My Reading Refuge(s)

Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series ’s, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction with light paranormal elements. My stories show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved. And where, with this support, you make choices to overcome the darkest nights of your life to choose love and light.

These days wanting to relax and shut away the outside world is an almost constant ‘want’ of mine for a variety of reasons. I could fill several blog posts with my concerns and, at times, fears. However, the purpose of this post is to share with you who my “go to” author(s) are, authors whose books keep me on a more even keel.

What I’ve found interesting as I’ve thought about who and how to write this post is I’m not buying books like I used to.

Image copied from Jo Beverley website

Why? I’m still reading every day.

This year I’ve purchased three historical fiction (my favorite genres) and only finished one. I’ve spent some time analyzing why because they are authors I’ve read and enjoyed in the past. I don’t even remember the books/stories enough to say anything specific about them. However these are some of the reasons I don’t finish books or end up reading the last chapter or two before putting the book aside.

+ The story didn’t keep my interest.

+ Too much description of clothing, rooms, etc. I actually don’t care what the hero and heroine are wearing or what color the drapes are much less the fabric. And I find that boring to read.

+ Too much description of the seduction and sexual activities of the characters. I’m even okay with the fade to morning when the bedroom door closes on the couple. I’m not a prude. In my own books my characters make love. For me, it’s another aspect of a story that can actually become boring if it goes on for pages and pages.

So what have I been reading this year?

My keeper books. I actually started rereading all my fiction books during Covid. I also reread my entire series. I’ve purchased several non-fiction books that I’ve enjoyed and I’m looking forward to getting to a book store for Malcolm Gladwell’s latest. Hmm, I might just start rereading the books by him I already have.

My Go To Author is Jo Beverley. I also have numerous books by Nora Roberts and StephanieLauren’s Cynster series (Bar Cynster books).

Right now I’ve finished my 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th read of Jo Beverley’s Company of Rogues. While I’ve read all of these books at least 3 times, a couple I’ve read more. And I’ve started on her Georgian period books with the Malloren family as the heroes or heroine.

Image copied from Jo Beverley website

I’ve reread all of Nora’s books set in Ireland, one of my most favorite places in the world. And when I say “reread” I don’t mean just once. The series she wrote in the ‘90’s have been read at least 3 if not 4 times.

Early on when I started reading romance (1998), I was struck by the norms or expectation of Regency England about what was “appropriate” behavior for a “lady”.

What struck me?

 The vestiges of those “norms” that were alive and well during the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s, my growing up years.

I will admit that as I’m reading these books for the 3rd, 4th or 5th time, I am seeing aspects of the story that didn’t register or stick with me over the years. And I think that is because, for me, the stakes of how these remaining years of my life will be lived are higher. I’m in my 80’s now. One of those people living on a fairly fixed income. I do have book sales but nowhere near the thousand a month mark.

Image copied from author's website

The probability of a marriage of convenience is slim.

The probability of winning the lottery even slimmer as I seldom buy a ticket and when I do, checking the numbers continually slips my mind.

The probability of inheriting thousands of dollars is non-existent in that I don’t know anyone that has thousands of dollars.

Image copied from author's website

So when the world around me seems dark and bleak and scary, I turn to books that transport me to another place and time. Once I finish Jo Beverley’s Malloren series and get Malcom Gladwell’s latest book, I am going to start rereading his books. I doubt I’ll be transported anywhere and I might be engaged to the point where the world around me recedes to a mere shadow.

You can find my books at your favorite e-book vendor as well as through my website www.JudithAshley.net and Windtree Press. Print books are available at Jan’s Paperbacks in Hillsboro, OR and Arte Soleil in Portland, OR. Their addresses are on my website. And be sure to ask your library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshley.net

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

You can also find Judith on FB! 

© 2025 Judith Ashley

A Tribute to the Queen of Crime

I don’t have a “go-to” author, but I do have a “most admired” writer. Thus, I pay homage to the Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie (née Miller). After all, we writers (and readers) of who-dunnits cannot even imagine a world with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

Even if you’re not a mystery-enthusiast, you have to admire a female born in 1890 who became the best-selling novelist of all times (Source: Guinness Book of World Records). Agatha wrote 66 detective novels and has sold four billion (Yes, BILLION) copies of her books.  Her play, The Mousetrap, also holds the record for the longest initial run. It opened in 1952 and is playing at the St. Martin’s Theatre in London.

Of course, no woman is worthy of recognition just for selling books, but Aggie was also a humanitarian.  During the First World War, she joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment and clocked 3,400 unpaid hours attending wounded soldiers.

Like a lot of modern woman, Agatha endured heartache before finding true love. She divorced first hubby Archie (maybe because the cad admitted to being in love with Nancy Neele). But she had her HEA. In 1930 (at the age of 40) she married an archaeologist after joining him on a dig. Can’t say that isn’t romantic.

Perhaps the thing I like most about Agatha, is her restraint in killing off her popular hero, Poirot. According to Aggie’s diary, our grand dame found Poirot “insufferable.” Although she considered him an ego-centric creep, the author didn’t whack the detective during the height of his popularity.  Aggie felt her job was to give the readers what they wanted (eh, can we learn something here). That said, Poirot is the only fictional character with an obituary in The New York Times.

Despite her greatness, critics have commented that Aggies’s plotting ability exceeded her literary skill. To which I respond, “Duh—four BILLION books.”

What about you? What authors do you love that critics have panned?

Happy Spring!

Robin

Tools to Help You Cope: Visualization and Guided Imagery by Sarah Raplee

 

KODIAK ISLAND BEACH
( courtesy of Pixabay)

I have one trick to uplift my spirits that I haven’t seen mentioned in any other posts this month. It’s called Guided Imagery or Visualization. I learned Guided Imagery over forty years ago while living in Alaska.

The method I used told you to go to a place in nature where you are happy and relaxed. Then close your eyes and relax your body completely. Focus on your breath for a minute or two. Then turn your attention outward and spend a minute or two focusing on each of your senses. What do you smell? What do you hear? What do you feel on your skin, etc.? Open your eyes and look around. Save this memory and go back to this moment in your mind when you need to relax and lift your spirits.

My memory is of sitting on the beach with my husband and small children enjoying a non-rainy day in Southeast Alaska. The smell of the sea breeze and my husband’s cologne, the sounds of children’s laughter and water rippling on the shore, the grainy feel of sand beneath my hands – you get the idea.

Going back to that moment when I was happy and content, connecting with loved ones and nature, never fails to lift my spirits when life gets overwhelming.

Here is a link to a Healthline article about Visualization and Guided Imagery if you are interested in trying these techniques.

Have you tried meditation or related techniques to help you cope with stress?

Interview with Bestsellling Author Donna Hill by Marcia King-Gamble

 

Author Donna Hill

https://donnahill.wordpress.com/

I had the good fortune to work alongside talented author Donna Hill at BET, Kensington Publishing, Harlequin and again at St. Martin's Press. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to interview her. Donna has one of those voices writers envy. Please read what she had to say about her writing journey. 

1/ When did you first know you wanted to become a writer? 

I don't believe I ever thought I would 'become" a writer per se. I always wrote from way back in grade school.  I would write for my friends, I had books of poetry.  I wrote on everything I could get my hands on. But it never occurred to me to be a writer. it wasn't until the late eighties after writing a short story that I considered getting it published. I knew that I loved to read and write but becoming a writer was not something that was conscious. But when I began looking into getting  my short story published, and it was, then I kind of thought, "wow, I can do this. I can be a writer."

 

2/ Once published, did you set goals as to what you wanted to accomplish? 

To be honest, not really. I think I was just so happy to be able to do what I'd loved all my life, my only plan was to just write and hope that readers loved what I wrote. That was probably not the best goal! LOL. It wasn't until much later that I realized that my writing was no longer a passion project it was a business. There were contracts and deadlines and book tours and promotion. But, I still didn't have a plan exactly. I suppose the closest thing to a plan was learning to remain relevant. I partnered with other writers in anthologies back when they were not being done. I presented book projects to editors, I learned to write blurbs for the back of books. Studied my contracts for ways to be able to write for multiple houses, in various genres. That was pretty much what I did.

 

3/ You started off writing short stories. Tell us about that and the journey to having three books (I believe that was the number) turned into movies by BET? 

My first short story 'The Long Walk" was published by Black Romance Magazine. Nathasha Brooks-Harris was my editor. She was the one that gave me the opportunity to serve as advice columnist and edit the letters that came. The more short stories that I wrote the longer and more complicated they became and Nathasha told me that the stories were getting too lengthy for the magazine and maybe I should think about writing a novel. Ha! The idea had never occurred to me. But I started it and long story short it was ultimately published by Odyssey Books, a small black owned publishing company in Silver Springs, Maryland. Leticia Peoples was the publisher. My novel Rooms of the Heart, launched her contemporary line and Mildred Riley launched the historical line.  I did one more novel with Odyssey, Indiscretions, before going over to Kensington which had just launched Arabesque with Monica Harris as the editor. Sandra Kitt and Francis Ray (who'd both written for Odyssey) were the first two published by Arabesque. Eventually the Arabesque line was swept up by BET Books and thats when the movies deals came along. They picked three of my works for television A Private Affair, Intimate Betrayal and Masquerade.

4/What are some of the most memorable moments in your publishing history? 

Hmmm. After I wrote If I Could  I remember receiving a letter (yes a real letter) from a woman that said reading If I Could finally gave her the courage to leave her husband! Yikes. Another highlight was with my novel In My Bedroom the book was being used in a college classroom as a teaching tool  and woman approached me during a signing of In My Bedroom and confessed "this happened to me. thank you for writing this."

 

5/ You have a successful career in the educational world as well. That said, if you weren’t a writer, what would be your second career? 

When I was very young still in middle school I wanted to be a magazine publisher! LOL.  Right now, I'm doing my other love, teaching. I enjoy the students, the content I can create with them and seeing them shine. It's great.

 

6/ Many writers are no longer writing, especially writers of color. Why do you think that is?

 It's hard to say. I would guess lack of support from publishers, changing market and just plain exhaustion. Writing is real work and the job doesn't end with you hit sent to your editor. That's when the real work begins and it's exhausting.

 

7/ There have been so many changes in the industry. Publishers merged. Editors lost their jobs. eBooks took over. Do you see the Publishing world shifting again?

 Hmm, with so many book influencers I think that recognition for new authors and even seasoned ones are showcased. There is definitely a shift in every aspect. We don't mail in manuscripts anymore, we email them. Book tours are not what they once were. It's not a lone author at a table hawking books. Now authors are "in conversation" with someone during these events. There are ticketed events and QR codes and multiple levels of social media placement. Its a brave new world and social media is one of the driving forces. I guess AI will be "in conversation" with the author with virtual events in the future.  (that's an idea though).

 

8/ No one predicted that eBooks would take off the way they did, or that Indie authors would be on the New York and USA Bestseller list. What are your thoughts? 

I think its great. Traditional methods and traditional publishing . . .move over.

 

9/What advice would you give to beginning writers?” 

Hmm, decide if you are going to be a sprinter or a long distance runner. Read widely, travel when you can, listen to conversations, pay attention to the world around you and don't get trapped in writing to a fad.  Fads fade.  Read. Read. Read.

 

10/ Why do you think so many multi-cultural lines closed down? Was it the marketing?  

Hmm. Hard to say. The house will say it's the numbers. And it's the numbers for various reasons. 

 

11/ Finally, what’s next for Donna and her writing career? 

Well, I just submitted a novel to Harlequin entitled Unfinished as well as the synopsis for the next book. My next historical, Nola and Baldwin with Amistad is in and being edited as I type this. I am working on a followup to submit to Amistad. Debating whether to return to contemporary or do another historical. I just received Tenure at work my college Medgar Evers and have also taken on the role of Executive Director for the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College. So, trying to stay busy. LOL

Why Young Adult and New Adult Romance? Blast from the Past by Lynn Lovegreen

(This Blast from the Past was first published in 2016.)

We’re celebrating New and Young Adult romance this month! I am honored to be asked to write an extra post for this theme. (My usual gig is the second Thursday of the month.) These age categories are my favorites, and I’ll explain why.

Young adult (YA) is usually defined as the teen years, when most kids are in secondary school and figuring out who they are. New adult (NA) is often defined as the period right after that, when young people are holding their first jobs, going to college, and learning to be on their own in the world. Both ages are full of drama and possibilities, especially in fiction. Add a little romance, and you have the perfect ingredients for a novel.

Depending on who I’m talking to, I often just say I write YA. But if my audience knows about NA, I will say YA/NA. In my Gold Rush books, there is a combination of YA and NA characters. Because of the time period, most of my teenaged characters are taking on adult roles earlier in life. Plus, there is not an obvious border between the two age groups then, so teens are spending time with what we might call new adults. In Quicksilver to Gold, for example, set back in 1900, Jeannie has never set foot in a school building, but today she’d probably be a senior in high school. The object of her affection, Clint, would have graduated high school already since he’s a little older. When they meet at their mining claims outside Nome, Alaska, they are both seen as adults. But when you see Jeannie’s emotional reactions to things, there is no doubt she is a teenager.

I write YA and NA because I remember my teen and college years vividly. I knew even then that it was a dramatic stage of life; I recall thinking that if I ever wrote a book, it would be set during that time. (No, none of my books are that close to autobiography, but you never know what I might write in the future!) For most of us, those years are an emotional roller coaster. Everything is important, and so much feels earthshaking. That’s built-in drama for a novelist.

While adults also enjoy reading YA and NA, I hope teens can use my characters as examples of what they might do with their own lives. If Jeannie can strike it rich with her mining skills or Charlotte can help create Denali National Park, why can’t our readers achieve their own dreams? I hope they will.

For more on why I write YA, see my video at https://youtu.be/rJDWwrSnXuMhttps://youtu.be/rJDWwrSnXuM.

Lynn Lovegreen grew up in Alaska, and still lives there. Her young adult/new adult historical romances are set in the Alaska Gold Rush, a great time for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com.

The Things That Always Cheer Me Up . . . . . . by Delsora Lowe

I am lucky, I have many things that give me a lift every day.

Reading…

Whether it is reading a good book or watching a romcom movie or a sitcom that will take me away from the reality and horrors of our world, each gives me a sense of peace and happiness. I can bask in the message being portrayed in that media and lock away my worries for the time it takes me to read or watch an uplifting book or program.

Writing…

I also write romance. So, writing positive content definitely gives me a feel-good vibe. Even when getting the couple together at the end may take a turn for the worst, know that in order to proclaim a book’s place in the romance genre, a happily-ever-after or a happily-for-now is a requirement. So, they always have a feel-good component at the end.

Friends…

Another thing that makes me happy is seeing a friend in person. Yes, these days ZOOM makes it easy to keep up with friends. I also keep up with many over the phone or through email or other forms of social media but getting together with friends in person is the best! There’s nothing like cradling a cup of tea, while looking directly into a friend’s face who is sitting across the table from you. Or slurping down an ice cream cone while walking the boardwalk with friends. That in-person contact makes a huge difference.

More Writing…

Going to my local weekly writing group grounds me every week. We each write a piece that takes 5-minutes or less to read out loud. The writing can be in any genre, which is fun for me, since my “job” is writing romance, whether a 5-minute romance I want to submit to Woman’s World magazine or a romance novella or full-length novel that I will eventually publish. Writing outside of my preferred genre gives me a different prospective on life, my town, my relationships with family, or any other topics, such as the environment, recipes I love to cook, etc. It frees up my brain to be creative in a different way.

What Things Give You a Lift and Make You Feel Happy? 

Amazon (also in print)

Books2Read

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns, from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine (most recently, an Easter romance in the April 1, 2024 edition.) The Love Left Behind is a Hartford Estates, R.I. wedding novella with Book 2 on the way. A Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker – the youngest brother of the Mineral Spring’s ranching family) were the most recent releases. Look for book 3 of the cowboy’s series, as well as book 2 of the Hartford Estates series, to be released in 2025.