Interview with Ashley Kay, Western Romance Author

What’s your name? Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Ashley Kay, a former School Counselor turned stay at home mom and romance author. I have a thing for house plants and cats. We just got a Euroline Maine Coon and she’s so much fun! I have three kiddos ages 3, 7, 10 and married to my version of a book boyfriend. 6’2’, strong, beard… yeah, I like him a lot. I enjoy listening to all kinds of music (especially while doing the dishes) and I will read any type of book (except history).

What genre(s) do you write?

Currently, I write contemporary romance but have plans to branch out into different subgenres. 

Why did you start writing?

I’ve always loved reading, since I was about 4 years old. As a young adult I loved to write poetry and had journals full of them. It morphed into books and I wrote part of a YA Fantasy in my early 20’s. Life made me shelve it but then I stumbled onto romance with kindle unlimited subscription and I fell hard. Always loved love but I wanted to write it. So I did.

Tell us about your most recent release. How did you come up with the idea?

My latest release was the last book in my first generation Montana Heirs Series. It follows family and friends who work at a Montana outdoor sporting facility. There is drama and angst and steamy scenes amongst the fantastic Montana back drop. There are twin brothers, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, lumberjack heroes, brother’s best friend, single dad tropes and more. I pride myself on writing strong, independent heroines and love how their men love them. 

Where do you draw inspiration for your characters and setting?

I love the wilderness and would love to live there someday with my hubs. A quiet cabin with internet, of course, and all the books I can read and write.

How many books have you published?

Three, plus a short story and a few bonus scenes. The Montana Heirs Series consists of : Denim Blues, Wildflower, and Rugged Heart. All are standalone but best if read in order. My short story will eventually be a full length novel but for now it’s a freebie for newsletter subscribers.

What’s next for you?

I am currently writing a romantic suspense under a pen name, Penn Wilder, and having a lot of fun with it. It’s been a blast learning about a new subgenre and incorporating it into a story with romance! 

Where can readers find you and your books?

My books are available on Amazon and in kindleunlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD61Y8CC

You can find all my social media links on my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ashleykayromancewriter