A Goodreads user
asked
Jennifer Ashley:
How did you become interested in paranormal romance? What are your inspirations for shifters et al?
Jennifer Ashley
I love paranormal romance! I grew up reading scifi / fantasy, and have been a Dr. Who fan forever (well, most scifi TV). I originally wanted to write fantasy, but at the time I was starting, it was a bit of a no-no to put romance in your fantasy (at least, not the way I wanted to, with the focus on the couple, not whoever was trying to destroy the world). When paranormal romance began to be popular, I rejoiced! Finally a way to combine the two things I loved.
I started my paranormal romance career with the Immortals series (a multi-author series, but the original idea was mine--I always feel the need to state that for some reason), plus I tried out a dragon series as Allyson James.
With those under my belt, I looked around for a series that was going to really sing to me, and let me develop ideas as much as I wanted.
My "inspiration" for the Morrissey family was actually a construction crew I saw on the way to the airport one day. They were a group of four seriously good-looking guys. I thought--what if they were shape-shifters? (the logical thing to think). Then I thought--what if they were brothers, or several generations of the same family? Father, two sons, a nephew. All bachelors living in the same house? And what would the world *really* do if shape-shifters were proved to be real (probably freak out).
So all that meshed together for a while, until I sat down and wrote Pride Mates. I decided not to do an "end of the world" scenario (as I'd done in the Immortals). I would write about Shifter families just getting on with their lives. Of course, dangerous things would happen to them, as people are always trying, one way or another, to bring them down.
And that is how the Shifters Unbound world began.
I started my paranormal romance career with the Immortals series (a multi-author series, but the original idea was mine--I always feel the need to state that for some reason), plus I tried out a dragon series as Allyson James.
With those under my belt, I looked around for a series that was going to really sing to me, and let me develop ideas as much as I wanted.
My "inspiration" for the Morrissey family was actually a construction crew I saw on the way to the airport one day. They were a group of four seriously good-looking guys. I thought--what if they were shape-shifters? (the logical thing to think). Then I thought--what if they were brothers, or several generations of the same family? Father, two sons, a nephew. All bachelors living in the same house? And what would the world *really* do if shape-shifters were proved to be real (probably freak out).
So all that meshed together for a while, until I sat down and wrote Pride Mates. I decided not to do an "end of the world" scenario (as I'd done in the Immortals). I would write about Shifter families just getting on with their lives. Of course, dangerous things would happen to them, as people are always trying, one way or another, to bring them down.
And that is how the Shifters Unbound world began.
More Answered Questions
Laura Oliver
asked
Jennifer Ashley:
I've just finished book 8 of your Shifter series, and I finally put my finger on why I adore Tiger so much (besides the obvious hunk factor). He reminds me of Ian Mackenzie! His inner voice, unconventional social skills, acute devotion to spouse and children, etc. Was that a conscious parallel you made between the two characters, or did it just happen to turn out that way? Love them both. :)
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more