Interview

Hi Anna and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at

RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about

your current projects?

 

Thank you so much for the opportunity, Brooke. I'm glad to be able to share my topsy-turvy wonderful writer's life with everyone. I fear I may need to write a book to tell about all my current projects. But I do have two favorites I'm working on.

 

Going through my delightful whip-yielding critique partner is my Romantic Suspense novel UNDERCOVER LOVE. This will be my first novel length but definitely not my last. It is slated for release with Midnight Showcase early next year. I feel like this is my baby. I'm very proud of the way the characters have grown over the book and I have two follow-ups planned to tell the stories of two support character couples. I'd describe Undercover Love to be more sensual, toned down from my other works, but still plenty of sizzle. I have quite a few digest stories coming next year as well, and some of my current digest stories will appear in ebook single titles at MS.

 

Next year sees my launch into mainstream. FINDING NATASHA is neither a romance nor erotic, but it is a very emotionally exhausting story to write. This novel is based on the sex slave trade happening right now in Turkey. All Russian ladies taken into the trade are referred to as 'Natasha' so it seemed a perfect name for my lead. It shows a woman's desperation to escape the sex slave life she has been forced to be in and her husband's emotional search for her. The 'Finding Natasha' title has a deeper meaning as this woman who came from the life of a mother, wife and accomplished career needs to again find herself, and discover who she is after suffering the degradation of the sex slave trade. The research has been draining at times, and the fact it still happens, and is happening is stunning. But I seriously love this work and I believe it will always stand as one of the best works I will ever write. I will pen this under the name of W.A. Hume, which all my non-romance fiction will go under.

 

When beginning a new project, what is the first thing you do:  name your characters, decide on the storyline?  Do you outline and then write, or just jump in and begin?

 

Great question, I wish I knew the answer LOL. I tell you how I do start every time. A story hook or concept will come to me. Then I like to get it started on right away, even if only one page. I write the first line, often it is this that has made me think of a story. So I always need a first line, I may change it later, and I have no problem doing that. Then I write until I need my character names. And this is where it gets funny because i cannot go any further till I have perfect name to suit the character traits I want to portray. Often I throw it out to the household and brainstorm it, something someone will say might trigger it off, and then it's like "Yes! That is perfect!".

 

Once my characters names are sorted I finish writing wherever the first burst of inspiration stops and, if I don't already have one, I brainstorm a title. Titles are tricky for me most of the time, but once I start to work one out, I absolutely must have before I can keep writing. Then I like to firmly set out the major conflict in my mind and/or on paper, so I can fuel my story to the finish.

 

What was the best piece of writing advice you've received; the one tidbit you always make sure to pass on because it was so perfect?

 

Two things changed my writing completely:

 

If it doesn't move the plot forward axe it!

In my work as an editor and mentor to many writers and wishing to be writers I tell them this and then I do a hatchet job to show them how getting bogged in backstory, or irrelevant subject matter can lead to -BORING. I go over my work and really weed out every scene that isn't integral to the plot. There has to be a reason for every action, dialogue, character that moves the story along, or gives us insight into a character.

 

Start in the action, and stay there.

No dream sequences, so backstory info-dump, no pleasant conversations about the weather, no cute writing to set up how comical the character is. Identify the main hook to the story, and the major conflict point and start there. If the Hero and Heroine are going to meet by an explosion throwing them together, start there. Don't give three chapters about what they did at home beforehand.

 

How do you end your writing day?

 

I always feel very elated at the end of a writing day and my mind is bursting with ideas. I frequently need to discipline myself to finish before I start. But if something is hammering to get on paper, I'll stop what I am doing and write a first page. Then go back. I like to finish my writing day with a pat on the back to myself. Then I like to have some family time and tell them all my secret plots they are not allowed to reveal even under torture. I'm sure they take turns as to who has to listen next, hehe. I am a very animated writer, I hoot and holler, and talk away, and have been known to happy dance when I hit the right idea. I even say, "now how can that make sense you idiot?" and "Duh! She has blonde hair back there and now it's black!" But when I'm in the 'zone' a bomb could drop beside me and I wouldn't know, I can shut off everything around me and hear nothing once I get on a roll.

 

Have you ever suffered through any computer disasters? Viruses,

crashes, spilled drinks or food splashes?

 

Lordy, Yes! Errr, all of the above. I think I have a buffet in my keyboard, and I do everything responsible computer users shouldn't. I drink there, eat there, and don't back-up as often as I should. But nothing I couldn't work my way through, and nothing fried or exploded, yet. Touch wood.

 

If you weren't an author, what other career would you have pursued?

 

Ah yes, I would be a qualified chef now and probably have my own food business. I chose to make a start on my writing career seriously instead of do two years of training to become a chef. I'd worked in the food and beverage industry from top to bottom for five years. Without a doubt, that would have been my chosen path. I still want to open my own food business and will so later on.

 

You just found out you can go anywhere without having to worry about planning. Where will you go?

 

I live in Australia. I would high-tail it straight to Texas to catch up with three wonderful ladies there I have the honor to work with at Midnight Showcase. No question at all.

 

Do you have any favorite hobbies or collections?  What is the one project you started but have never found the time to finish?

 

Hobbies- I love gardening and cooking. Gardening is probably the major one and I find I get no time right now to do any. I pretty much finish what I start so if I don't feel I can finish something, I don't start it. I have a heap of unstarted projects outside that annoy me as much as half finished ones. I like to go gem fossicking and collect a few gems and crystals.

 

Do you consider yourself to be an organized person, or do you like to have a healthy amount of chaos around you?

 

Well, can I be both? Typical me, have to have everything. Let's put it this way, inside my mind I need to be very clear about ideas and know the things I have to do are set out perfectly. I like to research things thoroughly and cover every detail before I start anything.

 

Outside of my mind is utter chaos. I have no filing system and junk is everywhere. My cleaning is overdue, and my two year old is a cyclone. But in amongst that I know where everything is. I think a lot of writers learn to turn a blind eye to cleaning etc, especially in the early years. Becoming a writer is no mean feat, it does not happen overnight and you must constantly work at it to be successful. Writers tend to have, and need, tunnel vision to get them through those first years.

 

What is this romance writer's idea of the "perfect romantic evening"?

 

Oh, now we are talking! A delicious meal, a nice cold beer, a great romantic comedy movie and a cuddle on the sofa. My man is the emotional type, so he's happy to comply. Out of home I love somewhere in nature, the beach, trees and birds or a wonderful garden hit the spot for me. A fantastic restaurant is great too.

 

How do you describe Anna Fallon?  How do Anna Fallon's family and friends describe her?

 

Myself--dedicated, hard-working, committed. Demanding at times but fair. I love my family, and love to laugh and have fun. I am proud of my achievements in writing and in life. I can't wait to get more accomplished in writing. I'm three years into my five-year plan, and ahead of schedule.

 

My family--fussy, crazy, happy, workaholic, passionate and very dependable. They know no matter what I'll be there for them, but I don't take any crap either.

 

MORE FUN...

 

The holiday season is here!  Ready or not!  What is your favorite part of this hectic, joyous time of year?

 

I love family get-togethers and leaving everything to the last minute to get ready. The tree, the wrapping, the giving, all of that. Taking time off for myself and being with those I love and also to catch up with those less fortunate and share with them. We always donate to the giving tree, and do anything else we can to help out those who's Christmas might be less than perfect for whatever reason. Mostly the being together is important.

 

What is the best appliance ever invented, and why would you defend its worth to one and all?

 

Oh, Oh, Oh...My family just all chimed in when I read this question aloud. They knew exactly what I would say. The dishwasher! In fact no one mentions that word here in case I overhear it. My dishwasher broke down and I don't have a new one yet. This has to be the very worst time of my life. I've only had one for about 12 months and I fell in love with it, literally. Now I lament and I'm writing articles to save up for a new one. So here's me all bleary-eyed up till all hours working, and my hubby says "you are working too hard" I say "But I have to work and get money for the most important thing in my life. The thing I love more than anything in the whole world."

He gets all glassy-eyed and say, "awwwww, and we appreciate it too."

And I'm like, "Not you. You idiot, the dishwasher!"

He said he should have known. *G*

 

Describe your most recent cooking disaster; the one that just wound up in the sink instead of your tummy.

 

Now with my experience in the cooking industry I should be able to say nothing. But I do tend to forget things are cooking when I'm at putie,. So the last was a very, very, burnt to the bottom of the pan pasta, not able to be saved. So it was toast and eggs for tea.

 

Name the one item in your closet that is a constant favorite...the one that always gets worn even though you might have something newer or   better?

 

I have these pink tracky-dacks. I'm not sure if you call ‘em that over there. But sweat pants or whatever. Faded pink, too short and as comfortable as my own skin. I love them, would not part with them for the world. Despite pleading from my older kids to ditch them, I still wear them proudly. Although they do refuse to go to the shops with me in them. I am the world's consummate dag.

 

 

And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

 

Potatoes. I love potatoes, cooked any way. Roasted with gravy, mashed, chipped, wedged, boiled, in jackets, Idaho, scalloped, potato bake, potato salad, feed me potatoes and I am happy! Feel hungry now.

 

And, I’m hungry right along with you!   I LOVE potatoes, too!   Thank you, Anna, for spending time with us…it has been a lot of fun.   Continued good luck with your writing in the future!

By Brooke Wills

Romance Junkies Publishing Editor

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