A special welcome this week to Anne Kane. She's an inspiration. Read on and you'll understand why I think so.
1. How long have you
been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create
characters that capture the imagination?
I’ve been telling stories so long, I don’t really remember
when I first started. I remember writing “ books as a small child – in crayon
in a scribbler. I really wish I had saved some of those early efforts. I do
have one – an autobiography I wrote when I was about eight. My parents found it
in their basement when they moved and sent it to me. I’d even illustrated it! The
grammar and structure isn’t all that bad considering my age, and the content
reminds me of all the dreams I had back then.
2. What influenced you to get published? How
long did it take? Can you tell us the name of your first published work?
Getting published was one of those overnight wonders that
took me decades. I submitted a story about a dog to a children’s magazine when
I was twelve – and I was crushed when they rejected it. It took me until my thirties
to work up my courage (and find some time!) and try again. I bought a
typewriter and pounded out a story that I submitted to Harlequin. It met with a
very quick rejection, and in hindsight it deserved it. It suffered from a
sagging middle and a definite lack of originality.
I’m not sure what prompted me to give writing another try
in 2008 – maybe just the fact that I had the time to put into a serious effort.
I read some very good books on plotting and structure, joined an on-line
critique group run by a successful author, and listened to all the advice I
could get. The result – I sold my first novella after only one rejection and by
a fluke of the publishing business it has yet to see the light of day. The
publisher who bought it Red Sage Publishing underwent a great deal of
restructuring, including adding an e-book division. The result is that story is
scheduled to release in print on July 30
th of this year. Yeah!!
I’ve since sold over 20 novelllas to
Changeling Press, and all of them are available at
www.ChangelingPress.com ,
Fictionwise.com and AllRomanceebooks.com.
3. What genre would
you like to try that you haven’t yet?
I’d love to write a straight science fiction epic. I’ve
always loved sci – fi but I’ve never
actually written one.
4. Most people envision an author’s life as
being really glamorous. What’s your take on this? Can you tell us something
unglamorous you did within the last week or so?
LOL! I am so far from glamorous, that’s funny. I live out in
the country, throw on jeans and a sweatshirt to walk my dog every morning, and
can change the oil and tune up my own motorcycle. My hobbies include hiking,
kayaking and gardening. (Read playing in the mud)
5. Plotter or
pantzer?
So far I’m a pantzer, but I just took a very interesting
online class that shows how to plot so I might give it a try with my next book.
I’m going to finish that full length novel I started two years ago (really I
am!) and I think if I plot it it might help make it more cohesive on the first
pass through. Or not. We’ll see.
6. What do you do when you’re suffering writers
block?
I write something short and totally unrelated to whatever
I’m blocked on. I came across one of those sitting on my hard drive a couple of
weeks ago, and it made my blush. I don’t blush easily, but this is way outside
my normal zone. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it. Maybe publish it under an
assumed name?
7. What would you like to share with new
writers? Any suggestions or advice?
Don’t give up, and take the advice of published authors
seriously. There’s a reason they are published, and if they are gracious enough
to give you some pointers, be happy. You have friends and family to tell you
you’re wonderful and build up your ego. Someone needs to point out the flaws in
your plot and characters. The crit group I joined in 2008 was headed by a
published author who was very blunt but also very good at what she did. I give
her a great deal of credit for my successes.
8. Looking over the
past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?
One of my novellas, Dark Kisses, was nominated for a CAPA award. I was so
thrilled to think that someone actually thought enough of my writing to
nominate it for such a prestigious award. I didn’t win, but I was in amazingly
good company. That’s the sort of thing that keeps me writing.
9. What do you enjoy
doing with your spare time, your non-writing time?
I live in the Okanagan Valley which is one of the most
beautiful places in Canada. I love to hike, and to play in the many lakes and
rivers. I own a couple of kayaks and like to take the grandkids with me on watery excursions. I also own a vintage
motorcycle and like to ride on the backroads throught the mountains. There are
so many beautiful places to visit and I find something new every time I go out.
10. If you could
invite any famous person, dead or alive, for dinner, who would it be and what
would you eat?
I’d love to have dinner with Sean Connery. I admit it. I am
shallow. Just the sound of his accent sends me swooning. As to what would I
eat, who cares? I’d be way too busy drooling to eat anyways!
11. When you
wake up in the morning, what celebrity do you most resemble?
As embarrassing as this is, does anyone remember Phyllis Diller?
Enough said! LOL!
12. What are you working on now? Can you tell us
a little about it?
I’m working on a novella about a Hellhound and a Werewolf /
Hellhound cross who both work for the Hellhounds Detective Agency. It’s a lot of fun! You see, the hellhound is a bit
of a snob and has to concede a lot of ground when she falls in love with a
half-breed. The Hellhounds is named Fury
and the working title is Hell hath no Fury.
13. Are you in love?
Have you ever been?
Currently, no. Corny as it sounds, I fell in love at the
ripe old age of 16 and got married at 18. We had 27 wonderful years together
before I lost my husband to cancer. I’m not sure I ever got over that, but I
wouldn’t trade those years for anything and I have two wonderful sons and four
wonderful grandsons. So, while I’m not currently in love I am surrounded by a
lot of love and quite happy with my life.
14. What do you hope
to achieve in life and when will you know that you have been a success?
Gosh, that one makes me think. I tend to set successive
goals for myself, so achievement is an ongoing process. I’ve been a cashier, a
welder and a cook. I got my accounting
degree at the age of 44 and was pushing 50 when I first got published. So long
as I’m happy, and always learning new things I think I consider myself a
success. There’s always something new to learn, and something different to try.
If I ever stop looking for new experiences, that’s when I’ll consider myself
old.
Anne has brought us a lovely excerpt from her book Imperial Temptation. I'm sure you'll enjoy.
Series: Mating Season
Title: Imperial
Temptation
ISBN : 978-1-60521-501-3
Genres: Paranormal, Sci–Fi, Futuristic
Themes: Shapeshifters
Release Date: July 1, 2011
Author: Anne Kane
BLURB:
Bryony
fled her bond-mate after one weekend of incredible sex. It took six long years
for Tanner to find her, and he's not about to let her out of his sight again.
When a malfunctioning ship forces them to crash land on the Black Planet, he
does everything in his power to convince her and her daughter that they belong
there with him, on the home planet of the Imperial were-panthers.
EXCERPT:
She let a
predatory smile curve the corner of her lips while she took her time sizing up
the male. His scent teased her nostrils, and she let her gaze slide over every
delectable inch of him. Thick ropes of muscle covered a wide chest that
narrowed to powerful hips and strong legs. A massive bulge at his groin left
little to the imagination.
He wanted
her. Almost as badly as she wanted him.
“Time for me
to make a discreet exit.” Caleb threw some credits on the bar before he stood
and wandered off in the direction of the pool table.
Bryony
glanced at his retreating back, grateful for his discretion. He wouldn’t stand
a chance against an Imperial Were-Panther, and he knew it. She turned her
attention back to the darkly sexy male. “I don’t believe we’ve met.” She tilted
her head to stare up into his eyes. “I’m sure I would have remembered you.”
“Tanner
Dyson.” He tipped his head in a courtly gesture that seemed out of place in a
University town bar. “We haven’t yet met in person, but the stars placed us
here to fulfill our destiny.”
Not only was
he sexy, he had the soul of a poet! Lustful anticipation danced down her spine.
“And that would be?”
A darkly
sensual smile curved those sensual lips. “I don’t think I have to explain. I’m
sure you know all about the mating rituals of our species. Come back to my
place and we can explore them together.”
Normally,
Bryony would have laughed. As pickup lines go, it had to be to be corniest one
she’d ever heard, but something in the depths of his eyes caused her to lick
her lips in anticipation. “I’d love to.”
She hopped
off the stool, and Tanner immediately circled an arm around her waist, drawing
her in close. She stared, mesmerized, while he lowered his head to capture her
lips in a soul-searing kiss that left her melting at the knees. His tongue
swept taking possession of her mouth and sending shivers of pure need sliding
along her nerves.
Melting
against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all
of the pent-up frustration of hormones raging out of control.
His arms
tightened around her, pulling her tight against his deliciously hard body. The
massive bulge at his groin pressed against her belly and sent darts of liquid
fire skittering across the surface of her skin. The kiss changed, deepened.
Became an exploration of her very being.
For the first
time since she’d come to this University town, she felt the urge to shift, to
run free and wild like she had as a young kitten. Tanner’s proximity induced a
palpable feeling of power in her, of connection to a larger whole. Her innate
sense of caution deserted her as she threw everything she was, everything she
longed for, into the kiss.
And now, for a little something about this lovely lady:
Anne Kane
lives in the beautiful Okanagan
Valley with a bouncy Jack
Russell terrier, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She
spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the
effort. She started writing romance, and her fate was sealed when Changeling
Press accepted her first submission. She hopes you enjoy the characters that
escape from her imagination and the worlds they choose to inhabit.
Her hobbies,
when she’s not playing with the characters in her stories, include kayaking, hiking, motorcycles,
swimming, skating, karate, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.
You can find Anne online at:
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