I say this often, but one of my favourite things about doing this interview series is discovering so many new authors to add to my TBR. Ashley Hawthorne is one of them. From the minute I looked up her books, they were instantly added to my shelf and I am so excited to dive into them this year. And if you need more incentive, Ashley’s books were partially inspired by true crime. As a fellow true crime fan (even though some of the stories and documentaries are too gruesome for my brain), this had me even more interested.
Nora Roberts might have been the reason Ashley got into reading and writing romance, but she definitely likes the idea of writing horror! Deliver Me and Death Sentence both sound like deliciously angsty books, but what really got my attention was the small town duology that she’s planning to release soon. While there are no preorders at this point, you can find out more at her website and then come tell me how good they sound!
Ashley’s two published books are everywhere you buy books.
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I have always been a reader but it was Nora Roberts that got me hooked on romance. I love the genre and there are so many great books and authors that I could never listen all the ones that inspired me
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
The best part is having my books available for people to read and knowing that some of them really connected with the story and characters. The worst part is having to learn so many different jobs to be successful. I want to write, but I have to put a lot of them into marketing and social media, which can take away some of my time and creativity.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I do other creative things, like painting, or I spend some time just enjoying other people's work. When I’m not writing, I spend a lot of time reading!
If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?
My current favorite right now is The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation series. The Chinese drama The Untamed is based on those books, and I highly recommend both the series and the show!
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Be stubborn about your goals, but flexible about your methods
Give yourself grace to make mistakes
Make friends with other writers
Know what things should be kept to yourself or the group chat
Understand that resilience is the number one thing you need for success
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
Romance has always been my favorite genre. I never thought about writing anything else. My favorite thing about it is the guaranteed HEA. I like knowing I can relax into a story because all the characters will be okay in the end.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
Horror! I enjoy books that give you big feelings and I think romance and horror are the two genres most likely to give you a lot of emotion.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
My favorites include enemies-to-lovers, soulmates, fake dating, brother's best friends or best friend’s brother, forced proximity
I have some tropes I read less of, but even those I generally have some books I really love that include them. I'm flexible!
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
I'm not a trope heavy writer, but I will do a true enemies-to-lovers someday!
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
I think romance has come a long way in showing lots of different kinds of romance and rep for different kinds of people. I want to see that continue. More polyamory. More romance for people living with disabilities. More people that have difficulties with trauma that impact sex. More mental illness in characters that aren't magically healed by the power of love. More neurodivergence. Just more people that are imperfect and marginalized and still loved.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
I enjoy reading spicy romance, so it was natural to me that I write the same thing! I try to make the sex scenes relevant to the character arc or the specific scene. It's a lot about the emotion and connection between the characters and showing the growth of their relationship.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
For me, coming up with a book idea is kind of a gradual thing. I start with one small concept or idea that grows over time.
My published books were partially inspired by my interest in true crime. I have spent a lot of time watching shows that focus on interviews with survivors or people in prison. My first book focused more heavily on the injustice of the court and prison systems, while the second book was more the perspective of the victims impacted by violence. It's complicated and that's why I love romantic suspense as a genre.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
Deliver Me is about a pastor's daughter who falls in love with her prisoner pen pal. He’s serving a life sentence for a murder he committed as a teen. The story is about her coming to understand the abuse he went through that led to his crime, and how the justice system did not take any of that into account with his sentencing. It sounds tragic, but it’s really a hopeful story about love and redemption and there is an HEA.
Death Sentence is a little different, because it's kind of a classic murder mystery. The FMC is uptight and kind of unlikable and she falls in love with the bad boy next door, only to be suspicious of his involvement when her friend is murdered.
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
I think having a favorite would be like picking a favorite kid 😅 They are all a little bit part of me, even the unlikable ones.
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Deliver Me would be Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver as Mia and Gabriel.
Death Sentence would be Charlie Hunnam and Ana Taylor Joy as Ethan and Eloise.
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
A little bit goes into all of them, but some definitely have more than others. I think the two that are most like me are Eloise from Death Sentence, who got my anxiety, and Becka from my upcoming 2025 book, who got my anger. I relate to them most because they have my flaws.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
I have so many! I honestly have lots of books planned, but I'm really excited to finally write a sapphic book! I'm bi but married to a man, so I have always worried about not being queer enough. In the end, though, I don't want to let my marriage define my sexuality. I'm still bi, just like I would be if I had married a woman instead.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
People who have been hurt before learning to love themselves and others. Overcoming trauma is a theme that carries across all my work. It does a lot of damage, but I want people to know you can still be happy.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
I have an upcoming small town romance duology! It's set in a fictional Oregon town called Widow's Point. It's got a couple of great love stories and my first bi character rep! It has MCs overcoming abusive pasta and taking on a corrupt sheriff.
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
Hope. I think that's the biggest thing for me. I want them to come away from my books feeling like they can have bright futures no matter how dark their past might have been and they have the ability to make the world better.
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks—Paperbacks, but I will take an ebook or a hardback. I can't do audiobooks, which makes me kinda sad
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense—Uh….I can't pick. I read and write in multiple genres
Single or Dual POV—Dual, I need to know what everyone's thinking
Standalones, series or standalones in a series—Standalone. I love the idea of a series but mostly I can't commit 😬
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances
Music or silence when writing
Plotter, pantser or plantser
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?—Soda? But between those, probably wine 😅
Cold or warm weather
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?
Illustrated or photo cover?
You can get all the updates on Ashley and her books by following her on Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for her newsletter and check out her website for more news!
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