DRD: Ashley, welcome back to the Revenge! We're so excited to see you here again. Let's chat about your latest book, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS, which came out earlier this month. This is such an intriguing premise—a couple who come together after their spouses die together in a carriage accident—so I have to know more of how it came about. Did it just pop into your head one day while you were minding your own business? Or did the characters show up first?

Ashley: Thank you! I’m thrilled to be back here, and so excited to be sharing information about RtC with you! I have to admit that the idea of the characters—a widow and widower drawn together after their cheating spouses died—just popped into my head. Not that ideas always pop into my head so easily (and I still had to rework this one quite a bit), but it sure is nice when it happens. =)

DRD: One thing I love about your books is your elegant, lyrical style of writing. It reminds me of the romances I loved when I first started reading this genre (way back in the 20^th century!)  Did it take you a while to discover your style and your voice? Are you inspired by any particular books or authors?

Ashley: Thanks so much. =) But I’ll have you know that I started reading romance way back in the 20^th century, too. ;) It means a lot to hear my writing described in such a way. I’ve always loved words and books, but when I first tried writing romance I tried to mimic other author voices I really loved. As a result the writing wasn’t HORRIBLE, but it definitely didn’t feel like something I was supposed to write. I was never really satisfied with it; I always felt I could do better. SEDUCING THE DUCHESS, my debut that came out in October 2010, was the first book I wrote where I felt that I had finally found my voice. Authors who inspire me with their storytelling and voices in particular are: Sherry Thomas, Laura Lee Guhrke, Lisa Kleypas, and Anne Mallory.

DRD:  It's hard to believe that your first book came out just a year ago. (Here's a link to Ashley's first interview with the pirates for SEDUCING THE DUCHESS.) What would you say has been the most unexpected part of being a published author? What has been the most challenging? The most fun (besides hanging out with the pirates, naturally!)

Ashley: I know! It hasn’t even been a year yet. It’s a little crazy to think about, honestly. =) The most unexpected part… I know authors always warn pre-published authors about how much work is involved, but I truly had no idea. Fortunately I enjoy pretty much all of it, but this is definitely one of those jobs where you feel like you never catch up. Or maybe that’s just me. =)

The most challenging? Trying to find the time to write. Honestly it should be a simple thing, but I’ve had to learn that all the promotion in the world means nothing if you can’t make writing time a priority. I’m still struggling with this, but I hope to continue getting more and more projects off my plate before 2013 arrives so I can become more focused on producing stories I love to write.

As far as the most fun—well, that’s easy. =) Definitely hanging out with the pirates (of course!), but also all of the other fabulous romance readers/reviewers/bloggers/aspiring writers/authors/and other industry professionals that make this such a great community to be a part of. Honestly, I love you guys. *sniffle*

DRD: *squishy hug* We love you too! You have an intriguing new project coming up. What can you tell us about that? More importantly, how long do we have to wait?

Ashley: Erhm…to which intriguing new project do you refer? Lol. Let’s go with what I currently think is the most intriguing. Right now on my website at www.ashleymarch.com/novella I’m hosting a reader-interactive online novella where each week I post a new chapter for readers to read, then vote on where they want the story to go for the next week. When this novella is finished, I will self-publish it with 25% of the proceeds going to a charity (something likely helping children).

All of this is a test-run and preface to a new project I plan on starting in 2012 called Romance with Heart, where three different authors from a romance sub-genre pitch in to write their own reader-interactive online novella, then choose a charity where 25% of their proceeds will go after it is published. I’ve always wanted to give to charities in a big way but have never had the money. This is a way I’m hoping that everyone—you, me, etc.—can help others while also reading and writing great romances.

DRD:  You're definitely one of the hardest working women in the romance business--I need to know the name of the demon that gave you all those extra hours in a day so I can sign up for some too! Tell us what else—besides writing books—you've got going on, and how you get it all done.

Ashley: Demon, thy name is coffee. At least for the moment. ;) And thank you. =) However, this goes back to what I said above about feeling like I’m never caught up, and why I hope to get even more things off my plate by the beginning of 2012. I’m trying more and more to make writing the greatest priority, and I would advise every author and aspiring writer to do the same.

I was the founder of the Denver Lady Jane’s Salon, but I handed that over to the fabulous Jenn LeBlanc a couple of months ago.

Presently, this is a list of other things I’m working on besides my individual writing projects:

1)      Colorado Romance Writers’ published author liaison

2)      Colorado Romance Writers’ Tea Committee member

3)      Coordinator for Sevens Song Press, where local Colorado writers are coming together to publish anthologies (my 11/2011 SWEET TALK ME and 1/2012 A DUKE OF MY OWN are both part of this)

4)      Coordinator for a romance co-op group

5)      Coordinator for another author co-op group, although we’re not very active at the moment since most members’ books come out in 2012

6)      Coordinator for a Fast Draft group that was organized after RWA 2011. This is a touch-and-go thing as people need it.

7)      Coordinator for the Romance Biggest Winner competition—outside of Romance with Heart, this is probably the other big project I’m most excited about in terms of bringing the romance community together (romancebiggestwinner.blogspot.com)

8)      Coordinator for…oh, I can’t tell you that one yet. ;) Let’s just say it has to do with a group of self-publishing authors. Watch out for news about this mysterious group in June 2012.

9)      I mentioned this above, but the Romance with Heart reader-interactive online romance charity adventure =) (starts in 2012)

10)   Helping a few other romance authors coordinate their online book tours

11)   Mentor for a pre-published writer through a Colorado Romance Writers’ auction. Mentorship includes (as needed) one weekly half-hour phone call, emails responded to within 24 hours, and one chapter critiqued each week

12)   Critiquing of other fulls and partials of pre-published writers as donated through contests/auctions

13)   Critique partner to two fabulous writers (Anna Randol and Kat Brauer) and editor of my husband’s YA

14)   Regular contributing blogger to two blogs outside of my own

15)   Coordinator and hostess of the Annual March Madness Blog Party

Hmm. I think that’s it. As you can see, I’m obviously a slacker. ;)

DRD: I'm exhausted just reading about all of it! Ashley, thanks again for stopping by today. Hopefully you'll have time to answer questions from the pirates today. Just ignore the guy in the front row wearing a tricorne hat and black eyeliner. . .

Ashley: I’m exhausted too, lol. Thanks again for having me, and I’ll be dropping in and out all day. You guys are the best!... and that pirate over there isn’t too bad, either (she says with a lusty pirate growl). ;)

Okay, so honestly I’d love to know what you guys think of my idea for Romance with Heart. Obviously most people probably think that giving a percentage of proceeds to a charity is an awesome thing, but what do you think specifically about getting to read a new chapter every week and vote on where the story is going to go next? Is this something that excites you as a reader? Any suggestions for ideas/improvement? (Note: Once the novella is finished online, only the first chapter will remain on the website as free.) You can see what I’ve done so far for my own novella at www.ashleymarch.com/novella.

One random commenter will be chosen to win a copy of my newest book, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS (open internationally)! Also, find out how to win the ROMANCING THE COUNTESS Book Tour Grand Prize of 50+ romance novels by visiting www.ashleymarch.com!