Anna's Blog
Exciting news
February 26th, 2010I’m over at Writer Unboxed today, blogging about some exciting news in regard to Dark Moon of Avalon. Stop by to hear the full story!
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Snow!
February 10th, 2010In case you hadn’t heard, we in DC have gotten, um, rather a lot of snow this week. More than 2 feet over the weekend, then another 10+ inches today. We lost all heat and power and were huddled in a 45 degree house for a couple of days. Though if that hadn’t happened, I would have missed out on seeing my husband and father-in-law building a fire from cardboard moving boxes on our front lawn so that we could heat water, etc. I’ll post pics when I get them from my in-laws.
And then, of course, if there hadn’t been so much snow, Bella would never have gotten the opportunity to do this:
It’s good to be three years old.
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Dark Moon of Avalon trailer
January 29th, 2010I’m over at Writer Unboxed today blogging about finding your characters’ voices.
Also, if you go over to youtube you can see the new book trailer for Dark Moon of Avalon, book 2 of Trystan and Isolde’s story. I should have mentioned it before that it’s my lovely–and talented!–mother who makes these trailers for me. Doesn’t she do a great job? Thanks, mom!
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The leaning tower of research
January 26th, 2010I get asked quite often about the amount of research I do for my books. The short answer is “a lot.” But that’s also pretty boring, so just for fun I thought I’d post a more graphic illustration. Unfortunately since I finished book 3 of Trystan and Isolde before we moved, most of my research books for the trilogy are still packed in a box in our attic. But here’s a picture of the research materials I’ve used so far on my (as yet super-secret) next project. They don’t show up too well in the picture, but those are maps spread out on the floor.
I’d guess that that tower is maybe 60% as high as it will get by the time I’m done–and it doesn’t include the several books I’ve read on my Kindle. But it gives you the general idea.
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Dark Moon of Avalon cover copy
January 21st, 2010My editor and I have been going back and forth this week working on the back cover copy for Dark Moon of Avalon. This is such a hard part of the process, I think. How to sum up a whole book in just a paragraph or two? But between my editor, me, my father (thanks, Daddy!), and my husband (thanks, hon!) I think we’ve come up with copy we’re all pretty happy with. So here it is:
She is a healer, a storyteller, a warrior. She has fought to preserve Britain’s throne. Now she faces her greatest challenge in turning bitter enemies into unlikely allies, saving the life of the man she loves . . . and healing her own heart.
Reunited after a hard-fought but tenuous victory, the young former High Queen Isolde and her friend and protector Trystan set out on a dangerous quest. Failure will mean subjugation for Britain under the evil Lord Marche and his brutal Saxon allies as well as certain death for Trystan, whose father, Marche, will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat that his estranged son represents. To save their country, and themselves, Isolde and Trystan must act as diplomats, persuading the rulers of each of the smaller kingdoms, from Ireland to Cornwall, to unite under the good King Madoc and keep Britain from the hands of a despot. On this journey, every step is fraught with treachery. Isolde will need all of her courage, and Trystan’s strength, to win the loyalty of the regional kings and unite them to fight for Britain’s survival.
Yet when Trystan at last reveals his true feelings for Isolde, a new and greater peril arises. The two become lovers. And their passion threatens not only their mission but their lives. In the face of the oncoming battle, Isolde and Trystan must reconcile their highest loyalties with their deepest desires.
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Coffee Break
January 18th, 2010I just learned about this wonderful site on the Historical Fiction Online forum where I’m a member. If you haven’t seen it yet, you have to check it out–amazing British actors reading some of the best love scenes in all literature. Does it get better than that? Because I believe in brainwashing my children early, last night Vivi and I listened to Greg Wise (Willoughby in the Emma Thompson version of Sense and Sensibility) read my absolute favorite scene from Persuasion, my absolute favorite Austen book. I’m pretty sure she enjoyed it as much as I did.
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
January 8th, 2010Everyone else out there may well have heard about this book already–but I just had to post here and say: If you haven’t read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society yet, you must–it’s such an absolutely wonderful read.
Here’s the cover copy:
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
I had heard of the book vaguely, but knew nothing about it until I picked up a copy on a whim last week. I started reading and finished a day later because I absolutely couldn’t put it down. It’s incredibly compelling, almost unbearably tragic and poignant in places–and yet warm and funny and uplifting, as well.
I was incredibly sad to finish it–not because of the ending itself, just because the reading of the story had come to an end.
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N. Gemini Sasson
December 28th, 2009Here today in another installment of Q and A’s for aspiring authors is N. Gemini Sasson. She is a fellow writer of historical fiction, happens to share my (absolutely wonderful) agent, and her Isabeau, a Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer is making the submission rounds to publishers now. She’s here to talk to us about what keeps her going during the long and often discouraging periods of waiting involved in the submission process.
Anna graciously asked me to guest blog today about what keeps me going during the submissions process. As any writer knows, there’s no telling how long it will take to get that first offer – or if it will ever come at all. While I can’t control whether the stars in the publishing world will align in my favor, I can control what I do with my time while I’m waiting to hear back from editors.
So what does keep me going? Hope. Staying busy. And most importantly, the support of friends and family.
While I’m always optimistic, so far checking my e-mail every 15 minutes has yet to yield results. So, I research, write and rewrite. That way the next project will be well under way by the time The Big News finally comes. Meanwhile, I stay busy. It’s impossible to wallow in despair while I’m engaged with life. I run, I garden and I vicariously relive my adolescence through two active teenage children.
Up until a couple of years ago, I wrote alone. Being the shy type, I didn’t belong to a writers’ group or share my stories with any close friends or family. That made the waiting (and the rejections) much, much harder to take. Since then, I’ve connected with dozens of other writers through the internet. Not only has their feedback been invaluable, but their support has buoyed my confidence. There have been times when I felt like giving up, but I didn’t because of their kind and encouraging words.
Also, I often remind myself of the story of Robert the Bruce and the spider. The tale is that it was the little creature’s persistence in building its web that inspired the Bruce to persevere through times when it seemed he could not possibly succeed. But he did. And I may yet, too. There’s always hope.
Thanks so much, Gemi! And I absolutely agree about connecting with other authors, by the way. I’ve it to be absolutely invaluable in every part of the process!
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Dating Your Characters
December 23rd, 2009Happy Holidays, everyone! I have a new post up at Writer Unboxed talking about getting to know your characters. Stop by!
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Don’t Blink
December 12th, 2009You know that song (not sure who sings it?) Don’t Blink? I heard it once and had it stuck in my head for the next solid week and a half. And now everyone reading this probably has it stuck in their head. Sorry!
But my point is, it’s true. Three months ago, my baby girl was born. She looked like this. Note the teeny, tiny little scrunched up newborn face, the wee little curled up fist, the brand-newness of her:
And then . . . then I made the mistake of blinking. And all of a sudden she looks like this: (we call this photo Jedi Vivi)
And that is, by the way a six month size suit my three month old baby is wearing because she is already so tall. I keep telling her she’s not allowed to be growing up so fast, but . . .
I just don’t think I’m getting through to her.
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