September, 2022 | Breana's Blog

Who knew you could meet an author in an elevator and end up being a huge fan of their books? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me when I ran into Ashley Clark at the ACFW conference this year.

I read her book Where the Last Rose Blooms in a single sitting. It was that good.

So I thought I’d invite Ashley to do an interview here so we can share this book with you and talk about some of the little-known historical facts behind its plot and characters!

Where the Last Rose Blooms on Amazon

Breana Johnson and Ashley Clark — Did you notice that her dress matches the dress on the book cover??

Hi Ashley! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer some questions.

Thank you so much for having me, Breana! It was such fun to meet you at the ACFW Conference. I’m looking forward to chatting on the blog today.

I learned a lot about the messages of various flowers in Where the Last Rose Blooms. I had no idea a bouquet can actually be a secret code–which is exactly what ends up happening in your story!

What is your favorite flower, and what is the meaning behind it?

I had a great time researching flowers for Where the Last Rose Blooms, and I have to confess… I even bought my own flower dictionary!

Honestly, I love all flowers, but if forced to pick a favorite I’d probably choose peonies. I think their intricate petals are so stunning. They typically symbolize love, romance, and beauty, which makes them the perfect flower for weddings! Alice in Where the Last Rose Blooms probably sells a lot of them. 🙂

Read my author interview with historical romance author Jennifer Deibel

Ashley Clark with a stack of Where the Last Rose Blooms

You named one of your characters “Ashley,” which was very Jane Austen of you. What’s the story behind giving a character the same name as yourself?

I am so glad you asked about Ashley’s character because there is a story behind this one!

Rose and Ashley are actually based on real people, who were named… you guessed it… Rose and Ashley!

History has left us very little information about their stories, but we do know a bit from the Ashley’s Sack artifact which was discovered at a flea market and is now on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. I hope to see it in person someday!

You can read more about Ashley’s Sack in my debut novel, The Dress Shop on King Street.

Ashley’s cutting of the Peggy Martin Rose, which survived being underwater during Hurricane Katrina and plays a role in *Where the Last Rose Blooms*

I enjoy a good fictional romance, but it’s also fun to hear the love stories of real-life couples! Would you share yours?

My husband and I met in college at our campus ministry. He invited me to Starbucks after a prayer event, and I initially told him no because I needed to study… on a Saturday.

Y’all, I was such a nerd back then!

Okay, I’m still a nerd, but I digress… needless to say, he talked me into the shindig, and I remember calling my mom that night and telling her one of the “cool guys” had invited me to coffee. Ha!

He bravely learned to swing dance in the weeks that followed because he knew I used to dance every Friday night, but the real kicker was one rainy night at Steak and Shake… he pulled his car up close to the door so I wouldn’t get wet, and “coincidentally” had Switchfoot playing on his car radio. I think his great taste in music sealed the deal for me. Hahaha!

We’ve now been married thirteen years and have a seven year old son, as well as a senior cocker spaniel.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Ashley as much as I did! If you want to know more about her books and flowers, you can follow her on Instagram or visit her website.

This is a post about houses of sticks and houses of bricks and little pigs. But not the three little pigs.

Wildflowers arranged by my niece. She’s so creative.

Contrary to what The Gods Must be Crazy portrays, life in rural African is not simple or easy.

This reality was underscored for me when my brother-in-law and his family took us to see the place where their ministry keeps livestock.

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Pig in Burundi — This little pig lives in a house made of sticks.

While we were having fun feeding goats and pigs, dozens of people were hard at work building bricks for the livestock project’s new building. The method used is basically the same as what you’d see in the Middle East or in pueblo ruins near my home in Arizona.

Making mud bricks — Making mudbricks at home in Arizona

I’ve made mudbricks before. The materials are cheap, but the labor is hard.

Here’s how to make mudbricks Africa style:

Saturate the dirt and mix it (usually with feet or a hoe) until it’s the right consistency.
Fill brick molds with mud and smooth it.
Wait for it to dry (a long, long time! I’ve heard it can take months).
Stack the bricks into a kiln and fire them.
Construct a building.

School was out for the summer, so there were a lot of kids helping. Summer vacation is not time for play in East Africa.

You might see women carrying bricks on their heads…I can’t imagine having that kind of strength!

There’s a story missionaries like to tell about a doctor whose patient had thrown out his back. “How did it happen?” the doctor asked. “Oh, I was helping my wife get a load on her head,” the patient replied.

I don’t know if it’s true, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Burundi’s culture celebrates work ethic, and you don’t have to look far to see people who embody that value.