1. What would readers be surprised to find out about you?
I
have a pilot’s license. I took flying lessons at Chicago Midway and eventually
earned both my private license and instrument rating in Chicago Center and my
complex/high-performance sign-off at Gary Regional Airport. (And I deeply
apologize to Southwest Airlines and to the tower controllers for any problems I
might have caused.)
2. Tell
us about your writing process. Do you start with an idea or a character? Do you
know what’s going to happen from the beginning or do you figure it out as you
write?
I
usually start with a problem and work out from there, creating the characters,
places, and conflicts that radiate from that central problem. For DUKES ARE
FOREVER, the problem was simple: what if a new duke was forced to take a ward
who wasn’t a child but a full-grown woman? Then, the ideas just ripple out from
that like circles in a pond. The first thing I do is sketch out the external
and internal conflicts, then I write out the basic plot and backgrounds for the
two main characters, which is usually about 2 – 3 pages long. I then start
filling in details. When I’m finished, I’ll have what I consider the “outline
draft”—about 20 single-spaced pages. Then, I start writing. And 95K words
later, I’m finished and dive into a big bowl of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream!
3. Who
gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?
Dr.
John Stratton, my college writing instructor, who told us repeatedly, “Writing
isn’t about you. You’re just the author. What matters is the reader. If you’re
not giving the reader what he or she wants, then you’re not writing.”
4. Is
there one thing you have to have when writing?
COFFEE!!!
And during the season, I keep a vase of cut flowers from my garden on the table
where I write. It’s in my sunroom, so I have wonderful views of the yard, the
wooded hill behind the house, and the creek.
5. How
did you choose the names of your characters?
For DUKES
ARE FOREVER, I picked Katherine because I’ve always loved that name. It’s
feminine and classic but also strong, and the nicknames for it are perfect for
reflecting different parts of her personality: the nickname Kate sounds so fiery
and no-nonsense, but when the servants call her Katie, there’s affection and
love in it. As for Edward…well, when I pictured him in my mind, he just LOOKED
like an Edward. Aunt Augusta because she could ONLY be an Augusta. Edward’s
brother Stephen was named after King Stephen.
6. How
has music played a role in your life and in your writing?
I
love all kinds of jazz and symphonic music, and I always have music playing in
the background while I’m writing. What I listen when I write, however, depends
on the type of writing task I’m working on that day…music to set the mood.
7. When
was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?
I
was in third grade, and we were supposed to write a paragraph about an
everyday. I don’t know why, but I wrote about a hammer owned by President Jimmy
Carter and the story of that hammer’s life…from the hammer’s first-person POV!
My teacher read it to the entire class and gave it a place of honor on the
board for the upcoming parent-teacher conferences. At that point, I was hooked.
I had a talent for writing, and the praise was addictive. I started writing
then, filling spiral Mead notebooks by the dozen, and in my early teens I had
my first publications, contest wins, and two one-act plays staged by a local
drama club. I was hooked. I haven’t stopped writing since, although the genres
have certainly changed over the years.
8. Do
you have any favorite book boyfriends of your own?
Well,
of course Mr. Knightly from Emma! But other favorites include
Sullivan Waring from Suzanne Enoch’s After the Kiss and
Sebastian Carlisle from the book I’m currently writing (and brother of Josie
Carlisle in HOW I MARRIED A MARQUESS). And although he’s a
based-on-a-book-TV boyfriend, I’m desperately in love with Ross Poldark from
Masterpiece’s Poldark series.
9. What
are five books on your night stand/bookshelf?
Georgette Heyer’s Regency World by Jennifer Kloester, The Groucho
Letters by Groucho Marx, Cottage Living, Catch-22,
and a book by whatever Regency romance writer I’m currently reading.
10. What’s
your favorite quote or scene from your book?
My
favorite bit occurs when Kate tries to explain to Edward why he’s the type of
man not used to being told No, only to dig herself deeper into
embarrassment. The attraction between them sizzles, so do the back-and-forth
barbs and Edward’s cool as he rakishly lets out just enough rope for to hang
herself. (But I also like the running joke about the boy’s breeches she wears.)
11. If
your couple’s relationship had a theme song, what would it be?
“Good
Things” by the Bodeans
12. Tell
us about the cover process. Is this what you had in mind?
I
love that she’s holding a rose in her hand! I have a rose bush in my garden
that exact same shade. It’s a David Austin rose called Grace, and it’s the
pride of my garden.
13. If
your book was being made into a movie, who would you include in your dream
cast?
For
Kate, I’d pick Amy Adams—she has the red hair and the feistiness but can still
portray a feminine vulnerability that Kate has. For Edward, Aidan Turner. For
Aunt Augusta I always picture the stepmother from Walt Disney’s Cinderella—Augusta
isn’t evil, of course, but she had that same regal, imperial bearing as the
stepmother…but I’d settle for Dame Judi Dench. J
14. Where
do you find inspiration for you writing? Do you use real people/places as a
foundation?
Creating
atmosphere is important, so I try to I use real places where I’ve been for the
settings. Because my novels are set in Regency England, and I lived in London
during college, I’m fortunate to have first-hand experience with the atmosphere
of the city, the look of the countryside, and the wonderful people who live
there. I’ll often find a house or building which strikes me, and then the story
might take off from there. I don’t use real people as models for the
characters, but the characters seen to evolve organically from the places.
15. Do
you have any hobbies or activities that you enjoy outside of writing?
During
the past two years, since I’ve moved into my new house, I’ve taken up
gardening, and I love working outside in the beds, especially with the roses.
I’ve planted all kinds of trees, azaleas, hydrangeas, roses, and even
blueberries and strawberries. I also love to travel and visit every museum and
tourist trap I can, and I like dreaming that someday I might also take a
photography class or two so I can take better pictures. I also love to hike and
go trekking by all kinds of means—I’ve been pony trekking in Wales and elephant
trekking in Thailand, and I’ve love to go camel trekking in Morocco. I love
history and archeology, and I love visiting ancient ruins and new cultures all
over the world.
16. Would
the 10 year-old version of yourself kick your butt or praise you for what you've
accomplished in life?
The
10 year-old version of me would say, “Well, this life is exactly what we
planned, teaching and writing and experiencing adventures all over the
world…minus the pony.”
About DUKES ARE FOREVER
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE
Battlefields
and barrooms hold much more interest for Edward Westover, Duke of Strathmore,
than a little girl's fondness for dolls and lace. When he takes possession of
his enemy's estate, everything that villain held dear-including his
daughter-belongs to Edward. Hire a governess, arrange a dowry, give a few
reassurances, and be off on his way-that's Edward's plan. But he's in for the
shock of his life. For his new ward is a beautiful, impetuous, and utterly
irresistible woman . . .
. . . AND WAR
Kate
Benton is stunned. Who is this arrogant, infuriating man who's invited himself
into her home and taken over her life? Her vow
: to do everything in her power
to convince him to leave her-and Brambly House-alone. Yet as chilly days melt
into sultry nights, Kate sees glimpses of kindness underneath Edward's cool
façade . . . and a passionate nature that takes her breath away. There's so
much she doesn't know about this man. But does she dare trust this devilish
duke with her heart?
Excerpt
from Duke Are Forever:
Purchase Links:
About Anna Harrington
Anna
is an English professor in Chattanooga Tennessee and a lover of all things
chocolate and coffee. She's a member of RWA and when she's not hard at work
writing her next book or planning her next series, she's watching BBC and
piloting her own aircrafts.
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