Jennifer Ashley is a well-known author, with her latest release The Care and Feeding of Pirates winning rave reviews across the romance industry for its steam and wonderful story. It was also chosen for our book of the month club for March. Jennifer will be with us on March 23rd to discuss with us her novels and her life, what she is working on and what’s coming next.
Before she comes though I recently sat down and conducted an interview with this fascinating lady to introduce her work to old and new readers among us on the boards. I hope you enjoy the interview it covers all her work under both names, her favorite authors, a sneak peak of future works, and her hobby that helps her unwind.
Laurel
Welcome, Jennifer, to The Mystic Castle, I would like to thank you for taking the time to sit down with me to answer these questions. The first one I have is; Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? How you first knew you would be a writer? How it felt the day you got the call that you were about to be published?
First, thanks so much for having me at Mystic Castle! It's a lovely site.
Second: I always knew I'd be a writer. At age eight, I started writing down stories that I made up. I loved to read more than anything else, and dreamed that one day my own books would be on the shelves. In junior high, I wrote stories in math class instead of doing math and told stories to my friends as we walked home from school. I just kept on writing and believing that one day I'd be published.
In about 1999, I finally decided it was time to make the dream come true. I wrote several manuscripts, joined RWA, researched agents and publishers and did all the stuff you do when you get serious about being an author. My first couple of efforts were rejected (thank heavens!) and then I mailed in fifty pages of Perils of the Heart to Dorchester. That was in 2001. By that time, I'd become very discouraged and decided that maybe this career wasn't for me. When they asked for the whole manuscript, I considered it a fluke, sent in the ms., and forgot about it.
Then one day, February 24, 2002, I got a voice mail message that I'd sold the manuscript to Dorchester. I had just come home from the eye doctor, so my eyes were dilated, and I could not see! Imagine me scrambling around trying to write down phone numbers and call people back when I could not see a dang thing. Finally, by that afternoon and much phone tag, I confirmed that I'd sold a book. That was one of the happiest days of my life.
By reading your website I have noticed that you also write under the name Ashley Gardner. For the readers that are not familiar with your work can you give a brief description of the novels we would find under that name, and what your latest release, The Glass House is about? Are they a straight mystery novels set in a Regency period or is there Romance intermingled in the story?
The Ashley Gardner mysteries are Regency-set, straight mystery novels. A romance does develop through the series between the main character and a lady he meets in book 2. The sleuth/main character is Captain Gabriel Lacey, a cavalry officer from the Peninsular Wars. He has returned to London as a "gentleman of straightened means." This means he has the connections and friends to move around high society, but no money. In the first book, The Hanover Square Affair, he becomes interested in finding a girl who is disappeared, and goes on to solve a murder.
In The Glass House, Book 3, Captain Lacey is called by his Bow Street Runner friend to help investigate the death of a young woman found in the Thames. He connects her to a baron and then to a notorious brothel called The Glass House.
The series is quite different from my romances. The romances are on the light-hearted side, while the mysteries explore the more dangerous and dark side of the Regency. Lacey is assisted in his investigations by Lucius Grenville, the wealthiest, most fashionable man in London
I really enjoy writing the mysteries; it lets me explore the facets of the Regency world that is often left out of more romp-style Regencies.
When it comes to writing novels what comes first the plotline, characters, or setting of the novel?
Characters, definitely. I usually come up with a set of characters already interacting in an interesting situation. Maybe they're just meeting, maybe they're bantering, maybe they're in bed, but they start interacting and talking to each other, and I listen in. The original scene that comes to me may never make it into the book, but the characters develop from there.
I usually then write a character autobiography, in first person, something like: "I was born Christopher Emile Raine of a French father and an American mother. I grew up on a pirate ship, learning to tie lines as I learned to walk." This helps me get deep into the mind of the characters and learn who they are.
Setting is second, though it blends in with the original idea--where are these people and how does the setting contribute to their problems? With The Pirate Next Door I vividly imagined the two townhouses side by side on a London street. In one was the elegant lady with silk covered chairs; in the other was old, scarred furniture and dark, chaotic rooms of the adventurous pirate.
Plot is third, but it arises from the first two. Given these two people and the kind of place they are in, what are they trying to do and what happens to them?
In practice, it's usually not that cut and dried. Often a full story will spring into my head with characters and setting; sometimes, I mull the characters over for months before a story suggests itself.
While reading the Ashley Gardner website I discovered that you have a unique hobby, building miniature room settings. I am curious, exactly what is that? It sounds like a great way to unwind from writing a beautiful story?
I've been building miniatures and dollhouses as long as I've been writing. I love little things. It's a fairly popular hobby with its own magazines (Miniature Collector, Dollhouse Miniatures, and American Miniaturist), dollhouse shops, shows, and clubs. Shows are deadly, because so many wonderful artisans come to sell their work, and I can spend every penny! But I sure love it. I don't sell things myself; I collect or build things as gifts.
The miniature hobby is unique and it's fun and relaxing. It's kind of an all or nothing hobby--you either love it, or you're not interested. I have photos of my mini rooms at
http://www.jennifersromances.com/Miniatures/miniatures.html
I have not had as much time for it lately, because of all the writing I've been doing, and I miss it.
You are coming to chat with us on March 23rd at 9 pm to discuss with us your novels under your name, Jennifer Ashley. Your novel The Care and Feeding of Pirates was also voted to be our Book Of The Month selection for March. Can you tell us about it? Is it related to other novels?
Thank you so much for having me come and chat with you. Care and Feeding of Pirates is about a pirate, Christopher Raine, who lost everything--his ship, his crew, his treasure, his wife, and almost his life. Now he's returned, and he wants everything back.
Honoria Ardmore, sister of the pirate hunter who captured Christopher, and in love with Christopher for years, went to his cell the day before his hanging, and married him. For four years she's thought him dead and gone, and she's moved on with her life. Then he suddenly he turns up in her bedroom in London, telling her he's back and she's still his wife. She loves him, but she's turned off all emotion and wants to keep it that way.
But he's determined to win her back, no matter what it takes. He makes a bargain with her--he gets to seduce her every night as they ride across the Atlantic in search of Christopher's lost treasure. If, when they reach Charleston, she still does not love him, he will let her go. But Christopher doesn't intend to let her say no.
The book is part of a trilogy, which starts with The Pirate Next Door. Honoria first appears in The Pirate Hunter, which is the book about her brother, James. Christopher Raine does not appear in either of the other books. You can read Care and Feeding as a standalone, although the whole series shows progress of the characters. I deliberately made Care and Feeding somewhat standalone, because I knew it would be hard for readers to find the first two by the time it came out. Books one and two are still in print, but you might have to order them online or have your local bookstore order them for you.
To this point in your career what would be your greatest accomplishment and out of all your novels published under both names which one remains the nearest and dearest to you heart?
It's hard to say. Every book is a milestone and a step forward in its own way. I believe that my writing has gotten stronger with each book, and each book has taught me something new. My first contemporary romance, which will be out in June, Confessions of a Lingerie Addict, is probably my strongest writing so far.
Also, I'm very happy that I was invited to do two projects, one a fictional biography of Anne Boleyn (more below), and the other, a novella in a Christmas anthology. For both of those, the publisher approached my agent and asked for me. That was extremely flattering. I'm working on both projects right now, and hope they do well.
That said, I think my favourite novel is my very first romance, Perils of the Heart. I love the characters of Austin and Evangeline--Evangeline is a naïve heroine with a heart of steel, and Austin is a strong captain who hides his emotions until Evangeline draws him out. That book was a high-seas adventure romance with a low print run, and many people aren't even aware it's out there! Also, as my first book, it is not my very best writing, but I still love the characters. I go back and read bits of it from time to time, and still love it.
Since I am nosy by nature (which is a good thing for interviews) I noticed that in your blog you mentioned you are working on Anne Boleyn and researching her life. Are you planning a story in the near future on this historical figure and could you give us (ok me) a sneak peak on what to expect?
Yes, I am writing a book right now about Anne Boleyn. Berkley is doing a series on the wives of Henry VIII that will start with Catherine of Aragon (out probably in November), followed by Anne Boleyn (probably Jan or Feb 2006), and Jane Seymour. Each book is being done by a different author, written under the collective name of Laurien Gardner.
I'm telling the story from the point-of-view of a seventeen-year-old young girl named Frances Pierce who comes to Anne's court. I tell Frances' story--her rise as one of Anne's favourites, her romance, and marriage--at the same time I tell Anne's. The two women become interconnected. My character is entirely fictional; I use her as a window onto Anne's rise and fall.
As Berkley has full control over this series, I don't know if they will change the book when I turn it in, but so far, that's the story. Look for the Catherine of Aragon book toward the end of the year. I'm looking forward to seeing this series come out.
What do you find harder to write full-length novels or novellas where the story has to be summed up in a certain amount of pages?
I love to have 100,000 words in which to tell a story. I have so much to say! Novellas are difficult because you must be succinct, plus, you really don't have time to do in-depth characterization and plot development. Novellas are just long short stories--you need a plot, but it must be simple and your characters don't have much room to grow (some, but not much). It's hard for me to write short!
The easy thing about novella's is they take far less time to write. Two weeks for a draft, one week to clean it up, and I'm done.
When it comes to writing do you have any rituals that you follow, like favourite drink, CD or candle scents you use?
I don't have rituals, but I do have a routine. I go out for breakfast and have a bagel and tea. I usually write at there at the bakery for about an hour or do research reading. I come back home and crank up my computer and do what I have scheduled for the day--work on rough draft, or work on proposals, or edit rough draft, or what-have-you. I work all day on writing or writing-related projects, then when my husband comes home in the afternoon, I knock off work and enjoy being with family. It's like working a regular job, but I do it at home and I don't have a boss breathing over my shoulder (love that).
I do drink lots of iced tea (only the best leaf tea; I'm a tea snob, for some reason). I also like listening to CDs--Norah Jones is a favourite right now; I love her chanteuse voice. I also love guitarists of all kinds, from hard rock to smooth. I'm a guitarist myself and like to listen to others play.
Spotlight on Romance, your radio show that airs on the Internet on Friday afternoons via the website Book Crazy Radio what do you talk about? For the readers, can you tell us a little bit about the website. I have visited it before and find it an exciting place to be and they keep you well informed.
Spotlight on Romance was an Internet radio show in which I interviewed romance authors, from the bestsellers to the newbies, about their books and their writing life. I had so much fun doing it, and I learned so much from these writers. I did it over the phone, and got to talk to Jo Beverley, Gaelen Foley, Christine Feehan, and many more. I was impressed with how generous they were with their time and in sharing tips for other writers.
Sadly, the entire Book Crazy network was pulled off the air when the owner had a family emergency. Some shows (like Dragon Page and others) moved to another Internet site, but I decided not to pursue Spotlight on Romance any longer. About the time it went off the air, my career really charged up, and I no longer have time to do the show. It was fun while it lasted, though.
Who are some of your favourite authors? Favourite books? Would some of these authors be source of inspiration for you when it comes to your own writing career?
I have many favourite authors from all genres. A few of my very favs are:
Lois McMaster Bujold
Connie Willis
Lindsey Davis
Elizabeth Peters
Agatha Christie
Amanda Quick
Jo Beverley
Gaelen Foley
Jennifer Crusie
J.K. Rowling
You'll note many historical authors in there. J All of these ladies influenced me, usually with more than one book; I consider each to be fine storytellers as well as excellent prose masters.
Some newer authors I enjoy are:
Sandra Hill
Bonnie Vanak
Glenda Garland
Rhonda Woodward
Ronda Thompson
Not all of these are brand new, but all started within the last five or six years. I enjoy their fresh takes on the genre.
I know I'll think of others as soon as I'm finished! But these spring to mind.
When are your next books going to be published, under both names, and can you give a brief outline on them?
I have many books coming out in 2005 and into 2006. Here's what I'm up to:
As Jennifer Ashley
June 2005: Confessions of a Lingerie Addict. My first stab at contemporary romance. It's about a young woman, Brenda Scott, who wakes up New Year's morning with a stranger and no memory of who he is or what they've done. Deciding she must be a bad girl at heart, Brenda begins secretly buying sexy lingerie, and becomes addicted. When she meets her New Year's mystery man again, he thinks she's the wicked, wild Brenda, and she struggles (with funny results) to play the part. The feel of this book is chick-lit, but it is definitely romance. I call it "romantic comedy, with underwear."
Late Fall, 2005: "A Single Girl's Guide to Christmas" in Christmas Cards from the Edge, Love Spell anthology. A young woman returns home to her crazy family for Christmas to deal with a horde of relatives, her nosy mother, her dominatrix cousin, and a man with whom she'd once spent the best summer of her life.
February 2006: Penelope and Prince Charming. I return to historicals in a new Regency-set series that includes a few paranormal elements. Penelope is an ordinary English girl, or so she thinks, until sexy Prince Damien of Nvengaria arrives claiming she's descended from royalty and is the hope of reuniting and saving his people. There's a prophecy at work that makes Penelope and Damien fall madly in love with each other--Penelope wonders if the love will still hold when the prophecy is fulfilled. This will be the first of a trilogy.
As Ashley Gardner:
The Captain Lacey series continues with The Sudbury School Murders in June 2005, when Lacey takes a post at a school in Berkshire. He's asked to investigate nasty pranks going on in the school, then things take a sinister turn when the body of a stableman is found floating in a nearby canal.
In December 2005, Book 5 of the Lacey series, A Body in Berkeley Square, has Lacey scrambling to prove that his former colonel did not murder a young dandy in the middle of a society ball.
I'll have a sixth book in this series in 2006, probably called The Covent Garden Mystery, but I've not started it yet.
As part of Laurien Gardner:
Anne Boleyn (Date TBD, probably Jan or Feb 2006): The tragedy of Henry VIII's second wife, told through the eyes of a young woman brought to court by Anne.
Pirates, while they are fascinating to read about, there are not many authors these days that publish Pirate Romance novels. They are like Medieval’s, few and far between. Was it hard to get published with the Pirate theme? Who is your favourite pirate in history and do you use actors for visuals for your stories. Say Johnny Depp in Pirates of The Caribbean?
You are right that pirate novels are not as numerous as they used to be. At one time, it seemed like they were published by the ton. Now, fashion has changed, and it's Regency-set novels that are pouring out of publishers. That said, there is always an audience for pirate romance, just as there is always an audience for vampires or medievals or Native American heroes. Sometimes it's large, sometimes small, but always there.
Did I sit down and think this out before I wrote my pirate novels? No!! I had no clue that pirates did not sell like hotcakes any more or that it might be hard to interest a publisher. Looking at what publishers were putting out, I saw that writers still did occasionally write pirates, and so I thought it would be fine for me to write them. Because there are so many classic pirate romances out there, I thought I'd give it a twist--I made them romantic comedies and juxtaposed the pirate world with orderly, elegant Regency London. Dorchester bought the books right off the bat, so I didn't have to shop them around.
Looking back, I realize I did take a big risk, but I did not know it at the time. (Ignorance is bliss, I guess.) I thought that Pirate Next Door and its follow-ups would be fun stories, so I wrote them.
My favourite historical pirate is Jean la Fitte, because he is so interesting. When we think of elegant swashbucklers, he is the model. He reigned in New Orleans before and during the War of 1812, defending the city from all other marauders. His pirates turned the tide of the forces that attacked in 1815. He was a Robin Hood-type hero and the people of New Orleans loved him.
I don't really picture actors, such as Johnny Depp or anyone else, when I'm writing pirates. Johnny Depp's character in PotC was so unique and so funny that I can't visualize him as one of my pirates. My pirates have seen lots of violence and they're pretty banged up by the time we meet them, so they don't look much like actors or models J (Although maybe Brad Pitt . . .)
You’ve won quite a few awards for your unpublished manuscripts. Are there any plans to have them published?
I was very lucky to win and place in so many contests. I did submit some of those manuscripts (or they were requested by editors), but they were rejected. Good thing! My voice and skill were ok, but not fantastic, and I don't think the books would have gone anywhere. At the time, the rejections stung, but looking back, the editors were right. I was almost there, but not quite.
Right now I am working on so many new ideas that I haven't had time to go back and rework the old books. However, I still like some of those plots and characters, and elements from them will probably find their way into upcoming books. But right now, I don't have any plans to sell them as is. That may change, of course. I'm constantly changing my mind.
Any tips and hints for the writers on the website that are hoping to be published one day. How to over come writers block, deadlines etc?
My biggest tip is, don't stop trying! Publishing is a discouraging business. Every single day, you face an obstacle that tries to keep you from becoming a paid writer. Even when you're published, that still happens. You have to decide to keep going regardless of the circumstances and people who try to hold you back. Negative people and negative thinking can really cut your confidence, and you have to decide not to listen.
A second tip is, don't listen to rumours such as "editors aren't buying XX." Editors buy good stories, period. Even if your story isn't the type that's fashionable that day, if it's fantastic, you will sell it. Maybe not instantly, but eventually. You can try to hedge your bets by writing what's popular, but you can never predict when the market will change. What's popular this year won't be next year.
Third, publishing is all about delayed gratification. You might sell your first book very fast and shoot to the top, but likely you won't. Not because you're not good, but because you're not lucky. Luck has much to do with success in this business. What you can do is work hard and produce good books so that when luck comes your way, you are ready. That goes back to Tip 1, never stop trying!
I have some other tips on my Web site
(www.jennifersromances.com/writerstips.html).
Also if you look at my blog archives, I talk about writer's block, which
really comes from exhaustion, discouragement, fear, and envy.
(www.jennifersromances.blogspot.com)
The trick with writer's block is to forget about the publishing business and let your creativeness flow--usually by doing something totally unrelated to writing. When you stop trying to force writing, it comes back to you. Also, write a draft that is all about your story and your characters and your creativeness. You can always bang a book into something sellable once you have a draft of the story written. In other words, turn on your right brain for your first draft (pure creativity), then switch to your left brain when you read through and edit. Trying to do both at the same time can lead to writer's block.
And, anyway, the creative part is the fun part! Never give up the fun!