Gossamer in the Darkness

(A Fantasyland Novella)

by Kristen Ashley

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Ashley brings a new story in her Fantasyland series…

Their engagement was set when they were children. Loren Copeland, the rich and handsome Marquess of Remington, would marry Maxine Dawes, the stunning daughter of the Count of Derryman. It’s a power match. The perfect alliance for each house.

However, the Count has been keeping secret a childhood injury that means Maxine can never marry. He’s done this as he searches for a miracle so this marriage can take place. He needs the influence such an alliance would give him, and he’ll stop at nothing to have it.

The time has come. There could be no more excuses. No more delays. The marriage has to happen, or the contract will be broken.

When all seems lost, the Count finds his miracle: There’s a parallel universe where his daughter has a twin. He must find her, bring her to his world and force her to make the Marquess fall in love with her.

And this, he does.

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An Exclusive Interview with Kristen Ashley

~ with Jillian Stein of Read Love Blog

How did you come up with the title for this book?

I love the title of this book. I love the scene the title comes from. I love just thinking about the restaurant Loren and Satrine go to. I love everything about this concept. But I won’t tell you how I came up with it…people will have to read it to find out!

If you could watch one scene from this book be played out like a movie, which one would it be and why?

The breakfast table scene. Because I love how Loren is watching Satrine, it’s so romantic, it kills me every time! But also because it’s hilarious.

What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?

Write for yourself. If you love what you’re writing, others will too. It’s the whole, “If you build it, they will come” phenomenon. Don’t worry about what people will think. Don’t worry about what’s popular or what might sell. Don’t worry about what you think an agent or publishing house will want. Please yourself. And I promise, doing that, you’ll please others. They will find you!

What’s the worst thing you’ve eaten out of politeness?

I don’t like milk. And waaaaaaay back in the day, I was at my bestest besties house (I think I was maybe 10-11 years old), and I forced myself to drink the milk her parents put in front of me because my mother would be mortified if I didn’t consume everything I was offered.

Mr. Redman, my bestie’s dad, watched me force down some milk, and he asked, “Don’t you like milk?” I said, “No, sir.” He asked, “Then why are you drinking it?” I said, “Because my mom would think I’m rude, not accepting what you offered.” And he said, “Never do that in my house again.”

He was quite harsh about it, but this was because he was offended I made myself drink something I didn’t like. And I realized in that moment how loving that harshness was.

From that point on, I told people if I didn’t like something, and when I grew older, I asked my guests the same.

I looked at it from his perspective. If you’re in my home, I want you to feel safe and comfortable and know I care about you. It doesn’t say I care about you if I don’t consider your tastes in food. So I never again ate or drank anything out of politeness (and as far as I know, no one was offended if I told them I didn’t like tomatoes or coconut), and never in my life did I expect someone to consume something they didn’t like in my home.

What’s the most awkward thing that happens to you on a regular basis?

Waking up.

Biography:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

Visit Kristen Ashley’s website and follow her on: