Australian Romance Author Showcase with…Anne Gracie

by |July 4, 2013

As part of Australian Romance Month, Romance Specialist Haylee Nash will be interviewing one Australian Romance author per day. Much like a beauty pageant, each author will be using their charm, wit and grace (and the power of social media) to take home the Booktopia Romance Bestseller crown. Booktopia invites bestselling author of historical romance Anne Gracie to the stage.

1. Describe the perfect date.
Laughter, good wine, a man who listens as well as talks, delicious food, a walk along the beach, quiet murmurs by firelight and then. . .

2. Which of your books are you most proud of?
The Perfect Rake — I wrote it in difficult circumstances and it still makes people laugh.

3. What is the hardest thing about being a romance author?
The daily battle with the writing. Accepting that the words on the page will never quite fit the vision in my head.

4. What is the best thing about being a romance author?
The friends you make. But also, it’s amazingly cool that the kind of thing I was always getting in trouble for as a kid —making up stories and reading books late into the night – is now what I get paid for!

5. Who (aside from a significant other) do you swoon over?
I swoon easily, I’m afraid. Sean Connery (he might be old but he still has that voice), Antonio Banderas – he’s sexy and funny and oh! can he move, and Neil Oliver, a cool intelligent storyteller with a dash of Celtic wildness.

6. Tell us something very few people know about you.
I’m a brilliant housekeeper — actually nobody knows that about me. 😉
I keep bees.

7. Describe your writing style in three words.
Warm, funny, emotional.

Click here to buy The Perfect Rake from Booktopia,
Australia’s local bookstore

8. What is your definition of a good book?
One that sucks me into a fictional world where I forget everything else, and then, when I finish the book, it stays with me and I keep thinking about the story and the characters. And then I have to read it again to see how that author did it.

9. Which author would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Eva Ibbotson, because she had a fascinating life and I love her books.

10. Finish this sentence: I would do anything for love, but I won’t do_____
Ack! The answers that pop into my head are either incredibly trivial (I won’t do housework today) or deeply personal, which I won’t share. So maybe my answer is: but I won’t finish this sentence. (Hmm, but I just did. Oh well. Colour me inconsistent.)


Award-winning author Anne Gracie spent her childhood and youth on the move, thanks to her dad’s job, which took them around the world. The gypsy life taught her that humour and love are universal languages and that favorite books can take you home, wherever you are. As well as writing, Anne teaches adult literacy, flings balls for her dog, keeps bees and enjoys reading, music, cooking and her tangled garden. Anne also blogs regularly with the Word Wenches; Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, Susan Fraser King, Nicola Cornick, Cara Elliot and Joanna Bourne. Visit them at https://wordwenches.typepad.com/


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  • July 4, 2013 at 11:23 am

    I LOVE The Perfect Rake. In fact have just leant my copy to a friend who has not read any Anne Gracie books yet. Shame on her. And I’m grinning ’cause I know she’ll be hooked.
    Your answer to the first question made me think of the song – ‘I want to be loved by you… in that gorgeous smokey voice. I’m sure you know the one, Ms Gracie. But I agree. Your dinner sounds fun and has loads of promise. Might arrange one of those for myself when I go home xx Fi

    • Anne Gracie

      July 4, 2013 at 12:30 pm

      My previous comment got eaten, it seems. Trying again. Thanks Fi — I hope your friend enjoys The Perfect Rake. As for that song, I’m thinking you might mean SEDUCED, My favourite version is sung by Mary Coughlan – she has a wonderful smoky voice. It’s here, so enjoy:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h4g2g7vDRQ

    • AnneGracie

      July 4, 2013 at 1:18 pm

      Thank you, Fi — I have been trying to respond, but it keeps disappearing. I hope your friend enjoys The Perfect Rake, and that you get that lovely romantic evening when you get home.

    • July 4, 2013 at 1:38 pm

      When you’re friend is dying for more Anne Gracie, she can check out her author page here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/anne-gracie/author797.html

  • July 4, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    We will have to share Antonio Banderas, Anne! So long as I can share Sean Connery too:-)) How could I have forgotten that gorgeous accent?

    • AnneGracie

      July 4, 2013 at 1:42 pm

      Oh, well, if I must.. . I was brought up to share, but Sean? And Antonio. Sigh, all right. 😉

  • July 4, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    Thanks, Fi — I hope your friend enjoys The Perfect Rake. I’m thinking the song you mean might be Seduced, my favourite version being the Mary Coughlan one. It’s here; enjoy.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h4g2g7vDRQ

  • helensibbritt

    July 4, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    Hi Anne
    I have to say Gideon from A Perfect Rake will always be one of my most favourite heroes love the interview
    Have Fun
    Helen

    • AnneGracie

      July 4, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks, Helen, lovely of you to drop by. And so glad you like my Gideon. Thanks.

    • Tracey O'Hara

      July 4, 2013 at 2:25 pm

      I agree with Helen – even said so already. He is the perfect hero – funny, loving and loyal.

      • AnneGracie

        July 4, 2013 at 2:34 pm

        Aw, thank you galz, so sweet of you to say so.

  • July 4, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    Lol, on Q10. My mind slid straight to Meatloaf to fill in the missing word. Love the interview, Anne.

    • AnneGracie

      July 4, 2013 at 2:24 pm

      Mine, too, Kelly, but I couldn’t pinch his line. Especially since there’s no context. Thanks for popping by. And can I come to your dinner with Trish, please?

  • July 4, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    Antonia Banderas. I never got over him in Zorro! SWOOON!

    • AnneGracie

      July 4, 2013 at 4:22 pm

      Yes, he was gorgeous in Zorro. He was pretty cute in the early Almadovar Spanish movies, too, but he’s getting better looking as he ages. As do so many men, curse them. 😉

  • July 4, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    Anne, that makes several of us falling over Antonio B. Glad to see I’m in good company!

    • AnneGracie

      July 4, 2013 at 4:23 pm

      Annie, I think we’re all agreeing to share. And yes, fine company indeed.

  • July 4, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    The Perfect Rake is a fabulous book. Yes, Gideon is divine, but Prudence is a wonderful heroine.

    I really, really have to read some Eva Ibbotson. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂

    • AnneGracie

      July 5, 2013 at 12:27 am

      Michelle, you’ll love them, I think.

  • July 4, 2013 at 9:37 pm

    LOL at your thing you won’t do for love!!!!

    • AnneGracie

      July 5, 2013 at 12:26 am

      Thanks, Rachael.

  • July 4, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    Loved your answer to number 4, Anne – both the friends bit, and the “amazingly cool” bit.

    • AnneGracie

      July 5, 2013 at 9:50 am

      Thanks, Lilian. Just telling it as it is. 🙂

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