I've finally had a chance to do the drawings. And this is the day to be named Cheri! The winner of the July 31st drawing, for an angel bag of Christmas goodies is Cheri2628.
And the winner of the Second Chance Drawing is CheriJ.
Cheri and Cheri, just send me an e-mail at annaklanier@aol.com and we'll arrange getting you your prizes.
Thanks everyone for dropping by this month and sharing in my Christmas in July Extravaganza. Don't forget that you have a two chances to win prizes this month through my website....my guest book comment contest (which I have to fix up, so give me a day or two to upload a new question) and the Dog Days of Summer contest I'm doing with 11 other authors. All information on these two contests can be found on my website on my 'contest' page. (Also found there is information on winning a Sony eReader). www.aklanier.com
~Anna Kathryn
Showing posts with label Christmas in July. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas in July. Show all posts
July 31, 2008
A Love Story
A Love Story
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived:
Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others including Love.
One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all repaired their boats and left.
Love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment. When the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help. Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel, "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me go with you."
"Oh....Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her!
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way.
Love, realizing how much he owed the elder and asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who was the person who helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because, only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."
~Anna Kathryn (who didn't write this, but is just passing it along)
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived:
Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others including Love.
One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all repaired their boats and left.
Love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment. When the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help. Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel, "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me go with you."
"Oh....Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her!
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way.
Love, realizing how much he owed the elder and asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who was the person who helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because, only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."
~Anna Kathryn (who didn't write this, but is just passing it along)
July 30, 2008
July 30th Winner
Congrats to Redz, she is the winner of today's drawing. Please e-mail me and will arrange for you to receive one of Phyllis's books.
Tomorrow will be the last day for my Christmas in July Extravaganza. I've had a blast with all my guest bloggers and have enjoyed learning about their writing style as much as everyone else. A lot of them were new to me, too.
Thanks everyone for joining in on the fun and don't forget to come back tomorrow and comment. It'll increase your chance to win the second chance drawing. Plus I'll be giving away the regular daily prize....an angel bag full of Christmas goodies.
~Anna Kathryn
Tomorrow will be the last day for my Christmas in July Extravaganza. I've had a blast with all my guest bloggers and have enjoyed learning about their writing style as much as everyone else. A lot of them were new to me, too.
Thanks everyone for joining in on the fun and don't forget to come back tomorrow and comment. It'll increase your chance to win the second chance drawing. Plus I'll be giving away the regular daily prize....an angel bag full of Christmas goodies.
~Anna Kathryn
July 29, 2008
Meet Phyllis Campbell
Today's guest blogger is multi-published author Phyllis Campbell. Thanks for being my final blogger for the month, Phyllis.
When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing when my youngest daughter was in kindergarten, so that would have been 1993. For the first four, maybe five years I wrote for fun. I let a few of my neighbors and co-workers read my stories, and they liked them. This encouraged me to start learning more about the art of writing so that maybe one day I would get published. That’s when I joined critique groups and began my learning process. In 2003 I received my first publishing contract, which was a thrill. By this time I had 22 stories started. Most were finished, but needed major revisions. And now in 2008, I have added 25 more.
What influenced you to write?
Believe it or not, it was watching a bad movie. The movie was pretty good at first. A love story, of course. Had a suspenseful plot along with the love story…but it had a terrible ending!! No Happily Ever After. Made me so mad that I wasted my time getting involved with this story then to have the hero and heroine not end up together. UGH! So that night I went to bed and had a dream. I usually dream like I’m watching a movie, so when I woke up, I realized it had the makings of a romance. I grabbed a notebook, and pencil, curled up on the couch and started to write. That’s all it took and I was hooked!! Of course it helped that up to this point I was an avid reader of romance anyway.
What inspired you to write romance?
I was always the shy girl in school. No, don’t laugh, I was. I didn’t get the boyfriends I wanted. Even now I don’t think I really got my Happily Ever After. But back when I was fresh out of school, I was in love with love. I began by writing skits for my church and community. They were comedies, of course, but they always had a love story in it. After I was married was when I started reading romance novels. I loved that feel good moment at the end when I reached the Happily Ever After…the Ahhhh moment is what I call it. I guess I’m still in love with love.
What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
I love historicals!! I can’t get enough of them. I think the reason I love this genre is because the very first romance book I read was A Rose In Winter by Kathleen E Woodiwiss. I was caught up in the mystery and especially the forbidden romance. After that I read all of her books, then moved on to Judith McNaught. I love to read about the Rogue… Gads, those men are sexy!
Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
Well…I do have quite a few published, not only historicals, but contemporaries. Here is my list:
The Man Hunt (Contemporary coming soon to The Wild Rose Press)
Danger In Her Arms (Romantic Suspense with The Wild Rose Press)
Her Knight Of Seduction (Victorian with The Wild Rose Press)
Always, My Love (Victorian with Champagne Books)
Vows Of Deception (Victorian with Champagne Books)
Holding Out For A Hero (Western Historical with Champagne Books)
Queen Of Hearts (Western Historical with Vintage Publishing)
Ten Ways To Melt A Man’s Heart (Romantic Comedy with Champagne Books)
Crazy Cupid (Time-Travel / Contemporary in Valentine’s Day Anthology with Champagne Books)
It Must Have Been The Mistletoe (Contemporary in Christmas Anthology with Champagne Books)
Snow Angel (contemporary short story coming soon with Love Stories Magazine)
What are you working on now?
I just barely finished a Regency titled, The Sweetest Temptation. In a time when everything hinges on the rules of polite society, a man and woman find themselves fighting secret desires. Newly-orphaned Judith Faraday is thrown off kilter by her uninvited attraction to her guardian's son. Spending time with the handsome rogue surpasses the boundary of impropriety, but perhaps no harm will come from the bargain she makes with him to discover what has become of her secret fiancé. Trey Worthington foolishly agrees to help his mother prepare Miss Faraday for her coming out ball, while knowing all along she has her heart set on another. But he can’t explain the sudden possessiveness he feels when men come to court her. Haunted by mistakes from the past, Trey will do anything not to fall in love with Judith, yet passion turns into more. Can a tortured man find happiness? Or will his past come back to end it all?
Another story I’m working on is my first historical paranormal titled Night Secrets. Morgan Thornton has not been human for two years when a witch cursed him. Labeled East Wing Ghost by his family to hide the truth, he seeks to find a way to lift the curse and free himself, and at the same time he’s torn between warning the curious Miss Forester of the dangers lurking in the manor she’s visiting and keeping her in his arms.
How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
I’m totally a panster. I really don’t want to know how the story is going to end. I want to be surprised along with my readers. Heehee But lately, I’ve been doing more plotting than I’ve ever done before, and this is quite exciting, too. Go figure. My characters are usually what influences me the most, but because of their goals, motivations, and the conflict, the story becomes exciting.
What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
The very first story I ever plotted is my romantic comedy – Ten Ways To Melt A Man’s Heart. It was the end of November or beginning of December. I was in the middle of planning / organizing a Christmas dinner for my church, so I didn’t have time to think of a story. One day while I was at work, I read an article on the Internet. Can’t remember if it was on Yahoo or MSN. The article’s title was about making a man ‘swoon’. At first I rolled my eyes and didn’t even read it, but off and on during the day I kept seeing that header, so finally I read it. All of a sudden a story popped into my head. It was a funny story and I couldn’t wait to write it – but not now. So the next day at work during the slow part of the day I started naming my characters. By that evening, my characters wanted to be written, but I didn’t have time. The more I thought about my story, the more it came together until I HAD to plot it. Before my Christmas dinner, I write one chapter, and that seemed to calm my characters until after the dinner a week later. But once that was over, I was writing my story. It was so fun. In some scenes I laughed so hard I cried.
Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
I’ve been very thrilled with my reviews. Back when my romantic comedy was reviewed, the reviewer labeled me “QUEEN OF SEXUAL TENSION”. I laughed over this one, but was proud to wear the crown. After that, other reviewers picked up on it and continued to give me the title with all my books. Gotta love that. Another thing they say is how I keep them turning the pages. They enjoy how I can pull the reader in and keep them spellbound until the last page. Some reviewers call my stories ‘masterpieces’. They have also enjoyed the suspense I add to my stories even if it’s just a little. Oh, and I can’t forget the humor. They love my humor, too.
What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Do not give up! Learn as much as you can that will help you be a better writer. Don’t let rejection letters keep you down, but brush yourself off and try again. Never say quit!
How do you like your fans to contact you?
Many ways!!!
www.phyllismariecampbell.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PhyllisCampbell/
www.phylliscampbell.bebo.com
www.myspace.com/phyllismariecampbell
http://authorsandbooks.blogspot.com/
http://magicmavens.blogspot.com
http://synopticstorm.blogspot.com
When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing when my youngest daughter was in kindergarten, so that would have been 1993. For the first four, maybe five years I wrote for fun. I let a few of my neighbors and co-workers read my stories, and they liked them. This encouraged me to start learning more about the art of writing so that maybe one day I would get published. That’s when I joined critique groups and began my learning process. In 2003 I received my first publishing contract, which was a thrill. By this time I had 22 stories started. Most were finished, but needed major revisions. And now in 2008, I have added 25 more.
What influenced you to write?
Believe it or not, it was watching a bad movie. The movie was pretty good at first. A love story, of course. Had a suspenseful plot along with the love story…but it had a terrible ending!! No Happily Ever After. Made me so mad that I wasted my time getting involved with this story then to have the hero and heroine not end up together. UGH! So that night I went to bed and had a dream. I usually dream like I’m watching a movie, so when I woke up, I realized it had the makings of a romance. I grabbed a notebook, and pencil, curled up on the couch and started to write. That’s all it took and I was hooked!! Of course it helped that up to this point I was an avid reader of romance anyway.
What inspired you to write romance?
I was always the shy girl in school. No, don’t laugh, I was. I didn’t get the boyfriends I wanted. Even now I don’t think I really got my Happily Ever After. But back when I was fresh out of school, I was in love with love. I began by writing skits for my church and community. They were comedies, of course, but they always had a love story in it. After I was married was when I started reading romance novels. I loved that feel good moment at the end when I reached the Happily Ever After…the Ahhhh moment is what I call it. I guess I’m still in love with love.
What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
I love historicals!! I can’t get enough of them. I think the reason I love this genre is because the very first romance book I read was A Rose In Winter by Kathleen E Woodiwiss. I was caught up in the mystery and especially the forbidden romance. After that I read all of her books, then moved on to Judith McNaught. I love to read about the Rogue… Gads, those men are sexy!
Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
Well…I do have quite a few published, not only historicals, but contemporaries. Here is my list:
The Man Hunt (Contemporary coming soon to The Wild Rose Press)
Danger In Her Arms (Romantic Suspense with The Wild Rose Press)
Her Knight Of Seduction (Victorian with The Wild Rose Press)
Always, My Love (Victorian with Champagne Books)
Vows Of Deception (Victorian with Champagne Books)
Holding Out For A Hero (Western Historical with Champagne Books)
Queen Of Hearts (Western Historical with Vintage Publishing)
Ten Ways To Melt A Man’s Heart (Romantic Comedy with Champagne Books)
Crazy Cupid (Time-Travel / Contemporary in Valentine’s Day Anthology with Champagne Books)
It Must Have Been The Mistletoe (Contemporary in Christmas Anthology with Champagne Books)
Snow Angel (contemporary short story coming soon with Love Stories Magazine)
What are you working on now?
I just barely finished a Regency titled, The Sweetest Temptation. In a time when everything hinges on the rules of polite society, a man and woman find themselves fighting secret desires. Newly-orphaned Judith Faraday is thrown off kilter by her uninvited attraction to her guardian's son. Spending time with the handsome rogue surpasses the boundary of impropriety, but perhaps no harm will come from the bargain she makes with him to discover what has become of her secret fiancé. Trey Worthington foolishly agrees to help his mother prepare Miss Faraday for her coming out ball, while knowing all along she has her heart set on another. But he can’t explain the sudden possessiveness he feels when men come to court her. Haunted by mistakes from the past, Trey will do anything not to fall in love with Judith, yet passion turns into more. Can a tortured man find happiness? Or will his past come back to end it all?
Another story I’m working on is my first historical paranormal titled Night Secrets. Morgan Thornton has not been human for two years when a witch cursed him. Labeled East Wing Ghost by his family to hide the truth, he seeks to find a way to lift the curse and free himself, and at the same time he’s torn between warning the curious Miss Forester of the dangers lurking in the manor she’s visiting and keeping her in his arms.
How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
I’m totally a panster. I really don’t want to know how the story is going to end. I want to be surprised along with my readers. Heehee But lately, I’ve been doing more plotting than I’ve ever done before, and this is quite exciting, too. Go figure. My characters are usually what influences me the most, but because of their goals, motivations, and the conflict, the story becomes exciting.
What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
The very first story I ever plotted is my romantic comedy – Ten Ways To Melt A Man’s Heart. It was the end of November or beginning of December. I was in the middle of planning / organizing a Christmas dinner for my church, so I didn’t have time to think of a story. One day while I was at work, I read an article on the Internet. Can’t remember if it was on Yahoo or MSN. The article’s title was about making a man ‘swoon’. At first I rolled my eyes and didn’t even read it, but off and on during the day I kept seeing that header, so finally I read it. All of a sudden a story popped into my head. It was a funny story and I couldn’t wait to write it – but not now. So the next day at work during the slow part of the day I started naming my characters. By that evening, my characters wanted to be written, but I didn’t have time. The more I thought about my story, the more it came together until I HAD to plot it. Before my Christmas dinner, I write one chapter, and that seemed to calm my characters until after the dinner a week later. But once that was over, I was writing my story. It was so fun. In some scenes I laughed so hard I cried.
Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
I’ve been very thrilled with my reviews. Back when my romantic comedy was reviewed, the reviewer labeled me “QUEEN OF SEXUAL TENSION”. I laughed over this one, but was proud to wear the crown. After that, other reviewers picked up on it and continued to give me the title with all my books. Gotta love that. Another thing they say is how I keep them turning the pages. They enjoy how I can pull the reader in and keep them spellbound until the last page. Some reviewers call my stories ‘masterpieces’. They have also enjoyed the suspense I add to my stories even if it’s just a little. Oh, and I can’t forget the humor. They love my humor, too.
What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Do not give up! Learn as much as you can that will help you be a better writer. Don’t let rejection letters keep you down, but brush yourself off and try again. Never say quit!
How do you like your fans to contact you?
Many ways!!!
www.phyllismariecampbell.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PhyllisCampbell/
www.phylliscampbell.bebo.com
www.myspace.com/phyllismariecampbell
http://authorsandbooks.blogspot.com/
http://magicmavens.blogspot.com
http://synopticstorm.blogspot.com
July 29th Winner
Congrats to Crystalgb, she won today's drawing - A copy of my short story "The Priceless Gift" and "Step-by-Step Crazy for Chocolate" recipe book, with recipes for cakes, biscuits (cookies), desserts, petits fours. The pictures look delicious!
Crystal, just send me an e-mail with your address at annaklanier@aol.com and I'll get the book sent out to you soon.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you finally got the nail polish off your feet and legs.....
~Anna Kathryn
Crystal, just send me an e-mail with your address at annaklanier@aol.com and I'll get the book sent out to you soon.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you finally got the nail polish off your feet and legs.....
~Anna Kathryn
I can't believe they did that!
LOL...Thanks for the funnies. Another story that comes to mind is about my now 21 year old daughter, mother to the 8-month old, (not the one who flung the nail polish--she's my other daughter's daughter).
When Holly was about 4-5, I was in the kitchen and the phone rang. She answered it, and then it rang again a few moments later. She said, 'Mom, it's for you," which I thought was odd, because it was still ringing. I answered it and this lady says, "This is 911. Is there an emergency at your house?"
I looked at Holly and said something I shouldn't have said, "Holly, I'm going to beat your butt."
I explained to 911 that no, there wasn't an emergency, that my youngest had just called it because I'm sure she was curious about it. "Emergency 911" TV show was very popular then and my oldest loved it. We watched it every week. I think she just wanted to know what would happen when she called.
She hung up, they called back, several times. At least she had enough sense to finally let me answer the phone. Otherwise the Charleston, WV police would have been knocking on our door. That would have scared the beejeevies out of her!
It was nice that the operator called back though, and kept trying. At least I knew if there had been an emergency, they would have followed up on a hang-up call.
~Anna Kathryn
When Holly was about 4-5, I was in the kitchen and the phone rang. She answered it, and then it rang again a few moments later. She said, 'Mom, it's for you," which I thought was odd, because it was still ringing. I answered it and this lady says, "This is 911. Is there an emergency at your house?"
I looked at Holly and said something I shouldn't have said, "Holly, I'm going to beat your butt."
I explained to 911 that no, there wasn't an emergency, that my youngest had just called it because I'm sure she was curious about it. "Emergency 911" TV show was very popular then and my oldest loved it. We watched it every week. I think she just wanted to know what would happen when she called.
She hung up, they called back, several times. At least she had enough sense to finally let me answer the phone. Otherwise the Charleston, WV police would have been knocking on our door. That would have scared the beejeevies out of her!
It was nice that the operator called back though, and kept trying. At least I knew if there had been an emergency, they would have followed up on a hang-up call.
~Anna Kathryn
July 28, 2008
July 29th guest blogger
I haven't heard from my guest blogger yet. I hope I do, but if not, I'll find something to blog about. How about the 15 month granddaughter opening a bottle of bright red nail polish and flinging it around -- all over her brother's hair and clothes, on her clothes and all over my couch! This took place in about a 60 second time period when she wasn't being watched.
The couch is about 15 years old and has had its corner scratched to bits by the cats. I've been thinking of getting a slipcover for it, but haven't yet. Well, guess I will now! Actually, we need a new couch, however, mayhap it's a good thing we hadn't gotten one before today.
Any funny "I can't believe they just did that" stories?
~Anna Kathryn
The couch is about 15 years old and has had its corner scratched to bits by the cats. I've been thinking of getting a slipcover for it, but haven't yet. Well, guess I will now! Actually, we need a new couch, however, mayhap it's a good thing we hadn't gotten one before today.
Any funny "I can't believe they just did that" stories?
~Anna Kathryn
July 28th Winner - Texas T-shirt
Congratulations to Cindy K. Green, she won today's drawing. Cindy, just send me an e-mail at annaklanier@aol.com and we'll arrange for you to get the shirt.
~Anna Kathryn
~Anna Kathryn
July 27th Winner
Ooops, I forgot to draw a winner for yesterday. Ginger will be giving away a book, I'm sure and we'll get it out as soon as she returns from out of town.
Today's winner is Debby! Congratulations.
Just send me an e-mail at annaklanier@aol.com and I'll keep the information until Ginger gets back.
~Anna Kathryn
Today's winner is Debby! Congratulations.
Just send me an e-mail at annaklanier@aol.com and I'll keep the information until Ginger gets back.
~Anna Kathryn
July 27, 2008
Interview with Anna Kathryn
Okay, I finally did my own interview questions...so here's all about me, well, a little about me:
Christmas In July Interview Questions
1) So, tell us a little about yourself? What is your typical day like?
That depends on the time of the year. When I was going to school, that took up a lot of time. I took the Spring semester off, but will be going back this fall for four classes on two days of the week. I’m usually up by 8, though I’d love to sleep later. I answer e-mails, care for my 8-month old granddaughter while mom works, write some, run errands and watch TV. I stay up until 12 or 1, though I’d love to be in bed earlier, I just can’t seem to make it!
2) When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing in High School, then wrote several Harlequin type stories in my early 20’s. After having two daughters, I put my writing away for 15 years. About 5 years ago, I got serious again and wrote two 110,000+ word novels in 6 months. Then I went to a creative writing class at the local Junior College and discovered I didn’t know how to write! After that I wrote another full-length novel. I also got into writing short stories, and that’s what I’m published in. As of now, I have five published and two contracted—due out this fall. My longest published work will be SALVATION BRIDE, coming this fall from The Wild Rose Press. It’s 29,000 words or so.
3) What influenced you to write?
I’ve always wanted to write. Before I actually started writing, I had imaginary friends, who went on great adventures with me, I think my mom thought I was crazy, cause I talked to them and they talked back. But I think reading Harlequins and historical romances in my teens and early 20’s is what got me into this genre.
4) What inspired you to write romance?
Reading them.
5) What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
Historical. It’s what I read the most. I’d say 95% of the books I own are historicals. I love it, because I love history…which, btw, is my major in college.
Oh, my short stories are contemporary…probably single title if they were full length.
6) What difficulties does writing this genre present?
For historical it’s learning the facts and keeping it real. It’s too easy to try to change things to fit what we want, instead of sticking with the facts…like how long it took to travel from one place to another. You can’t make it 3 days when it should have taken 3 weeks!
7) How much time do you devote to writing each day?
Not enough. I’ve barely written for the last 6 months. Things have just been too hectic around my house. I have managed to revise one story, A COWBOY’S WAY, to fit it into The Wild Rose Press’s Yellow Rose line (contemporary cowboy…had to add the cowboy part) and to edit my historical, SALVATION BRIDE. I keep hoping things will change, they haven’t. LOL. So I need to start carving out my time again.
8) Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
My first published work with The Wild Rose Press is THE PRICELESS GIFT. It was released in November of 2007. It’s a short story, only 17 pages long, but I think very strong and emotional. Here’s the blurb:
The last thing Christina Scott expects Santa to bring her is a sexy—and very familiar—cowboy. Gavin Holloway’s just as shocked to discover she’s the woman he’s sent to pick up from the airport for a Christmas visit with her brother. They'd spent one hot week together months ago—a week where they both left their identities and individual problems behind. Neither ever expected a reunion.
Little do they know, Santa's elf has more than coal up his sleeve. Ho ho ho and a badgering we'll go before reindeer two-step on their rooftop and deliver THE PRICELESS GIFT that will leave their snowy days sizzling.
And what someone said about it:
Ms. Lanier hooked me from the first sentence. Gavin is larger than life, sexy and hot. Christina is a perfect match for his don’t-mess-with-me character. I felt their emotions and passion and wished the story was a full-length novel. Ms. Lanier wove real life into her hero and heroine. I recommend The Priceless Gift to anyone who is a hopeless romantic and believes in a Happily Ever After.
Reviewed by Jannine Corti Petska, REBEL HEART, THE LILY AND THE FALCON
9) What are you working on now?
Well….I’m between projects and trying to settle on one. I have a couple of irons on the stove: a wagon train story, a Regency story and I’d like to do one or two other contemporary short Christmas stories (Christina’s brother’s and maybe a character from A COWBOY’S WAY.) So, trying to decide which to do.
10) How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
A punster for sure! I think my characters influence the plot, not the other way around. I’ll have a thread of an idea and get down my characters’ names and I’m off. Sometimes, I don’t even know what eye color they have before I start.
11) What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
I got an idea from a classmate. I asked her to help me brainstorm for a story that would include a recipe. My recipe of Cream of Mushroom Soup and she suggested a soup kitchen. I took off with the idea that the heroine ran the community center/soup kitchen and the hero just inherited the building, deciding that he’d sale it without knowing what it was all about. That set up a good conflict.
12) If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
Alexander Hamilton – I understand he was very intelligent and a real woman’s man. I’d like to discuss things with him about the shaping of the U.S. and what he did to make it happen. I’d like to talk to Louisa May Alcott, too. She was one of the first romance writers I read. I think she gets overlooked a lot.
13) Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
I’ll admit, this is a friend of mine, and she posted this on our local RWA chapter’s loop, but she didn’t have to do that, if she didn’t like the story, so here’s her review:
Okay, I just finished reading The Priceless Gift. What a thrill! ChristinaScott is a charming young lady full of spunk. Gavin Paul is a hunk. (Okay, Ididn't mean to rhyme.) Anna Lanier really knows howto light a fire IN FRONT of a fireplace. A cold winter in Montana forcesthese two people to warm each other up just as a cold past pushes them away.A wonderful read that makes you want Gavin to rescue you from a badger!Judy Garza-Smith
And I got 5 hearts at Romance Studio:
This is a short book but a quick read which packs a BIG punch! It’s heart-warming reading with enough conflict to make it interesting. Great job; you will certainly enjoy reading this book.
Reviewer: Brenda Talley
http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/pricelessgiftlanier.htm
14) What is your all time favorite book?
I love “The Wolf and The Dove,” by Kathleen Woodiwiss “Slightly Married” by Mary Balogh and “To Marry an Heiress” by Lorraine Heath. I could read them over and over and over…oh, wait, I have read them over and over and over.
15) How do you do research for your books? What’s the most interesting bit of research you’ve come across?
Mostly the internet. I can’t think right now, it’s too late, about the most interesting piece of research…sorry.
16) What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Finish that first novel. You’d be surprised how many ‘writers’ don’t ever do that. It doesn’t matter how bad it is…just finish it! Those first two novels I wrote will never see a printing press, but hey, I did it! Also, attend workshops, online or in person. You’ll learn a wealth of information. And hook up with other writers. Only they understand the voices in your head!
17) How do you like your fans to contact you?
Via e-mail – annaklanier@aol.com, at myspace – www.myspace.com/aklanier, at my website – www.aklanier.com or on my blog!
Oh, today's prize will be a "Texas" T-shirt and a copy of THE PRICELESS GIFT.
~Anna Kathryn
Christmas In July Interview Questions
1) So, tell us a little about yourself? What is your typical day like?
That depends on the time of the year. When I was going to school, that took up a lot of time. I took the Spring semester off, but will be going back this fall for four classes on two days of the week. I’m usually up by 8, though I’d love to sleep later. I answer e-mails, care for my 8-month old granddaughter while mom works, write some, run errands and watch TV. I stay up until 12 or 1, though I’d love to be in bed earlier, I just can’t seem to make it!
2) When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing in High School, then wrote several Harlequin type stories in my early 20’s. After having two daughters, I put my writing away for 15 years. About 5 years ago, I got serious again and wrote two 110,000+ word novels in 6 months. Then I went to a creative writing class at the local Junior College and discovered I didn’t know how to write! After that I wrote another full-length novel. I also got into writing short stories, and that’s what I’m published in. As of now, I have five published and two contracted—due out this fall. My longest published work will be SALVATION BRIDE, coming this fall from The Wild Rose Press. It’s 29,000 words or so.
3) What influenced you to write?
I’ve always wanted to write. Before I actually started writing, I had imaginary friends, who went on great adventures with me, I think my mom thought I was crazy, cause I talked to them and they talked back. But I think reading Harlequins and historical romances in my teens and early 20’s is what got me into this genre.
4) What inspired you to write romance?
Reading them.
5) What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
Historical. It’s what I read the most. I’d say 95% of the books I own are historicals. I love it, because I love history…which, btw, is my major in college.
Oh, my short stories are contemporary…probably single title if they were full length.
6) What difficulties does writing this genre present?
For historical it’s learning the facts and keeping it real. It’s too easy to try to change things to fit what we want, instead of sticking with the facts…like how long it took to travel from one place to another. You can’t make it 3 days when it should have taken 3 weeks!
7) How much time do you devote to writing each day?
Not enough. I’ve barely written for the last 6 months. Things have just been too hectic around my house. I have managed to revise one story, A COWBOY’S WAY, to fit it into The Wild Rose Press’s Yellow Rose line (contemporary cowboy…had to add the cowboy part) and to edit my historical, SALVATION BRIDE. I keep hoping things will change, they haven’t. LOL. So I need to start carving out my time again.
8) Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
My first published work with The Wild Rose Press is THE PRICELESS GIFT. It was released in November of 2007. It’s a short story, only 17 pages long, but I think very strong and emotional. Here’s the blurb:
The last thing Christina Scott expects Santa to bring her is a sexy—and very familiar—cowboy. Gavin Holloway’s just as shocked to discover she’s the woman he’s sent to pick up from the airport for a Christmas visit with her brother. They'd spent one hot week together months ago—a week where they both left their identities and individual problems behind. Neither ever expected a reunion.
Little do they know, Santa's elf has more than coal up his sleeve. Ho ho ho and a badgering we'll go before reindeer two-step on their rooftop and deliver THE PRICELESS GIFT that will leave their snowy days sizzling.
And what someone said about it:
Ms. Lanier hooked me from the first sentence. Gavin is larger than life, sexy and hot. Christina is a perfect match for his don’t-mess-with-me character. I felt their emotions and passion and wished the story was a full-length novel. Ms. Lanier wove real life into her hero and heroine. I recommend The Priceless Gift to anyone who is a hopeless romantic and believes in a Happily Ever After.
Reviewed by Jannine Corti Petska, REBEL HEART, THE LILY AND THE FALCON
9) What are you working on now?
Well….I’m between projects and trying to settle on one. I have a couple of irons on the stove: a wagon train story, a Regency story and I’d like to do one or two other contemporary short Christmas stories (Christina’s brother’s and maybe a character from A COWBOY’S WAY.) So, trying to decide which to do.
10) How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
A punster for sure! I think my characters influence the plot, not the other way around. I’ll have a thread of an idea and get down my characters’ names and I’m off. Sometimes, I don’t even know what eye color they have before I start.
11) What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
I got an idea from a classmate. I asked her to help me brainstorm for a story that would include a recipe. My recipe of Cream of Mushroom Soup and she suggested a soup kitchen. I took off with the idea that the heroine ran the community center/soup kitchen and the hero just inherited the building, deciding that he’d sale it without knowing what it was all about. That set up a good conflict.
12) If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
Alexander Hamilton – I understand he was very intelligent and a real woman’s man. I’d like to discuss things with him about the shaping of the U.S. and what he did to make it happen. I’d like to talk to Louisa May Alcott, too. She was one of the first romance writers I read. I think she gets overlooked a lot.
13) Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
I’ll admit, this is a friend of mine, and she posted this on our local RWA chapter’s loop, but she didn’t have to do that, if she didn’t like the story, so here’s her review:
Okay, I just finished reading The Priceless Gift. What a thrill! ChristinaScott is a charming young lady full of spunk. Gavin Paul is a hunk. (Okay, Ididn't mean to rhyme.) Anna Lanier really knows howto light a fire IN FRONT of a fireplace. A cold winter in Montana forcesthese two people to warm each other up just as a cold past pushes them away.A wonderful read that makes you want Gavin to rescue you from a badger!Judy Garza-Smith
And I got 5 hearts at Romance Studio:
This is a short book but a quick read which packs a BIG punch! It’s heart-warming reading with enough conflict to make it interesting. Great job; you will certainly enjoy reading this book.
Reviewer: Brenda Talley
http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/pricelessgiftlanier.htm
14) What is your all time favorite book?
I love “The Wolf and The Dove,” by Kathleen Woodiwiss “Slightly Married” by Mary Balogh and “To Marry an Heiress” by Lorraine Heath. I could read them over and over and over…oh, wait, I have read them over and over and over.
15) How do you do research for your books? What’s the most interesting bit of research you’ve come across?
Mostly the internet. I can’t think right now, it’s too late, about the most interesting piece of research…sorry.
16) What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Finish that first novel. You’d be surprised how many ‘writers’ don’t ever do that. It doesn’t matter how bad it is…just finish it! Those first two novels I wrote will never see a printing press, but hey, I did it! Also, attend workshops, online or in person. You’ll learn a wealth of information. And hook up with other writers. Only they understand the voices in your head!
17) How do you like your fans to contact you?
Via e-mail – annaklanier@aol.com, at myspace – www.myspace.com/aklanier, at my website – www.aklanier.com or on my blog!
Oh, today's prize will be a "Texas" T-shirt and a copy of THE PRICELESS GIFT.
~Anna Kathryn
July 26, 2008
Unclaimed prizes - second chance drawing.
I have a handful of unclaimed prizes. So, what I'm going to do, is anyone who comments from July 27-July 31st will be put in a drawing for a 'second chance' drawing for some great, unclaimed prizes, along with some extra stuff I'll just toss in for free. I have to go see what I have unclaimed, but offhand, I know that the winner of "Ethan's Flight" hasn't contact me. So, be sure to comment and comment often, so you increase your chance of winning the box of goodies!
~Anna Kathryn (who will add to the list as she discovers what's been unclaimed.)
~Anna Kathryn (who will add to the list as she discovers what's been unclaimed.)
Meet Ginger Simpson
Ginger had a family emergency and may not be able to respond to your comments in a timely fashion. But we have a really great prize to give away, so be sure and comment, anyway. Because she can't promote as she wanted to, I'll most likely have Ginger back as a guest blogger in August, so stayed tuned for that event!
~Anna Kathryn
1. So, tell us a little about yourself? What is your typical day like?
My life to be so much more interesting when I worked at the University of California, Davis, but now I’m retired. I laugh when I say that because my days are actually more challenging now. My husband and I moved to Tennessee for a reason. I’m the primary caretaker for my five-year-old developmentally delayed grandson, Spencer, and he’s the center of my world… literally. My typical day is filled with watching Thomas the Train, Wonder Pets, and Sponge Bob, but trying to sneak in a few minutes here and there to write, blog, and respond to emails. Lately, I’ve become a Spiderman aficionado, and very adept at lifting Spencer’s mask and giving him a kiss, on cue, of course. He has the entire three movies memorized. I think I’ve the developmentally delayed one, actually.
2. When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing in 2002, finished my first story and queried Wings Press. I was accepted on my first try, which I might add was a shock. Prairie Peace was first released in May 2003. It’s since been revamped and offered now through Eternal Press. In the interim, I completed two novellas and got half way through my second manuscript, Sisters in Time. I had no barriers to writing back then aside from a full-time job. *lol*
3. How did you break into publishing?
I don’t think I ‘broke’ into publishing. I lucked in. The number of authors completing for small press just five years was minimal compared to today. My assigned editor told me, “You write a beautiful STORY. Now we need to make it into a NOVEL.” I don’t think publishers have the time or are willing to expend the effort like they were back then. Today, new authors are competing with polished and experienced ones. I’d hate to be starting out right now. Or, maybe not. I know a whole lot more today than I did back in 2003.
4. What influenced you to write?
I’ve always loved to write. English was the one subject in which I excelled, and driven by the passion of reading, it only seemed logical to delve into trying my own hand at penning a novel. I’m not sure I ever planned it, but once I sat down and let my characters drag me along, it seemed like telling myself a story, and one I couldn’t wait to finish (but for good reasons.)
5. What inspired you to write romance?
What I write isn’t so much romance. A better description is stories with romantic elements. I like there to be more to what I read and write than Dick sees Jane, chases Jane, wins Jane, marries Jane and lives happily ever after. I think that’s why I write primarily western historical tales. I love the era and it provides fodder to sprinkle in amongst the conflict and love scenes. I want my stories to warm the heart, but also give the reader something to think about besides sex.
6. What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
Oops, I think I just answered that question above. I have dappled in several. Even wrote my debut/swan song Erotica, but I also gravitate back to historical westerns. I truly believe I was a Lakota Sioux woman in a previous life because I have such a fascination with that tribe. That life must have been right between the one where I was a doctor and the one where I was a mechanic. *lol*
7. What difficulties does writing this genre present?
Not so much difficulty as time demands. There is much more research necessary when you write historical fiction. Although your story isn’t true, your facts had better be. I find myself double-checking what I think may be right, to make sure I’m not inserting language or gadgets before their time. It took me the longest time to stop trying to make my eighteenth-century characters say, “Okay.”
8. What motivated you to write your current book?
Which one? I have the pleasure of having three releases coming out together. Sarah’s Journey was released May 7th, Sparta Rose is due out in late June, and Embezzled Love in July. Most of my stories are prompted by characters who spring into my head and drag me along on a ride. Embezzled Love, however, was spawned by my sister’s life-changing experience. Although fictional, the basis for the plot was her internet experience and how it affected us all.
9. How much time do you devote to writing each day?
That varies from day-to-day. Sometimes I can’t find a minute, and when I do, I can’t find the motivation. It’s a good day when both time and the urge strike together.
10. Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
After my debut novel, Prairie Peace, I completed a time-travel romance with an historical twist, Sisters in Time. Then I tried my hand a romantic suspense, with Beside Myself. Some who read Prairie Peace commented on wanting a sequel, so I wrote a continuation, White Heart, Lakota Spirit. In between were five novellas and two short stories. Two of those novellas have been revamped and renamed and will be part of a four-story compilation released by Eternal Press. Stages of Love will consist of Chastity’s Charm, Forever Faith, Hope Springs Eternal and Amazing Grace.
11. What are you working on now?
Shock of shocks, I found myself employed as a Correctional Officer in my golden years. We’d moved to Tennessee and jobs were hard to come by. I never expected when the agency sent me to interview for the position that I’d be hired. Believe it not, I miss it, and the experience was the inspiration behind my current work-in-progress, First Degree Innocence. I can write with authority and feel confident about my story.
12. How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
Wow, I think I already answered this one too. They say that’s the sign of an insightful interviewee. I’m definitely a pantser. I do not plot at all, but because of a lagging memory, I have taken to writing down character descriptions. There’s nothing worse than having a blue-eyed hero show up with brown eyes three chapters later. In the old west, they didn’t have the benefit of colored contacts. J My stories usually start when a character pops into my mind and begs me to come along on a story-telling spree. So far, they haven’t disappointed me, so I’ll stick with what I’m doing.
13. What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
I almost said I hadn’t had the experience, but I suppose my current WIP was inspired by working with inmates and seeing what they went through on a daily basis. I wanted to create a story about someone who really was innocent and convicted. I know for a fact after having served on a jury, our jails are surely filled with people who didn’t do the crime.
14. If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
Sitting Bull. I’d really like to know the man behind the legend. The first words out of my mouth would be an apology how the Indian nations were treated by the government.
15. Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
I’m proud to say that everything I’ve read has been favorable. I remember being crushed by one of the few ‘3-rated’ reviews I received, until I looked at the scale and realized it meant ‘good’. Most of my reviews have been 4-5 with encouraging remarks about my work. You can’t ask for more than that.
16. What is your all time favorite book?
There are so many I’ve loved. I’m sure the Laura Ingalls Wilder series holds the most prominent place in my heart and memory. She has to be the person who inspired me to love the old west.
17. How do you do research for your books? What’s the most interesting bit of research you’ve come across?
I’ve purchased several books on Indian history, plus I utilize the internet and two great historical research groups I’ve found on yahoo. I think my most interesting research was conducted to discover the history of firearms. As a woman, the differences in weapons has never been anything to which I was privy. For Sparta Rose, I had to determine the correct type of sidearm a woman would purchase during her era. Trust me that the information about the gun she bought was well-read. J
18. What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
A saying I read recently advised people to ‘dance like no one is watching.’ I’d do the same with writing. Write when you get the chance, hone it to perfection and sell it to a person who believes in your talent. Remember when you write, you’re writing from the heart of your character and telling the story from their perspective. SHOW the emotions, smells, and scenery, don’t just TELL about them. Reel those readers in and make them live the story while they read.
19. How do you like your fans to contact you?
Any way they choose. Nothing makes my day like reading a positive comment or glowing accolade from someone who has read my work. I recently received a wonderful email from someone who subscribes to my blog, telling me how much it brightens her day and how she never misses it. It made the time and effort I spend so much more important.
http://www.gingersimpson.com
http://mizging.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/mizging
Ginger
~Anna Kathryn
1. So, tell us a little about yourself? What is your typical day like?
My life to be so much more interesting when I worked at the University of California, Davis, but now I’m retired. I laugh when I say that because my days are actually more challenging now. My husband and I moved to Tennessee for a reason. I’m the primary caretaker for my five-year-old developmentally delayed grandson, Spencer, and he’s the center of my world… literally. My typical day is filled with watching Thomas the Train, Wonder Pets, and Sponge Bob, but trying to sneak in a few minutes here and there to write, blog, and respond to emails. Lately, I’ve become a Spiderman aficionado, and very adept at lifting Spencer’s mask and giving him a kiss, on cue, of course. He has the entire three movies memorized. I think I’ve the developmentally delayed one, actually.
2. When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing in 2002, finished my first story and queried Wings Press. I was accepted on my first try, which I might add was a shock. Prairie Peace was first released in May 2003. It’s since been revamped and offered now through Eternal Press. In the interim, I completed two novellas and got half way through my second manuscript, Sisters in Time. I had no barriers to writing back then aside from a full-time job. *lol*
3. How did you break into publishing?
I don’t think I ‘broke’ into publishing. I lucked in. The number of authors completing for small press just five years was minimal compared to today. My assigned editor told me, “You write a beautiful STORY. Now we need to make it into a NOVEL.” I don’t think publishers have the time or are willing to expend the effort like they were back then. Today, new authors are competing with polished and experienced ones. I’d hate to be starting out right now. Or, maybe not. I know a whole lot more today than I did back in 2003.
4. What influenced you to write?
I’ve always loved to write. English was the one subject in which I excelled, and driven by the passion of reading, it only seemed logical to delve into trying my own hand at penning a novel. I’m not sure I ever planned it, but once I sat down and let my characters drag me along, it seemed like telling myself a story, and one I couldn’t wait to finish (but for good reasons.)
5. What inspired you to write romance?
What I write isn’t so much romance. A better description is stories with romantic elements. I like there to be more to what I read and write than Dick sees Jane, chases Jane, wins Jane, marries Jane and lives happily ever after. I think that’s why I write primarily western historical tales. I love the era and it provides fodder to sprinkle in amongst the conflict and love scenes. I want my stories to warm the heart, but also give the reader something to think about besides sex.
6. What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
Oops, I think I just answered that question above. I have dappled in several. Even wrote my debut/swan song Erotica, but I also gravitate back to historical westerns. I truly believe I was a Lakota Sioux woman in a previous life because I have such a fascination with that tribe. That life must have been right between the one where I was a doctor and the one where I was a mechanic. *lol*
7. What difficulties does writing this genre present?
Not so much difficulty as time demands. There is much more research necessary when you write historical fiction. Although your story isn’t true, your facts had better be. I find myself double-checking what I think may be right, to make sure I’m not inserting language or gadgets before their time. It took me the longest time to stop trying to make my eighteenth-century characters say, “Okay.”
8. What motivated you to write your current book?
Which one? I have the pleasure of having three releases coming out together. Sarah’s Journey was released May 7th, Sparta Rose is due out in late June, and Embezzled Love in July. Most of my stories are prompted by characters who spring into my head and drag me along on a ride. Embezzled Love, however, was spawned by my sister’s life-changing experience. Although fictional, the basis for the plot was her internet experience and how it affected us all.
9. How much time do you devote to writing each day?
That varies from day-to-day. Sometimes I can’t find a minute, and when I do, I can’t find the motivation. It’s a good day when both time and the urge strike together.
10. Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
After my debut novel, Prairie Peace, I completed a time-travel romance with an historical twist, Sisters in Time. Then I tried my hand a romantic suspense, with Beside Myself. Some who read Prairie Peace commented on wanting a sequel, so I wrote a continuation, White Heart, Lakota Spirit. In between were five novellas and two short stories. Two of those novellas have been revamped and renamed and will be part of a four-story compilation released by Eternal Press. Stages of Love will consist of Chastity’s Charm, Forever Faith, Hope Springs Eternal and Amazing Grace.
11. What are you working on now?
Shock of shocks, I found myself employed as a Correctional Officer in my golden years. We’d moved to Tennessee and jobs were hard to come by. I never expected when the agency sent me to interview for the position that I’d be hired. Believe it not, I miss it, and the experience was the inspiration behind my current work-in-progress, First Degree Innocence. I can write with authority and feel confident about my story.
12. How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
Wow, I think I already answered this one too. They say that’s the sign of an insightful interviewee. I’m definitely a pantser. I do not plot at all, but because of a lagging memory, I have taken to writing down character descriptions. There’s nothing worse than having a blue-eyed hero show up with brown eyes three chapters later. In the old west, they didn’t have the benefit of colored contacts. J My stories usually start when a character pops into my mind and begs me to come along on a story-telling spree. So far, they haven’t disappointed me, so I’ll stick with what I’m doing.
13. What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
I almost said I hadn’t had the experience, but I suppose my current WIP was inspired by working with inmates and seeing what they went through on a daily basis. I wanted to create a story about someone who really was innocent and convicted. I know for a fact after having served on a jury, our jails are surely filled with people who didn’t do the crime.
14. If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
Sitting Bull. I’d really like to know the man behind the legend. The first words out of my mouth would be an apology how the Indian nations were treated by the government.
15. Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
I’m proud to say that everything I’ve read has been favorable. I remember being crushed by one of the few ‘3-rated’ reviews I received, until I looked at the scale and realized it meant ‘good’. Most of my reviews have been 4-5 with encouraging remarks about my work. You can’t ask for more than that.
16. What is your all time favorite book?
There are so many I’ve loved. I’m sure the Laura Ingalls Wilder series holds the most prominent place in my heart and memory. She has to be the person who inspired me to love the old west.
17. How do you do research for your books? What’s the most interesting bit of research you’ve come across?
I’ve purchased several books on Indian history, plus I utilize the internet and two great historical research groups I’ve found on yahoo. I think my most interesting research was conducted to discover the history of firearms. As a woman, the differences in weapons has never been anything to which I was privy. For Sparta Rose, I had to determine the correct type of sidearm a woman would purchase during her era. Trust me that the information about the gun she bought was well-read. J
18. What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
A saying I read recently advised people to ‘dance like no one is watching.’ I’d do the same with writing. Write when you get the chance, hone it to perfection and sell it to a person who believes in your talent. Remember when you write, you’re writing from the heart of your character and telling the story from their perspective. SHOW the emotions, smells, and scenery, don’t just TELL about them. Reel those readers in and make them live the story while they read.
19. How do you like your fans to contact you?
Any way they choose. Nothing makes my day like reading a positive comment or glowing accolade from someone who has read my work. I recently received a wonderful email from someone who subscribes to my blog, telling me how much it brightens her day and how she never misses it. It made the time and effort I spend so much more important.
http://www.gingersimpson.com
http://mizging.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/mizging
Ginger
July 26th Winner
Today's winner of a Bath and Body Works package is Phyllis. Just e-mail me at annaklanier@aol.com to claim your prize.
Thanks for all the great comments about my grandkids. They are all precious to me. I'm very close to Ethan, cause he lived with us from birth to 6 months, and has been to visit each year. And to the youngest, Lacey, cause she lives here near us. So, I'm going to try hard not to leave Emma out of the loop. She's the one who was born away from me and hasn't stayed for visits without mom and dad, until now. It should be fun.
~Anna Kathryn
Thanks for all the great comments about my grandkids. They are all precious to me. I'm very close to Ethan, cause he lived with us from birth to 6 months, and has been to visit each year. And to the youngest, Lacey, cause she lives here near us. So, I'm going to try hard not to leave Emma out of the loop. She's the one who was born away from me and hasn't stayed for visits without mom and dad, until now. It should be fun.
~Anna Kathryn
July 25, 2008
Some Friday Funnies
In addition to receiving "On This Day" http://www.reference.com/thisday/ to my mailbox each day, I also get "A Joke A Day" JokeFiles3-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Sometimes, I'm too busy to even read the jokes, but this came through to me on Wednesday and I had a chance to read it. I thought you'd enjoy it as well:
HUMOR FOR LEXOPHILES
-- I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
-- Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
-- Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
-- To write with a broken pencil is pointless!
-- The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
-- When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.
-- The math professor went crazy with the blackboard. He did a number on it.
-- The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.
-- The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
-- A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.
-- A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
-- A will is a dead giveaway.
-- A backward poet writes inverse.
-- A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
-- With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
-- A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulted in linoleum blownapart.
-- A calendar's days are numbered.
-- A boiled egg is hard to beat.
-- If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
-- When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
-- Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis
HUMOR FOR LEXOPHILES
-- I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
-- Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
-- Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
-- To write with a broken pencil is pointless!
-- The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
-- When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.
-- The math professor went crazy with the blackboard. He did a number on it.
-- The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.
-- The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
-- A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.
-- A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
-- A will is a dead giveaway.
-- A backward poet writes inverse.
-- A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
-- With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
-- A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulted in linoleum blownapart.
-- A calendar's days are numbered.
-- A boiled egg is hard to beat.
-- If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
-- When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
-- Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis
You could win a Sony e-Reader if you've purchase some of our books....
If you're planning to buy or have already bought some of The Wild Rose Press stories my guest bloggers have told you about this month, don't forget that some of those purchases make you eligible to enter The Wild Rose Press Sony e-Reader contest.
www.thewildrosepress.com
All this summer (June 11 – August 31), every time you purchase a title by any of these The Wild Rose Press' sponsoring authors (see list below), you will be eligible to enter our drawing to win a SONY eReader. The drawing will be held on Tuesday evening, September 2, 2008 at our weekly chat (9:00 p.m. eastern). (You do not need to be present in the chat room to win).When you purchase any title from these authors simply email your order number to:
SONYREADER@thewildrosepress.com.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it. FREE READS DO NOT COUNT AS PURCHASES. Make sure you have a current email address and/or include your contact information so we can find you if you win.You may enter as many times this summer as you wish. If you purchase more than one title in the same order, feel free to send two emails and include the order twice. We will verify that you did indeed purchase more than one title.The following are the sponsoring authors for this wonderful contest. Please look for their author information on our web site and enjoy some fabulous reads this summer from these participating authors. If you click on the author's name it will take you directly to their books on our site.
Donna L. Bolk
Allie Boniface
Linda Carroll-Bradd
Laurel Bradley
Rachel Brimble
Charlotte Chalmers
Elaine Cantrell
Pam Champagne
Christine Columbus
Sandra Cormier
Cheryl Cornell
Amy Corwin
Sharon Cullen
Donna Dalton
K.M. Daughters
Debbie Doggett
CarolAnn Erhardt
Valerie Everhart
Samantha Gentry
Cindy Green
Kathleen Grieve
Larry Hammersley
Stacy Dawn
Sharon Horton
Tara Nina
Anna Kathryn Lanier
Marly Mathews
Nicole McCaffrey
Donna Michaels
Stacey Joy Netzel
AnneMarie Novark
Cindy Spencer Pape
PL Parker
Katie Reus
Jane Richardson
Donna Marie Rogers
Pam Roller
Emma Sanders
Kathleen Scott
Carol A. Spradling
Debra St. John
Lily Stone (blogging on July 29)
Browyn Storm
Leanne Tyler
Brenda Weaver
Nita Wick
Teri Wilson
Good luck!
*No purchase necessary to win the SONY eReader. If you do not purchase a title, you may enter the contest by mailing a post card to The Wild Rose Press, Sony eReader Contest, P.O. Box 708, Adams Basin, NY 14410. Please include your name, email and contact information. In addition, you must write down three titles from any of the participating authors. Postcard entrants will be added to the names of email entrants and a winning entry will be drawn on September 2, 2008.
www.thewildrosepress.com
All this summer (June 11 – August 31), every time you purchase a title by any of these The Wild Rose Press' sponsoring authors (see list below), you will be eligible to enter our drawing to win a SONY eReader. The drawing will be held on Tuesday evening, September 2, 2008 at our weekly chat (9:00 p.m. eastern). (You do not need to be present in the chat room to win).When you purchase any title from these authors simply email your order number to:
SONYREADER@thewildrosepress.com.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it. FREE READS DO NOT COUNT AS PURCHASES. Make sure you have a current email address and/or include your contact information so we can find you if you win.You may enter as many times this summer as you wish. If you purchase more than one title in the same order, feel free to send two emails and include the order twice. We will verify that you did indeed purchase more than one title.The following are the sponsoring authors for this wonderful contest. Please look for their author information on our web site and enjoy some fabulous reads this summer from these participating authors. If you click on the author's name it will take you directly to their books on our site.
Donna L. Bolk
Allie Boniface
Linda Carroll-Bradd
Laurel Bradley
Rachel Brimble
Charlotte Chalmers
Elaine Cantrell
Pam Champagne
Christine Columbus
Sandra Cormier
Cheryl Cornell
Amy Corwin
Sharon Cullen
Donna Dalton
K.M. Daughters
Debbie Doggett
CarolAnn Erhardt
Valerie Everhart
Samantha Gentry
Cindy Green
Kathleen Grieve
Larry Hammersley
Stacy Dawn
Sharon Horton
Tara Nina
Anna Kathryn Lanier
Marly Mathews
Nicole McCaffrey
Donna Michaels
Stacey Joy Netzel
AnneMarie Novark
Cindy Spencer Pape
PL Parker
Katie Reus
Jane Richardson
Donna Marie Rogers
Pam Roller
Emma Sanders
Kathleen Scott
Carol A. Spradling
Debra St. John
Lily Stone (blogging on July 29)
Browyn Storm
Leanne Tyler
Brenda Weaver
Nita Wick
Teri Wilson
Good luck!
*No purchase necessary to win the SONY eReader. If you do not purchase a title, you may enter the contest by mailing a post card to The Wild Rose Press, Sony eReader Contest, P.O. Box 708, Adams Basin, NY 14410. Please include your name, email and contact information. In addition, you must write down three titles from any of the participating authors. Postcard entrants will be added to the names of email entrants and a winning entry will be drawn on September 2, 2008.
Good Morning
Hi, ya'll. You have me as a blogger today. This past week I recieved my blurb and my cover for my Christmas story A COWBOY'S DREAM:
Author Leah Smith has fantasized about her neighbor, Houston’s pro baseball player Marcus Slade, for years, but thinks it’s unlikely she’d catch the cowboy’s interest since her IQ is bigger than her bra size. Having already been hurt by a man who wanted size over substance, she’s not in a hurry to play in that ball field again.
When an unexpected opportunity gets Marcus inside his favorite author’s apartment, he’s not about to let a second chance at love pass him by. Their attraction is quick and electric and has him instantly thinking about something more long-term. But when a woman from his past intrudes, his hopes of a cozy Christmas with Leah are buried beneath her cold shoulder.
When an unexpected opportunity gets Marcus inside his favorite author’s apartment, he’s not about to let a second chance at love pass him by. Their attraction is quick and electric and has him instantly thinking about something more long-term. But when a woman from his past intrudes, his hopes of a cozy Christmas with Leah are buried beneath her cold shoulder.
This story is set to be released in November.
July 24th Winner
Congratulations to Lyn....she's won a copy of Renee's book "Courting Trouble." Lyn, just e-mail me at annaklanie@aol.com and we'll arrange for you to get the book.
Thanks!
~Anna Kathryn
Thanks!
~Anna Kathryn
July 23, 2008
Welcome Renee Knowles
Welcome Renee Knowles, who's book just came out yesterday!
Christmas In July Interview Questions
So, tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a huge romance reader, devouring just about any book I can get my hands on. I’m married with a newly adopted son and we live in the Mountain West. I love to do yoga and to spend time with family.
Along with novel writing, I am a freelance writer and editor and give writing classes to groups all over the country.
What is your typical day like?
Well, until we adopted our little one a couple of weeks ago, it was about writing and yoga and reading and coffee shops! LOL. Now, it’s about chasing after him and playing a little with publishing business in between!
When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published?
I started writing about 4 years ago, and my first book was contracted last August by Siren Publishing.
How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I had written two full manuscripts and the second one is the manuscript that sold.
How did you break into publishing?
Well, actually, I was an editor for the publisher of my debut book, Going Topless. And when I pitched the book to the publisher, she was very interested. And from there I received an offer very quickly. She is a wonderful and thoughtful publisher.
What influenced you to write?
I guess it is my love of books. Books have been a part of my life since I was a child. I used to hide under the covers with a flashlight as a kid so I could read after my parents thought I was asleep. I’ve just always enjoyed stories and creating characters in my head.
What inspired you to write romance?
True love, a handsome man, obstacles to overcome and a happy ending…what is not to love?! I’ve always been a big romance fan. It’s a genre I feel is the perfect escape J
What motivated you to write your current book?
My current release, Courting Trouble, is a Regency historical romance. I adore the Regency period and am a Jane Austen addict. This is a sexy, true romance, and it’s a story about two friends who become lovers. I really enjoy “friendship” romances because there is a lot at play there.
The idea came to me as I was thinking about Emma (Jane Austen’s book). In that novel, Emma and Mr. Knightley are close friends but all their interaction hints at more. I love the sexual tension when the hero and heroine are thrown into each other’s path so often. And I wanted Courting Trouble to have the same feel but with a modern sensuality.
What are you working on now?
I am working on the second book in a new erotic contemporary series called Pleasures, Inc. that I have coming out with Siren Publishing. The series revolves around a male escort service where the hottest men fulfill your steamiest fantasies, and they are there for your pleasure only…
The first book, Guilty Pleasures, will be released on August 4th. It’s a hot story and I’m really excited about the series.
How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
I am mostly a pantser. I do have a loose outline and an idea of the main turning points, but I let a lot of the story happen organically.
As for characters or plot, I am most definitely character-driven. My characters drive my story and my plot. I need to know them very well and think that creating my characters is one of my favorite parts of plotting.
If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
A few weeks ago, I would have said Jane Austen. And I still think that would be an amazing conversation. She had a brilliant mind, and it would be incredible to meet her.
But now, I think I would also have liked to spend one hour speaking with Tim Russert before his untimely death. He was a sharp man and a gentle one. He had a lot of depth, and I am a huge fan of the political drama that goes on in our democratic system.
Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
Thanks for letting me brag a bit. Here are a few tidbits from interviewers:
“Renee Knowles is a brilliant author…” --Two Lips Reviews
“Renee Knowles is hot, hot hot!!!”—Sensual Reads
“Renee Knowles is definitely in touch with her feminine side…”—Euro-Reviews
What is your all time favorite book?
Pride and Prejudice hands down. Give me Darcy any day!
What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Keep persevering. And remember that you are marketing yourself in everything you do.
How do you like your fans to contact you?
I love to hear from readers! They can contact me at renee@reneeknowles.com
~Renee
~Anna Kathryn
Christmas In July Interview Questions
So, tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a huge romance reader, devouring just about any book I can get my hands on. I’m married with a newly adopted son and we live in the Mountain West. I love to do yoga and to spend time with family.
Along with novel writing, I am a freelance writer and editor and give writing classes to groups all over the country.
What is your typical day like?
Well, until we adopted our little one a couple of weeks ago, it was about writing and yoga and reading and coffee shops! LOL. Now, it’s about chasing after him and playing a little with publishing business in between!
When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published?
I started writing about 4 years ago, and my first book was contracted last August by Siren Publishing.
How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I had written two full manuscripts and the second one is the manuscript that sold.
How did you break into publishing?
Well, actually, I was an editor for the publisher of my debut book, Going Topless. And when I pitched the book to the publisher, she was very interested. And from there I received an offer very quickly. She is a wonderful and thoughtful publisher.
What influenced you to write?
I guess it is my love of books. Books have been a part of my life since I was a child. I used to hide under the covers with a flashlight as a kid so I could read after my parents thought I was asleep. I’ve just always enjoyed stories and creating characters in my head.
What inspired you to write romance?
True love, a handsome man, obstacles to overcome and a happy ending…what is not to love?! I’ve always been a big romance fan. It’s a genre I feel is the perfect escape J
What motivated you to write your current book?
My current release, Courting Trouble, is a Regency historical romance. I adore the Regency period and am a Jane Austen addict. This is a sexy, true romance, and it’s a story about two friends who become lovers. I really enjoy “friendship” romances because there is a lot at play there.
The idea came to me as I was thinking about Emma (Jane Austen’s book). In that novel, Emma and Mr. Knightley are close friends but all their interaction hints at more. I love the sexual tension when the hero and heroine are thrown into each other’s path so often. And I wanted Courting Trouble to have the same feel but with a modern sensuality.
What are you working on now?
I am working on the second book in a new erotic contemporary series called Pleasures, Inc. that I have coming out with Siren Publishing. The series revolves around a male escort service where the hottest men fulfill your steamiest fantasies, and they are there for your pleasure only…
The first book, Guilty Pleasures, will be released on August 4th. It’s a hot story and I’m really excited about the series.
How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
I am mostly a pantser. I do have a loose outline and an idea of the main turning points, but I let a lot of the story happen organically.
As for characters or plot, I am most definitely character-driven. My characters drive my story and my plot. I need to know them very well and think that creating my characters is one of my favorite parts of plotting.
If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
A few weeks ago, I would have said Jane Austen. And I still think that would be an amazing conversation. She had a brilliant mind, and it would be incredible to meet her.
But now, I think I would also have liked to spend one hour speaking with Tim Russert before his untimely death. He was a sharp man and a gentle one. He had a lot of depth, and I am a huge fan of the political drama that goes on in our democratic system.
Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
Thanks for letting me brag a bit. Here are a few tidbits from interviewers:
“Renee Knowles is a brilliant author…” --Two Lips Reviews
“Renee Knowles is hot, hot hot!!!”—Sensual Reads
“Renee Knowles is definitely in touch with her feminine side…”—Euro-Reviews
What is your all time favorite book?
Pride and Prejudice hands down. Give me Darcy any day!
What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Keep persevering. And remember that you are marketing yourself in everything you do.
How do you like your fans to contact you?
I love to hear from readers! They can contact me at renee@reneeknowles.com
~Renee
~Anna Kathryn
July 23 Winner
Congratulations to Cherie J! She won an electronic copy of Anne Marie's book "Her Reluctant Rancher."
Cherie, just e-mail m at annaklanier@aol.com and we'll arrange for you to get your copy.
~Anna Kathryn
Cherie, just e-mail m at annaklanier@aol.com and we'll arrange for you to get your copy.
~Anna Kathryn
July 22, 2008
Meet Anne Marie Novark
Welcome new author, Anne Marie Novark. Her first book was just released a few months ago!
Christmas In July Interview Questions
So, tell us a little about yourself? What is your typical day like?
I’m a retired stay-at-home mom, so I guess that makes me a kept woman.A typical day for me begins with waking up between seven and seven-thirty, when I jump out of bed and head for the kitchen, pour myself a glass of juice and sit down to read the paper. I eat a light breakfast then grab a quick shower. I try to sit down at my computer at nine, where I work for several hours. I check email after I get my pages written. After that, I usually eat lunch and run errands and also perform the minimal amount of housecleaning I can get by with.
When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing when I was in my early twenties. That was before personal computers. I wrote in longhand on notebook paper and in spiral notebooks, but never finished a manuscript. When my children were born, my writing went by the wayside. I didn’t waste those “writing” years; I read voraciously—romances mostly, but there was a period during my early thirties where I read classic literature exclusively. When the kids were bigger, I took up writing again. I completed eight manuscripts and collected many rejections before finally publishing.
How did you break into publishing?
For years, I was targeting Harlequin/Silhouette. I caught the eye of an editor, but kept getting rejections. I entered a few contests, but the expense was prohibitive. I was really in a bad place psychologically in my writing, nearly to the point of giving it up. But writing is my passion, my identity. I am a writer, therefore I write. I couldn’t give up.
I kept reading romances and craft books on writing, and attending my RWA chapter meetings. I noticed how a few of my chapter mates were being published in digital format. They were having a blast, so I decided to give it a try. Being published by The Wild Rose Press has boosted my confidence and now, I’m having a blast!
What influenced you to write?
My mother, BK Reeves. She’s been published for many years. She’s taught me so much. She’s my biggest fan and my sternest critic. Here’s a little story about when I decided that I could write: Mother had published a couple of Regency romances with Avon. One Friday out of the blue, they called her and asked if she had anything to submit right now, because they were in a lurch and needed a book ASAP. Well, BK told them she had a typed manuscript (written before personal computers) locked in her safety deposit box. They said great! Could she send it to them by return mail on Monday? Not a problem, she said. She called me in a kind of a panic, saying she had to enter the manuscript into the computer. I offered to help her. While I was entering the story, I realized a book was written one word, one sentence at a time. Okay, this is so obvious, but it was a light bulb moment for me. What can I say? I’m Polish.
What inspired you to write romance?
I’ve been reading romances since the sixth grade. I love reading about men and women overcoming obstacles, falling in love and living happily-ever-after. Real life can be ugly and messy. In romance novels, love conquers all and there is always hope for a bright future with the love of your life.
What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
My first book was a Regency romance. After I finished that story, my sister introduced me to category romance (Linda Howard, no less), and I’ve been hooked ever since. Most of my stories are set in West Texas where I spent summers as a child on my grandparents’ farm and ranch. That land is now in a family trust, and we all enjoy going up there as often as we can. I write Western Contemporary Romance with yummy cowboys and ranchers.
What difficulties do writing this genre present?
For me, it’s big city vs. small town. I’m a city girl, but my heart belongs to the little town up in West Texas near our farm. I love the rugged ranch land and the vast acres in cultivation. I like to share my love of the land and my love of Texas with readers. Wait a minute! That’s not really a difficulty at all.
What motivated you to write your current book?
I wrote HER RELUCTANT RANCHER four or five years ago. I think the idea came to me when I read a feature article in a magazine. It was about a rural doctor who made rounds of house calls. How this morphed into a girl driving a bookmobile, only my muse knows for sure.
How much time do you devote to writing each day?
Two to four hours on good days. But not all days are good days. I try to be disciplined and get on my computer by nine in the morning, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen.
Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
As I said before, I’ve completed eight manuscripts. I have a series set on a ranch up in the Panhandle (where else?) about four brothers and a sister. I have three of those stories written; two more to go.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the fourth book in the series mentioned above. It’s about the youngest brother who is a crop-duster. He’s crashed and burned and is having a difficult time recuperating both physically and mentally. My heroine is a flying whiz and comes along, knocking the hero for an aerial loop.
How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
I’m an in-betweenster. My characters usually come first. I do a bit of pre-writing: finding pictures of my hero and heroine, choosing their names, figuring out the internal conflicts, etc. I keep all of this information in a project notebook. For the last three or four books that I’ve written, I’ve made collages. This is an awesome activity and really stimulates the subconscious brain.
What was the most unusual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
One day, when my husband and I were driving back from his dad’s, we were on the freeway. A man on a motorcycle passed us. He had a small girl riding behind him. That got my brain to playing what-ifs all the way home. Who was this guy? Where was the mom? I knew there was story there, and sure enough, I wrote it. Right now, it’s sitting on an editor’s desk (or in her inbox), and I’m waiting to hear back on it.
If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
I would love to meet Georgette Heyer. She was the Queen of Regency Romance. Even though I write Western Contemporary, Regencies hold a special place in my heart. The way she handled characterization and setting and plot was awesome. Her books are dense and rich; not a lot of white space. I’ve read her Regencies countless times. They are my “comfort” reads. Most of my copies of her books are over fifty years old and are literally falling apart.
Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
HER RELUCTANT RANCHER is my first published book, and this is my first interview. Most of my reviews have been good. It’s exciting to know people are actually reading and enjoying my book.
“This is the first book I have read by Ms. Novark but it will not be my last. Her characters are strong and passionate and she takes the reader along for an emotional ride through her story!”
“HER RELUCTANT RANCHER adds a new spin on reluctant romances that form after a death in the family… It is very refreshing that marriage between Beth and Trevor was not a requirement of the will… Trevor and Beth find passion in this delightful story of regrets, love, and family.”
Read the full reviews on my website: www.annemarienovark.com.
What is your all time favorite book?
Gosh, I have so many favorite books. Like I mentioned before, my comfort reads are the Regencies written by Georgette Heyer. It’s very difficult to say which one is my absolute favorite. I guess if I have to choose, I’d say A CIVIL CONTRACT. It makes me cry every time I read it.
How do you do research for your books? What’s the most interesting bit of research you’ve come across?
I check out books from the library—inter-library loans are fabulous. And of course, I couldn’t live without Google. The most interesting bit of research? When I found out you could own hundreds of acres of land without owning the mineral rights. That tidbit became a crucial turning point in one of my books.
What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Don’t give up. Keep writing and honing your craft. Read books on writing, take online classes, and most importantly: submit, submit, submit. If you don’t keep writing and submitting new manuscripts, you will never get published.
How do you like your fans to contact you?
Visit my website at http://www.annemarienovark.com/. Email me at am@annemarienovark.com.
Christmas In July Interview Questions
So, tell us a little about yourself? What is your typical day like?
I’m a retired stay-at-home mom, so I guess that makes me a kept woman.
When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?
I started writing when I was in my early twenties. That was before personal computers. I wrote in longhand on notebook paper and in spiral notebooks, but never finished a manuscript. When my children were born, my writing went by the wayside. I didn’t waste those “writing” years; I read voraciously—romances mostly, but there was a period during my early thirties where I read classic literature exclusively. When the kids were bigger, I took up writing again. I completed eight manuscripts and collected many rejections before finally publishing.
How did you break into publishing?
For years, I was targeting Harlequin/Silhouette. I caught the eye of an editor, but kept getting rejections. I entered a few contests, but the expense was prohibitive. I was really in a bad place psychologically in my writing, nearly to the point of giving it up. But writing is my passion, my identity. I am a writer, therefore I write. I couldn’t give up.
I kept reading romances and craft books on writing, and attending my RWA chapter meetings. I noticed how a few of my chapter mates were being published in digital format. They were having a blast, so I decided to give it a try. Being published by The Wild Rose Press has boosted my confidence and now, I’m having a blast!
What influenced you to write?
My mother, BK Reeves. She’s been published for many years. She’s taught me so much. She’s my biggest fan and my sternest critic. Here’s a little story about when I decided that I could write: Mother had published a couple of Regency romances with Avon. One Friday out of the blue, they called her and asked if she had anything to submit right now, because they were in a lurch and needed a book ASAP. Well, BK told them she had a typed manuscript (written before personal computers) locked in her safety deposit box. They said great! Could she send it to them by return mail on Monday? Not a problem, she said. She called me in a kind of a panic, saying she had to enter the manuscript into the computer. I offered to help her. While I was entering the story, I realized a book was written one word, one sentence at a time. Okay, this is so obvious, but it was a light bulb moment for me. What can I say? I’m Polish.
What inspired you to write romance?
I’ve been reading romances since the sixth grade. I love reading about men and women overcoming obstacles, falling in love and living happily-ever-after. Real life can be ugly and messy. In romance novels, love conquers all and there is always hope for a bright future with the love of your life.
What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?
My first book was a Regency romance. After I finished that story, my sister introduced me to category romance (Linda Howard, no less), and I’ve been hooked ever since. Most of my stories are set in West Texas where I spent summers as a child on my grandparents’ farm and ranch. That land is now in a family trust, and we all enjoy going up there as often as we can. I write Western Contemporary Romance with yummy cowboys and ranchers.
What difficulties do writing this genre present?
For me, it’s big city vs. small town. I’m a city girl, but my heart belongs to the little town up in West Texas near our farm. I love the rugged ranch land and the vast acres in cultivation. I like to share my love of the land and my love of Texas with readers. Wait a minute! That’s not really a difficulty at all.
What motivated you to write your current book?
I wrote HER RELUCTANT RANCHER four or five years ago. I think the idea came to me when I read a feature article in a magazine. It was about a rural doctor who made rounds of house calls. How this morphed into a girl driving a bookmobile, only my muse knows for sure.
How much time do you devote to writing each day?
Two to four hours on good days. But not all days are good days. I try to be disciplined and get on my computer by nine in the morning, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen.
Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.
As I said before, I’ve completed eight manuscripts. I have a series set on a ranch up in the Panhandle (where else?) about four brothers and a sister. I have three of those stories written; two more to go.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the fourth book in the series mentioned above. It’s about the youngest brother who is a crop-duster. He’s crashed and burned and is having a difficult time recuperating both physically and mentally. My heroine is a flying whiz and comes along, knocking the hero for an aerial loop.
How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?
I’m an in-betweenster. My characters usually come first. I do a bit of pre-writing: finding pictures of my hero and heroine, choosing their names, figuring out the internal conflicts, etc. I keep all of this information in a project notebook. For the last three or four books that I’ve written, I’ve made collages. This is an awesome activity and really stimulates the subconscious brain.
What was the most unusual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’
One day, when my husband and I were driving back from his dad’s, we were on the freeway. A man on a motorcycle passed us. He had a small girl riding behind him. That got my brain to playing what-ifs all the way home. Who was this guy? Where was the mom? I knew there was story there, and sure enough, I wrote it. Right now, it’s sitting on an editor’s desk (or in her inbox), and I’m waiting to hear back on it.
If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?
I would love to meet Georgette Heyer. She was the Queen of Regency Romance. Even though I write Western Contemporary, Regencies hold a special place in my heart. The way she handled characterization and setting and plot was awesome. Her books are dense and rich; not a lot of white space. I’ve read her Regencies countless times. They are my “comfort” reads. Most of my copies of her books are over fifty years old and are literally falling apart.
Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
HER RELUCTANT RANCHER is my first published book, and this is my first interview. Most of my reviews have been good. It’s exciting to know people are actually reading and enjoying my book.
“This is the first book I have read by Ms. Novark but it will not be my last. Her characters are strong and passionate and she takes the reader along for an emotional ride through her story!”
“HER RELUCTANT RANCHER adds a new spin on reluctant romances that form after a death in the family… It is very refreshing that marriage between Beth and Trevor was not a requirement of the will… Trevor and Beth find passion in this delightful story of regrets, love, and family.”
Read the full reviews on my website: www.annemarienovark.com.
What is your all time favorite book?
Gosh, I have so many favorite books. Like I mentioned before, my comfort reads are the Regencies written by Georgette Heyer. It’s very difficult to say which one is my absolute favorite. I guess if I have to choose, I’d say A CIVIL CONTRACT. It makes me cry every time I read it.
How do you do research for your books? What’s the most interesting bit of research you’ve come across?
I check out books from the library—inter-library loans are fabulous. And of course, I couldn’t live without Google. The most interesting bit of research? When I found out you could own hundreds of acres of land without owning the mineral rights. That tidbit became a crucial turning point in one of my books.
What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Don’t give up. Keep writing and honing your craft. Read books on writing, take online classes, and most importantly: submit, submit, submit. If you don’t keep writing and submitting new manuscripts, you will never get published.
How do you like your fans to contact you?
Visit my website at http://www.annemarienovark.com/. Email me at am@annemarienovark.com.
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