1. I hear you have a pet in your debut novel. Tell us about it.
Pets are so amazing. I can’t imagine life without them and so it’s only natural that I would give my novel characters pets as well. My debut novel, Romancing the Royal, is book #3 of a multi-author series that is actually centered around corgis! Each book in the “Celebrity Corgi” series was written by a different author and contains a celebrity who has a spoiled corgi, with the corgi actually having a front and center role in the book. The corgi in my book, Gatsby, belongs to Prince Dorian of Avington. He was modeled slightly after what I’ve read about Queen Elizabeth’s corgis, and he has quite the personality. The books I’m working on now all have dogs in them, too–a Chihuahua in one and a litter of lab puppies in another. Expect to see a variety of pets in all my books.
Romancing the Royal blurb: Emmie Walker never wanted to be a royal canine companion for the Crown corgi of Avington, but she needs some way to pay the bills until her dream of opening her own service dog training facility can become a reality. Now the best chance of making that happen is to spend the better part of her time looking after the spoiled royal corgi, Gatsby. Gatsby, however, comes with strings attached. Namely a leash that leads right to the Prince of Avington, Dorian Tennesley.
Prince Dorian leads what appears to be an enviable life, but behind his stately façade lies a man who longs for more than mere pomp and circumstance. When the unlikely trio heads to America for a taste of real adventure, Emmie and Dorian find they have more in common than either could have ever imagined. With the help of Gatsby, might these two find themselves falling head over heels despite what it could cost them both?
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/108199293X
2. Why do you add pets to your books?
I truly 
believe pets make us the best versions of ourselves. They are 100% the definition of unconditional love. I’ve had pets my entire life. Cats when I was younger and dogs now as an adult and, much to my husband’s chagrin (it’s mostly an act though…don’t let him know I’m onto him), will never be without one.
We currently have a German Shorthaired Pointer and two Chihuahuas. The Chihuahuas are my constant companions. They follow me everywhere (I haven’t gone to the bathroom by myself in over 9 years. LOL). The grey/tan one (the color is technically blue/tan) is 9 & 1/2 years old and his name is Pippin. The yellow one was supposed to be a purebred longhair, but as you can see he is an elusive wire-haired bearded Chihuahua and his name is Gus. He is 3 & 1/2 years old. I can’t imagine life without them.
3. What other romances have you written?
Romancing the Royal is actually the first book I’ve ever written. I was blessed to have been chosen by Sweet Promise Press to write in that series. I am working on a sweet/inspirational contemporary for them, as well as a sweet historical pioneer romance. Additionally, I have another sweet historical pioneer romance to write as part of another series. All will release in 2020. I plan to continue to write both sweet/inspirational contemporary and historical novels going forward.
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
Being that my book was just released in July, it has no awards, but the reviews have been very good.
5. How do you promote your books?
Book promotion is something I’m still learning. I don’t have a large marketing budget, so I rely on as much free promo as I can find and that includes Facebook parties, newsletter swaps, and blog features (thank you).
6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?
My website is www.LauraAshwood.com and there is a link to sign up for my newsletter there. Subscribers get exclusive content, a chance to enter a monthly drawing, and get to vote on things like character names. My Amazon page is https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Ashwood/e/B07D2HNHBN. My social media: Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook. I have a storyboard for all my books (the one published and ones I’m working on) on Pinterest.
Marcia James: Thank you, Laura, for stopping by my Go Pets! blog! I look forward to reading your Romancing the Royal and the rest of the “Celebrity Corgi” series!
READER INVITATION: Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks! Each month, I’ll randomly pick one commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
My first novel, Cottonwood Place, received 4 and 4.5 star\heart reviews and is about Ian, Megan, her extended Navajo family, and the people who really run Megan’s inn, Orion, her Shepherd-husky mix dog and Cassiopeia, the white long-haired cat. Here’s the back-cover blurb:
I have two other romance novels. The first is The Winds of Fall, which received 4s and 5s of five book reviews from LASR (Long and Short Reviews site). The Winds of Fall was my second published novel, and the “book of my heart.” Combining two dreams from my teen years lead to this sci-fi romance about Skye and Joe. Both are aliens living on Earth; Skye doesn’t know she’s an alien who was stranded here, but Joe immediately knows what she is when he sees her hand entering one of his artworks in a gallery. This cover includes my other loves: sailing and deep water. Here’s the back-cover blurb:
My last novel is The Diamond Road, based on The Ice Road Truckers History Channel series. I just found a 5-star review for it on Amazon from Janna S. Here’s blurb:
I’d like to mention my latest book: a chapbook of science-fiction poetry based on my long love of the stars and outer space since age 5, and later of Star Trek. I never thought I’d EVER write poetry, let alone publish some! I’ve had single poems published and been in two anthologies, one this spring to support the planetarium at Ball State University in my home town of Muncie, Indiana.
1. I hear you have a pet in your novel. Tell us about the book.
A Rancher’s Pride is book one in the Flagman’s Folly series. This is the blurb from the back cover:
My current series from Harlequin is The Hitching Post Hotel, which includes The Cowboy’s Little Surprise, A Rancher of Her Own, The Lawman’s Christmas Proposal, Cowboy in Charge, The Cowboy’s Triple Surprise, The Rancher’s Baby Proposal, and The Rancher’s Family.
The Rancher’s Family, my first clean romance from Harlequin Heartwarming, celebrates its book birthday this month!
The Flagman’s Folly series includes A Rancher’s Pride, The Rodeo Man’s Daughter, Honorable Rancher, and Rancher at Risk.
Rancher at Risk features a deaf heroine who is related to both Kayla and Becky from A Rancher’s Pride:
One Week to Win Her Boss:
Last but not least, Family Matters is a book about a heroine whose full-time job appears to be rescuing one member or another of her large and crazy Irish family. And The Sheriff’s Son and Court Me, Cowboy, my first two published books, are set in Dillon, Texas.
My books, short fiction, and works-in-progress have won or received nominations for awards such as the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award and the CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award. They also have won or reached finalist standing in a number of Romance Writers of America chapter and other, non-romance, contests. Several of my books received TOP PICK ratings from RT Book Reviews.
My new novel, Lacewood, is a blending of all the things I love to read: history, mystery, and a love story (actually TWO love stories), all of which are blended together in a small Southern town. Two things that most of my books contain are characters who are in the military or veterans—and at least one animal. The pet featured in this book is a German shepherd named Zeke, who is an emotional support animal for one of the main characters who has PTSD.
My love of animals is not on a surface level. My first career was working as a surgical veterinary technician in a state-of-the-art equine hospital. I have “rescued” stray animals all my life and currently have three cats who found my house at different times. (And they are all now between 15 and 17 years old).
Meant To Be: What do you do when the person you most want to protect is the one risking everything to make sure you survive? It started as a chance encounter on the beach, and ended 24 hours later when they parted to go their separate ways. Or so they thought. 
1. I hear you have your dog Duchess in one of your latest novels. Tell us about the book.
The first book of the series is A Hand for the Duke. It’s about a young woman, Tina Rowan, who was born “on the wrong side of the blanket” (she’s illegitimate) and a stuffy, but handsome and lovable, duke. She’s being blackmailed by her foster-father and needs to become a successful dressmaker in London fast (in order to pay him the money he expects or else he’ll tell the world that she’s illegitimate and who her real mother is). Her mother is a well-respected lady of society who needs to keep that secret to herself.
Jack of Diamonds:
The Games She Played:
1. I hear you have animals in your novels. Tell us about the books.
Hot Ticket:
Sealing the Deal
Finding Billie
1. I hear you have dogs in your novels. Tell us about the books.
Chill Out
Take A Chance On Me
Child Of Mine
Flawless
Home Fires
Horsing Around With Murder is a funny, furry cozy mystery set on a dude ranch in the Alberta Foothills. Due to a family emergency, Abby, one of the ranch owners and Chief Financial Officer, is forced to act as event manager and interact with guests and horses. Unfortunately, she’s terrified of horses. Here’s an example of her first confrontation with Alamo, a gentle gelding:
Fur Ball Fever (The Fever Series, Book 1)
Cold Feet Fever (The Fever Series, Book 2)
The Jaguar Legacy
1. I hear you have amazing equines in your fantasy romances. Tell us about the books.
In most fantasy worlds, horses and sailing ships are two of the most common means of transportation, besides flying on dragon back, of course. But the horses in the Dragshi Chronicles and the Windmaster Novels are more than just animals. They are characters who happen to be able to gallop. They are the seidheirn of the Dragshi Chronicles and the falaire of the Windmaster Novels, magical creatures of intelligence, with unusual speed and stamina. A toss of their mane or stomp of their hoof communicates as clear as spoken words. They also have their own unique personalities. If a groom isn’t available (or is unwilling) to open a stable door, a smash of the hoof will achieve the goal. But they will look sheepish afterwards and explain, “I couldn’t find anyone to help me. So I helped myself.”
About the Windmaster Novels: Cast off and fill the sails for love and adventure. However be warned. Destiny cannot be avoided –especially when love controls the journey. Excerpts and more at https://helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com/p/the-windmaster-novels.html.
2. Why did you add the equines to the series? Have you had pets that inspired you?
During my childhood, collies helped corral sheep and cows, and sometimes children. However, at this point in my life, my household is without a ruler who prefers to walk on four-feet and chase birds. A cat or dog wouldn’t fit the lifestyle. As a caregiver, we’ve worked too hard to eliminate the granny shuffle. But with an animal around, the shuffle is needed to ensure no one is blocking your path. And no cat likes to have his tail stepped on.
3. What other romances have you written?
In the first book, Baer Truth, there is a dog and he is pretty amazing, in fact, he befuddles the humans occasionally. But there is also a Black Angus Bull named Frosty, and he becomes quite the pet. Amazon link: 
I have another romantic comedy called Heart River Inn set in the Pocono Mountains at a lover’s resort. It was one of the most fun books I’ve written. Amazon link: 
My latest series is the Mayson-Dickson Mysteries. Here’s the blurb for the first book in the series, Mayson-Dickson, the Line is Drawn: