Lucy Ashford
@lucyashford.bsky.social
Stories set in the past are my obsession, and I've had three dark historical thrillers published. I also love writing Regency romances (I blame Georgette Heyer). Other interests - painting, poetry, and walking in the Derbyshire hills
Yesterday I took a break from writing my latest Regency adventure, and did a bit of painting in the Derbyshire countryside (watercolour)
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Yesterday I took a break from writing my latest Regency adventure, and did a bit of painting in the Derbyshire countryside (watercolour)
I've just spent a week in the Yorkshire Dales, to take a break from writing my latest. It's so beautiful there - and quiet!
(don't tell anyone 🤫)
(don't tell anyone 🤫)
October 11, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I've just spent a week in the Yorkshire Dales, to take a break from writing my latest. It's so beautiful there - and quiet!
(don't tell anyone 🤫)
(don't tell anyone 🤫)
This is my watercolour sketch of a hellebore - I love their delicacy
September 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This is my watercolour sketch of a hellebore - I love their delicacy
Just a few roses have survived the recent heavy rain. Here's a pink beauty
September 14, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Just a few roses have survived the recent heavy rain. Here's a pink beauty
Storm clouds gathering over a Norfolk estuary
(watercolour)
(watercolour)
September 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Storm clouds gathering over a Norfolk estuary
(watercolour)
(watercolour)
Sketch of sea holly - memories of a summer stroll by a deserted beach (watercolour pencils)
September 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Sketch of sea holly - memories of a summer stroll by a deserted beach (watercolour pencils)
Beautiful Scotland - here's an acrylic sketch I painted recently. Can't wait to go back there.
August 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Beautiful Scotland - here's an acrylic sketch I painted recently. Can't wait to go back there.
Whatever else you think about 2025 - it's been a good year for the roses. Love this beauty
July 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Whatever else you think about 2025 - it's been a good year for the roses. Love this beauty
Lovely little lake high above Chatsworth, Derbyshire. Ideal for dreaming up my next story - or just dreaming 😎 🖊️
July 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Lovely little lake high above Chatsworth, Derbyshire. Ideal for dreaming up my next story - or just dreaming 😎 🖊️
It's been a lovely day so I've not done any writing. Instead, I pottered around the garden and watched a blackbird splashing in the bird bath.
(I suppose there should be flowers, but maybe it hardly needs them? 🌺)
(I suppose there should be flowers, but maybe it hardly needs them? 🌺)
June 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It's been a lovely day so I've not done any writing. Instead, I pottered around the garden and watched a blackbird splashing in the bird bath.
(I suppose there should be flowers, but maybe it hardly needs them? 🌺)
(I suppose there should be flowers, but maybe it hardly needs them? 🌺)
Yesterday we went round the peony garden at Chatsworth House. and the colours and varieties are sublime - just like yours. I took a few photos to remember them by 🌺
June 5, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Yesterday we went round the peony garden at Chatsworth House. and the colours and varieties are sublime - just like yours. I took a few photos to remember them by 🌺
Right - my latest book has been sent to my editor 🤞so I've been indulging in a watercolour dabble again. This time it's a (fairly imaginative) depiction of my favourite castle of all, the former coastal Viking stronghold of Peel, in the Isle of Man
June 4, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Right - my latest book has been sent to my editor 🤞so I've been indulging in a watercolour dabble again. This time it's a (fairly imaginative) depiction of my favourite castle of all, the former coastal Viking stronghold of Peel, in the Isle of Man
Yet another fascinating castle, Bodiam, in Sussex. It was built in the fourteenth century when a French invasion was feared, and its superstitious stonemasons carved ritual protection marks into its doorways and windows, hoping to guard it against supernatural forces also.
May 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Yet another fascinating castle, Bodiam, in Sussex. It was built in the fourteenth century when a French invasion was feared, and its superstitious stonemasons carved ritual protection marks into its doorways and windows, hoping to guard it against supernatural forces also.
For Regency romance fans - I was writing up revisions to my latest WIP, when I noticed that an earlier book of mine, The Master of Calverley Hall (Harlequin), is on kindle unlimited in the U.S. #writing #authors #historical #fiction #romance #heroes #enemiestolovers #strongheroines #Regency
May 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
For Regency romance fans - I was writing up revisions to my latest WIP, when I noticed that an earlier book of mine, The Master of Calverley Hall (Harlequin), is on kindle unlimited in the U.S. #writing #authors #historical #fiction #romance #heroes #enemiestolovers #strongheroines #Regency
A coastal scene on a hot day (acrylics) 🎨
'And the gentle winds and waters near
Make music to the lonely ear'
(Byron: It Is The Hour)
'And the gentle winds and waters near
Make music to the lonely ear'
(Byron: It Is The Hour)
May 16, 2025 at 10:26 AM
A coastal scene on a hot day (acrylics) 🎨
'And the gentle winds and waters near
Make music to the lonely ear'
(Byron: It Is The Hour)
'And the gentle winds and waters near
Make music to the lonely ear'
(Byron: It Is The Hour)
Gorgeous weather here in Derbyshire, so I've been strolling and sketching. AND... I'm nearly through the revisions to my latest book (reminder to self - Don't alter too much! Don't dig plot holes!) 🙄🎨📝
May 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Gorgeous weather here in Derbyshire, so I've been strolling and sketching. AND... I'm nearly through the revisions to my latest book (reminder to self - Don't alter too much! Don't dig plot holes!) 🙄🎨📝
Yesterday I put aside my writer's pen and got out my watercolours instead. Here's Bradda Head in the Isle of Man, the site of ancient copper and lead mines. (Looks a little like Poldark's Cornwall, do you think?) 🎨😍
April 17, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Yesterday I put aside my writer's pen and got out my watercolours instead. Here's Bradda Head in the Isle of Man, the site of ancient copper and lead mines. (Looks a little like Poldark's Cornwall, do you think?) 🎨😍
This reminds me of those bad writing moments, when you realise there's a huge hole in your plotline and you'll have to do a hell of a lot of work to get it right. 😧🗑️✏️
Anyone else??
Anyone else??
April 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
This reminds me of those bad writing moments, when you realise there's a huge hole in your plotline and you'll have to do a hell of a lot of work to get it right. 😧🗑️✏️
Anyone else??
Anyone else??
Whenever I come across an old country track like this one in Cumbria, I'm reminded of Kipling's poem about the ghosts that haunt a long-forgotten path.
It's short, it's called 'The Way Through The Woods' - and it's a gem.
It's short, it's called 'The Way Through The Woods' - and it's a gem.
April 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Whenever I come across an old country track like this one in Cumbria, I'm reminded of Kipling's poem about the ghosts that haunt a long-forgotten path.
It's short, it's called 'The Way Through The Woods' - and it's a gem.
It's short, it's called 'The Way Through The Woods' - and it's a gem.
Another castle I love, Kenilworth. It's both the setting and the title of a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, about the Earl of Leicester's dangerous ambition to marry Queen Elizabeth I.
Scott was a huge admirer of Jane Austen. But while his popularity as a writer has faded, hers has endured.
Scott was a huge admirer of Jane Austen. But while his popularity as a writer has faded, hers has endured.
April 4, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Another castle I love, Kenilworth. It's both the setting and the title of a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, about the Earl of Leicester's dangerous ambition to marry Queen Elizabeth I.
Scott was a huge admirer of Jane Austen. But while his popularity as a writer has faded, hers has endured.
Scott was a huge admirer of Jane Austen. But while his popularity as a writer has faded, hers has endured.
Fellow writers - isn't it the best feeling in the world when you're struggling with a plot glitch in your novel, and the solution suddenly decides to show up? (As if to say, 'Hey, I've been here all the time...') 🪄😲
March 30, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Fellow writers - isn't it the best feeling in the world when you're struggling with a plot glitch in your novel, and the solution suddenly decides to show up? (As if to say, 'Hey, I've been here all the time...') 🪄😲
Heroine: 'Darling, is this the end of our adventures, now that AI has 'borrowed' all our author's books?'
Hero: 'Don't worry. We'll find a way round it somehow.'
(Author in background muttering: '🤬👊💢⁉️' etc etc)
#writers #writing #fiction #Regency #romance #romantiic #historical #community
Hero: 'Don't worry. We'll find a way round it somehow.'
(Author in background muttering: '🤬👊💢⁉️' etc etc)
#writers #writing #fiction #Regency #romance #romantiic #historical #community
March 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Heroine: 'Darling, is this the end of our adventures, now that AI has 'borrowed' all our author's books?'
Hero: 'Don't worry. We'll find a way round it somehow.'
(Author in background muttering: '🤬👊💢⁉️' etc etc)
#writers #writing #fiction #Regency #romance #romantiic #historical #community
Hero: 'Don't worry. We'll find a way round it somehow.'
(Author in background muttering: '🤬👊💢⁉️' etc etc)
#writers #writing #fiction #Regency #romance #romantiic #historical #community
True majesty here, folks. I write stories. Beethoven wrote music that encompasses the world.
Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra are playing his Pastoral Symphony (and other works) at Matlock County Hall, 29th March at 7.30pm. Beautiful setting, beautiful music (I play violin) 🎻🎼
Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra are playing his Pastoral Symphony (and other works) at Matlock County Hall, 29th March at 7.30pm. Beautiful setting, beautiful music (I play violin) 🎻🎼
March 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM
True majesty here, folks. I write stories. Beethoven wrote music that encompasses the world.
Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra are playing his Pastoral Symphony (and other works) at Matlock County Hall, 29th March at 7.30pm. Beautiful setting, beautiful music (I play violin) 🎻🎼
Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra are playing his Pastoral Symphony (and other works) at Matlock County Hall, 29th March at 7.30pm. Beautiful setting, beautiful music (I play violin) 🎻🎼
Trees at Chatsworth a few days ago. How I love them!
As for revisions to the latest wip, I note that my editor advises me to dismiss some annoying minor characters. I am doing so with pleasure. Only wish I could do the same in real life...
🫢🖊️
As for revisions to the latest wip, I note that my editor advises me to dismiss some annoying minor characters. I am doing so with pleasure. Only wish I could do the same in real life...
🫢🖊️
March 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Trees at Chatsworth a few days ago. How I love them!
As for revisions to the latest wip, I note that my editor advises me to dismiss some annoying minor characters. I am doing so with pleasure. Only wish I could do the same in real life...
🫢🖊️
As for revisions to the latest wip, I note that my editor advises me to dismiss some annoying minor characters. I am doing so with pleasure. Only wish I could do the same in real life...
🫢🖊️
With red pen and coffee close at hand, I'm about to start revisions - and to ponder how best to convey my hero and heroine's past before their all-important meet-up. (Reminder to self - do NOT indulge in the dreaded info-dump 😟🧩)
#writing #historical #fiction #writing #romance #regency #writers
#writing #historical #fiction #writing #romance #regency #writers
March 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM