Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Guest Author Day with Annie Seaton/Contest


Contest Information: Copy of Holiday Affair supplied by Annie Seaton. Annie will pick the best answer to the question left as a comment:
Where would you go for a holiday if you could pick anywhere in the world…and why?

How long did it take to write the story? From the day you came up with the idea to the very last day of writing.

The idea for Holiday Affair has been buzzing around in the depths of my writing mind for several years, however career and family took up most of my time and it wasn’t until I finally started writing last year that it finally became a book. I retired from my full time career and put ’fingers to keyboard’. Last June, I participated in ‘50k in 30 days’ and  wrote in nightly sprints in the RWA (Australia) chat room. Holiday Affair was finally written in thirty days!

Tell us about your latest release/Upcoming release.

Holiday Affair was my debut published novel, yet it was the second one contracted. (Two different e-publishers)
Winter of the Passion Flower is a steampunk novella I had written before Holiday Affair and I had the unusual experience of having my first two published novels hit on line book sellers within 6 hours of each other!

What made you want to write?
I have wanted to write my own stories since the day I started to read. I grew up on a reading diet of L.M Montgomery and Famous Five, Nancy Drew and Donna Parker before I switched to historical romance in my teens. My first novel was written when I was eleven years old!

I was a child who always carried a book or two no matter what I was doing. (Now I carry my kindle with me everywhere!)
Several of my favorite books were confiscated in school lessons by my teachers. They had no understanding of my capacity to read while I was doing my schoolwork!

My love of writing developed further in "composition" classes during primary school and continued throughout the completion of an English and History degree.

What authors do enjoy reading in your downtime?
I have wide ranging reading tastes.
I love a good British crime novel-Peter Robinson, Val McDemid, Ian Rankin and Elizabeth George.
I devour Nora Roberts and JD Robb as soon as there is a new book out.
 For fun, I read Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate Steampunk series. Hilarious!


How important is the beginning chapter - the opening - the first few lines?

The first few lines must engage the reader. I also play with my first chapter and rearrange until the most exciting thing moves to the first paragraph. Readers must be ‘hooked’ immediately and must want to read on…and on...and on.

In what order do you write? For example starting beginning to end, combining parts, in random order or in development cycle?

My characters lead me through the book from beginning to end. I revisit the preceding chapter each morning, when I go to write the next one and polish it and refine it, before I start on the next. By the time I get to the last chapter, the book is in pretty good shape.

You are called upon, at a school, to tell those interested in becoming an author, all the ins and outs of good writing skills and getting published. What are the three important elements in writing, publishing and promoting that you would give them?

To be a successful writer, you must be an avid reader.
Write about what you know and love.
Establish a social networking presence before you are published.


Do you plot out each chapter? Or are you a seat of the pants writer?

Absolutely a seat of the pants writer and my characters often take me in unplanned directions and quite often surprise me! They can be very naughty sometimes. That is the half the fun of writing for me

Do you listen to music while you write? If so what are your favorites Artists and or albums?

I write in absolute quiet. The only sound that does not disturb my concentration is the sound of the ocean breaking as it drifts through my open window.


Out of all your characters which one do you identify the most with and why?

I love Lissy in Holiday Affair… she has a university career and an interest in academia which was a huge part of my life before I retired. (I now tutor part time at the local university)
She loves the ocean and sailing. The Whitsunday Islands where she meets Nick are one of my favorite holiday destinations.

Out of all your books, do you have a favorite book/character(s)? What is it about that particular book/character that you enjoy so much?

I love Wesley… he is a warlock in Blind Lust which will be published in June. He has jet black hair, dark blue eyes, a body to make you swoon, and best of all, a wicked sense of humor!

Do you have a book that you you just cringe? If so, which one is it, and why?
Not yet! And I don’t plan to.

What are your writing goals for the future?

As I have only started my full time writing career and I have had great success in being published quickly, I intend building up my back list as quickly as I can. I have currently writing four manuscripts.
The one foremost in my mind is Italian Affair, which is the story of Tom, Nick’s brother in Holiday Affair. Tom goes to Italy and this book is the story of his romance with a sex therapist!

I also intend to finish the two series I have started and complete my single title by the end of this year.
I want to write enjoyable stories that give readers the same pleasure that I have had reading my favorite authors over many years.

Now a few fun questions:

How would you describe yourself using only five words? 
Focused…happy…fulfilled…romantic…organized

If you could write a warning label for yourself as a person or an author, what would it say? 

Don’t let me obsess when I am involved in a story…or a project… or when I am organizing anything.

Do you have any guilty pleasures? 

Champagne and bubble baths! Preferably at the same time.

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you. 

I love fishing in my husband’s boat. I even bait my own hooks.


If you could go any place in the world and to any time period, what place or time period would you choose to visit?

I would go to Kenilworth Castle in the 13th century and meet John of Gaunt and Kathryn Swynford.  Their story –Katherine- is my favorite book of all time!

What is your favorite super power and why do you want it?
Superman’s Super Speed… so I could get everything done now!



Holiday Affair by Annie Seaton
Entangled Publishing

Staid professor Lissy McIntyre believes that choosing a mate should be based on common sense, not runaway passion. And she would certainly never pick a rolling stone like Nick Richards for long-term love. But a red-hot, tropical romance? Oh, yeah. He’s got a body just made for sinning and his sizzling kisses leave her senseless.

When Nick blows into town, he’s stunned to discover that his no-nonsense new neighbor and co-worker is the same sultry creature he seduced for one night of forbidden island pleasure. He’s unaccustomed to staying in one place for long, but he just can’t seem to keep his hands off this multi-faceted woman. Will Nick break loyal Lissy’s heart or will she be the one woman he simply can’t walk away from?

Amazon

A little bit about me… if you want to know…

Annie Seaton lives on the edge of the south Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia. Recently retired from the world of full time work, she is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing, and had instant success! Her first two books were both published on the same day!

 She writes across genres steampunk, historical  and paranormal romance, romantic suspense but her favorite genre is contemporary romance

She lives with her own hero of many years. Their two children are now grown up and married, and two beautiful grandchildren have arrived. They share their home with "Bob" the dog and two white cats.

Annie’s working life was spent in education from early childhood through  to teaching trainee teachers at university. She has worked as librarian, teacher, technology consultant and university tutor.  She has now retired and spends her days writing down all the stories in her head.

When she is not writing she can be found in her garden or walking on the beach... or most likely on her deck overlooking the ocean, a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc in hand as the sun sets.

Annie loves hearing from readers
annieseaton26@gmail.com
Twitter @annieseaton26
Facebook:

Website

Blog
http://annieseaton.blogspot.com


5 comments:

Desere said...

I would go to Italy actually , they have the hot men,the incredible food the fast cars the gorgeous fashion and fantastic art so you see they have it all and I would be quite happy there!

Thanks for the giveaway
Desere

LyndaDunwellAuthor said...

I really enjoyed your blog today, it cheered me up as it is pouring with rain here in England! But I'm off on vacation soon and hopefully will be taking "Holiday Affair" with me. Thanks for telling us about yourself and best wishes with your next novel.

LyndaDunwellAuthor said...

I did it last September and I'll do it again any day. That's sail into New York, pass the Statue of Liberty and berth in Manhattan. The buzz of Times Square, the snazz of Fifth Avenue, the razzle-dazzle of Broadway, the art galleries, and the zest for life everywhere - Yum for a slice of the Big Apple.

DawnsReadingNook said...

Annie has chosen Desere as the winner... Italy sounds wonderful and that is where the next book is set!

Desere, please email me at love2read28@gmail.com to confirm your prize.

Congrats!

Desere said...

Oh wow thank you so much !!! Email sent !!