Author Britton Ashley Interview

booktalkwithbookis
Jul 29
3 min read

What made you want to start writing novels?

I grew up a reader! Anne of Green Gables, Harriet the Spy, Emily of New Moon--they were all my best friends growing up. I was homeschooled, and books were my escape. It never occurred to me that I would do anything else. It just took me longer than I thought to get going!

What three words are used most to describe your writing?

Verbose, chatty, casual.

You write books "full of queer, neurodivergent chronically ill characters". Why is representation so important in books?

Books are such a sacred place to me. They are a safe place for us to try on other lives, other identities between the covers of what we're reading, and sometimes, while we are trying on those other lives, we find that they fit us. Books give us words to explain ourselves to others, and to ourselves. Being able to find other people who look like us--or who look NOTHING like us--lets us learn and grow in a safe place. SO often we see queer, neurodivergent, or chronically ill characters as the comic relief, or as "tragically beautiful" lessons for the main character. We are real people, though! We deserve adventures and mishaps and HEAs as much as anyone else.

What advice would you give to aspiring LGBTQ+ writers?

Your story is powerful, and whenever you're ready to write it, we're ready to read it. Seriously. Do it at your pace, as you feel ready, and don't get discouraged. Our stories are valuable. Our lives are worth writing about. Don't let the noise of everyone else drown out your voice.

What are the most rewarding aspects of being an LGBTQ+ author?

When someone tells me, "I've never read a book like yours before. I didn't know where to start with reading queer books, but I read yours and I loved it!" That makes me feel incredible. I'm still a baby author, but I've gotten that a couple of times, and it's exciting to see that world opening up for someone and finding out I was a key.

Casual Sparks, your sapphic summer romcom, has two POVs: Daisy and Dolly. How did you make sure each character has a unique voice?

I don't know how to describe it, except that they spoke (or yelled, in Dolly's case) so distinctively that it was easy to write them in their voice. I didn't plot this book out too much; I let it flow as it came, and that lent itself to their unique POVs.

Both of your books have playlists included in the front, which I love to see! What is a favorite song from each playlist?

For "Covered in You" the song "tis the damn season" IS the book. I can picture exactly where I was in my car when the story fell into my head, and that song was playing. Every time I would lose track of the plot (which was a LOT) I'd go back to that song and it was like resetting my intention. For "Casual Sparks", Dolly was born the night Chappell Roan first played "The Giver" on SNL. Thank God Youtube doesn't keep track of how many times you watch something, because I rewatched that A LOT. And then she put it out as a single right before the book came out, WITH A LAWYER VARIANT--I wasn't able to preorder one in time, so if someone wants to sell me one, hit me up. I need it. It's a need.

How did it feel when you cracked the top 1000 in lesbian romance on the Kindle Store?

I freaking SCREAMED. What do you MEAN I cracked the top 1000 books in lesbian romance? ME? Me. ME?! mEEEE!??! Some people might not think that's a big deal, but for a girl who grew up pushing down the queer parts of myself and afraid to be who I am--just seeing my name on that list at ALL gave me a euphoria that my lil baby gay heart needed. It was so affirming in so many ways.

Can you tell us anything about your upcoming books?

I can! Betty is up to bat. It's a road trip novel, so there will be lots more playlists! I am also working on a Regency horror novel with my best friend from middle school. It's totally out of my normal wheelhouse, but I'm having SO much fun writing it!

The author can be found on Instagram @brittonashley.author

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