Jennifer: I live in Arizona, where it's hot, with a cat and a husband. I have lived all over the world, including Japan and Europe, and I love to travel. We're settled in Arizona for now, but you never know. I write full time, although I used to be an editor at non-fiction publishing companies, and I still freelance edit on occasion. My degrees are in English, which means I got to read a lot of novels. What a hardship!

What I do when I'm not writing? Make up more stories to write! That and music - I play flute and guitar, and occasionally someone makes me sing. I also build miniature room settings and dollhouses, although the writing does not allow me to do that as much as I used to. I also like to hike and swim and bike for a change of pace.

Donna: When did you know that you wanted to be an author?

Jennifer: When I was eight. I loved to read. When it dawned on me that novels were just make-believe written down, I thought, "Hey, I want to do that!" I don't think there's been a time in my life when I didn't make up stories in my head.

Donna: You also write mysteries as Ashley Gardner. What came first, the mystery or the romance?

Jennifer: The mysteries and the romances came simultaneously. I like to read both, so I've always written both. Out of sheer good fortune, I published in both genres within a year of each other. Writing mysteries and romances helps me vent both sides of my personality - the humorous romances on one side, and the darker, more plot-driven mysteries on the other.

Donna: On your Web site, you talk of sailing from San Francisco to Japan on a cargo ship. How did that come about? Is this where you decided to write about pirates?

Jennifer: My father was transferred to Japan when I was fourteen. He absolutely hates to fly. One night, in the bathroom, he saw an ad in a travel magazine about sailing by freighter - some cargo lines take passengers. So we went to Japan that way, and came back three years later the same way. Sitting on the deck watching blond, bronzed men in their twenties working on the deck was no problem for me.

Those trips did not inspire the pirate novels per se, but they did instill my love of slow travel and tropical islands and ships. When it came time to write PERILS OF THE HEART, THE PIRATE NEXT DOOR, and THE PIRATE HUNTER, I could call to mind the ocean and what it's like to sail and so forth. My pirates know a lot about the Pacific and Far East, because that's what I know.

Donna: It was an interesting twist to read about a "pirate hunter." What kind of research did you do for this character?

Jennifer: The pirate hunter, James Ardmore, has been a character in my head for a long, long time. There were pirate hunters out there, tracking down the bad guys for money, and often they were just as bad as the pirates. My pirates are very much based on the pirates and pirate hunters of the "Golden Age" (Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and so forth). I juxtaposed them onto the Regency for a fun twist.

Donna: You have been blessed with really great covers for your books. What was your reaction when you first saw the cover for THE PIRATE HUNTER?

Jennifer: I love it! The colors are marvelous and I always like eye candy. *S* In fact, the cover for THE PIRATE HUNTER is amazingly accurate. Setting, hero, heroine - they all look exactly right!

Donna: I know that authors hate this question, but where do you get inspiration for the stories that you write?

Jennifer: I really don't mind this question. I think we sigh when people ask this because we really don't know ourselves. The final manifestation of an idea and its original inspiration are often worlds apart.

I get inspiration from everything. A phrase overheard at a restaurant, something flashing by on TV, a minor character in a movie, an incident reported in a newspaper, a dream, a funny experience in an airport. A good writer keeps her or his mind open constantly for inspiration. Ideas are everywhere - we just have to be open to receive them. Not all ideas make it to print - some turn out to not work. But you have to let them flow into you all the time.

Donna: Do you ever use your "Miniature Worlds" to plan out the scenes of a story?

Jennifer: No - in fact, it's usually the other way around. My stories inspire the miniatures. If you look at the black and white room on my Web site, that was inspired by a room I made up for a manuscript I wrote a long time ago. That story didn't work, but the room did. It's one of my favorites.

Donna: How long does it take you to write a story?

Jennifer: About two months from starting the first draft to final polish. That's the actual fingers-on-the-keyboard writing. I think about the story and the characters for a long time before that. I sometimes jot down my ideas so I won't forget, but mostly I gestate everything in my head. Once I start writing, I do it all in one go. I stay better focused that way.

Donna: Do you work from an outline? Do your characters ever try to take over the story?

Jennifer: I have a hard time working from an outline. Many writers swear by it and swear their stories are better when they use them. I can do outlines if I have to, but I get intimidated by them. I like to close my eyes, open the floodgates, and just go. Yes, I do have to rewrite because the story changes direction or I get a new idea, but so what? I enjoy taking my raw rough draft and making it into something strong. My plotting ends up very tight, no matter how many things are going on. I write my very best stories just sitting down, typing the first line, and then seeing where it takes me. And yes, my characters take over the story. Every time!

Donna: Do you ever find your characters in situations that are hard to write them out of?

Jennifer: Not usually. If I do, I throw those pages away and rewrite. My characters tend to be very sensible people, and won't go into dark alleys alone or investigate the strange noise without telling someone else. And if they do get into trouble, they can usually talk their way out of it. *S* I dislike plot devices and try not to use them. I do have my heroes and heroines rescuing each other a lot, but it's romance, and I love a daring rescue!

Donna: What is the hardest part of writing a story?

Jennifer: Making myself actually sit down and do the work of it (just one more game of Free Cell, I promise ...). It's also hard to say goodbye to characters I've grown to know and love. When I have to send the manuscript to my editor and move on to another project, I feel a wrench. It's like watching good friends move away. You know you'll see them again, but it won't ever be the same.

Donna: What is the funniest thing that has happened related to your writing?

Jennifer: I don't know if readers would find this funny but I recently received a royalty statement for an anthology I had a short story in a long time ago. My royalties for that quarter were one cent! And they taped a penny inside the envelope. I laughed very hard. Is that funny?

Donna: What kind of books do you read for pleasure? Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jennifer: I like to read romance, mysteries, and sci fi in the form of space opera. I love Lois McMaster Bujold's series and Andre Norton and Catherine Asaro. In mysteries, I like historicals best - Elizabeth Peters and Lindsey Davis are two of my favorites. In romance - Mary Balogh, Gaelen Foley, Jo Beverley - all those great Regency writers. Actually it's hard to name all my favorites. I have many authors on my bookshelves, both bestsellers and newbies. I'm an adventurous reader and willing to try just about any new author or new-to-me author. Sadly, writing as much as I do now precludes me reading as much as I'd like. I used to read a book every two days; now I'm lucky if I get to read one every two weeks.

Donna: What has been your favorite question or comment by your fans?

Jennifer: Let's see - several people have asked me where I've been all their lives. That's flattering!

Donna: What is your least favorite question from fans?

Jennifer: Um - I'm not sure. I haven't run into any really obnoxious questions, yet. My fans are all very nice people. I'm fairly new - ask me again in a few years!

Donna: What kind of books do you hope to write in the future?

Jennifer: Romance. I like romance more and more each passing year. I want to write stories that are funny, rich, and fulfilling (and sexy). I'd also like to try my hand at some space opera and paranormals or futuristic romance. On the mystery side, I have several ideas for series I'd like to do. My mysteries are fairly dark and gritty right now; I'd like to try something lighter and more cozy, maybe a contemporary series. I have lots of ideas.

Donna: What is next? Can you give us a hint?

Jennifer: In the immediate future, I have more Captain Lacey books by Ashley Gardner, and another book in the Pirate Series, THE CARE AND FEEDING OF PIRATES, by Jennifer Ashley, which will be out next February. I am writing more of the mysteries even as we speak, and I'm about to write another historical romance, maybe sans pirates this time. I'm also exploring the world of contemporary comedy. We'll see what happens!

Donna: How has the Internet affected you as an author?

Jennifer: In a good way! Even ten years ago, authors did not have the kind of communication with readers that we do now. I have Web sites through which readers can contact me, and of course there are all the reader boards and review sites. Now a reader can keep track of what her favorite author is doing, or discover new authors through discussions and postings. Also the online book sellers provide an opportunity for authors to keep selling their backlist - my first two books are hard to find in bookstores anymore, but they are constantly available on line, not only from Amazon, but Walmart, B&N, Powells, and places like that. Plus, chatting is so much fun!

Donna: What are some of your favorite Web sites and discussion boards?

Jennifer: Well, RBL Romantica, for one! That is such a fun reader board. I don't always get to post, but I love to read and see what everyone's up to. You have a warm community of friends here. I also tend to like the sites that provide eye candy and interviews with the models and other guys. It's inspiring. ;)

Donna: How can we as readers help to promote new authors?

Jennifer: Simply by telling your friends or posting on boards when you find a book or author you enjoyed. Word of mouth is incredibly powerful. Authors can hand out bookmarks and pins until our fingers fall off, and still not reach the audience that word of mouth reaches. So read, enjoy, and talk!

Donna: What is your advice for the aspiring authors here at RBL?

Jennifer: Write the very best book you can. It is better to sail in with a strong book than get your foot in the door with something that is just publishable. Why? Because staying in the game is very hard, and you want something that will generate enthusiasm from both the publisher and your readers. Also, make sure your premise is a catchy, sellable idea. You may write the best prose in the world, but if the premise does not catch attention, no one will pick up the book and find out. If you have a manuscript that has been rejected by everyone on the planet, there is probably a good reason. Swallow your pride, take a look at what you're doing, and then strive to do better. Don't look at a rejection as discouragement, look at it as a challenge!

Donna: Anything else you would like to say?

Jennifer: Thank you so much for inviting me!