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 Rural Romance and Mills & Boon author Barbara Hannay to the stage.
1. Describe the perfect date.
My man and I are in Rome, in a small insignificant looking back street restaurant that’s dripping with history and filled with fascinating locals who come here regularly. We’re eating gnocchi Gorgonzola and drinking vino rosso. Afterwards, we walk back to our hotel along cobblestone streets, past fountains, statues and gardens hidden behind stone walls and we stop in another little café for coffee or limoncello.
In another world, another time… in our favourite city… in love.
2. Which of your books are you most proud of?
Zoe’s Muster, my first single title, felt like a big achievement after writing forty plus category romances. I loved the chance to explore my characters in greater depth and to bring out themes like Zoe’s search for identity.
3. What is the hardest thing about being a romance author?
I think every writer of all genres probably suffers from loneliness at times. It’s a very solitary job, but the reward is getting lost in stories we love. Every day.
4. What is the best thing about being a romance author?
Without question the best thing has been the wonderful friends I’ve made among other romance writers. I cherish my connection with these warm, wise and witty women, and we have so much fun when we get together.
5. Who (aside from a significant other) do you swoon over?
Ah, well… this changes pretty regularly, but at the moment it would be Daniel Craig or a very young Ed Harris (saw him recently in a 1983 movie, The Right Stuff. OMG…).
6. Tell us something very few people know about you.
I was crazy about sport when I was young. I was either in the backyard throwing or catching or hitting a ball… of course, if I wasn’t doing that, I had my nose in a book.
7. Describe your writing style in three words.
Realistic, emotional, evocative.
Click here to buy Zoe’s Muster from Booktopia,
Australia’s local bookstore
8. What is your definition of a good book?
One that grabs me at hello and doesn’t let go, a book I hate to put down, but don’t want to finish.
9. Which author would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Jane Austen. Intelligent, witty, with a great sense of humour. And a wonderful storyteller. The perfect dinner guest.
10. Finish this sentence: I would do anything for love, but I won’t do_____
anything I knew would hurt someone else.
Barbara Hannay is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty novels published in twenty-six languages worldwide. She lives in tropical North Queensland with her husband.
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Comments
July 14, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Loved the interview, Barbara, and the sound of your romantic Italian date. I loved Zoe’s Muster — loved that it was romantic but also a bit women’s fiction-ey. I’m also looking forward to reading your new big book — Home Before Sundown.
July 14, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Barb, I love the sound of a romantic evening in Rome! You could almost lure me away from the beach with that one:)
And I adored Zoe’s Muster. Can’t wait for Home Before Sundown.
(While I’m here, extra special good wishes for Zoe’s Muster for next week’s RITA announcement – fingers crossed!)
Trishx
July 14, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Loved your dream date, Barb. Loved Zoe’s Muster, too. Can’t wait for Home Before Sundown xx Fi
July 14, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Thanks everyone for the best wishes and kind words about Zoe.
July 14, 2013 at 5:29 pm
I too love the sound of that date in Italy and I am still sports mad although these days I watch it on the TV LOL and I am looking forward to reading your new book Miracle at Bellaroo Creek which is next on my list
Have Fun
Helen
July 15, 2013 at 9:40 am
Thanks Helen. I daresay you were like me last night, on the edge of your seat watching the cricket. 🙂
I hope my Bellaroo Creek story lives up to the high standard set by Michelle Douglas in Book 1, The Cattleman’s Ready,made Family.
July 15, 2013 at 7:58 am
Lovely interview, Barbara (as one would expect from a RITA finalist). I’m so with you on Daniel Craig. Those eyes!
July 15, 2013 at 9:42 am
Yes, Cathryn. Those eyes, those cheekbones, that carefully masked vulnerability…
July 15, 2013 at 9:49 am
I have Home Before Sundown on pre-order!
Know what you mean about the younger Ed Harris! Saw a movie with him once, can’t remember the name, and the romantic sub-plot had about thirty seconds of screen time, but he nailed it completely.
July 15, 2013 at 1:10 pm
I can just imagine, Lilian. he has/had a stunning screen presence.
July 15, 2013 at 2:19 pm
And thanks for the pre-order, Lilian!!!
July 15, 2013 at 10:26 pm
Loved Zoe’s Muster and can’t wait to read Home Before Sundown 🙂
July 16, 2013 at 8:15 am
Thanks Rachael. Much appreciated.