Kara asked Kristen Ashley:

Love all your books and totally get stuck in your worlds (its hard to start another series). Recently read the Magdalene series and I'm be stalking your webpage to see the release date for the 3rd book. Who are the authors that inspire you or you like to read in your free time?

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.

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