What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
Making up
characters and bringing them to life while still dressed in my pajamas and
nursing a cup of coffee.
What genre(s) do you write?
Adult contemporary
romance, romantic suspense, young adult ghost stories and paranormal short
stories. I’m also writing a cop story
set in small-town West Texas.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
I tend to rush
to the finish. I have to slow down and
plump up.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I have to know
the ending, then it’s strictly seat of the pants!
Why do you think people should choose your books over
another author?
I like to make
people cry.
What do you hope readers take with them after reading
one of your stories?
Unforgettable
characters.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers
to grasp?
In All
For Love, I hope the reader gets the message that decisions made in
haste often have life-long consequences.
How long have you been a writer?
Since I was old
enough to string sentences together in a spiral notebook.
How much time did it take from writing your first book
to having it published?
Well, my first
book was never published. It died a slow
and painful death at the hands of zombie-dust-bunnies in the bottom drawer of
my old desk.
Twenty years
later, I got serious and published a novella.
However, I was writing and publishing short stories all along.
What other careers have you had?
Elementary
school teacher, 911 operator, waitress, radio-station secretary, freight office
supervisor, newspaper delivery girl—don’t laugh—I was able to take my kids with
me when they were small.
Do you write under more than one name? Why?
No, I have
thought about it though. Especially
since I write in more than one genre.
Are any of your characters based on real people or
events?
Oh, I always use
an amalgamation of real people and real events.
I’ve killed off my “enemies” a few times.
How would you describe yourself if you were “speed
dating” your readers?
I strive for
action and deep emotion in all my stories.
What’s something fans would find fascinating about
you?
I believe in
spirits—I’ve been visited on three separate occasions. Plus, I can wiggle my ears.
What else would you like readers to know about you or
your work?
My work is
heartfelt. It comes from the pain and
joy of living. I always try to convey
that via my characters.
What books or authors have most influenced your life?
Everything from
Black Beauty and Call of the Wild, right up through The Crystal Cave, and on
into Stephen King’s work (especially works like The Woman in the Room); books have taught me everything I need to
know about life.
How do your family and/or friends feel about your book
or writing venture in general?
My family is
very supportive. They have no
choice. I know where they live.
Where are you from?
Lamesa,
Texas
It’s a small
town surrounded by cotton fields and pumpjacks.
How do you come up with the titles?
The Muses supply
them—then the editors change them.
Has your life changed significantly since becoming a
published writer?
Yes, I have
become a slave to Internet marketing.
Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you
multi-task?
I work on
several at once. I also read several
books at the same time. I think I may
have undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder.
Either that or I just got such a late start in publishing that I’m
constantly trying to catch up . . .
When not writing, how do you relax?
I like to read,
walk two or three miles a day, go to the drive-in movies with my handsome
hubby, Dude, swim, and try out new restaurants.
We also love live music and are fortunate to be able to attend concerts
frequently. ZZ Top, Craig Chaquico, Pat
Benatar, Reckless Kelly, Bruce Springsteen, Charley Pride, Bill Cosby (okay,
he’s not a musician, but boy can he tell it like it is) those are some of the
most recent . . . I want to see George Jones; he is coming to town soon, but I
will be in Austin at the Texas Book Festival.
Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself.
I love roasted
jalapenos.
My favorite
drinks are coffee, chocolate milk, and Diet Coke (not usually all together).
My daughter,
Sara Barnard, is also an author published by 5 Prince Publishing.
I have five
grandchildren.
I once met Andre the Giant (from The Princess
Bride). He was very nice and very, very
large
Please share with us your future projects and upcoming
releases.
My next book is The Phantom Student; book two in The Phantom Series, which will be
released in October 2012. I am also at
work on Book Three, The Phantom of
Crybaby Bridge.
I have two
stories included in Campfire Tales,
an anthology of spooky stories, which will be released in September 2012.
I am finished
with my Romantic Suspense novel, Stutter
Creek. It’s fermenting.
Here is where
you can find Ann:
Thank you for having me on you blog. =)
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