Today we’d like to introduce you to R.K. Ashwick.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Like many fantasy authors, my story started when I was six and got way too into dragons.
As a kid, I inhaled Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones, and Tolkein. If it had a dragon, wizard, griffin, or some kind of knight on the cover, I read it. So, it makes sense that eventually I tried imitating those books myself- something I’m still doing today.
Thanks to the support of my family, friends, and online writing groups, I started self-publishing in 2022. As of October 2025, I have three completed trilogies out in the world, all in the cozy fantasy romance genre. And yes! One of them has dragons!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the phrases “self-publishing” and “smooth road” cancel each other out, to be honest. Self-publishing is a lot of DIY, and as with any DIY project, you end up discovering more that needs to be done- and sometimes, more money that needs to be spent.
For example, setting up an online presence comes with setting up a newsletter, which necessitates creating your own website, which means you need to research domains, hosting sites, and privacy rules. Preparing your book will require things like formatting software, ISBNs, cover designers, etc. Frankly, I think one of the biggest hurdles in early self-publishing is the research and organization required to figure all this out, not to mention balancing what you’re willing to spend money on versus forego or DIY.
And don’t even get me started on trying to find time to write the ding-dang book in the first place!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a cozy fantasy romance author. If you’re not familiar with the cozy fantasy sub-genre, think comforting stories and lower stakes. Instead of reading about demons, darkness, and the apocalypse, you’re reading about a rivalry between two magical shops, or a bard with a forest spirit living in his lute.
I’m most known for A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit, which is incidentally the book I’m most proud of. In A Rival Most Vial, two rival potioneers get roped into a joint commission for the mayor, forcing them to work together and face their feelings for each other. Despite the low stakes in the story, you’ll find compelling characters and emotional resonance: two things I do my absolute darnedest to specialize in.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
As a self-published author, you really have to temper yourself to maintain your sanity.
Because you’re putting a book into the world- a piece of art that likely took years to put together- it can be so, so easy to lose yourself in all manner of obsession. Constantly checking your sales numbers, reading reviews, spending hours on social media, pushing yourself to write or publish faster, comparing yourself to other authors in your sub-genre… Some level of this is necessary as part of the job, but if you dig too deep, you’ll hit mental strife and burnout.
So, if you’re in it for the long haul, you have to find a balance. Don’t see other authors as competition or an unachievable gold standard. Don’t obsess over numbers, whether that’s sales data or social media views. Try to chill, enjoy the process, focus on what’s important to you, and celebrate your wins.
(Disclaimer: I am really bad at taking my own advice.)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rkashwick.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rkashwickbooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077304991259
- Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22359595.R_K_Ashwick
Image Credits
Photography Credits: R.K. Ashwick, Emma R. Alban, Abby Mortensen
