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 Mills & Boon author Annie West to the stage.
1. Describe the perfect date.
Great company, good food, lovely location (I don’t care if it’s a picnic by a river or a cosy French restaurant) and no interruptions. Sigh.
2. Which of your books are you most proud of?
Argh! So hard. Usually it’s the one I’ve just finished. But ‘proud of’ implies something extra. Maybe my first ever sheikh story The Sheikh’s Ransomed Bride. I never thought I could write a sheikh story and more or less wrote it to get my crit partner off my back because she thought I should try it. It was something very new to me and not what I’d imagined writing. I loved it! It’s a reader favourite too so I must have done something right.
3. What is the hardest thing about being a romance author?
Wondering if I’ll ever come up with a story idea and characters I love as much as my last favourite. It’s all dependent on me – no fall back position!
4. What is the best thing about being a romance author?
Being immersed in a world (and not just within the pages of the book I’m writing) that’s about the good things in life. Romance readers are so positive and ready to be pleased by a great story. Romance writers are so supportive. As for the books – I can’t think of anything more positive than a great romance.
5. Who (aside from a significant other) do you swoon over?
Unoriginal I know, but I still get a flutter inside watching Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. But researching swoon-worthy men is my job. I’m always on the lookout (and finding more)!
6. Tell us something very few people know about you.
My first job was picking grapes at a vineyard. Mud, sun, redbacks and hard yakka, but great camaraderie.
7. Describe your writing style in three words.
Writing the book is: Excitement. Panic. Relief. The actual content is: Passion. Emotion. Excitement.
Click here to buy The Sheikh’s Ransomed Bride from Booktopia,
Australia’s local bookstore
8. What is your definition of a good book?
One I just can’t put down because I’m so absorbed in that world. Love it!
9. Which author would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Impossible to choose one. Couldn’t I opt for a dinner party full of authors instead? It would be a hoot of a meal!
10. Finish this sentence: I would do anything for love, but I won’t do_____
…car maintenance. Oil, yes. Petrol and air, yes. Anything else is beyond me.
One of Annie’ West’s earliest memories is of lying tucked up in bed, drowsy after an afternoon’s adventure in the rainforest gully that was her backyard, and listening to her father read The Wind in the Willows. In her teens Annie discovered romance novels and was immediately hooked. After many attempts, getting positive feedback from editors and placings in competitions, A Mistress for the Taking was accepted for publication in December 2005. Now Annie is enjoying living her dream, writing love stories for Harlequin Mills & Boon’s Sexy line.
Comments
July 11, 2013 at 9:43 am
Hi Haylee! Hi Annie! Haylee, I’m loving these interviews and thank you so much for your support for Aussie romance authors. We’ve got some fab local talent when it comes to lurve stories, don’t we?
Annie, really enjoyed your interview. Hmm, you clearly have a BRILLIANT crit partner, LOL! As you know I’m a huge fan of your sheikh books. I don’t think anyone does those arrogant but honorable men of the desert the way you do. Great stuff! And what a treat the world has in store with your new story, IMPRISONED BY A VOW. Love the cover too!
July 11, 2013 at 9:44 am
Hi Annie,
Lovely post! I’m with you on Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. He’s the benchmark now for romance heroes, isn’t he?
July 11, 2013 at 10:01 am
Hi Melanie. I knew I’d be in good company with Colin F as Mr D. I was almost afraid to include him – thinking I should aim for someone new and exciting, but when you’re on a good thing…!
July 11, 2013 at 9:51 am
Hi Annie and waving to Haylee
Annie, I’m so glad you were talked into writing a sheikh story! Although I’ve enjoyed all the stories I’ve read of yours, your sheikh stories are my favourites. When is the next one out?
Kandy
July 11, 2013 at 10:00 am
Hi Kandy, I’m so chuffed you like my sheikh stories! ‘Imprisoned By a Vow’ (August) starts in the Middle East and has a Middle Eastern wedding but an Aussie hero. The next sheikh is in the pipeline though. I want to write him early next year.
July 11, 2013 at 10:05 am
Hi Anna. Aren’t the interviews with various authors fun? I’m always amazed at the number of talented Aussie authors we have.
Glad you enjoyed the interview. Okay, okay, I admit that having you as a crit partner is a real treat. Hm – ‘brilliant’? You said it! And your idea of my trying a sheikh story was terrific. I love writing those strongly honourable heroes who balance a fine line between old ways and modern. But then I fall for all my heroes, whether Aussie or foreign. It’s one of the joys of writing romances – delving into the love lives of appealing heroes.
July 11, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Hi Annie,
I have enjoyed all of your stories that I’ve been able to find. My only gripe is that some of the older ones are difficult/impossible to find but now, whenever you or Anna C release a new book, I pounce! Gotta make sure I don’t miss out, and I do love your sheiks. Honourable and sexy as all heck… what’s not to love!
July 11, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Hi Susanne, I’m thrilled to think of you scouting out my older releases. Most are available on ebook now, though not all. So glad you like the sheikh heroes. I always have fun writing those stories – so intense and I love the clash of cultures and attitudes.
July 11, 2013 at 7:59 pm
Hey, Annie and Haylee! I enjoyed your showcase, Annie! What fun! I did chuckle at your CP twisting your arm to get you to write a sheikh story – she was spot on, wasn’t she! You hit the ground running with that first fabulous sheikh story and kept going from there! I’m looking forward to lots more Annie West books gracing my shelves!
July 12, 2013 at 9:02 am
Hi Sharon,
I’m not sure what happened to my reply. The internet must have eaten it. Thanks for the kind words about my books. That CP is like a terrier when she gets an idea, isn’t here? But worth her weight in chocolate, I think.
July 12, 2013 at 7:31 am
Hi Annie
Great questions and answers I do so love your stories and am just about to dive into your newest one after I finish Anna Campbell’s novella. I so love falling into romance stories the journey to a HEA is always so good 🙂
Have Fun
Helen
July 12, 2013 at 8:10 am
Helen, how marvellous. I love the way you talk of ‘falling into romance stories’. That’s it precisely – falling into a story and not wanting to come out again. I hope you enjoy ‘Imprisoned by a Vow’ as much as I enjoyed writing it.
July 12, 2013 at 2:20 pm
I’m a bit behind saying hello to everyone, but lovely interview, Annie. Not so sure about Colin though. That giant one they’ve erected in the lake has kind of put me off!
July 14, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Hi Cathryn,
Isn’t that a monstrosity? What were they thinking?