Hi everybody!
Here it is, my interview with BloggerNews.net.
A.
When did you decide you wanted to become an author?
I was three, I think. It’s one of my earliest memories. I was trudging through the pages of a picture book and I thought: “Hey, I could do this. I could tell stories to other kids!” Ever since then, I’ve been telling stories in my head.
Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.
I’m really excited to celebrate the release of The Asset, my debut romance, the first book of my Wounded Warrior series. The series features strong, self-reliant heroines struggling to overcome their inner demons to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, military heroes who challenge their limits to protect the women they love.
The Asset is a gritty and suspenseful contemporary romance about a woman, fleeing from her sinister past, who must defy her fears and risk her life to care for a wounded warrior, a SEAL, running away from his uncertain future. I was inspired to write both the novel and the series by the amazing people I met while my husband was in the Navy. I wish that everybody in the world got to meet these brave souls. More specifically, my heroes and heroines are inspired by the wounded warriors coming back from the wars abroad and the incredible resilience they show every day.
What type of writer are you—the one who experiences before writing, like Hemingway, or the one who mostly daydreams and fantasizes?
What an interesting question. I’m going to say that I’m both. I’m very experiential in my approach to writing. I want to know how my characters feel in a certain setting and I actively look for opportunities to make that happen. I love to incorporate the details of places I’ve visited and experiences I’ve had. Just to give you an example, The Asset is set in Colorado, where I spend a lot of time. I love the Rocky Mountains and the diverse people that make their home among those rugged peaks. I think the experiential writer has the advantage of insight, because she or he has a greater appreciation for how it feels to stand in the character’s shoes.
Having said that, my writing brain is process oriented. I ruminate my stories both consciously and unconsciously. The stories do feel like dreams and fantasies sometimes. And yet this processing has a very practical application, because when the rumination and the dreaming are over, the story is pretty much ready to go.
Agatha Christie got her best ideas while eating green apples in the bathtub. Steven Spielberg says he gets his best ideas while driving on the highway. When do you get your best ideas and why do you think this is?
The shower, definitively the shower. Nothing like a hot, long shower to get the brain going.
From the moment you conceived the idea for the story, to the published book, how long did it take?
About two years. I wrote The Asset on a whim. It poured out. It sort of wrote itself in about three, maybe four months. Then came the editing. I was working on other projects, so I worked on it on and off for another three months. Encouraged by my editor, I fired three or four queries to test the waters. I was lucky. The queries generated some interest, including Carina Press, which was top of my list. The process slowed down while Carina considered my submission. They put a lot of time and work into their decisions, something I appreciate. Then it was done. Since the moment they accepted the manuscript for publication, the entire team has been working feverishly to get The Asset to market.
As a writer, what scares you the most?
The idea that for some terrible reason, I couldn’t write.
When writing, what themes do you feel passionate about?
The themes of the Wounded Warrior series, which also permeate The Asset, are very dear to me. I’m writing about some amazingly determined heroes and heroines. The series is not really about physical injury. It’s about the wounds we all carry deep inside, the pain we all experience as we grow, change and develop. Perhaps most importantly, the series is about the courage that it takes to face and overcome the challenges that life throws at us. Above all, the series is about hope, the resilience of true heroes, the joy that comes from the journey and love’s extraordinary healing power.
When it comes to writing, are you an early bird, or a night owl?
I belong to the night. The writer in me falls squarely into the night owl category.
As an author, what is your greatest reward?
A satisfied reader.
Do you have another book on the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?
I have four new releases this year and I’m thrilled to share the good news. The second novel of the Wounded Warrior series is coming out in August 2016, also from Carina Press. In the vein of The Asset, The Stranger is a fun, hot, sexy contemporary romance that takes place against the background of majestic Alaska. I traveled to Alaska several times in order to get this one right. I can’t wait to share The Stranger with my readers.
In addition, I have another series coming out this year, which combines the themes of the Wounded Warrior series with a higher level of heat that’s sure to please readers of erotic romance. I’m calling this one my naughty series especially written for my naughty readers. The first book of the series, At The Brink is coming from Carina Press on May 2016, followed quickly by the second novel of the series, out in November. So as you can see, I’ve got a busy year ahead.
Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?
Of course! My website is www.annadelmar.com. For direct access to my blog, you can go to http://www.annadelmar.com/blog/. Feel free to subscribe to it for the latest news and information. Also, The Asset’s first chapter is posted at http://www.annadelmar.com/pages/excerpt.html. If you like a smart, suspenseful, sexy romance, The Asset is for you.