So far, giving interviews is a lot of fun. Here’s hoping it stays that way, and I can continue to make them enjoyable for the readers! 
I stopped by Christine Young – Romance Writer this week for a chat about writing and sharing an excerpt from Making Friends.
Don’t forget to check out the blogs I visit for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!
INTERVIEW:
- What or who inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always written, even when I was a little girl. I remember my first story about a bunny trying to cross the road. I think the bunny got hit, so it didn’t have a happy ending! But I kept my writing to myself, which a lot of writers do, until I was in my last year of high school and my Writer’s Craft teacher gave me a 49/50 on my story. It was then that I thought that maybe this was something I was good at, as well as being something that I loved to do. I’ll never forget Mr. Clarke for giving me that push.
- How did you come up with ideas for your books?
Honestly, I have no idea. They really just come to me, usually in the shower, or when I’m driving by myself, or when I’m running. And usually when I’m in the middle of another project.
- What expertise did you bring to your writing?
Considering what I write about, I’m not really sure how to answer that! I’ll just say I have a very active imagination and leave it at that! 😉
- As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
To keep writing until I run out of ideas. I have plans for the rest of my Adults Only series, and I want to finish the third book on my Office Plays series, which should have been finished a long time ago. And then I’d like to go back to writing something like my Husbands and Wives series. That was so much fun to write.
- If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
Jacey. Definitely Jacey, because she has so much freedom to be adventurous. But that would mean my hubby would be Dominic and I don’t think he’d go for that!
- What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
The worst is – write what you know. And get books out as quick as you can.
I don’t agree with either of those. I wrote a series about swingers, which honestly, I had no personal experience of. But I did it, and it worked out pretty well.
The best piece of advice it, hire an editor and a good one. And I think authors have to take their time with books, to make sure they are the best they can be.
- Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I usually have an idea what happens in the books, but I don’t use an outline, other than the first few chapters. I let my characters do what they like, which are often a lot different than what my idea was.
- Do you have an all time favorite book?
I should say something literary, like Pride and Prejudice. I do love Jane Austen, but I will say my all-time favourite book is by a British author named Jilly Cooper. She writes the most awesome smut! Rivals is my favourite one of her books.
- Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?
Right now I have a few project in the works; the second in the Adults Only series. It’s called Room Service and I’ll be having a few of the character from my Office Plays series visiting Morena and Lorde. I’ll head into the third book after that. But as well, I write under the name Holly Kerr and I’ve got a few things going on.
- Who is your favorite actor and actress?
Good question. I’m a big TV/movie buff so that’s a tough question for me. For the actor, I’ll got with Harrison Ford, because I love him, and Mark Wahlberg, who I have a huge crush on! And for actress, I’m going to say Tea Leoni, because I love her in Madam Secretary, and I also have a bit of a girl crush on her!
- What is your favorite reality show?
Survivor. It’s been going on for years and it’s still so, so good!
- Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series.
I really like writing a series. It’s fun to keep peeling back layers of the characters, finding out more and more about them. You start out with a character and you think you know them, but as the books get going, you find out more about them. But it is hard to keep it fresh, to keep each book different and separate. Plus, I find it hard to write the second books. I always find the second book in a series is my least favourite! It’s a lot of pressure!
- Anything else you might want to add?
I want to say thank you for featuring me. It’s been fun!
Anna Ellis 