February 1, 2008
Jaunty Interviews Anna Campbell Part II
Written by Jaunty Quills in Jaunty GuestsHow do you make your heroes so appealing to readers?
Anna: Hey, thanks, JQ! You know, at this rate, I’ll be paying for our Valentine’s date! I found Kylemore really compelling, his passion, his pain, his ability to rise out of the mire to become the man he should be. Sheene, as you know, is a completely different sort of man although equally focused on the heroine (one of the essential heroic traits!). I was worried that people would consider him weak because he’s trapped for most of the story and is definitely a victim of his history and his uncle’s evil. But to me, he was always so strong. He kept his humor and his humanity and his integrity through everything that happened to him and that to me was the essence of strength. Fortunately, the readers seem to agree with me! But I was always conscious that if the story was to work, he had to emerge as a genuine hero, if not a conventional one.
Jaunty: Your heroines have to be strong to stand up to those dark, sexy men. Does the hero or the heroine come first for you?
Anna: I’m not quite sure why, but the hero is always the heart of my story. He almost always writes more easily. His issues are always much clearer to me from the beginning. I have to work harder on the heroines but you’re right – I really like strong women. And both Grace and Verity have had to be strong to survive what they’ve been through. Not to mention what they go through in the actual story!
Jaunty: Claiming the Courtesan was a somewhat controversial book. Do you think the controversy was deserved?
Anna: Ah, the hoo-ha. I’m probably the wrong person to ask if it was deserved. You know, vested interest and all that. Clearly a lot of people took issue with the book, principally because of the forced seductions. I felt at the time and still feel that Kylemore and Verity in that situation couldn’t have acted any differently if they were to remain true to their characters. And it was a genuine controversy – the book had at least as many enthusiastic supporters as it had detractors which is what gave the whole hoo-ha legs.
Jaunty: You have your own blog with about 19 other writers. Tell us about The Romance Bandits.
Anna: JQ, my fellow Banditas are ALMOST as cool as you are! We should organize an exchange. We have our own mascot, a Golden Rooster who goes to whoever posts first. In 2006, I finaled in the Golden Heart with some absolutely wonderful women. We created such good mojo together on our loop that we decided to take it public so 20 of us set up the Romance Bandits. Four of us were published when we got going a bit over a year ago. We’re now on 11 published authors which I think is pretty impressive!
Jaunty: A rooster. Hmm…I like it.
I see you have a great contest on your website. Am I eligible to win?
Anna: I don’t see why not! I think the ARC of The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells (which I’ve read – fabuloso!) would be worth pulling out a quill and using it as a pen so you can write in. And there’s the gorgeous hardback version of Untouched too. All you have to do, JQ, is tell us which romance heroine you’d like to be. Clearly, you’d be a prickly chick like some of Jenny Crusie’s wonderful witty heroines! Just a suggestion!
Jaunty: What are you working on now? When can we expect the next Anna Campbell book?
Anna: I’m currently working on my fourth Regency noir, which I think will have a similar feeling to Untouched. Definitely another unusual hero but one I hope readers will take to their hearts. It’s a runaway heiress story – at last a virginal heroine
Jaunty: Anna! I don’t prod in public!
Last question, and this is really important. What are my chances in the presidential election? Would you vote for me?
Anna: JQ, I would ABSOLUTELY vote for you! I’m guessing you’re running on a platform of margaritas for all and safe crossing zones across highways for porcupines! Worthy causes, both!
Jaunty: Thanks for blogging with us, Anna!
Anna: JQ, I’ve had a fabulous time finally meeting you. I was too shy to talk to someone of your extreme coolness before this! Wonderful questions! And thank you to your support staff
Jaunty: Anna will be around today answering questions, so ask away! One reader who comments will win a signed copy of the Australian edition of Untouched. This is a trade paperback and Margo says it’s absolutely gorgeous. Seriously pretty.
So what are you waiting for? Comment!
4:49 am | Share This
Jane Says:
Hi Anna,
What is it about tortured heroes that makes them so attractive to us readers and the heroine and why are you torturing us by making us wait so long for your next book?
Vanessa Says:
Hey, what a fun post, Anna and JQ! Glad to hear you got away from the incontinent dog.
I totally understand Jane’s eagerness to read your next book, Anna. I usually rip through your novels in about 24 hours. At least I can read them over and over again until the next one is unleashed.
Shana Says:
Welcome, Anna! We are thrilled to have you here!
RobynDeHart Says:
Oh, Anna, thanks for putting up with Jaunty, he can be such a pill. Nonetheless he does bring us the best interviews. So thanks for joining us.
brownone Says:
Hi Anna, great to see you over here today!
The interview was great! Loved “Claiming the Courtesan”..can’t wait to read “Untouched”. Your covers are so beautiful. I love the colors.
Serenissima Says:
Hi Anna!
Nice to see you here today. As I just adore your both books, I am so eager to know more about TEMPT THE DEVIL! Could you please tell us a tiny bit about it. I just can´t wait a whole year…
Serenissima
Michele Gardner Says:
Hi Anna, How much older are the h/h going to be in this book? And you say she is virginal? Hmmmm. I cant wait to see what you got. You know I love your books. Youve got me very curious now. I love the title too.
AndreaW Says:
Anna!!! I hope Jaunty treated you well during the interview.
You know I loved both CTC and UNTOUCHED. You are a brilliant new talent and I look forward to anything you write. I will think positive and hope that TTD is released this year.
ellie Says:
Welcome Anna. Your books are delightful and unique. I love the striking covers that depict the novel perfectly.
ladydawgfan Says:
I also loved both CTC and Untouched!!! Please, please, pretty please (humble begging going on here!) tell us more about Tempt the Devil!!! I’m keeping positive that it will come out this year. I don’t think I can wait until next year get my Anna Campbell fix!!!
Anna Campbell Says:
Hi Jane! What an interesting question. Why do you think people love tortured heroes? I’m not really sure. Is it because women fantasize about redeeming someone who seems irredeemable? Is it because people who like those books have a Florence Nightingale complex? I know when I read a good romance, I identify with both the hero and the heroine - perhaps we enjoy living through all those deep emotions vicariously. Perhaps it’s because all that pain generally leads to a really meaty internal conflict between the hero and heroine and that’s what makes a compelling story. Ooh, I’ll have to think! Hey, I thanks for saying I’m torturing you with the break between books! I need to stay in practice for the heroes and heroines! Sadly, you heard it here first, folks, but I’m slow as a wet week! I asked JQ to prod me to more productivity but he blushed!
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, Vanessa, lovely to see you! Oh, man, the incontinent dog! He gave me nightmares. I think I’m wildlife, not domesticated, so housekeeping just wasn’t me! Poor thing was so pretty too - a purebred white Highland terrier called Snowflake. Well, he definitely left wet puddles everywhere! Thanks for saying that about re-reading the books! Awwww!
Anna Campbell Says:
Shana, thanks for inviting me here. I love your blog. That porcupine with the mask? I think we’re going to kidnap him and take him over to the Bandits. Sorry, Golden Rooster, but you’ve got SERIOUS (or perhaps not THAT serious) competition in the cool stakes! And I’ve got a date for Valentine’s now! I remember hearing a comedy sketch once where a desperate woman started out looking for the ideal man and ended up saying she’d take a mammal with a job. Hey, I think I hit the jackpot!
Jaunty, I use the word mammal in its completely unprejudicial sense!
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, Robyn, don’t diss my date! He can be a bit prickly - groan! Thanks for inviting me here. You girls have such wonderful fun!
Brownone, hello! Lovely to see so many familiar faces, well, names, well, pseudonyms! So glad you enjoyed CTC. You’re right about the covers - I love that they’re so distinctive. The next one will probably be a very deep, velvety, crimson red - gorgeous and so sexy! I wonder what will happen when we run out of these lovely, dark, sexy colors. I can’t really see a Regency noir coming out in lime green, can you?
Anna Campbell Says:
Hi Serenissima! Hey, another old buddy! Well, not old! No, sirree!
Do you call dogs Snowflake in Finland? I mean, come on, no wonder the poor pooch was disturbed! If you’re a man, you want to be BUTCH or HENRY or KILLER!
Tempt the Devil is the hottest book I’ve ever written. JQ, you’re definitely too young to read it!
The sex scenes in many ways ARE the story although it’s definitely a romance and not erotica. My heroine is a courtesan (aka tortured heroine number 3) and my hero (aka tortured hero number 3 - see, they’re already made for each other?)is a widower and a notorious rake who returns to London for his daughter’s wedding, hoping to reconcile with his estranged family. Of course, when he falls in love with the most scandalous woman in town, it puts all of that in jeopardy. Neither of these characters wants to fall in love - love threatens everything they hold dear and which keeps them safe. But of course, they can’t help it! 
The Affair to Remember connection is a bit obscure - there’s certainly no Empire State Building and my heroine doesn’t have an accident and want to turn the boat around. But one day I was watching that film (it was my mother’s favorite so I’ve seen it more times than I can count) and I thought about how those two characters use wit to keep the world at bay. One thing I really enjoyed about writing this book is that there’s a lot of banter between them because that’s their defense mechanism. Oh, and Verity and Kylemore make a very brief appearance. I had so much mail asking me what happened once they got married (which was lovely - I had no idea that one of the nicest things about this gig would be people emailing me and saying how much they loved the books. Never think authors don’t appreciate readers contacting them!). And I was kinda curious myself - there was that question on was Verity pregnant at the end of CTC, for a start.
Oh, dear, that was a long answer. JQ is snoring in the corner. Hey, wake up, porcupine!
Anna Campbell Says:
Michele, the hero and heroine of Tempt the Devil are the older couple - she’s 31 and he’s 38. It was interesting working with a more cynical, jaded pair, completely different dynamic from the other books. CTC, they were 27 and 28 (and she was the older one) and Untouched, they were both 25. The virginal heroine is for the as yet untitle fourth book which is gradually making its way into the world. Both of those characters are young again. Hey, thanks for saying you love my books! Mwah!
Anna Campbell Says:
Andrea, there’s been a bit of a schedule change at Avon and I think if it is this year, it will be right at the end of this year. Sorry! Hey, a tortured hero for Christmas, and I’m not talking about Santa in pants too tight for him! Thanks so much for those lovely compliments. But after that, we should be on a regular gig of once a year like clockwork!
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, thanks, Ellie! Hey, JQ, what are all these lovely people doing hanging out with a shady character like you? I thought I was going to get to explore the dark underbelly of porcupine romance here and everybody has been so nice!
Pam, lovely as ever to see you! Although don’t mention the ‘D’ word to my spiny friend. Did my long spiel about TTD whet your appetite? I really like my hero in this book. Oh, come on, let’s face it, I like ALL my heroes
But he’s different again to Kylemore or Matthew - he’s got quite an emotional arc to get through but at the end, man, if Olivia didn’t marry him, I would!
Beth Andrews Says:
What a wonderful interview! Anna, I hope you don’t mind but I seem to have developed a bit of a crush on your Valentine date. I adore a man…uh…mammal in a dashing mask
I’d also love to hear more about Tempt The Devil. Any tidbits you can share?
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, Beth, the mask is something else, isn’t it? I’m sitting here, it’s the middle of the night, and I just giggled like a loon when I saw the photo of JQ! I really think we should kidnap him for the Banditas, don’t you? Um, more about TTD? It’s my urban fantasy! Nearly all of it is set in London, a city I love but haven’t used yet in a story. And hey, there’s NO kidnappings involved. A real artistic leap, wouldn’t you say?
Trish Milburn Says:
Hello, Jaunties!
And great interview, Anna. A bit of advice — be careful while hugging your date on Valentine’s Day.
Have to say your summer day sounds wonderful right now. It’s sleeting on and off here this morning, it’s gray and it’s cold. I want spring!
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, Trish, my Bandita friend! Thanks for coming over - if there’s enough of us and we wear leather gloves, I still think a kidnapping is possible here, even if not in my third book! My Valentine will come in handy if I want to toast marshmallows - and a shave might make him slightly more hug-worthy too. Sorry, JQ, but it had to be said!
Christie Kelley Says:
OMG! Anna invited the bandits to come by and am now in love with porcupine. I will be back again!
I really like the first picture with the mask on him (or is it a her?). My editor has suggested that on my next cover the hero and or heroine should wear a mask because of the masked balls in my book. Can I borrow the porcupine?
Great interview, Anna! Another week or two and I will get to the green monster.
Anna Campbell Says:
Christie, hands off my porcupine! You’ll hide him under some of your renovations and I’ll never find him again!
Hey, guys, today is a special day for Christie, my fabulous Bandita buddy. It’s the official release of her debut historical romance EVERY NIGHT I’M YOURS. It sounds absolutely fantastic. http://www.christiekelley.com/
Christie, I hope you don’t mind the shameless promoing but seriously, I think spreading the words about great books is our duty, don’t you?
Excuse me! I don’t want any incontnent porcupines to go with the incontinent dogs with the wussy names. JQ is DEFINITELY A MAN!!! There’s a sixpack hidden under there somewhere!
Hey, read the green monster, gal!
Christie Kelley Says:
Anna, why would I mind any shameless promotion? Promote away!
The green monster is still taunting me from my TBR pile. I’m starting to see light at the end of the never ending book.
Teresa W. Says:
Glad to see you here today Anna and I enjoyed the interview!
Jo Robertson Says:
Wow, JQ, great interview questions! The rapport between you two is very clever. Thanks for the entertainment.
Hi, Anna, popping over from Romance Bandits to wave hello. Thanks for plugging us. We do so love our Golden Rooster, but I’m sure he isn’t nearly as cool as the JQ!
You know, of course, that I adore your books, Anna. Since YOU didn’t mention your strengths, I will. You have an amazingly broad, yet not supercilious, range of diction. I’m never bored by your historical details as they’re woven so seamlessly into the story. And your dialogue — ooh la la, very nice.
I adore your heroes. Very three-dimensional, complex, and often surprising in their emotional range.
Aunty Cindy Says:
(another Bandita swings in with bucket boots, mask, and rapier)
Yes, JQ when you invite one Bandita, you get an invasion! Just ask the folks at RomanceNovel TV where we’ve been plundering and pillaging for two weeks. Hope you will return the favor and visit us, JQ. But no needling our rooster. (Groan! Anna and her puns have rubbed off on me.)
Seriously, if anyone has yet to read UNTOUCHED, run, don’t walk to the nearest bookstore! It’s a fabulous read that had me blubbering all over the cruise ship where I read it.
Great interview! Great site! Great mascot!
AC
the exclamation point queen
Michele Gardner Says:
Aww Anna you know I do. and 31 and 38 isnt that old. Im around that age so IM YOUNGGGGGG…
But the hero is older than the heroine right? I just cant seem to get over the older woman thing, call it the way I grew up I just cant see it. But I know it does happen. Mydaughters bff mom is 42 and married a guy who is 29. So its not that far fetched. Im also glad you clarified for me about the virginal thing I was confused because I read the cynical thing then that and thought how can you have a cynical virgin? That can happen in certain aspects but love I dont know. LOL..I cant wait, and Hope you name the untitled one soon so we can be teased some more.
Sophia Nash Says:
Hi Anna,
I loved your “Interview with a Porcupine.” And I wanted to thank you for writing such a lovely, lovely book - Untouched. The passion & longing was stupendous!
I can’t wait for your next story…OK, here is my “writerly” question: When you write, do you write a first draft in one long gory segement in time without looking back - or do you write a portion and then continually modify segements as you keep writing slowly forward?
Best,
Sophia, on a perpetual quest to find the easiest way to write!
Maureen Says:
Hi Anna!
I enjoyed your interview. I’m wondering if you would ever write something other than an historical romance?
Anna Campbell Says:
Christine, I hope after all this, you enjoy the green monster!
Teresa, thanks for popping by and reading the interview. JQ asked some great questions, didn’t he? One might even say he has a SHARP intelligence.
Hey, Jo, lovely to see you. Especially as you say such wonderful things about my books. It’s interesting what people pick up on with a writer, isn’t it? Mind you, I LOVE your selection! I really try hard with the history and then I try and make it as everyday as I can - because that’s what it’s like when you live in an era. The details are just part of the fabric of your life. Glad that works for you! And dialogue? Yeah, I can talk underwater!
In fact, I HEAR my characters before anything else. Bandita Jeanne Adams did a workshop on what sort of writer are you at the last conference and it was pretty apparently pretty quickly that I was an aural writer. Love that stuff. Had slight visual tendences. But the kinetic stuff - I have to be aware that’s an area that doesn’t come naturally and go back and add the details of what they’re doing rather than saying or seeing at a later stage.
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, Aunty Cindy! Love the boots? Manolos? Thanks for those lovely words about Untouched. Loved the pun! Should be more of it!
Michele, believe me, I agree with you about 31 (her - you’re safe!) and 38 not being old but there’s a real difference in mindset between your twenties and your thirties, in my experience. And these two really have to work hard for their happy ending. Once I have the title, you’ll be the first to know!
Anna Campbell Says:
Sophia, can’t wait for your next book, The Kiss. Sorry, JQ - it’s your fault. You have such talented friends dropping by!
I’d love to know how you write too. But for me, it’s one long (and it’s always far too long) messy first draft, that I then rewrite and rewrite and rewrite. And layer and layer and layer. The event sequence usually stays the same from the first draft but I add the emotion and the richness and the flavor and often alter the characters’ emotional journey within those events - by the time I’ve spent all that time on a manuscript, I know them both a lot better at the end than I do at the beginning.
Crystal B. Says:
Hi Anna. Good to see you here.
Great interview.
Fedora Says:
Anna, boy, you’re a busy, busy woman!!!
Thanks for making the time to give us readers all this good scoop on your books and characters. And then go back and write!! Must have new books!!!
Anne Mallory Says:
Glad to have you here, Anna!
Anna Campbell Says:
Maureen, what an interesting question. I’m hoping I don’t have to as I love writing historicals. Having said that, though, not all historicals have to be Regencies! In my pre-published days, I tried really hard to write Harlequins but I found telling an emotionally compelling story within that space really didn’t suit my style. I take my hat off to people who can do that - the writing skill it takes to pull off one of those short books is enormous. In fact, I don’t really think I have a terrifically contemporary voice and I love the larger than life qualities I can bring to a historical. If the historical market really, REALLY died, I think I’d cry, first of all, then maybe consider writing paranormals based on fairytale or mythological themes. But I’m hoping that historicals have a long and happy life and Anna Campbell gets to share it
Anna Campbell Says:
Crystal, thanks for the welcome. I love it over here. The JQs seem to share my rather silly sense of humor
Fedora, goodness, you’re everywhere! I promise faithfully to get you a new book, cross my heart and hope to die!
Anne, you were a fantastic guest on the Banditas. I hope you’re going to come back and see us sometime. And bring JQ. I hear you’re responsible for his spectacular wardrobe. Thanks for the wonderful welcome!
Dorothy Says:
Hello Anna. What a wonderful interview. Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to your future releases and I do have to agree that the covers of your books are just gorgeous.
catslady Says:
Really enjoyed the interview but I have to say what absolutely gorgeous covers you have. Normally I don’t pay a lot of attention but these really draw you to them and then of course once I had it in my hands I would just have to buy it - historicals have always been my first love. Thanks.
Anna Campbell Says:
Hi Dorothy! Thanks for that. I’m going to put the new cover up on the website in a couple of months, once I’ve got the official version. The interim version, though, is seriously spectacular. Yes, JQ, I know I’m a tease!
Hi Catslady! Another Bandita regular! I’m feeling right at home! My books have quite a gothic feel to them and I think the solid, moody colors on the covers really suit that. And they certainly take your eyes from across a room which is fantastic for a new author! The Australian versions are in trade paperback format which means they’re much bigger and yummy, yummy, they sure are purty!
Christine Wells Says:
Hi Anna!! Hi Jaunty and the Quillettes. Love your work!
What a great interview. You know, at the Bandits, all our Golden Rooster does is trip around the world and get treated like a prince. We ought to make him work harder.
Thanks for mentioning our contest, Anna. The answers we’ve had so far have been great but we’d love to have more. It’s so interesting to know why readers want to be a particular character.
And yes, please do write faster, Anna. I’ve read Tempt the Devil in manuscript form and it’s fantastic, so I’m tonguing (as you would say
) for your next magnificent Regency noir.
I’m interested that you generally identify with your heroes more because your heroines are always fully realized and three-dimensional as well and have their own problems to sort through. They’re not there just to provide the love of a good woman
. A writing question–I’ve heard you say you miss the diversity in setting in historicals. If your editor asked you to change setting or time period or both, what would you choose?
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, Christine, thanks for saying that about Tempt the Devil. I like to think I get my heroines fully fleshed out (hmm, more chocolate perhaps?) by the end. But they definitely seem to go through more stages in the process than my heroes. I think each particular story presents its own challenges, though. The problems haven’t been the same with any of them so far. Oh, well, I’d hate to be bored
Oh, yes, do promo our contest. There’s some fantastic prizes. Your ARC for the Dangerous Duke for a start. That’s such a great story. You can find details on either Christine’s website http://www.christine-wells.com or mine. It closes end of February.
Anna Campbell Says:
Christine, what an interesting question about other times and places for historicals. Mind you, I’m VERY happy in Regency Britain at the moment. It’s funny that I resisted writing Regencies for so long! Not quite sure why, but I did. I find a lot of historical periods fascinating - I have a book under the bed featuring a Hungarian Prince in the 18th century Hapsburg empire. I also have a book under the bed featuring an Elizabethan spy in Renaissance Italy. And an industrialist in late 19th century Australia. When I started writing historicals, I did medievals (all completely unreadable). There’s something about the drama and power of life during the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages that calls to me so I suspect if suddenly Regencies fell completely out of favor, that’s a possibility. Would love to write a Viking book one day! I’d love to do stories set in the wider flung areas of the British Empire - I think because Australia is a product of that wave of history, it’s always interested me. All this stuff is a pipe dream, though. Slightly more realistically, I think one day I might write a Victorian or two so I can pick up on the next generation of some of my characters.
Christine Wells Says:
You make me want to read all these books! Maybe one day it will happen. In the meantime, I doubt the Regency era will ever go out of fashion.
And that sounds like a great idea to continue the stories of your second generation characters, especially when they’ll have such interesting parents. I imagine the daughter or son of a duke and a courtesan would not have a simple life, for instance. And what if some people believe Matthew’s illness is hereditary? OK, I hear my editor saying I should write my own books and not start working on yours
Better stop now.
Helen Says:
Hi Anna and JQ loved the interview and you have answered all the questions I would have asked already I just can’t wait to get my hands on another one of your books love your writing CTC and Untouched are just not put downable once you start them. BTW everyone the Australian copy is beautiful I have two copies of both CTC and Untouched one from each country can never have enough Anna Campbell.
Have Fun
Helen
Anna Campbell Says:
Hey, Christine, you’ve been booked for a brainstorm session! I’ll bring the Tim Tams. Hmm, perhaps this might need something stronger? Scotch? Yeah, I must say I thought Verity and Kylemore’s kids would have a tough time which is one of the reasons she gives for not wanting to marry him. And in that social world, perfectly valid reasons too! And I think given their parents, any kids in either book aren’t going to settle for a white bread relationship, are they? But I also want you to write your books as well as mine! Snaps the whip!
Christine Wells Says:
Ouch! There is no way I could write Regency noir, Ms Campbell, so nice try but no dice.
You’ll just have to keep working, my friend.
Anna Campbell Says:
Gosh, you’re tough, Madame CW! I rather liked the idea of you setting up your desk in the corner while I drank cocktails!
Thanks for that lovely plug, Helen! And two copies of each edition? You’re my fave!!!
Anna Sugden Says:
Another Bandita swinging by in sexy boots (Giuseppe Zanotti to be precise!). Jaunty - you look very dashing in that mask. Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind about who to date? Your mask, my boots …
Anna - you know I adore your books, the powerful emotions, the deep characterisation, the awe-inspiring description. Can’t wait for your next one!
Nancy N. Says:
Hi, Anna and JQ– what a fun interview!
Anna, the older hero and heroine sound like a great twist (though I must confess I haven’t seen An Affair to Remember).
As for the rest–consider yourself prodded!
Anna Campbell Says:
JQ, listen to Anna when she talks about shoes. She’s a world expert
But don’t listen to her when she tries to steal my Valentine’s date! I know her footwear is better than mine but you’re not that shallow, are you? Are you? JQ, where are you going? JQ??!!! Whaaaaahhhh! I knew I should have changed out of the fluffy slippers.
Anna, lovely comments on my books. Mwah right back at ya, Bandita! Goodness, this is a mini invasion! Thanks, guys, for coming over. This is a fun site, isn’t it?
Nancy, you haven’t seen AATR? Seriously, get it out. It’s wonderful.
Rainy Says:
Hey, Anee~
What a surprise to see you in Jaunties! I’ve chatted with you before and mentioned how great it is to have the ability to connect with people worlds apart. Australia, imagine!
I find the premise of you next book totally fascinating….love for the not so young.
Is there any part of the writing process you enjoy less, like researching, rewriting, whatever? Do you outline when you write or since your characters are so well-developed, do you let them run with the plot?
And writing aside, do you live in the country or in the city? I guess I’m still intrigued with Australia and want to know what you see as you look out the window.
Thanks!
Anna Campbell Says:
Hi Rainy! Lovely to see you again too! You’re right - it is amazing to think how easy it is to communicate with people from all around the world, thanks to the wonders of modern technology. We’re so lucky that way.
So glad you like the sound of my older, sophisticated characters coming up against love, the immovable object!
I tend to start with the characters and I know the book is taking off when they take charge and take over the story. I generally have a vague idea of where the plot will go but each incident emerges out of the previous incident - I like to think of it as ‘organic’ writing! And it’s interesting - the characters I think I have at the start of the book are often quite different to the ones who emerge in the final product. It’s a very interesting process and when it’s going well, I really do feel like an observer to the whole thing! Don’t know where a lot of this stuff comes from!
I live in a seaside town on the east coast of Australia in Queensland. It’s full of retirees which makes me think it’s probably rather like Florida. It’s very pretty and very quiet which is great for a writer and I find the proximity to the water very inspirational. When I look out the window (at the moment, it’s pouring rain!), I see my front garden which I love because it’s full of native wildlife. I have quite a lot of lizards and the birdlife is fantastic. Parrots and waterbirds and magpies and willy wagtails and peewees among others. JQ would love it here as long as he promised not to eat the residents of the garden!
Annie West Says:
Hi Anna,
Just had to pop in and see how you got on with Jaunty. Great interview.
I’m so looking forward to your next book. It sounds like it’s going to be a ripper. Hm, a virginal heroine - are you having fun writing that? Have loved your books so far, as you know, and the promise of a new one coming is terrific.
Annie
Anna Campbell Says:
It’s interesting and rather different to write a virginal heroine. So far I’m really enjoying her as she’s pretty smart. Love a smart heroine! Annie, lovely to see you as ever!
Anna Campbell Says:
JQ and friends, thank you so much for having me as a guest in your cave today. I’ve had a wonderful time and we’ve talked about some really interesting stuff!
Porcupines forever!
Anna x
Haven Rich Says:
Oh wow, what an awesome interview Anna. Then again Jaunty is always great at this :D.
Great to see you again Anna
*ps. I almost slipped with the name there lol*
Anna Campbell Says:
Hiya Haven! Eeek! Don’t blow my cover, girlfriend!
Thanks for popping by - it was an awesome interview, wasn’t it? One of the most fun ones I’ve done, even though I’m sure I faded into the background against his wonderfulness, Monsieur Porcupine!
Serenissima Says:
Anna,
Thank you for your tidbits about TTD. The idea of a bit older couple seems very nice indeed. As I am a bit older myself,(yes unfortunately it is true
), I just love to read about people nearer my age. 
Well, I have never heared a dog named Snowflage overhere, but once I met a dog called SNOW! LOL. She was a all white dog, so I gathered the name came there… But I know that some little girls have been given name LUMI here in Finland. LUMI means SNOW in Finnish language. But I have to tell you all, that our winter here has been very unusual. We hardly have any snow to talk about and the temperatures are very mild compared to previous winters.This has been number one topic througout the season on our telly and newspapers…
It was so lovely to read all the comments. Now back to Saturday shopping.
Anna Campbell Says:
Hiya Serenissima! Hey, did you see the prize post? I think there might have been some good news on there for you. I know you’ve already got Untouched, but seriously, this thing is gorgeous. About half as big again as the US version. Congratulations!
How interesting you’re having an unusual winter. We’re having a wet summer which is actually what we’re supposed to have and very welcome after over ten years of drought. Just wish I could get my washing dry!