Ask the Author: Ashley Willingham
Answered Questions (6)
Ashley Willingham
You know, I grew up reading epic fantasies like The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire. I especially loved the latter. The politics! The drama! The dark edginess! Never knowing when a main character might kick the bucket!
I can't read stuff that dark anymore, though. As a mom, I just... can't handle those themes these days. So, I originally set out to write A War of Crowns as, "A Game of Thrones, but make it clean."
I wanted to write an epic fantasy that celebrated feminine strength and gave the female characters breathing room to be heroic right alongside their male counterparts instead of them just being there to be graped or traumatized by their children being unalived in front of them. So, that's what I've set out to do.
Something with all the epic scope of A Song of Ice and Fire, but with an underlying message of hope and strength.
I can't read stuff that dark anymore, though. As a mom, I just... can't handle those themes these days. So, I originally set out to write A War of Crowns as, "A Game of Thrones, but make it clean."
I wanted to write an epic fantasy that celebrated feminine strength and gave the female characters breathing room to be heroic right alongside their male counterparts instead of them just being there to be graped or traumatized by their children being unalived in front of them. So, that's what I've set out to do.
Something with all the epic scope of A Song of Ice and Fire, but with an underlying message of hope and strength.
Ashley Willingham
This is such a LOADED question for me. All the things. I have the next five years already planned out for all the books I want to release. Here's just a sneak peek:
My War of Crowns trilogy, starting with A War of Crowns. The entire trilogy will be completed in 2026.
My "Clean Fairytales for Adults" which will be a series of unconnected standalones. All gender-flipped fairytale retellings. No-spice, of course! Three will release in 2025.
Another standalone in the War of Crowns universe, A Vow of Peace. Coming 2026, after I finish the third book in the War of Crowns trilogy. This will follow the story of Percy and Edith's second son and his dealings with the mountain tribes of Varoa. (If you didn't understand anything in that sentence, read A Vow of Honor. It's free for my newsletter subscribers!)
A series of interconnected standalone no-spice dark fantasy romances with mafia vibes. Coming 2026. This is my "Dark Heart Redeemed" series.
Another trilogy set in the War of Crowns universe. Interconnected to the original War of Crowns trilogy, but I want to write them both that they can be read as standalone trilogies if someone wanted. Another enemies-to-lovers story, of course, as that's my favorite.
A mermaid duology.
A fae trilogy.
Another fae trilogy (set in the same world).
Another uh... elf trilogy... set in the same world as my fae stuff (lol).
A dragon rider trilogy.
A series of interconnected standalones set in a dark urban fantasy world. Mafia vibes.
A standalone Beauty and the Beast retelling with forbidden magic (I already have this one outlined and ready to be written, I'm just not sure where to squeeze it in in between all my other stuff LOL).
My War of Crowns trilogy, starting with A War of Crowns. The entire trilogy will be completed in 2026.
My "Clean Fairytales for Adults" which will be a series of unconnected standalones. All gender-flipped fairytale retellings. No-spice, of course! Three will release in 2025.
Another standalone in the War of Crowns universe, A Vow of Peace. Coming 2026, after I finish the third book in the War of Crowns trilogy. This will follow the story of Percy and Edith's second son and his dealings with the mountain tribes of Varoa. (If you didn't understand anything in that sentence, read A Vow of Honor. It's free for my newsletter subscribers!)
A series of interconnected standalone no-spice dark fantasy romances with mafia vibes. Coming 2026. This is my "Dark Heart Redeemed" series.
Another trilogy set in the War of Crowns universe. Interconnected to the original War of Crowns trilogy, but I want to write them both that they can be read as standalone trilogies if someone wanted. Another enemies-to-lovers story, of course, as that's my favorite.
A mermaid duology.
A fae trilogy.
Another fae trilogy (set in the same world).
Another uh... elf trilogy... set in the same world as my fae stuff (lol).
A dragon rider trilogy.
A series of interconnected standalones set in a dark urban fantasy world. Mafia vibes.
A standalone Beauty and the Beast retelling with forbidden magic (I already have this one outlined and ready to be written, I'm just not sure where to squeeze it in in between all my other stuff LOL).
Ashley Willingham
Life inspires me. I mean, there's no one thing. My poor husband will be trying to tell me about his day (he's a software engineer) and suddenly, I have an idea for a clean sci-fi romance that's like the Matrix, except if Morpheus had been a woman and in love with Nero, rattling around in my head.
Always carry a notebook. You never know when you'll get a good idea.
Always carry a notebook. You never know when you'll get a good idea.
Ashley Willingham
Knowing that there are people out there who need my stories. It's a weird feeling because I know a lot of us go into the life of being a writer for ourselves. We have voices in our heads and we want to get them out onto a page! But then you put your work out there, you put out those pieces of your soul, and then you realize that... someone out there needed that piece of your soul in their life.
Sure, not everyone will like what you write, but someone will. And that makes it all worth it.
Sure, not everyone will like what you write, but someone will. And that makes it all worth it.
Ashley Willingham
Just write the dang book. Write it. No one's going to write it for you. And the biggest regret you'll have is not writing it sooner, so start now.
Ashley Willingham
Weirdly? I take a shower. I KNOW THAT'S STRANGE. But shower thoughts, come on! We all have shower thoughts, right? That's what works for me.
If I'm having a hard time figuring out how to fix a plot hole or I need to let a potential story beat just sort of percolate for a bit, I'll stop working and go take a shower instead. This HAS led me to some funny situations in the past where I had three showers in one day during a big writing sprint, but, you know. We do what we have to do.
If I'm having a hard time figuring out how to fix a plot hole or I need to let a potential story beat just sort of percolate for a bit, I'll stop working and go take a shower instead. This HAS led me to some funny situations in the past where I had three showers in one day during a big writing sprint, but, you know. We do what we have to do.
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