Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

I may be a bit tired today. I don’t know that now as I write this post because I’ve yet to attend my first Spring (or any time of the year) Home and Garden Show. My post on “Being Out There” has to do with being in public as a writer. I’ve done book signings are various writer’s conferences and independent bookstores but never have I even been to a Home and Garden Show much less “worked it” selling books.

But I did last week! I worked from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, from 12 (noon) to 5 p.m. on Friday and yesterday (Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or maybe 6 p.m.). I made a commitment to be there until at least 3 p.m. but I’m not sure, as I write this, if I’ll make it the full 8 hours.

My post on Wednesday will have details and pictures.

What I can tell you is I’m excited about trying something new-to-me to get to know readers who may love my books. Of course, with thirty (30) other authors’ books available, part of my job is to make sure anyone coming to our “Garden of Books” area finds a book they’d love to read.

I’m glad I know Susie Slanina, author of the Metro The Little Dog children’s books, Pamela Cowan, author of thrillers and Courtney Pierce, author of Baby Boomer fiction and Windtree Press authors, because I know their books well enough to speak with some authority.

The other authors? 

I know the genres so if someone says they like a ‘who-dunit’, I can ask a few clarifying questions to point them in the mystery or thriller direction.

While I write contemporary romantic fiction, I read contemporary romance and historical romance. So there are a couple more genres I’m familiar enough with to steer people to books they may love.

Check back in on Wednesday to see pictures and hear my first impressions of being in the Book Garden at the 2016 Portland Spring Home and Garden Show.

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

A Fun Story About Blue Jays

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

Monday, I promised you a funny story about the blue jays.

I’ve friends who have a cabin in the woods and I’m invited to visit with them at least once a year. My visit in 2015 coincided with my writing Gabriella. In Monday’s post I talked about the blue jay being Gabriella’s power or totem animal. I was delighted to see many blue jays in the trees, at the feeders and mingling with the deer.

Inspired I got my phone out, figured out the camera part and pointed it at the birds to take their picture. As soon as I did that they flew off. I tried again and again and each time the birds flew into the Douglas fir trees.

One time I even held the camera down by my side in an effort to trick them.

Nope. That didn’t work either.

Finally I put my phone away, determined to just enjoy their beauty.

I was back a week later and even though the blue jays were all around the cabin, I didn’t even try to take a picture.

As I was sitting on the deck under a canopy, visiting with my friends, I heard the beat of wings and felt the rush of air as one of the birds buzzed me. Startled as the blur of blue flew over my head, ---the bird had flown under the canopy from one end of the large deck to the other!

We all had a good laugh over that.

Guess that showed me!

A week later I received an email from my friend.

They did get a little more cooperative after I told them that it was no way to treat a guest and reminded them that we still controlled the food to some degree!

And after the text were these pictures.

Who Me?

Well, Really!!!

If that's what you think, I'm leaving

If I just ignore them, they'll go away.


Guess they believed her – lol!

Pictures from Lois Neuman. Captions are mine.

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

Inspirational Images

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

I’m what’s known as an organic writer. I have a general idea of the story and some scenes are clear to me. What I know is if I start writing, the story will appear on the page. I have written six full length novels, over 600K words total and five short stories, over 50K words total for a grand total of over 650K words that way.

However, when it comes to writing blog posts, my process is somewhat different. I don’t turn into a plotter with outlines, charts, and character studies but I do have more than a general idea of what I want to talk about.

For example: I did a series on Relationships and another on Making Your World A Better Place. Most recently I wrote four posts on Peace. You can read these posts by scrolling down or using the Archive feature on the right. 

This month I’ve started talking about aspects of being a writer. At Romancing The Genres, I’ve a post on my book covers.

I’ve a post here also about the covers.

Today I’m showing you inspirational photographs. These pictures help me stay connected to the spiritual thread that runs through all my writing.

Originally I thought the apples would be on the cover of Sophia but after seeing a draft I knew they didn’t work. You’ll see the final Sophia cover in a couple of weeks!

The spruce cone is from a tree in the yard of my long-time friend, Judith, who lives in Ohio. When I visited her in 2015, I had finished Hunter. Since sacred geometry plays a role in Gabriella it was important to me to have a visual that spoke to me. As soon as I saw the cone, I knew I had to bring it home with me.

Although the bird on Sophia’s cover is a blue bird, Gabriella’s power animal or totem animal is the blue jay. The characteristics of these birds are not similar at all. If you are interested in the energetic differences there are books you can read or you can observe them on your own and see what messages come to you. Also, I’ll share my perspective another day.

I’ll share a funny story about blue jays on Wednesday that will give you a clue as to their personality.

 

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

Being "Out there"

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

Judith and Sarah Raplee and Love & Magick poster - Desert Dreams

This Wednesday I'm talking about being "out there" as in public venues.

While I'm not as introverted as some writers, I'm not someone who loves being in larger groups.

If you check out my headline and sidebar you'll see that I've several public events coming up.

This first one is this Saturday. eRomance is sponsored by my home chapter, Rose City Romance Writers. Saturday during the day are workshops for writers and authors. Morning has to do with forensics and afternoon branding. (No not cattle).

February 25 - 28, 2016 is the Home and Garden Show at the Portland Expo Center. I'll be there Thursday from 3 - 7, Friday from 12 - 5 and Sunday from 10 to at least 3 p.m. I'll have four of my five books available and I'm selling my books at 10% off the direct from me to you price. I'd love to have you stop by!!!

Oh, and I'm guest blogging with Brenda Whiteside on Fearless Friday, February 26! Brenda is a member of the Desert Rose Romance Writer's of America chapter as am I.

It may look like there is a big gap between my time with Brenda and the Home and Garden Show and the next event - Desert Dreams Writers Conference.

My home chapter, RCRW has a chapter meeting March 12, I'm flying to Phoenix early so I can attend the Desert Rose chapter meeting the end of March. I'll also visit with family and friends in the area between my arrival and the start of the conference.

Judith and Sarah Raplee at book signing in 2014

Book signing is Saturday, April 9th from 5 -7 at the Embassy/Chaparrel Suites in Scottsdale. Desert Rose has great romance authors as members (think Jennifer Ashley, Erin Quinn, Vijaya Schartz, Kris Tualla to name a few). Check out the chapter website to see who else might be at the book signing.

So why am I sharing anything about this? Because being 'out there' is something most writers believe they need to do in order to gain name recognition. If people think they know you because they've heard your name several times, they are more likely to try one of your books.

And, while I write because I love to tell these stories, my feelings are not hurt when readers buy my books.

By the time you read this, I'll have finished my read through of Gabriella and will have or will be printing the manuscript off to send to my first reader. A few days to get my taxes done and I'll start Sophia. What's special about Sophia is that is the last book in the original series.

I'm so excited to see the end of this part of my writing journey. Of course there are many more stories to tell. There are children who grow up and get their own stories and children yet to be born. A few of the secondary characters are also clamoring for space.

But for now, I'm making an effort to be "out there" to meet readers who are or may become fans.

As a reader, do you ever buy a book from an unknown-to-you author because you met her or him at an author event?

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

Finishing "Gabriella"

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

One of the reasons my posting has become a bit spotty the last week or two is because I'm so close to finishing my initial work on the sixth book in The Sacred Women's Circle series. Gabriella just may be the shortest of the completed novels with the first draft coming in at just under 96K words. However, in my process, I also read it through a second time before sending it off to my first reader. So far, I've deleted more than I've added so today my count was just over 95K.

Scheduling in the writing of blog posts while in the midst of writing a novel is always a challenge for me. Gabriella is no exception. So this post isn't very long.

How am I celebrating finishing Gabriella and sending it off to my first reader?

Getting my taxes done and maybe a bit of chocolate!!! Make that, definitely a bit of chocolate. Oh, and a massage!

As promised, here are the pictures being considered for the overlay on Gabriella.

And for Sophia?

Check back on Wednesday to learn more about getting to know readers as a part of writing.

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

Book Covers

My book covers have been created by the talented Christy Caughie of Gilded Heart Designs. However, Christy is also a Victorian romance author with Avon and has made the decision to no longer create book covers.

My loss, readers’ gain.

However, Christy is finishing The Sacred Women’s Circle series covers to my delight and relief!

I posted at Romancing The Genres on book covers and setting.

Today I’m talking about subtle design elements in book covers. Not that I’m an expert or anything but with the input of my friend and graphic designer, Lois Regn, I think my covers are special.

Why? Because my covers have subtle messages mixed with the stronger heroine image. Overlays—muted images overlaying the stronger background/setting picture. is one. These overlays are connected to the sub-title of each book.

I talk about the other subtle image in my Romancing The Genres post so check it out. You may win a copy of one of these books.

Lily’s subtitle is “The Dragon and The Great Horned Owl.”

Elizabeth’s is “The Lady and The Sacred Grove.”

I’m sure you can figure out Diana’s if you've heard of The Tarot. And The Tarot plays a major role in Diana finding her path to happiness.

Ashley’s is “Ðragonflies and Dreams.”

Hunter’s is “The Dancer and The Drum.”

Gabriella’s subtitle is “Chaos and Symmetry” and involves sacred geometry. I don’t have that cover ready to show you (hopefully in March) but I have found a picture of an urn sitting on a railing, the sea behind it.

Next week I'll show you the pictures I'm considering for the overlays in Gabriella and Sophia. And look for the unveiling of those covers later this month or in March.

Sophia’s working subtitle is “Begin and End.” I know what I mean by that but it may be more difficult to build into overlays on that book’s cover. Sophia sent out the flyer that brought these women together to create a Sacred Women’s circle. She has experienced the highs and lows of life during the stories of the other women. I know her story – just not sure of the subtitle.

Stay tuned!

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

Readers and Writers Wednesday

What is Readers and Writers Wednesday?

My goal is, most Wednesdays, to share a variety of things with you.

You may wonder "what things?"

Here's a partial list:

* milestones in my writing

* books that I'm reading

* guest posts from other writers about their writing process and their books 

* reviews

* answers to questions from readers about my books

On this first Readers and Writers Wednesday I'm sharing my latest two milestones.

The first milestone of 2016 was being presented with a Certificate from Rose City Romance Writers, my home chapter. I applied for and was accepted into Romance Writers of America's Published Author's Network (PAN).

At this time I'm a "provisional" member which means that while I'm published, I've yet to earn at least $1,000.00 in sales from one book. To help me meet my goal of becoming a general member of PAN and if you've read any of my books, please leave a review on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and/or Goodreads.

My second 2016 milestone was reached on Friday, January 29th. On that date I finished the first draft of Gabriella, the sixth book in The Sacred Women's Circle series. I'll be revealing Gabriella's cover in March.

To see the covers of the first five books in the series, check out my website or my Windtree Press Judith Ashley author page.

You can also follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19