About Anne
After doing time at Fortune 500 companies on both coasts, Anne found herself living in the suburbs of a small Midwestern city. The glamour of various cube farm jobs had worn off, so she gave up making a decent living to take Joseph Campbell’s advice and follow her bliss: writing romance. Her husband thought hot meals would come with having a Writer in Residence and has been sorely disappointed.
Anne’s first release, LIBERATING LACEY, won the Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest for unpublished authors in 2008 and the EPIC Award for Best Contemporary Erotic Romance in 2010. Three releases with Spice Briefs are forthcoming in 2010 and 2011. She is currently at work on her next novel.
FAQ:
Why romance? You have a graduate degree. Why don’t you write real books?
I write romance for four reasons. First, because love is as fluid and powerful as water: in a battle between a rock and water, the water will win. Similarly, love transforms everything and everyone it touches. I want to explore that theme. Second, because the variety within the romance genre totally rocks. In the early ‘80s I cut my romance-reading teeth on Kathleen E. Woodiwiss (elaborate historicals) and Linda Howard (fast-paced romantic suspense). I’m proud to write in a genre that happily welcomes the work of both those talented authors, and everything in between. Third, the structure of genre fiction appeals to me as a writer. I enjoy putting my own unique spin on the tried-and-true framework of a love story. I read literary fiction, but my writing mind doesn’t roll that way. Earning a graduate degree didn’t change that, either (to my intense relief). Finally, because it’s the only thing I’ve ever really wanted to do (see above re: Joseph Campbell and following your bliss). Don’t get me started on the “real books” thing.
Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere. The kernel for the manuscript currently with an editor at Harlequin came from a newspaper article on my city’s hottest bartenders. The work-in-progress sequel evolved out of two secondary characters within that story and my fascination with the themes of pride and prejudice. Reading a scene within another writer’s book got me thinking, “How would I do that?” and led to a novella that received a contract offer from an e-publisher (more on that as things evolve). Basically I mine the world around me and let it percolate in my brain.
What’s helped you the most as a writer?
I highly recommend GMC: Goal, Motivation, Conflict by Debra Dixon. I also joined my local RWA chapter and found the most amazing, supportive, funny, creative group of women who encourage all members to write and are fabulous brainstormers. My critique partner both loves my voice and points out things that don’t work. But what’s helped me the most is sitting down every day and writing. I don’t have a schedule and I’m a bit ADD, but without butt-in-chair-fingers-to-the-keyboard time, growth as a writer just won’t happen.
What do you do besides write?
My hobbies include yoga, knitting, and reading. Yoga keeps me limber after hours at the keyboard. Knitting helps me plot; working inches of stockinette stitch frees up the higher, creative brain to solve plot or characterization problems. Reading refills the well. I mostly read out of genre, lots of non-fiction. I’m also married and have a son. Neither male is able to find anything without me, so I spend part of every day locating toys, glasses, various tools, briefcase, books, keys, the cheese, etc. I’m a lackadaisical housekeeper and a point-blank bad cook. My husband is a saint.
Are you like your characters?
Thinking about this objectively, several of my characters so far have faced internal conflicts close to my heart. Otherwise, no. I’ve written several cops, a commercial mortgage broker, a bar owner/cocktail waitress, a lawyer, an architect, and a bank owner. I’ve done none of those jobs. God bless librarians, and people who are willing to answer questions about their work. My favorite way to procrastinate is to eat M&Ms while watching the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice (although I do favor Matthew Macfayden as Darcy from the Kiera Knightley version). My second favorite way is do research.
