Ashley March

Get Lost in This Story…

Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, thought he’d married the perfect woman—until a fatal accident revealed her betrayal with his best friend. After their deaths, Sebastian is determined to avoid a scandal for the sake of his son. But his best friend’s widow is just as determined to cast her mourning veil aside by hosting a party that will surely destroy both their reputations and expose all of his carefully kept secrets…

Leah George has carried the painful knowledge of her husband’s affair for almost a year. All she wants now is to enjoy her independence and make a new life for herself—even if that means being ostracized by the Society whose rules she was raised to obey.

Now that the rumors are flying, there’s only one thing left for Sebastian to do: silence the scandal by enticing the improper widow into becoming a proper wife. But when it comes to matters of the heart, neither Sebastian nor Leah is prepared for the passion they discover in each other’s arms…

Today, I am thrilled to welcome historical romance author Ashley March to the blog! I got the chance to hang out with Ashley this summer at RWA’s conference in New York, and I can tell you that not only is she a fabulously talented author, but funny, sweet and absolutely lovely.

So let’s get to know Ashley better!

After spending countless hours memorizing both traditional and simplified Chinese characters, perfecting her tones, and practicing her speaking with any Chinese native she could find, Ashley successfully graduated with a degree in Mandarin Chinese. She was determined to be the next best Chinese translator in the world. Then, she discovered writing historical romance was as much fun as reading them, and her Chinese capabilities have never been the same. When she isn’t writing, Ashley stays busy trying to entertain her two young daughters, attempting to do housework, and hiking in the beautiful foothills of Colorado.

And now, for the Get Lost Interview!

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Ashley: Love, Actually. I probably watched it at least 5 times last Christmas—once even with the director’s commentary. Although not every couple’s thread has a happy-ever-after, there is hope for each one. The characters seem very realistic to me, and they each had their flaws. They made me laugh, they made my chest hurt, they made me root for them. Also, the British humor. Need I say anything more?

Heather: What’s the first book you remember reading?

Ashley: I’m sure there were ones before this, but the first one that made such an impression that I actually remember reading it was Anne of Green Gables. I don’t think I liked it very much until the romance started developing. Then I LOVED it. What can I say? I’ve been a romantic from the beginning J.

Heather: What turns you off like nothing else?

Ashley: Someone shushing me when I’m in the middle of talking or trying to talk. My husband does this ALL of the time and it’s so infuriating. You know, because usually I have something important and life-altering to say ;)

Heather: What sound or noise do you love?

Ashley: My bedroom fan. Because it usually means the next thing that’s going to happen is I’m going to go to sleep J. No, really, I think it’s the sound of my girls giggling. I love their joy. For the opposite, nothing is worse than a baby crying. Nothing, nothing, nothing. My husband and I have nightmares about babies crying. When the baby starts to cry when she wakes up, my husband and I flinch in horror.

Heather: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?

Ashley: If by story-telling you mean telling a story verbally, then writing, definitely. I am horribly inarticulate when I speak, especially when I’m in front of a group of people or around people I’m not comfortable with. And I can’t tell a joke to save my life. When you write, you can edit as much as you want. I’m terribly clever when I write ;)

Heather: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?

Ashley: I know it sounds cheesy and corny and other authors have probably said this already, but there’s nothing better about being a published author than being able to connect with you. I love getting to know you, and appreciate your support and enthusiasm for my work. Seeing my book on a bookshelf is nothing compared to getting an email, tweet, or Facebook message from you. That is all. J

Heather: If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

Ashley: Assuming that anything is possible, I’d love to become a worker in an international aid organization. I’ve always dreamed of helping others in a way that MEANT something. Of course, I wouldn’t know what to do with my children. J Maybe I’ll have to save this dream for a later date.

Heather: What do you do to unwind and relax?

Ashley: Read. There’s nothing like it to be able to escape from the outside world. Even movies don’t do as much for me as reading does. If I could have one day to myself in my usual world where I could do anything I wanted, I wouldn’t go shopping or go to the spa, etc. I’d read all day. Of course, maybe that sounds like a day in paradise because I never get to do that J

Heather: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?

Ashley: It’s not as much of a tradition as a way of respect. I was raised to say “yes, ma’am”, “no, ma’am”, “yes, sir”, “no, sir”, and I expect to raise my children to do the same. Some people think it’s old-fashioned, but I think respect for others is a basic concept that so many have lost in our society.

Heather: What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

Ashley: Not necessarily that I need people to know this, just something outside of Ashley the Author. I had two nicknames in high school: “The Brain” (yeah, I was valedictorian; just go ahead and throw that nerd label up on my forehead) and “McFro” (because my maiden name started with Mc and I have naturally curly hari and one Halloween I thought it would be funny to make my hair into an afro…I didn’t really mind the nickname, though, especially when it was used affectionately by the cute guys in school ;) )

Heather: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

Ashley: I’m a sleep deprived mother in desperate need of caffeine to keep me away both during the day when I’m up with my daughters and at night when I stay up late to work on writing. I gave up soda in 2008 when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, and I refuse to go back to that. But I need SOMETHING. I tried energy drinks, but they made me sick. I tried tea, but not only does it just taste like flavored water to me, it didn’t help me stay away. Just last week I started drinking coffee, and if I can get past the aftertaste I think I’m going to stick with it. Of course, right now I drink it with LOTS of French vanilla creamer and LOTS of caramel syrup J

Heather: What does it mean to love someone?

Ashley: That you make them a priority over your own needs and desires. This is HARD, but I’ve found it to be true for my relationships with my husband and children as well as my friends and extended family.

Heather: What color would you make the sky if it wasn’t going to be blue anymore?

Ashley: I’d like it to alternate colors so that you were always surprised when you went outside or looked out the window J

Heather: What’s in your refrigerator right now?

Ashley: Half-eaten jar of baby food, tuna salad, leftover pasta with butter sauce, strawberries, broccoli, milk…This reminds me, I really need to go to the grocery store.

Heather: What would you do if you had a time machine?

Ashley: I’ve thought about this question or variations of this question for a while, and I keep coming back to the same answer time and again. So, sincerely, without trying to be cute or funny or even particularly vicious: go back in time and assassinate Hitler. Enough said.

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Ashley’s GOTTA ANSWER J

Heather: What’s your idea of a dream date?

Ashley: No knowing what’s going to happen; letting my husband do all of the planning and being surprised at what happens next. Enjoying the date because I’m with him and there’s no pressure about what decisions have to be made, because they’ve all been made for me.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Ashley: Let’s talk about something outside of reading and writing. What’s is your favorite family vacation memory?

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

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

Thanks so much for being with us today, Ashley! Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?

http://www.ashleymarch.com

http://www.facebook.com/ashleymarch34

http://www.twitter.com/ashleymarch34

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.