Jennifer Ashley Interview

Once Upon A Romance Interview
With
Jennifer Ashley ~ AKA Jennifer Gardner

www.onceuponaromance.net

December, 2003

We're very pleased to bring you our interview with Jennifer Ashley (aka Ashley Gardner). Her responses brought smiles to our faces and we hope they make you smile too. We appreciate Jennifer taking time for our questions.

Jennifer, thank you for being with us! We’ve looked forward to this interview and appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule. Before we begin with our questions, would you start by telling us something about yourself and tell us what you’re working on now.

I've been writing since I can remember. I sold my first short story to Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine in 1994, to my great surprise. It took me several more years of hard work to publish a book--my first novel, Perils of the Heart, was released in 2002. I then signed on to do several more romances, and to my delight, I also sold a mystery series, the first of which, The Hanover Square Affair, was released in Dec. 2003 under my pen name Ashley Gardner. The second book will follow in May.

What I'm working on now: Always about three things at once!! I am currently writing my next pirate romance, which will come out at the end of 2004. I'm also working on a fourth mystery in the Captain Lacey series, as well as playing around with a contemporary idea and another historical mystery. That's this week! :-)

Tina & Connie: Winning an award, we’re sure, comes with its own natural high, but is the feeling the same as when you find out a book has been sold?

Jennifer: Finaling for or winning an award is gratifying because it tells me that I must have done something right. Judges are often readers or other writers who know nothing about me or my work, and it's nice to know I reached people and struck a chord. However, finding out that a publisher not only likes your work but also wants to, gasp, pay for it, is the most stunning, wonderful sensation in the world!

T: What do you do, or keep in mind while trying to create characters that are three-dimensional, larger than life, believable?

J: What I try to do is simply make all my characters people. Every person you see in the course of your day, whether you know them or not, is the hero/heroine in their own story. They have histories, issues, problems, happiness, sadness, and other people who love and hate them.

When create a character, I learn as much as I can about them. One thing I like to do is drive around town with my characters in the car with me.

I think about how each of them would react to what they see and hear, which tells me volumes about them. Sometimes I have more than one hero in my back seat, which is great fun. (Grayson Finley of The Pirate Next Door is constantly fascinated with the radio.) The point of this exercise is that every single character will react to the same circumstance in an entirely unique way. It's fun to discover what they will do.

C: Jennifer, your mystery, The Hanover Square Affair is released this month and in May you have two releases, a Mystery and a Romance. You made a big leap. You went from writing Historical (Pirate) Romances to writing Historical Mysteries. How difficult was that leap and what lead to you making this particular leap? Are you going to continue writing Historical Romance?

J: Actually, the leap wasn't all that difficult. I am a huge, huge, huge mystery fan. I love Elizabeth Peters, Anne Perry, Lindsey Davis, Dale Furutani, Tony Hillerman, Dick Francis, and of course, Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. My favorite TV show is Mystery! on PBS (love Patricia Rutledge in Hetty Wainthrop).

What makes the leap easier is that all my books are, for now, set in the Regency era. Whether it's a mystery or a romance, it's the same world, just different things happen to different people.

I will definitely be writing more historical romances! I have two pirate historicals coming out in 2004 (The Pirate Hunter in May; another pirate late in the year), and I plan to continue. I love historical romance.

T: Do you have a manuscript tucked in your closet or under your bed that you especially want to be published some day? What is it about?

J: A while back I wrote a manuscript called The Emerald Lady which finaled in the Golden Heart and several other contests. I adore the hero and the heroine, and also the secondary characters, especially a feisty man-chaser named Celeste, who meets her match in a young and fiery Italian. The plot is full of blackmail, murder, and other intrigue. I hope one day to rewrite it for publication--the plotting and voice is not strong enough as it stands, in my opinion, but I do hope to rework it and sell it some day.

T: Sometimes the secondary characters take on a life of their own and can sometimes give a book that extra something. Please let us know when The Emerald Lady will be published!

C: Jennifer, I would think the detailing of your Mystery plot would have to be a bit more thought or mapped out so as to not reveal any clues or details ahead of time. Have you found the plotting and writing of scenes of the Mysteries to be more intricate than that of Romances?

J: Actually, I find plotting mysteries to be easier than plotting romances! In a mystery, someone commits a crime, the suspects gather, and my hero works out who did it by exploring the personalities of the suspects. Along the way, I work in details of my hero's life and problems he must face. I write in first person from the point of view of the hero, so the reader knows only what the hero knows. That helps hide clues from the reader, yet at the same time puts clues in front of the reader's face. Also, I am never certain what's going to happen (I only have a rough plot idea before I begin), so the reader is never certain either!

I find romances a little more challenging because you must balance each of the two characters' thoughts and needs and feelings without detracting from each other or the plot. In romance, two people meet (or rather, smack into each other) then end up together. That story can either be extremely boring or extremely powerful. Making it powerful is hard work, and I'm rather breathless in the end.

T: What was your reaction when you first saw your book on a store shelf?

J: Stunned. Completely stunned. I could not believe that my romance was on the same shelf as those of Amanda Quick, Jo Beverly, Jane Feather, Mary Jo Putney, etc. etc. etc. But there it was.

I have to tell you that when I saw the advance copy of my first mystery, I completely melted. My husband picked up the book and turned to the opening page. When I saw, held in my husband's hands, the words in print in Captain Lacey's voice, I burst into tears! The Lacey stories are very close to my heart and I am so happy that they have reached publication.

C: I’ve heard some author’s say they’ve visited and toured historic sites, which generated a “What if...” question regarding past events pertinent to any given tour site. Has there been an incident like that, while living abroad or in the U.S., planted a “What if” question in your mind with regards to your books, Mystery or Romance?

J: Living in Europe was very inspiring to the imagination. I don't think I came up with a specific plot, but the atmosphere was wonderful. You can't drive far in Germany without seeing a ruined castle on a hill, or coming to a town with a glittering eighteenth-century palace. I remember a day I was walking through a tiny village, alone, through the fog. I was the only one on the street and could see only six or so feet to either side of me. Suddenly, through that ghostly fog came the sound of a tolling church bell. Certainly atmospheric! Living in Europe also gave me the feel for what it is like to live in that climate and landscape, which helps me very much now that I set so many stories in England.

Living in Japan has a different kind of inspiration. The American and Japanese cultures clash and yet meld at the same time, in fascinating ways. I would love to write a story about an American in Japan. The scope for humor is endless!

C: When you begin writing a Mystery, do you know “who done it,” and all the details, or do the characters and plot take you on twists and turns you hadn’t planned on?

J: I never have any idea who did it when I start. I usually have an idea for the catalyst event--the murder or other crime. My sleuth and I and examine the crime scene, then I look at the people surrounding the victim. I ask, who are these people, what are they all about? Exploring the answers to these questions makes the story. I usually do not decide who is the perpetrator until half-way through. A wonderful thing about writing these stories is that much of the time it's as though Captain Lacey sits next to me and tells me what to write. I don't have to do any work at all.

T: O.K. we’re going to move on to some lighter questions now, and this is one of my favorites to ask; just imagine, you’re stranded on a deserted island; would you choose books by your favorite author or TV? Movie star or husband? What couldn’t you live without?

J: Oh, books, books, books, definitely! There is some good stuff out there in TV-land, but books win, always. I'd also take my husband, no question. First, he'd bring more books :-). Second, a movie star would probably just whine about the roles he was missing and wouldn't pay any attention to me! My handsome husband, a good book, a tropical beach--I'd be in heaven.

T: What are some of the things you consistently have at the computer with you? Drink? Candy? Cookies? Music?

J: Iced tea! I am an addict. Not your garden variety tea, it has to be a gourmet tea blend, brewed from leaves, no instant. I'm awful.

Music: I love to write to the music of a local Arizona duo called Lyra. They are a husband-wife team who play guitar and violin, kind of jazz and classical blend. I also love the guitar music of Ottmar Liebert and Peter White. I can play them all day. Then, for a change of pace, I pull out Stevie Ray Vaughan! I love guitar music of all kinds.

C: Jennifer, you build miniature room settings. It sounds really interesting, and the pictures on your website are great! How did you get started with this? Could you tell us what is involved in the process? Are these for yourself to display or are they the rooms/houses from your books? Could you give us a verbal picture of one of your room settings you’ve created?

J: Ah, my miniatures. I have always been fascinated by small, perfect things. I started collecting and building when I was a small child. I didn't know how not to. I just kept on building and collecting, even when I was told I was "too old." Untrue. No one is too old or young for miniatures. I build things for myself to display around my house, at this point. Most of the settings come from my imagination alone, although the finished houses are built to plans (and then I decorate in my own way). I'm basically a frustrated interior designer, building small because I can't build large.

I'm currently working on an eighteenth-century octagonal game room decorated in rose and brown, which I will finish someday! My favorite room to date is the black and white room, a bedroom with black and white tile floor, gilded furniture and a lovely white silk canopy bed. That room sits on my dresser and I look at it every day. I'd like to build some more whimsical settings, like Dumbledor's office or something fun like that, but there are only so many hours in the day!

C: Dumbledor's office, now that would be very whimsical as well as intricate and complex! How fun!

T: Jennifer, it’s your lucky day. You’ve thrown a coin into a wishing well and are granted not one, not two, but three wishes! What would they be?

J: Hmmmmmmm. Wishes can be tricky. First, best health and financial happiness for my friends and family. That kind of thing can't be overrated. Second, me and my husband on the island of Maui! I love Hawaii (and I'd be there with books, of course). Third, peace of mind. Many of us scramble for riches or fame or whatever we perceive as "success". But a restful day without any worries is a beautiful thing. (Of course, I'm not a complete Pollyanna. If someone handed me a penthouse apartment in New York and a million dollars, I'd take it!)

C: Which one of your characters would you most like to spend time with? Get to know in person? Why?

J: I have to pick one?? Gosh. Since I write both mystery and romance, I'm going to pick two. :-) First, Captain Lacey of my mystery series. He is a complex, dark, intriguing man. I still don't know him fully. Second, James Ardmore of The Pirate Hunter and The Pirate Next Door. So far he is the best hero I've ever created. He is another dark, complex man, and also drop-dead sexy!

T: We’re Chiefs fans. Are you a sports fan? If so, which sport(s) is your favorite, and what team do you root for?

J: I'm not a huge general sports fan, but I'm a loyal Phoenix fan. I back the Suns, the Diamondbacks (World Series Champs!!), the Coyotes, and the Mercury. As for the Cardinals, well… I also like more obscure sports, like show jumping (I love horses) and rowing and odd stuff like that.

C: It seems we’re asking you to use your imagination a lot today. Let’s say you’ve been given the opportunity to time-travel. What time-period and which country, or city, would you pick and what would you do or see first? Why?

J: You know, when I was taking English history in college, this very question was on our final exam. Then I said I'd stay home and forget it. But these days I'd probably pick Ancient Rome or Ancient Egypt. The Romans were very much like us, they had hot and cold running water, they knew about sanitation, and they were just harried bureaucrats trying to make a living. I'd have to brush up on my Latin, of course, and we wouldn't mention my religion. I'd love also to go to Ancient Egypt and see all the buildings and monuments as they were in their heyday. Great fun. I'd probably be a slave, though, since I'm of European extraction.

T: I’m not much of a shopper myself, so you’ll find clothes in my closet from 10 years ago (if not longer) to something from last year. What would we find in your closet? Do you like to clothes, shoe, purse shop, or are you not much of a shopper?

J: I'd say I'm a "splurger" more than a shopper. I'll go along happily in my comfortable clothes for a while, then one day I go out and indulge myself in a whole load of new clothes. The thing I most love to shop for? Lingerie! It's completely frivolous and I love it. A lingerie sale can lure me in faster than fish lures my cat. And no, I don't buy the practical stuff. :-)

C: What is the biggest self-indulgence you allow yourself?

J: Aside from the lingerie? And the gourmet iced tea? Probably chocolate, the best, richest, dark chocolate. Also I love to travel, I take several vacations a year. I should tone it down a bit, but then my heart starts longing for the road, and I'm off again. My husband is no help. He loves it, too.

C & T: Jennifer, we’ve had a great time, but before we let you go, is there anything we haven’t asked that you would like readers and fans to know?

J: In addition to writing, I also host an Internet radio show called "Spotlight on Romance" every Friday on Book Crazy Radio. You can find out more about the show and when it airs on www.jennifersromances.com/spotlight.html. You can listen from anywhere in the world. I interview romance authors and editors and other people in the romance industry--like cover models!

T: & C: Thanks so much Jennifer! We’ve had a great time and we appreciate you indulging us with our “imagination” questions. Perhaps we can catch you again with another interview when it’s time for your May releases!

J: No problem. It was fun!

Again, we want to thank Jennifer, aka Ashley Gardner, for being with us for the interview. We had a great time! What fun she is!

Regimental Murder sequel to The Hanover Square Affair mystery will be available in May, 2004.
The Pirate Hunter, a historical romance, will be available in May, 2004.

For those of you who would like more information about Jennifer Ashley, please take a moment to visit her romance Website, or her Ashley Gardner Website.

Comment or respond to Jennifer's interview and we'll post your comments below!

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