Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! My name is Ashley Capes and I’m a writer from Australia.
After publishing in the poetry world for the last thirteen or so years I wanted to explore fiction and started publishing epic fantasy, contemporary fantasy and my latest work (my fifth book) – is a supernatural thriller called Crossings. I set most of my stories in Oz because that’s where I’m most confident in writing, but I always end up compelled to add something beyond the everyday world in my stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Crossings’ is a supernatural thriller inspired by the Australian alpine bush and the idea of a giant, mythical white kangaroo. I’ve always been drawn to native animals and settings and the mysteries of nature – how cruel it seems for an albino kangaroo to be born, when it makes them so vulnerable.
There’s also a sub-plot of domestic violence. My main character Lisa is a wildlife ranger who has to fight off the attention of her ex, who has returned to her town. When researching the role, I was reminded and disgusted that her experience would not be uncommon for women all over the world, but also that for a so-called ‘developed nation’ Australia’s rate of violence against women was very high.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to work with music – especially heavy metal. Some folks might find that odd I think – though I also listen to a lot of classical and jazz while writing too.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Basho, Jack Kerouac, Haruki Murakami, Raymond E Fiest and Brandon Sanderson come to mind right away.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m charging through the first draft of ‘Greatmask’ – Book 3 of the Bone Mask Trilogy. I’m hoping to bring the story to a big finish. I’m feeling a bit of pressure to make sure I don’t let my readers down – but that’s normal, so I don’t mind in the end 🙂
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Possibly to write more books – and to write a series, if you feel comfortable exploring a story-line or characters over multiple books, of course.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read widely and indiscriminately – there’s so much work out there in so many forms that you never know where you’ll find a story that results in true joy, personal growth or deep inspiration. Try not to stick to one genre or form only.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In regards to writing, the best advice has been this: to find my own method of operation and not to listen when someone – especially other writers – say that there is ‘only my way’ when it comes to writing. Telling someone who works best as a ‘pantser’ that ‘only plotting works’ is rubbish, every writer has to learn their own methodology.
What are you reading now?
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher and To Kill a Mockingbird.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Either a ‘weird-thriller’ which is meant to be a little more surreal than my first book ‘The Fairy Wren’, or diving into finishing my epic fantasy series ‘Never’ which follows a man struggling to learn his identity and the reason behind the curse on his blood.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Tough question!
‘Hogfather’ by Terry Pratchett, because I ALWAYS laugh when I read it
An omnibus edition of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ so I can get 3 in 1
and a complete encyclopedia.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ashley Capes Website
Ashley Capes Amazon Profile
Ashley Capes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account