I’m so excited to be part of the Downunder Takeover happening on the Entangled Facebook page today!
My name’s Amanda Ashby and while I grew up in Australia (Brisbane), I now live in Napier, New Zealand and like to think of myself as an honorary Kiwi (though if you heard my weird accent, you might think otherwise!).
I also write for the Bliss line ,and have just released Dating the Wrong Mr. Right, which is the third book in my Sisters of Wishing Bridge Farm series. And incase you couldn’t guess, when it comes to the sexy versus sweet debate, I’m sweet ALL the way!
To celebrate Team Sweet (TS for short, because hey, whose says that sweet can’t be fun?) I thought I’d list my top five sweet authors that have influenced how I write and read.
Jane Austen
One year at college I challenged myself to read as many classics as I could get my hands on. And let’s just say it was dull going until I stumbled onto Jane Austen. Like sunshine through the rain. Plus, back in the pre-internet days I had no idea that Jane love was even a thing so for the longest time I thought she was my little secret. Still, she’s so awesome that I’m happy to share!
Georgette Heyer
Long before I even knew what category romance was, I was reading and loving Georgette Heyer. While she definitely had her fair share of alpha heroes, she was the one who introduced me to beta heroes and shaped my writing and reading habits for the last thirty years.
Jill Mansell
Jill Mansell is an English author who writes the loveliest romantic comedies ever. Her books are like a hot bath on a cold night. Comforting, warm and full of delicious bubbles!
Betty Neels
When I first started reading category romance I stumbled onto Betty Neels and didn’t stop until I read them all (turns out she’s a lot like Pokémon. Who knew?)
Essie Summers
Essie Summers was a New Zealand author who started writing for HM&B in the sixties, and legend has it that her books greatly increased tourism thanks to her compelling descriptions. I actually started reading her books when I first moved to New Zealand and it was so lovely to see my new homeland through her eyes.
What about everyone else? Do we have some sweet readers out there? Who are your favorite authors?
Amanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young adult and middle grade books. She also works in a library, owns far too many vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture. She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Libraryʼs Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.
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