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Ashley Ladd |
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Ashley’s 18Q |
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The Eighteen Questions |
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18Q |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? Writing chose me. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a writer, when I didn’t dream of becoming published. I started writing stories at age 6 and constantly regaled my dad with my stories.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) My bachelor’s degree is in Accounting. My Master’s is in business (MBA). I’ve worked as a financial analyst, customer service representative, waitress, hostess, ceramics, as well as published writer. I also served in the US Air Force in the late 70’s and early 80’s so I sometimes also write military romance. My full-time day job currently is as a customer service rep for a charity that serves the destitute poor of the Caribbean and Latin America. I’ve been with my current employer going on fourteen years.
3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer? I’ve known from age 6. I’ve always been obsessed with writing and telling stories.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? Humorous. Even when I’m writing a serious story (not a comedy romance), I can’t help but add some humor. Recently, I wrote a paranormal and really tried to keep it steeped in witch craft and magic. I just couldn’t keep out a funny ghost. He just demanded to be included.
5. What is your writing process? Stories usually percolate in my mind for a year or two before I commit them to paper. Sometimes I brainstorm for story ideas. Then I write a very basic story outline. Occasionally, I’ll write the synopsis first, but usually not till the story’s completed. Then I’ll write the story. Things that happen to me during a work in progress will often wind up in that story. Then of course I let my critique
6. What was your path to publication? I started writing seriously in the early 90s. I joined RWA and attended our local RWA conferences annually. I met Madris DePasteure of New Concepts Publishing in 1998 or 1999 at the Florida Fun in the Sun conference and then sent my first book, Tigers Play Too Rough, to her house. They published it and it’s still available at www.newconceptspublishing.com. However, the title’s been shortened to “Tigers Play”. I published several books with NCP and now also with Ellora’s Cave, Awe-Struck, and Total-e-Bound.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? It’s hard to say. I’ve tried several marketing ideas and it’s tough to know which one(s) work and which don’t. Effective marketing is keeping an author’s name in front of her readers through several means. As I work full-time and have a young family as well, I concentrate the bulk of my time on writing more and better stories.
8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer? How hard and time consuming promotion is. That writers have to be social, which is difficult for me since I’m basically shy.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? Creativity and inspiration come from many venues. Reading spawns many ideas. Listening to music. Walking – I’m an avid walker and ideas flow as I work out. Swimming – same as walking, especially when I’m floating or swimming on my back when the water’s in my ears drowning out other sound. Doing activities and spending time with my family and friends. Ideas are literally everywhere.
10. What is your proudest writer moment? When I finaled for a double Eppie finalist for two of my books in 2003. That was awesome.
11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing? Polish. Edit. Never give up. Keep on trying, keep submitting.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? Do I have to say? I feel embarrassed when my work is rejected or when I miss some glaring error.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? Having the money and time to promote as much as I’d like, as I need to.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? Never give up. Never say die. Keep writing. Keep submitting.
15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun? Swim. Walk. Bicycle. Play tennis. Tai Kwon Do. Read. Work out at the gym. Watch movies and eat buttery popcorn. Go out to dinner with friends. Hang out with my kids. Last weekend, I went tubing in the Keys.
16. Who do you like to read? Category romance. Harry Potter. Anything by Stephen King and Stephen White.
17. What’s your advice for new writers? Read read read, especially the line(s) for which you want to write, but also read in a wide array of genres. Write write write. Join a critique group or find a critique partner and take constructive criticism. Polish your manuscript as brightly as you can before submitting. Don’t give up after rejection(s). Polish again and resubmit.
18. What are you currently working on? Three NEXT type category romances and two other category romances. Soon, I should be receiving edits on a vampire romance and a paranormal romance about witches and ghosts. |
