Author Crystal Ash #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Crystal Ash

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Crystal Ash! I’m a writer from Northern California. I live with my husband and cat in a pretty quiet suburb. When I’m not writing, my hobbies range from beer making to growing carnivorous plants, hah. My interests are all over the place but generally I’m a quiet homebody who likes hanging out on my own or with those closest to me.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Not always as a profession, but writing has always been an interest of mine. My dad’s a writer too, so I’m sure some of it is inherited. I started reading voraciously at a young age and journaling after seeing my dad do it. I wrote my first fiction in my early teens and blogged about various topics into adulthood.

As far as jobs go, I’ve been a lifeguard, a photographer, a sandwich artist, a bar manager, and so on. It’s been a long, winding road to having author as a career path, but I don’t think I’d have it any other way!

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

Honestly, the mistreatment of animals is what inspired me to write Harem of Freaks. I love writing shifters because I love exploring the similarities we share with other animals. The instinct to protect our offspring and loved ones, the desire for a mate, etc. I’m a huge animal lover, as you can tell! To me, nothing is more heart-wrenching than how some animals are mistreated, especially in circus and some zoo situations. What’s even worse is seeing those you love treated in the same way, so this has been a VERY emotional series for me.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on Curtain Call, the final Harem of Freaks book. Once that’s done, I’ll be wrapping up my story for the Fated Mates boxed set, which releases in early June. I’ll have a couple of short stories for special projects coming out in the meantime as well!

Do you have any quirks while writing?

After several attempts, I’ve realized I can’t write in coffee shops like many authors do. I get distracted because I’m too much of a people watcher! I also obsessively track my word counts in several places (notepad, calendar, Pacemaker app, Discord server…). Yeah, wow. Didn’t even realize it was that many!

What are your hopes for the future?

I love traveling, so I hope to attend book signings locally and abroad to meet readers in person. I’m going to my first book convention later this year, Literary Love Savannah, and I’m tentatively planning for 2020 as well!

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Don’t be too hard on yourself and definitely don’t compare yourself to others! Always be willing to learn, grow, and experiment.

Do you have anything to say to your fans?

I love you! You have literally made my dreams come true and I’ll keep writing the books you love for as long as I can! My readers move me every day and I’m so lucky to have them.