Miranda Owen: First, let me say that I am such a huge fan. How do you find the time to write so many different varieties of romance books, in addition to your historical mysteries? What is your process like? Jennifer Ashley: Thanks so much! How do I find the time? The short answer is: It ain’t easy! The longer answer is: I write every day. I start each morning, at breakfast, writing. I’ve made that a habit for years. So, even if I wake up wanting a day off, by the time I get to my computer with my bagel or toast, my brain turns on and starts creating a story. I can write anywhere from 500 to 2000 words during my breakfast sessions. That’s very helpful. If I can then do a few more writing sessions during the day (I can write 1000-1500 words an hour if I don’t goof off), that becomes a good chunk each day. In this way, I can write a full novel (100,000 words) in two months. That includes the first rewrite / revision. That’s two months if I’m not interrupted with real life—usually the work stretches to three months until it’s final, final,…

One of my favorite things to do as I’m writing is to create a Pinterest Board and a Spotify playlist that match the theme of my book. I start adding songs to my playlist as soon as I begin a story and continue, adding as I write. The same is true of my Pinterest board. By the time my manuscript is complete I have the journey well documented. Even more thrilling is when one of my readers shares graphic artwork that they’ve created after reading one of my books. As an author, I love the glimpse into my readers’ concept of my characters, and considering whether it pairs well with my own vision. Like other art forms, reading is in the eye of the beholder. Many of us who like to read also love to discuss books. These discussions yield similar opinions and often open my eyes to something I hadn’t considered. For the same reason, when someone shows me my work through their eyes, it’s a huge RUSH! :-). The quote picture images on this board were created by one of my gracious readers! Thanks @wishfulmiss! You can see more RUSH images on my Pinterest Board and hear the…