Determined to land a huge advertising account for his company, Nicolas Sinclair gets a LITTLE carried away and tells the potential client he’s married and about to celebrate his first anniversary. Now, Nick has a serious problem—he has agreed to a high-stakes cruise with this important client and must find a willing “wife” to join him.

Laney Parks is either in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the right place at the right time—She isn’t sure which. She isn’t even entirely sure how she got roped into posing as her hunky boss’s wife. She finds “sticking to the script” SERIOUSLY unnerving, especially when it involves cuddling up and kissing in public—and sharing the close confines of a cabin, and its single bed, with him.

Tiffany I am so pleased that you have agreed to be interviewed by The Diva’s Pen. Your steamy I/R novel ‘Love Script-Deluxe Edition’ is one I’m anxious to learn more about. It’s my goal to introduce and champion talent such as yours, to keep the Multicultural Romance genre front and center. Okay, let’s get started shall we!

Diva: For those of us that haven’t visited your website or read the first release of ‘Love Script’ please share with us where you’re from? Where do you reside in now?

TA: Hi! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me. I am originally from Detroit; MI. Half of my family still resides there. My immediate family moved to Dallas, TX when I was pretty young. I currently reside in Dallas.

Diva: How does your family, spouse, friend’s handle your success in writing erotica? Are they fans as well?

TA : LOL. Most of my friends and family have no idea I write novels, and certainly not erotica. Tiffany Ashley is my pen name, so very few even know what name to search for. I just recently (about a week ago) posted pictures of myself at www.tiffanyashleybooks.com. Before that, no one even knew what I looked like.
Strangely enough, a friend of my mother’s managed to get a hold of the book and she loved it. She told my mom and convinced her to read it. Now my mom is my biggest cheerleader. She likes listening to me talk about the publishing biz, which is awesome, because I can often figure out a solution to a present dilemma when I’m explaining things to her.

Diva: Okay, I have to get right down to it. (I think I have an idea as an author myself, but I must ask) Why did you retire ‘Love Script’ and go with a re-release under the ‘Deluxe Edition’?

TA: Girl, I’m glad you asked. I’m sure you already know but let me shed a little light on things for those who don’t understand what authors go through. I’ve never mentioned this before, but here is the real story about how the Deluxe Edition came to be…

As with most authors, I was not happy with my publisher at the time. They failed to handle Love Script properly. I love my characters and it was frustrating watching Nick and Laney’s story be poorly managed. I was so disappointed, I threw my hands up and re-focused my attentions writing two new novels,Club Babylon and The Prize (I often write more than one book at a time). The intention was to shop the new books to a larger publisher, but then I suddenly became intrigued with a new story. I stopped writing my current manuscripts and soon began writing The Next Hollywood Heartthrob.

I was obsessed with Hollywood Heartthrob. My character Bailey Woods was awesome and the hero, Sebastian Dunhill, was so dreamy. As the series progressed, I began to have a more positive outlook on my future. But I could never really shake the frustration I felt toward my publisher. I knew Love Script deserved better. Before I could move forward with Hollywood Heartthrob, I had to address Love Script. Remember, Love Script was my first published novel. I felt extremely protective of the characters.

One day, I decided to sit down and flip through the original version of Love Script. There had always been a few minor errors in the book that drove me crazy. I thought I would go through the book, mark those items and send corrections to the publisher. As I began to read through the book, I was reminded how much I loved these characters. There were parts when I actually cried (which is silly because I wrote the darn book) and there were parts when I shook my head because I was fed up with Nick. By the end of the novel, I was emotionally exhausted.

I saw some room for improvement and I considered scenes I would like to add. I got on my Mac and started typing a few lines. Within an hour, I had five pages of new content. The minor corrections I wanted to update morphed into entire new scenes. One month later, I had 50+ pages of new material. At this point, the book would have to be registered under a new ISBN. I saw this as the perfect opportunity for me to break with my publisher and get under contract with a new publisher. I needed to preserve Nick and Laney’s story and properly position Hollywood Heartthrob.

I broke ties with my publisher in 2010 and committed Love Script: Deluxe Edition to Circle 1 Publishing. It was the best move for me. I could not be happier. Nick and Laney are now being handled properly and Hollywood Heartthrob has a good home.

Diva:: Do you have any intentions on extending the sexy story of Nick and Laney into a series of books?

TA: Absolutely. I’ve already begun to mentally plot the next book in the series. There will be a total of three books. My working titles are: Love Script (Book# 1), Love Undefined (Book# 2) and Love Uncompromised (Book# 3).

Diva: Honey, I’m a big believer in proper cover design. They say don’t judge a book by its cover but we all know that’s a crock. The cover for ‘Love Script’ (both versions) is STEAMY hot! Is that Jimmy Thomas? Did you have some creative control in its design?

TA: LOL. Thanks Yes, the cover models for Love Script: Deluxe Edition is Jimmy Thomas and Tiffany Belle. The cover artist, Reese Dante, made Jimmy’s hair blond. I totally agree with you, a proper cover will sell a book. I was not a huge fan of the cover for the original version of Love Script. I had very little control over the design. The publisher gave me a short questionnaire and…boom…they were selling the book. I’m still proud of the original cover but it wasn’t what I would have chosen.

Going into the production for Love Script: Deluxe Edition, I had the great fortune of assisting with the creative design. I loved it, but I doubt it was as pleasurable for Jimmy. I’m obsessive about everything! Jimmy asked for direction and I wrote a practically wrote a novella about ‘who’ the characters were and ‘how’ they felt about each other. Luckily, Jimmy was a true sport about it. He took my directions and he delivered. He is the ultimate professional!

Tiffany Belle was amazing as well. I have such a girl-crush on her! (not really, but really). Every proof shot was awesome but I think we chose the best one. I love the cover! The couple is super hot. I told Jimmy my only regret was we had to put the book title over his butt (I swear that man has implants. His butt is awesome!).

Diva: I ask this question of all the authors, and I’m fascinated by their responses. Why Interracial or Multicultural romance? What about the genre draws you to it?

TA: Interracial / Multicultural romance is a seriously underfed genre. I can count on my hand how many I/R novels I’ve been able to read. The list for good I/R novels is even slimmer.

What’s annoying to me, as a reader, is reading a book and the assumption is every character in the book is one race. I hate that! On what planet does the author live on where there is an all white or all black society? I like to read books with a diversified cast of characters. However, race cannot be the underlining purpose of the story. If the setting isn’t dated in the 1800s, race should not be the ultimate conflict between the characters. If so, I think the author does their audience a disservice.

I use my characters in such a way that race is only a minor footnote to the story. Race has no more importance on the storyline than the color of a person’s hair, or the color of their car. I refuse to use the race card to sustain a plot. I don’t find that to be interesting.

Diva: Are your characters and their stories modeled by anything in your personal life? Where does the inspiration for your work come from?

TA: Funny story. I actually had a job very similar to Laney’s. I hated it there. (Yes, Mary-Knight is a real person. Yes, she is a total bitch.) I would sit in my office and wish I was anywhere else in the world but at work. Escaping on a tropical cruise was ideal. This started the idea of Laney’s story. From there, the book practically wrote itself. I completed the novel in three or four months.

Physically: I based Nick’s looks on a picture I had of Brad Pitt. Beyonce Knowles was who I imagined when I thought of Laney.

Diva: Where and when do you write?

TA: I think the question should be ‘Where don’t I write?’ I’m one of those weird people who can only concentrate when there is a lot of noise around me. Only then can I zone out and get into the story. I have an awesome office at home but I rarely get a lot of work done there. I usually tuck my Macbook into my bag and drive to the nearest Starbucks. But mostly, I write wherever and whenever I get inspired. I write notes to myself on my iPhone and email them to myself, I jot notes on the back of receipts, and I leave myself long voice messages about story ideas.

Diva: What is your stance on e-book piracy?

TA: I am a huge advocate for holding those responsible for ebook piracy. I make no secret about my stance on this. I check the web about once a week to see if there are any sites illegally downloading my books. If there are, I report them to the FBI without hesitation.

Diva: I read an interesting blog post on your lovely site about the fascination with Vampire/Werewolves Romance. I chuckled, because I’ve even attempted to write for the genre myself. Do you think Paranormal will fizzle from overkill and Contemporary Romance will continue to rise from its ashes? I think the younger readers who stalk shows like Vampire Diaries and swoon over sparkly vampires in Twilight, aren’t going to let go of paranormal love for some time.

TA: Funny. I get more comments regarding my “Vampires, Werewolves And Fairies” blog than any other blog I’ve posted. I plan on posting more articles regarding genre trends and publishing news but I haven’t had much free time lately. But regarding your question about the paranormal fad, I’m convinced it will burn itself out very soon. Anyone who has read the first book in the Twilight series certainly has read the last book in the series by now. There is no ‘new’ market still left. So the idea that the last movie in the series, Breaking Dawn, will spark more sales for the Twilight dynasty is hard to believe. The roof on the paranormal craze has been hit. The problem with publishing is the industry generally has very little margin for profit. So, if there is the slimmest possibility they could sell three more books if bookstores keep a pile of paranormal books in the middle of every aisle, they will.

We’ve seen the same thing happen when Harry Potter was introduced to the world. Awesome series, but if you’ll remember, when we first heard of the series you couldn’t walk into a bookstore without practically tripping over displays about dark magic. The good thing about such blatant market saturation is it sets the stage for the next literary craze. Anything new and unusual, and let me emphasis ANYTHING, will seem amazing after the paranormal craze. After 3-4 years of having paranormal books crammed down our throats, readers are desperate for something new.

Luckily, there is a rather exciting book series going to the silver screen. I predict Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy will be the next huge craze. Sci-fi fanatics everywhere will once again rule, not romance. The good thing about Hunger Games is the series is expertly written. This can’t be said about many bestsellers.

Diva: What inspired you to write? What inspired you to write I/R?

TA: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I never had the nerve to follow through with it. At a very young age, I was exposed to the writings of some really amazing authors (i.e. Sidney Sheldon, Rosemary Rogers, Sandra Brown, etc). I studied their work, marveled at the way they conveyed stories, devised story settings and established character development. That early exposure influenced the way I read books as an adult. Now, I expect greatness every time I pick up a book I consider reading. And I read A LOT. Needless to say, I’ve read many not-so-great books. As time passed, I found myself thinking more often, “I wish the author would have done…” or “Why didn’t the writer use the flat characters more effectively?” or (my favorite) “I hate all these characters!” The more I read, the more questions I had, until eventually I decided to see if I could do any better.

I’ve always had an active imagination. Being able to share my thoughts with others is an amazing feeling. When I first began writing Love Script, I was heavy into eBooks. One of the first books I read was an interracial romance. I enjoyed it. I looked for more books in that genre and was amazed how slim the options were. Multi-cultural romances are a seriously underfed genre. I decided then I would do my part to even the odds. I plan to focus my collection of work on interracial romance.

Diva: Can you share with us a little about what your current projects?

TA: My current project, The Next Hollywood Heartthrob, will be available Spring 2012. This will be a 3-4 book series. I am so excited about this book. I’m completely in love with all the characters. Here is the synopsis …
When Hollywood publicist Bailey Woods finds herself publicly dumped by actor Paris St. John, she vows revenge. She knows the only way to get back at her ex is to hurt him where it matters most: his ego. Opportunity knocks when a new client wanders into her office wearing an old T-shirt, worn jeans, tousled hair and the face of an angel. An unknown actor, Sebastian Dunhill doesn’t know the first thing about being a celebrity, but he unwittingly becomes a pawn in Bailey’s vengeful game. She will transform Sebastian into Hollywood’s newest heartthrob—a feat Paris won’t be able to ignore. But when her plot begins to take on a life of its own, will she be able to control the events she’s set into motion?

This book is one of the more complicated storylines I’ve written, and I love it. Like Love Script, there are some funny moments and some not-so-funny moments. But it wouldn’t be a Tiffany Ashley book without a few good love scenes I’m positive my readers will enjoy this series.

Diva: Do you have a preferred writing style (first person, omniscient point of view, etc)?

TA: I do not have a preferred writing style. I write in whatever style challenges me most. I try to avoid relying on the easy way out. Readers are smart. They know when an author is being lazy (whether it be story plotting, scene setting, character dynamic, etc.). If I continue to challenge myself, the effort will be conveyed in the novel.

Diva: How have you dealt with rejection letters when seeking to publish mainstream or have you had too?

TA: Rejection is not fun. Love Script was originally submitted to Ellora’s Cave. Unfortunately, the manuscript was rejected. I was a serious fan of the site, so I sulked for a minute, but I quickly bounced back. The rejection was a wake up call for me. I believed in my work and I knew Love Script was good. I could not allow myself to believe in failure. Ultimately, the rejection was a good thing. It made me review the novel again and ask myself, what did they see that I didn’t? I corrected a few grammatical errors and addressed some rough POV transitions. The novel was immediately accepted by another publisher a few weeks later.

The important thing to take from my story is, don’t let anyone define your future. Try to view your work from their perspective, but never lose yourself. Rejection should motivate you to become better, not give-up. If I’d listened to my rejection letters, I would not be where I am today. Before retiring the original version of Love Script, I sold 1500 copies in two months. I’m very proud of those numbers.

Diva: If you had to choose, which author would you consider the greatest influence?

TA: Tough question. I have a short list of influential authors but they compete for the top spot. If I had to choose one, I would say Rosemary Rogers is my ultimate favorite author. Her books are so well written and are impossible to predict where the storyline is headed. I grew up reading syrupy historical romances my mother had laying around. Rogers was the first novel I ever read that lacked ‘love at first sight’ nonsense. Honestly, who falls in love with someone they glanced at from across the room? How many men do you know spout sonnets as soon as he meets a woman? It’s absurd. Rogers was the first author I read where the characters had true grit. I loved it. I a result, I often end up creating edgy characters. No one can say Nick Sinclair is soft.

Diva: What book(s) are you reading now?

TA: Honestly, I haven’t picked up a book in months. I’ve been so busy with pre-pub projects for Love Script: Deluxe Edition, I don’t have any energy left to read. That sucks, because I love to read. I have a blog on my website where I post book reviews. I hope to return to that soon.

Diva: What is the most surprising thing you learned in writing your first book?

TA: Publishing period. I am often amazed by how much I didn’t know back then. When I first began writing, I was focused solely on perfecting my craft. I wanted to write a few books and then kick back and receive my royalty checks. What an idiot I was! I had no idea the extent of how hard a writer works. Writing a book is the easy part! Only the tip of the iceberg (assuming the manuscript is good). Writers have to balance a multitude of projects. Everything from picking the right publisher, watching your sales, keeping up with blogs, maintaining your website, verifying your royalties, reading through contracts, etc. It’s a lot to digest. Writing is truly a labor of love. Luckily, I have a strong passion for my work. I have no regrets.

Diva: Do you like writing Alpha Males? What do you find sexy in a Alpha man?

TA: What’s NOT to like about alpha males? Every woman wants a man who takes charge of a situation, particularly when it comes to the bedroom. It’s very sexy.

Diva: Do you hear from your reader’s much? What kind of things do they say?

TA: I’m not sure if this is normal, but my readers are very vocal. They even pitch new story ideas to me! I love it. I make a serious effort to reply to every comment and email I receive. It’s important to me that readers know I’m an ordinary person who just happens to have an awesome job. I try to make myself as available to anyone wishing to reach me. My personal email address is displayed on my website for that purpose.

Diva: Is there a scene within ‘Love Script’ that was edited out that you regret or wish you had expounded on?

TA: No. The storyline for Love Script is complete. All the changes I wanted to include (i.e. embellished scenes, added dialogue) was included in the Deluxe Edition.

Diva: What are your expectations for your work?

TA: Awesome question. I expect a lot from my work. When it comes to my writing, I demand perfection from myself. I am my own worst critic. I guess I like the abuse, because there is nothing else in the world I would rather be doing. My goal, as an author, is to give my readers the ultimate experience. I want to insert them into the world my characters exist in, captivate their interests, stimulate their senses, make it impossible to figure out what will happen next and keep them coming back for more. If I can accomplish all those things within one book, I’ve achieved my goal.

Diva Have you ever experienced writers block? Any technique’s to overcome it?

TA: Not really. I plot my books before I write them. The structure is pretty cut and dry. However, sometimes, the story veers into an unexpected direction and I have to make the decision of re-plotting the scene sequences. But the ultimate ending remains the same.

Diva: Do you plan to make writing a long-term career?

TA: Absolutely. I love writing. It keeps me sane. That being said, I have no desire to compete with Danielle Steele. I have no lofty ideas of writing 50+ books over the span of my career. I only have a certain number of book [ideas] in my head.

Diva: Okay let’s get to some fun facts about you. What’s under your bed?

TA Funny! I hate to say it but I have a box of Fashion Royalty dolls (which I’ve never been brave enough to sell on eBay, because I love them) and my vibrator (I need to keep it close…just in case).

Diva. Chocolate or Vanilla?

TA Swirl, of course.

Diva: Light’s on or Lights off?

TA: Ha! I’m a tigress in the bedroom. I don’t care one way or the other. Lights on or off, I will enjoy myself

Diva What’s your favorite musician or band now?

TA I’m so glad you added ‘now’. I fall in love with a new artist once a month. I love to listen to songs that reveal something new to me every time I listen. This is why I love Coldplay and Muse. Currently, I’ve been obsessed with Ray LaMontagne’s “Hold You In My Arms.” I love his voice! It sounds so painful.

Let me just add, my favorite song is “Sugar Mouse” by Oh, Atoms. I listen to this song ALL the time, especially when I’m writing. If I were a song, this would be what I sound like. It’s so light and fun.

Diva: Dog or Cat person?

TA: Neither. Animals terrify me. If it moves without ‘me’ moving it, Tiffany was not meant to be in the vicinity.

Diva: Name the last movie you’ve seen (at a movie theater)?

TA: The last movie I saw was The Fighter. I love Christian Bale. Talk about dedication! That man is awesome.

Diva Can you name for us any favorite (famous or not) I/R couple?

TA: Nick Sinclair and Laney Parks

Diva: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Is there anything else you want share about your work to your readers?

TA: Firstly, I would like to thanks Divas Pen for giving me the opportunity to chat with you. The interview was fun. I’ve done a lot of interviews but this was honestly the most interesting and in-depth one I’ve participated in. Thank you.