Wednesday 12 October 2011

Writing Buddy Wednesday - Anna Campbell

Anna Campbell is who I call the Queen of Regency Noir. Her books are dark, compelling, and full of forbidden romance. She is a favourite with readers and with writers alike. She debuted with her book Claiming the Courtesan, which featured as the heroine a woman who had spent years as a courtesan. Now, we see it more. Then, it was new ground. Her characters are full of anguish, and have real demons to fight.


I've known Anna via the RWAus' email loop for many years now, and each time we have met in person, I'm always astounded at her enthusiasm and positive attitude. She almost bounces along with it. We were lucky enough last year to have her as one of the speaker's as the SARA/RWAus roadshow, Romancing The Novel, where she was both informative and entertaining. If you ever get a chance to hear her speak, go for it. 

Anna works tirelessly and you can see her on Facebook early in the morning chatting away to her fans. She's a perfect ambassador for the romance writing world. 

I've read Claiming the Courtesan and Untouched, both fantastic books, with characters dealing with their demons. She does love to torture her characters.

Her latest release is Midnight's Wild Passion. Here is the blurb.

London's most notorious seducer, Nicholas Challoner lives solely for revenge…
The dashing, licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister - now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stands in the way of Nicholas's vengeance: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe's unsuspecting daughter.
Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue - banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie - Antonia vows to protect her charge from the same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard he is, and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.
Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes…

Anna can be found on her website.

Here is some cover love.






 Pick up an Anna Campbell book now, you will not be sorry.

Anna has kindly offered a copy of Midnight's Wild Passion to one lucky person. Please leave a comment to be in the draw.



~yia~



53 comments:

Kylie Griffin said...

I met Anna way back when via a friend. I can still remember the breakfast introduction and my memories were of her bright and bubbly personality (it is the first thing you notice when you meet Anna Campbell, isn''t it, Eleni?).

I think one of the topics of conversation we had was about RWA, Anna. You mentioned that you were so glad to have found an organisation of people who loved writing romance as much as you did.

And I also remember your name popping up in the RWA contests *grin* and thinking "hmm, this is someone to watch out for" and then next thing you know you'd sold with CTC!

Advocate, mentor, advice-giver, damn good author, encourager, friend - just a few of the labels I've attached to you over the years I've known you, Anna. :-) My life is richer for having met you!

Anna Campbell said...

Wow, Eleni, what a beautiful introduction. Thank you so much. And thank you for featuring me as one of your writing buddies. Actually I find it's such a buzz to hang out with my romance writing pals, I can't help being jolly! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Kylie, what a beautiful message. Thank you so much. I'm really touched. Honestly it's a pleasure being your friend too. I distinctly remember us meeting. We used to go down early at the Langham at the first Melbourne conference there (I think we used to want to make sure there was plenty of eggs benedict left, LOL!). We had some great chats, didn't we? And now you've gone through being contest queen and we're all avidly awaiting the release of VENGEANCE BORN in Feb!

zehra said...

i love anna campbell's books...would love to win one also. thnks for the giveaways.

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Zehra, how wonderful you know and love the books. Thank you so much! Good luck!

Linda said...

I have 4 of Anna's books & hoping to add MWP to my list!

thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

Anna Campbell said...

Linda, you're not far off the whole set! Good luck!

Johanna R Jochum said...

I love Anna Campbell and reading like crazy to finish all her books! They are all amazing! I just love those tortured heros and herions! Great post today!

Anna Campbell said...

Hi Johanna! Thanks so much for saying you love the books. Lovely to hear! Good luck!

Monikarw said...

Wow! Those are very beautiful covers!:P
love the yellow dress!:)
umm, Anna actually emailed a couple of times.. Nothing more than 2 or 3 sentences but to a reader they mean A LOT!:D
I really respect authors that take time to interact with readers!:)
Thank u so much Anna for everything not just the fabulous books!;) lol

monika_restivow(at)yahoo(dot)com

Eleni Konstantine said...

Anna, how could you NOT be part of my writing buddies line up. You are just too amazing.

Kylie, fantastic wrap up of Anna. You must be a writer!

Thanks for dropping in zehra, Linda, Johanna.

Bettye McKee said...

Anna Campbell writes the most fabulous stories!!! I first read "Midnight's Wild Passion" -- the one with the red dress -- then "Tempt the Devil" -- the one with the gorgeous guy, just his head -- and I started looking for more. Most recently I read "Captive of Sin" on ebook. Her stories are not superficial. Emotions run deep and her characters have CHARACTER. I love her books and can't wait for her to write about a dozen more next week!!!

peggy said...

I am a big fan of Anna campbell books when i see her books in stores it's a sure buy for me.

AJ Blythe said...

Hey Anna and Eleni :)

This is definitely a happy place to be today with the very bubbly Anna joining the just as bubbly Eleni!

Anna, seeing all your covers lined up like that I have to say my favourite is still "My Reckless Surrender" - the yellow dress. That is a cover that would make me pick up the book *smile*

Bronwyn said...

Hi Ladies =)

I don't want to be in the draw (I already have it) but I just wanted to come by and wave *waves*

When I first met Anna, she came up and said hi at my first RWA conference and I had no idea who she was at first and then like a peanut who missed the punchline, I was like ooooohh. And then I felt like I had to drop a curtsy. I still feel like that when I see you!

Keep up the awesome writing, Anna! And keep up the interviews, Eleni.

Bron.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hi Betty - I totally agree about Anna's characters and stories. Thanks for commenting.

Hi Peggy, thanks for dropping in.

Anita, *waving*, I never thought of myself as bubbly, so thanks. As for Anna's covers. They are all lovely but yes, out of the US covers, that one is my fave.

Bron - LOL! yes, a curtsy does seem appropriate doesn't it. And I'm glad you like WBWednesdays :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Eleni and Anna,

I first met Anna at the Roadshow last year and Claiming the Courtesan (and Anna's enthusiam) were 2 of the things that made me want to concentrate on historicals. Apart from MWP I do have the complete set and I lurv them big-time!

Alison

Anonymous said...

And yes, eleni, I know I made a spelling error

Alison

Anna Campbell said...

Eleni, loving my visit today. Thanks for hosting me! And yes, I'm seriously thinking of taking Kylie on as my PR person! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Bettye, what a fantastic wrap. Thank you! A dozen more next week! Sure! Well... So glad you're enjoying the stories!

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, thanks, Peggy! Lovely to see you here.

Annie West said...

Hi Eleni, Hi Anna. Great to see you both together.

Loved seeing all those book covers up together - brilliant! You've been mighty productive Ms Campbell! And you know...I've read everyone! Looking forward to the next one too - she keeps pulling out tremendous stories with fascinating characters. Sigh. Want to come and write one of mine, Anna, while I have a rest?

Anna Campbell said...

Anita, you're right about Eleni being bubbly. It was great to spend time with her in Adelaide last year. I had a ball doing the roadshow. If ever there's one held near you guys, leap at going. They're fantastic. Anita, I love the yellow cover too - I was thrilled when it finalled in the 20 years of RWOz covers contest this year. I must say I like the American Midnight too with the same model but in crimson this time rather than yellow.

Anna Campbell said...

Snort, Bron. Haven't noticed you curtseying too often. Perhaps I blinked. LOL! Always a blast to meet you at the conferences. Can't wait for the Gold Coast. Hope you're coming over again.

Anna Campbell said...

Alison, how fabulous I've managed to draw you over to the dark side of writing historicals. Clearly the QUEEN of genres (yeah, I would say that, wouldn't I?). So glad you enjoyed the Roadshow. I had a blast. One of the best bits was working with Yvonne Lindsay. She's so smart and funny!

Anna Campbell said...

Oh, no, is Eleni the spelling police? I'd better proofread my posts! Or perhaps that should be poofraid my past!

Anna Campbell said...

Snort, Annie! Write one of yours and a dozen new stories of my own next week? SURE! Actually kind of laughing. As many of you know, Annie is my crit partner and she's about to dive into the latest story. I hope she comes up alive. There be dragons! Well, not literally!

Vanessa Barneveld said...

Love this spotlight on Anna, Eleni!

Anna is not only bright and bubbly at early in the morning in the cyberworld. She's also bright and bubbly at 7am. I know because she and I used to drag ourselves to our office at that time every day. :) Anna, you work hard at crafting your wonderful, emotive stories and delicious rakes--you deserve all the good things that come your way.

No need to enter me in the draw, Eleni--I have MWP.

C.T. Green said...

Coming in late because the net was naughty and wouldn't let me get here!
Just wanted to say, 'Untouched' is my favourite Regency romance ever!
I loved the way Matthew said "I love you" at the end. Sigh...

Cass : )

Anna Campbell said...

Awww, V! Thank you so much. And that really brought back memories, the thought of the 7am shift we used to share in Sydney! Groan.

Anna Campbell said...

Cass, what a lovely message. Thank you! I'm so glad you love Untouched - Matthew was another seriously tortured hero, wasn't he? Naughty net, keeping you away!

Nikki Logan said...

Anna - your books are always such an interesting study in the different cover tastes of different markets. I thought I loved the "Captive" cover with the swoonworthy shore shot but this new one under the stone temple is my new favourite.

I'm definitely in the dark, mysterious cover camp.

Looking forward to the new release!

Anna Campbell said...

Hi Nikki! Great to see you. Yeah, the Aussies definitely stuck with the mysterious, gothic feel of those first two American covers. I love them too although I think just marginally I might like the two covers with the girl in a beautiful dress a smidgen more. Same model! New release isn't for a while - probably late next year. Watch this space! But then the good news is the books should be out a bit closer together than they have been.

Mel Teshco said...

Anna you've got the most beautiful covers, my favourite is My Reckless Surrender with the cover girl in the long yellow dress =)
I still have your 'green monster' on my keeper shelf =)

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Mel, cool about Untouched being on your keeper shelf. Matthew is getting some lurve today which makes me very happy! Yeah, I have to say that yellow cover was gorgeous!

Eleni Konstantine said...

Glad your comment didn't get eaten, Alison, and spelling - where?

Anna, yep, Kylie should have a PR hat on. She's great like that. And the roadshow was great. You and Yvonne were so great working together. and No, I'm not the spelling police. Alison is grammar queen, and it always surprises me if I see a spelling mistake from her.

Annie - *waving* - aren't the covers all gorgeous. I love that the Aussie ones are all in the same style.

Hi V, great to see you here. Oh, goodness, an early morning bubbly person. This night owl doesn't know how she does it.

C.T - glad you found your way here. I thoroughly enjoyed Untouched too.

Miss Nikki - hi and yep, I love all the Aussie covers. They just have a dark, romantic feel to them.

Mel - hi ya. LOL on the green monster.

Thanks to you all for making Anna feel at home.

x

Nas said...

Ohhhh, I'm swooning over all the covers! Love your spotlight on Anna Campbell, Eleni.

I always love reading her hilarious tweets and blog comments! And her books? ...Sigh, if only I could find the whole set somewhere!

Julie said...

I'm always swept away by the staggering amount of emotion in Anna Campbell's stories. You can't not feel when you're reading them.

Anna Campbell said...

Wow, Eleni, this has been such a huge ego stroke! Thank you!!!!

Anna Campbell said...

Nas, what a nice thing to say. Thank you! I often see the whole set of books in places like Dymocks here. And you can definitely get them on the Internet still from places like the Book Depository (free postage) or Amazon. Love that you love the stories!

Anna Campbell said...

Wow, thanks, Julie! What a wonderful compliment! I certainly go through the emotional wringer when I write them. Nice to know it translates!

Kandy Shepherd said...

Hey Eleni, what a lovely introduction to Anna! You've summed her up beautifully. (Okay Anna, blush modestly!)
I was in at the very beginning of CLAIMING THE COURTESAN and knew it would be a winner from the first page of her first draft. I've loved all her books that have followed.
Don't put me in the draw for MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION, I am fortunate to already have it. Whoever wins it is in for a treat, it's one of Anna's best!

Sharon Archer said...

Hi Eleni! Hey, Anna!

Eleni, I agree with you 100% about Anna being an ambassador for romance and she's an absolutely fabulous speaker! I'm not sparing your blushes here, Anna, because it's true! The first time I heard you speak was at MRWG when I was your barrel girl - you spoke on deep POV and it really gelled with me! Inspiring!

Don't put me in for the draw, either, Eleni - I have all of Anna's books on my keeper shelf!

:)
Sharon

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hi Nas, great to see you. And yes, try the Book Depository for the sets.

Hi Julie, yes I agree. Thanks for popping by.

Kandy, thank you - I'm glad you liked the intro. One of Anna's best - well it's gotta go beyond 5 stars then. Wow.

Sharon, yes, Anna's books all belong on the keeper shelf. And Anna just does a fantastic job all over the place talking romance. I want to be like Anna when I grow up.

Thanks all!

Anonymous said...

I love Anna Campbell's writing! When a new book is announced, it is an "auto-add" to my Wish List.

I have read Midnight's Wild Passion but made the mistake of loaning it to a friend who loaned it to a friend--and now no one knows where it has gone. I would LOVE to win a copy for my Keeper Shelf--please enter my name in the drawing.

Thanks,

Laura T
heartoftexasbooks[at]yahoo[dot]com

Di said...

That is a great layout of Anna's books! It's always great to have recommendations of things to read.

sallans d at yahoo dot com

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, thanks, Kandy. I must admit Eleni's intro DID put me to the blush, as they say in all the best Regencies. Yes, you were there RIGHT at the beginning of Courtesan and were always a wonderful supporter. Thank you!

Anna Campbell said...

Aww, thanks, Sharon! You make a WONDERFUL barrel girl! Wasn't the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild workshop fun? I'd never done a workshop before and they were so welcoming and responsive.

Anna Campbell said...

Aww, Eleni! Beyond five stars? You're definitely on the Christmas card list! Not sure I've grown up meself but I love the compliment! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Oh, Laura, doesn't that rot your socks when you lend someone a book and it goes missing? That's happened to me so often, I've actually got really careful about where my books go now which is sad. And I think by definition, you only ever lend a book you've enjoyed which means you want it back! So glad you loved Midnight so much - and thanks for spreading the lurve even if the lurve spread further than you wanted! Good luck in the draw!

Anna Campbell said...

Thanks, Di. Must say I loved seeing the covers all laid out like that too.

Anna Campbell said...

Eleni, thank you so much for having me as your Writing Buddy today. It's been like having a birthday. And thank you to everyone who swung by to say hello. Lovely!

Don't forget to check back to see who won the copy of MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hi Laura T and Di, thanks for popping in to support Anna.

Anna, I'm so glad you have had fun and that it was like a birthday celebration!!

I too would like to thank everyone for coming along. :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...