Author Interview: Ash Gray

About the author:
I normally put a joke bio in these fields because I'm very private person, but I like this website so I'll be serious. I am an English Lit major, avid reader, animal lover, sunflower gardener.

What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
My very human lifelong hunger for love and acceptance. I am yet to experience real love, only unapologetic abuse. I am also mushy and romantic, though I don't like things to be *too* saccharine in fiction, even my own.

Tell us about how you write.
Most of my books have some element of romance. I enjoy writing about women who are in love, though I sometimes write about men and women pairings as well (such as my science fiction romance Qorth).

I love writing books that explore social norms, gender, and sexuality. That is the main theme of my series The Prince of Qorlec, which is actually about the lost *princess* of Qorlec. She is often mistaken by aliens as "male" because aliens have a different concept of gender. Project Mothership is the first book in the series.

What advice would you give other romance writers?
Doubt I'm in any place to give people advice, but I would say if you're going to write about love, first understand what love is and isn't. Too many writers idealize emotionally abusive relationships these days and frankly, it's scares me.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I was trying to sell a comic book about a super hero last year. It was rejected (again) and I realized I would never be able to sell my books unless I did it myself. So I did.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I'm not sure what to think. This current "war" between traditionally published authors and indie authors is unfortunate, especially when so many famous authors started out indie simply because they couldn't get past the gatekeepers. I often find myself wondering how things might change because of indie publishing.

Which romance sub-genere(s) fit your stories best?
science fiction and/or fantasy

My books are available in the following formats:
eBook