but her brilliance set the groundwork for me to write strong but flawed alpha heroes, very likable (and relatable) heroines, to inject humor in even an intense story, and to pay attention to fully developing side characters not only because they help to define the heroes and heroines, they draw the reader more deeply into the story.
Recently, the brilliance of Joey W. Hill definitely inspired me. I've read three of her books (NATURAL LAW, ICE QUEEN, MIRROR OF MY SOUL) and they each were superb. She's a master of the craft, a stellar talent with words and storytelling. NATURAL LAW inspired me to write my new Honey series, my own spin, my own voice, but the kind of story that's been screaming in my head to be told and Joey gave me the courage to do it.
As for what I like to read (and thus inspiring just because I enjoy them), favorites for years are Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood and recent(ish) discoveries include Jill Shalvis, Kylie Scott, Annie Anderson, Alessandra Torre and Mia Sheridan.
Kristen Ashley
I couldn't believe with my aversion to brevity I could manage to do a 14 word challenge but mine is definitely from a book I'd love to drop everything and write (which is to say, one of about 15 I'd love to drop everything and write). :-)
And as with many of the books that come to me, if they are determined to be told, they will be told. So right now this one is there in my head, and it's SO there that when I was handed this challenge, it came right to the fore. But it isn't on the radar to be written at this time.
However, in what you got, they're strangers. Her black eye was given by someone else. And he sees her, HER (with a black eye).
And he's lost. :-)
And as with many of the books that come to me, if they are determined to be told, they will be told. So right now this one is there in my head, and it's SO there that when I was handed this challenge, it came right to the fore. But it isn't on the radar to be written at this time.
However, in what you got, they're strangers. Her black eye was given by someone else. And he sees her, HER (with a black eye).
And he's lost. :-)
Kristen Ashley
First, I may adopt your made-up word into my language. If you see it in a book, you can pat yourself on the back! :-)
Second, and the answer to your question, this comes in two parts.
The first part is that a straight-out apology is out of character for the men in question. You mention MYSTERY MAN (so I'm assuming you also mean to call out Hawk) as well as Joe in AT PEACE.
Now I'm going into the second part of this answer to explain why it's out of character. And it's not just alpha-pride preventing them from admitting they're wrong or apologizing for something that deserves an apology (though, in all honesty, this may play a part -- but not a large part).
It's because what's in character is for these men not to be men of words, but men of action. I make a major point of this in JAGGED, with my character Ham. He explains...and then demonstrates...the concept of showing, not telling, in a variety of very important things.
You can say I love you a million times. A man will beat you, and do it at the same time saying he loves you. A man will insult you, and do it at the same time saying he's doing it as a way of telling you he loves you. A man can say he's sorry and do it a million times and not mean it even once if he keeps doing what he was doing or does even worse.
However, a man who TRULY loves you, who does something wrong and is TRULY sorry, SHOWS one, the other, or when it's needed, both.
I'm not sure how much more Joe would need to work to win Vi and her daughters. The man is desperately in love with all three of them.
But (this part is a spoiler, so beware!) when the worst happens, he's on the outside having to force his way in, win Vi back, win Keira back. When the worst happens, when what happened to Vi and her girls happened, the last place the man who loves those three girls like he loves those three girls wants to be is where Joe was.
Can you imagine the torture he must have felt hearing Vi's grief, seeing it, seeing the girls', and knowing he'd screwed up so hugely, he wasn't THERE for them but had to force himself from the position he'd placed himself outside that family to be the man they needed in the time of their loss?
I can. It broke years of grief, desolation and self-imposed solitude for Joe. It filled a man who was determined to stay empty, to feel nothing to protect himself from feeling something, into feeling everything. He didn't start a relationship with a woman who he enjoyed sleeping with. He became the man of a ready-made family, the members of which had been tossed into another hell of grief at the same time they were experiencing terror.
He did not do that blind. He did not do that because he liked Vi in his bed.
He became the man in the life of three women, a lover to one, the father to two, and this is not something Joe Callahan would have EVER considered for anyone but those three.
So I would argue he suffered enough, at fate's hand, at his ex-wife's hand, at his own hand, and at Vi's (and Keira's) distrust (at first).
Would it have won them faster if he'd just said, "I'm sorry" instead of "You're mine. The girls are mine... And I'm yours."?
I don't know. But I personally prefer the latter. In words, it says much more than "I'm sorry." But in his actions from the minute Vi opens that door to her parents, he's all in, no holds barred, not just in words, not just in actions, but with EVERYTHING. He (literally) broke down that door he closed his own self, and once he did, he would not allow it to be closed. Not ever again.
Then he set about making that so.
God, I LOVE Joe!
As for Hawk, he came face to face with "working for it" at the end of that book. It'd be too much of a spoiler to get into it...but again, he was a man closed off from emotion, he lost so much, someone as strong as him physically and even mentally, emotionally, he was so battered and lost, he didn't have the strength to try again.
Until Gwen.
And with a man like Hawk, that's saying something about what he felt for Gwen.
I don't know. Perhaps I'm too forgiving. But I think if you love someone, even if you can never understand the suffering they've had, but you understand it's there and just how much of a struggle it is just for them to take a chance, when they're ready to give life a shot again, love a shot again, you wouldn't make that (too) hard on them. I'm not sure what the purpose of that would be.
I totally get the concept of "I'm a woman, you can't walk all over me, come back and it'll be all right."
But I think if a hero truly understands they screwed up, demonstrates that, and doesn't go back there again, forgiveness is much harder to gift, and as such, a much more beautiful gift to give. So the stronger heroine will be able to find that place in her heart without forcing him to his knees and making him grovel. Not if she knows the man she has on her hands. I'm not sure it's the strong thing to do or even the RIGHT thing to do to force a man to his knees (who's not comfortable being there, ahem ;-)). But allowing him to show in his way he's learned, he feels remorse, and he wants to move forward together and stronger, well...
Obviously, that works for me!
So, to end, it's part of them, the men, how they are, how they do things, how they communicate. But really, it's the beauty of the women, coming to the understanding of how their men are and loving them for that, not "allowing" them to be as they are, not "accepting" it is how they are, but loving them JUST as they are and understanding just WHO they are and falling into how their lives will be understanding how they need to communicate and being the safe haven for their men in just that.
And to be honest, if these women didn't do that, these men would not grovel or apologize. As they learned to "get" these women and love them as they came, they'd want to be with a woman who "gets" them and love them as they come.
As it should be.
Second, and the answer to your question, this comes in two parts.
The first part is that a straight-out apology is out of character for the men in question. You mention MYSTERY MAN (so I'm assuming you also mean to call out Hawk) as well as Joe in AT PEACE.
Now I'm going into the second part of this answer to explain why it's out of character. And it's not just alpha-pride preventing them from admitting they're wrong or apologizing for something that deserves an apology (though, in all honesty, this may play a part -- but not a large part).
It's because what's in character is for these men not to be men of words, but men of action. I make a major point of this in JAGGED, with my character Ham. He explains...and then demonstrates...the concept of showing, not telling, in a variety of very important things.
You can say I love you a million times. A man will beat you, and do it at the same time saying he loves you. A man will insult you, and do it at the same time saying he's doing it as a way of telling you he loves you. A man can say he's sorry and do it a million times and not mean it even once if he keeps doing what he was doing or does even worse.
However, a man who TRULY loves you, who does something wrong and is TRULY sorry, SHOWS one, the other, or when it's needed, both.
I'm not sure how much more Joe would need to work to win Vi and her daughters. The man is desperately in love with all three of them.
But (this part is a spoiler, so beware!) when the worst happens, he's on the outside having to force his way in, win Vi back, win Keira back. When the worst happens, when what happened to Vi and her girls happened, the last place the man who loves those three girls like he loves those three girls wants to be is where Joe was.
Can you imagine the torture he must have felt hearing Vi's grief, seeing it, seeing the girls', and knowing he'd screwed up so hugely, he wasn't THERE for them but had to force himself from the position he'd placed himself outside that family to be the man they needed in the time of their loss?
I can. It broke years of grief, desolation and self-imposed solitude for Joe. It filled a man who was determined to stay empty, to feel nothing to protect himself from feeling something, into feeling everything. He didn't start a relationship with a woman who he enjoyed sleeping with. He became the man of a ready-made family, the members of which had been tossed into another hell of grief at the same time they were experiencing terror.
He did not do that blind. He did not do that because he liked Vi in his bed.
He became the man in the life of three women, a lover to one, the father to two, and this is not something Joe Callahan would have EVER considered for anyone but those three.
So I would argue he suffered enough, at fate's hand, at his ex-wife's hand, at his own hand, and at Vi's (and Keira's) distrust (at first).
Would it have won them faster if he'd just said, "I'm sorry" instead of "You're mine. The girls are mine... And I'm yours."?
I don't know. But I personally prefer the latter. In words, it says much more than "I'm sorry." But in his actions from the minute Vi opens that door to her parents, he's all in, no holds barred, not just in words, not just in actions, but with EVERYTHING. He (literally) broke down that door he closed his own self, and once he did, he would not allow it to be closed. Not ever again.
Then he set about making that so.
God, I LOVE Joe!
As for Hawk, he came face to face with "working for it" at the end of that book. It'd be too much of a spoiler to get into it...but again, he was a man closed off from emotion, he lost so much, someone as strong as him physically and even mentally, emotionally, he was so battered and lost, he didn't have the strength to try again.
Until Gwen.
And with a man like Hawk, that's saying something about what he felt for Gwen.
I don't know. Perhaps I'm too forgiving. But I think if you love someone, even if you can never understand the suffering they've had, but you understand it's there and just how much of a struggle it is just for them to take a chance, when they're ready to give life a shot again, love a shot again, you wouldn't make that (too) hard on them. I'm not sure what the purpose of that would be.
I totally get the concept of "I'm a woman, you can't walk all over me, come back and it'll be all right."
But I think if a hero truly understands they screwed up, demonstrates that, and doesn't go back there again, forgiveness is much harder to gift, and as such, a much more beautiful gift to give. So the stronger heroine will be able to find that place in her heart without forcing him to his knees and making him grovel. Not if she knows the man she has on her hands. I'm not sure it's the strong thing to do or even the RIGHT thing to do to force a man to his knees (who's not comfortable being there, ahem ;-)). But allowing him to show in his way he's learned, he feels remorse, and he wants to move forward together and stronger, well...
Obviously, that works for me!
So, to end, it's part of them, the men, how they are, how they do things, how they communicate. But really, it's the beauty of the women, coming to the understanding of how their men are and loving them for that, not "allowing" them to be as they are, not "accepting" it is how they are, but loving them JUST as they are and understanding just WHO they are and falling into how their lives will be understanding how they need to communicate and being the safe haven for their men in just that.
And to be honest, if these women didn't do that, these men would not grovel or apologize. As they learned to "get" these women and love them as they came, they'd want to be with a woman who "gets" them and love them as they come.
As it should be.
Kristen Ashley
Hey there, SL,
Keep an eye on my website and social media for any news about what might come from me, including when to expect the Rock Chick spin-off.
Right now, I'm sorry to disappoint by saying it's not currently on radar because I have quite a bit of writing to do to close out series currently running in which my readers want to see what's next. I want to get to a place where I can focus on only a series or two (not five or six!) and thus not make readers wait crazy amounts of time to see the next one.
But I've been working hard at that, completing The 'Burg, my Unfinished Heroes, and my Fantasyland series recently, so I'm actually closing in on it! I'm finishing up Magdalene now, only one left in the Colorado Mountain series, and then it's just Chaos...and whatever comes next!
So it won't be this year but when it is, I promise to shout it out on all my social media as well as my website.
As for Darius, Roam and Sniff, even I don't know how the spin-off series is going to shape up. I have an inkling we'll see Eric Turner somewhere along the way :-) but the characters haven't yet spoken to me. So we shall see! I just hope you like what you get!!!! I'll do my best!
Just an FYI: website: www.kristenAshley.net - and you can subscribe to my newsletter there too.
Keep an eye on my website and social media for any news about what might come from me, including when to expect the Rock Chick spin-off.
Right now, I'm sorry to disappoint by saying it's not currently on radar because I have quite a bit of writing to do to close out series currently running in which my readers want to see what's next. I want to get to a place where I can focus on only a series or two (not five or six!) and thus not make readers wait crazy amounts of time to see the next one.
But I've been working hard at that, completing The 'Burg, my Unfinished Heroes, and my Fantasyland series recently, so I'm actually closing in on it! I'm finishing up Magdalene now, only one left in the Colorado Mountain series, and then it's just Chaos...and whatever comes next!
So it won't be this year but when it is, I promise to shout it out on all my social media as well as my website.
As for Darius, Roam and Sniff, even I don't know how the spin-off series is going to shape up. I have an inkling we'll see Eric Turner somewhere along the way :-) but the characters haven't yet spoken to me. So we shall see! I just hope you like what you get!!!! I'll do my best!
Just an FYI: website: www.kristenAshley.net - and you can subscribe to my newsletter there too.
Kristen Ashley
Well, girl, I think this puts me in the position of accepting your hug because of all my heroines, the one that mostly comes from down deep inside the woman that is me is Lauren. That is, it was Lauren until I found my "something special" in living the dream of telling my stories for a living and having my world grow so beautifully in being able to connect with the people who enjoy them (like you :-)).
As for inspiration for characters, it comes from everywhere. Sometimes it's people in my life (like Tod and Stevie, Nick, Annette, Herb and Trish, all from the Rock Chicks, Keira and Kate from The 'Burg, to name a few).
Sometimes I take characteristics of people I love and put them into a character to instill the love I have for someone in my life into that character (Tex from the Rock Chicks, Faye from BREATHE, Sam from AT PEACE, also to name a few).
Sometimes they're just made up from the massive mental catalog of life observations I've filed away.
And sometimes they just hit like a ton of bricks, so clear, it's like I'd met them and knew them my whole life.
I just keep feeding that catalog and keep my mind open to whatever characters come to me and then I can keep giving them to you!
As for inspiration for characters, it comes from everywhere. Sometimes it's people in my life (like Tod and Stevie, Nick, Annette, Herb and Trish, all from the Rock Chicks, Keira and Kate from The 'Burg, to name a few).
Sometimes I take characteristics of people I love and put them into a character to instill the love I have for someone in my life into that character (Tex from the Rock Chicks, Faye from BREATHE, Sam from AT PEACE, also to name a few).
Sometimes they're just made up from the massive mental catalog of life observations I've filed away.
And sometimes they just hit like a ton of bricks, so clear, it's like I'd met them and knew them my whole life.
I just keep feeding that catalog and keep my mind open to whatever characters come to me and then I can keep giving them to you!
Kristen Ashley
I actually love it that you asked this question, Sarah, because THE GAMBLE always had a special place in my heart because of where the story came from and it might not be what you're thinking (I don't know a gorgeous, gruff but wonderful and kind man in an A-Frame, alas).
I started reading romance when I was really rather young. Harlequin Presents, by the dozen. My mom read them, had the subscription, new ones every month, and I devoured every one. To the point that four a month were not enough so I was at the library all the time. This graduated to me stealing her slightly more saucy "bodice rippers" and hiding that I read them from her (or not hiding -- I THOUGHT I was hiding them but nothing ever got past my mom, they weren't THAT saucy back in the day and I think as an English major, she was thrilled I loved to read like she did).
I have told the story a lot about how I always had difficulty sleeping, and from when I was young, I used to tell myself stories to put myself to sleep. When I started reading romance, the stories I told myself would become romances. Eventually, I would remember where I drifted off and then start at that point the next night...and the next...and the next...
In the end, I decided to write these stories down (thus my current career :-)).
But you can imagine that I'd made up hundreds and hundreds of stories over the decades of putting myself to sleep making them up.
Now my brain is a little foggy after some travel this weekend but in sitting here, I think I can recall two of my favorite scenarios that I'd always go back to in making up my stories. Both of which I've used in writing books I've published.
One was the hero and heroine having to hide out in a cave. I don't know where this came from but I always loved that idea. Just the two of them...in a cave. Personalities can't be hidden when it's just two of you in a cave! I used this scenario in FANTASTICAL in my Fantasyland series.
But the number one scenario I often used when telling myself stories to put myself to sleep was the hero and heroine meeting right before the heroine falls prey to a very bad flu and the hero exposes his true colors of love and attention and kindness while nursing her back to health.
This is where THE GAMBLE springboarded from. Max and Nina had a bumpy beginning, but all Nina needed to know about Max was what she learned when she was delirious with the flu.
And the promise he showed then panned out. :-)
So there you go. I don't think I've ever told that story to that fullness. So thank you for asking!! xx
I started reading romance when I was really rather young. Harlequin Presents, by the dozen. My mom read them, had the subscription, new ones every month, and I devoured every one. To the point that four a month were not enough so I was at the library all the time. This graduated to me stealing her slightly more saucy "bodice rippers" and hiding that I read them from her (or not hiding -- I THOUGHT I was hiding them but nothing ever got past my mom, they weren't THAT saucy back in the day and I think as an English major, she was thrilled I loved to read like she did).
I have told the story a lot about how I always had difficulty sleeping, and from when I was young, I used to tell myself stories to put myself to sleep. When I started reading romance, the stories I told myself would become romances. Eventually, I would remember where I drifted off and then start at that point the next night...and the next...and the next...
In the end, I decided to write these stories down (thus my current career :-)).
But you can imagine that I'd made up hundreds and hundreds of stories over the decades of putting myself to sleep making them up.
Now my brain is a little foggy after some travel this weekend but in sitting here, I think I can recall two of my favorite scenarios that I'd always go back to in making up my stories. Both of which I've used in writing books I've published.
One was the hero and heroine having to hide out in a cave. I don't know where this came from but I always loved that idea. Just the two of them...in a cave. Personalities can't be hidden when it's just two of you in a cave! I used this scenario in FANTASTICAL in my Fantasyland series.
But the number one scenario I often used when telling myself stories to put myself to sleep was the hero and heroine meeting right before the heroine falls prey to a very bad flu and the hero exposes his true colors of love and attention and kindness while nursing her back to health.
This is where THE GAMBLE springboarded from. Max and Nina had a bumpy beginning, but all Nina needed to know about Max was what she learned when she was delirious with the flu.
And the promise he showed then panned out. :-)
So there you go. I don't think I've ever told that story to that fullness. So thank you for asking!! xx
Kristen Ashley
Hey there...thank you for the kind words.
As for the baby girl at the end of RIDE STEADY, we know nothing about her parents' backstories. This is just one of the many ways Knight is driven to take care of women in the life in his way of taking care of them since he was really too young to look after his mom (even though he did what he could with that too).
So the story you received through RIDE STEADY is all there is. You aren't missing anything!
As for the baby girl at the end of RIDE STEADY, we know nothing about her parents' backstories. This is just one of the many ways Knight is driven to take care of women in the life in his way of taking care of them since he was really too young to look after his mom (even though he did what he could with that too).
So the story you received through RIDE STEADY is all there is. You aren't missing anything!
Kristen Ashley
No, babe. I actually didn't even remember Troy's woman, to be honest. She has nothing to do with Chaos. I've published 54 books (and written 57, working on 58!!!! Love my job!). And just in Rock Chick Reckoning, I think the character map came up at something like 165 named characters. :-) HA! :-) So I'm gonna repeat some names along the way.
But good catch!
But good catch!
Kristen Ashley
Since I enjoyed writing ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING so much, I'm feeling the love for novellas and even want to try my hand at writing more shorts. I have a great many of stories I want to share and now that the days of me having the time to write a full length novel in 2-3 weeks are long gone, it's going to be SO COOL to be able to dive into some of these tales, be back with characters I love and want to know more about and finally being able to get some of those stories to YOU!
Mindy and Jeff are a part of that.
Now I don't know when this will happen or even IF it will happen. I just know I'd like to dive deeper into their happily ever after. So we'll see.
As for what I'm working on, I don't tend to keep that kind of thing under wraps. So you know what I know! But I do keep this page up to date with the happenings and if you scroll all the way down, you'll see what I'm working on and what I'm thinking of doing next: http://www.kristenashley.net/titles/c...
Mindy and Jeff are a part of that.
Now I don't know when this will happen or even IF it will happen. I just know I'd like to dive deeper into their happily ever after. So we'll see.
As for what I'm working on, I don't tend to keep that kind of thing under wraps. So you know what I know! But I do keep this page up to date with the happenings and if you scroll all the way down, you'll see what I'm working on and what I'm thinking of doing next: http://www.kristenashley.net/titles/c...
Kristen Ashley
You know, Beth, I don't know. I have three Chaos books to write so I don't know how that's going to go and what will happen with the couples whose stories have already been told. So I can't really say.
I do know that when I left High and Millie, they were good where they were. I think they learned the hard way that having each other puts them in a very happy place. But as I always say, you never know what will happen!
As for the next Chaos book, I'll let you know when I do when I'm writing that and when you can expect it :-). I promise not to keep it a secret!
And last, yes, I'm writing Coert's book at the moment. I think I'm around three quarters done. Once it's finished, I'll be spreading the news of when you can expect that too!
I do know that when I left High and Millie, they were good where they were. I think they learned the hard way that having each other puts them in a very happy place. But as I always say, you never know what will happen!
As for the next Chaos book, I'll let you know when I do when I'm writing that and when you can expect it :-). I promise not to keep it a secret!
And last, yes, I'm writing Coert's book at the moment. I think I'm around three quarters done. Once it's finished, I'll be spreading the news of when you can expect that too!
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