Writing Buddy Wednesday - Anne Gracie

 Anne Gracie is a Regency Historical Romance author, a R*BY award winner, Romantic Times Award Nominee, a Reader's Choice finalist and winner, and a RITA nominee. Wow!

Her Regencies have readers all over the world falling in love with the men of the Regency period and the Regency period itself.

I've known Anne many years via Romance Writers of Australia via the e-loop. She is has been a past president of RWAus, has received the Lynne Wilding Award, and the Honorary Life Membership. Basically, she is a powerhouse and an amazing woman, who lifts the face of romance writing and is a huge advocate. I love the Award Dinners at the conference as Anne gets writers to stand up to various statements and it shows that no matter where we in our career, we have something to be proud of.


Initially writing for Harlequin, Anne switched to Single Title (Berkley books) and hasn't looked back. Firstly with The Merridew Sisters series (which I call the Perfect series), which I absolutely adored. The characters are well drawn and hence you get swept away in their world, and before you know it you have read the entire book. And who could forget her heroes, especially Gideon, a most lovable rake in The Perfect Rake.

Now, she has her Devil Riders series. I have read The Stolen Princess, which was amazing, and won a R*BY Award. The others await oh-so-patiently on my TBR pile.


The latest of the series is The Accident Wedding (book 4). Here is the blurb:


When Nash Renfrew wakes in the bed of lovely Maddy Woodford, he has no memory. In the days following his accident, he is charmed by her bright outlook on life, but he lives for the nights, when she joins him chastely-more or less-in her bed. When his memory returns, Nash asks for just one more night before he leaves. But it's one night too many and it creates a scandal that leaves him no choice but to offer her marriage.

With five orphaned half-siblings in her charge, Maddy needs the security Nash offers and can't resist the promise of passion she's experienced in his embrace. Well born, but poverty-stricken, Maddy knows she's not the wife he planned on, but he's everything she's ever dreamed of.

But will passion be enough? He's a diplomat who knows Czars and Princes and Grand-dukes and she's just a country girl who's never even been to a ball.

Can their new-found love survive, or will this accidental marriage destroy her dreams and his career?


Coming up in January will be book 5 of the series, Bride by Mistake. Don't you just love the cover!

Please visit Anne at her website and blog. She also blogs at the Word Wenches.

And here is some more cover love:

  

Remember, pick up an Anne Gracie book today....

~yia~

Book covers

And here a blog I prepared earlier....

For me a good book cover is a bonus when buying an author you know - you will buy the book if it has or hasn't got a good cover.

But how about those authors I don't know? I would have thought, no it doesn't make a difference. If I recognise the name (i.e.. have heard of the author but not read anything), it might not, but maybe it matters more to me than I thought. I'm a visual person so I love looking at artwork and of course an appealing book cover would make me more likely than not to pick up a book.

I have always tried to abide by 'don't judge a book by its cover' but who knows. Next time I'm at the library or the book store I might have to check what I do and do not look at, and how much the covers actually influence me. Though I don't think it has any influence on  me in category. But single title?

Some fab covers from writing friends:

  

 

   

 

Do covers influence you?

~yia

Best laid plans...

Whenever I make plans, it never goes according to them....

- starting next assignment

- working on goals

- study clean up 

has not happened. Sad face - though have been doing clean up after renovations - lovely stuff like wiping the dust off walls, cupboards etc. Oh fun, oh fun, oh fun. (You got that was sarcastic right?) Problem is that my fibromyalgia is playing up - that means my muscles are aching and my right arm especially feels like it's going to sleep. So hence clean up has to be in spurts, otherwise I'm down for the count.

I did visit my chiro and pilates this week and my chiro did say I would hate him the following day - he was right. My joints ached and so did my muscles. I hadn't been that 'stuck' for awhile. 

I've been lucky to have caught up with some friends and Master 5 this week. Though the poor mite has a cold. 

I did see New Moon and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The director did a good job of keeping it true to the book's feel (well as much as you can when a book is in 1st person). The FX were done well on the whole and I got taken away with the story. I loved the depiction of Bella's depression and the months passing by. Really shows depression and the dark hole a person is in. It was very very effective.

 

I know there are critics of the books and the movies, but really for me I think getting teenage girls to read has to be a good thing. Even if they don't agree with the choice. Stephenie Meyer has made it cool to read for that demographic as JK Rowling did for a younger audience. And that to me is fantastic.

My next reward book will be Breaking Dawn. Yes, behind the times, but it had to wait its turn like every other book does :)) Yes, I've heard bits and pieces about it but mostly I have been trying to block my ears and go 'la la la', so I don't ruin it completely.

I just finished The Stolen Princess by Anne Gracie - absolute gold. Loved it. So have ordered the next two books in the Devil Riders series. I loved the depth of the characters, the humour of Gabe, the seriousness of Callie and her coming out of her shell. 

Oh and I finished watching season 1 of Bones....now to get Season 2 after I watch Season 2 of The Tudors.

OK gotta get back to dusting...there's windows to tackle. My life is SUCH an adventure!!

~yia~

Eleni-fest: chatting with Anne Gracie

Today I have as my special guest the superb Anne Gracie, author of wonderful regency romance novels. Her book The Stolen Princess won this year’s R*BY (long category). Anne was the well deserved recipient of the Lynne Wilding Meritorious Service Award. 

Welcome Anne to Eleni’s Taverna and  Eleni-fest!

Congratulations on your R*BY win. How did it feel to win?

 Thanks, it was a huge thrill, Eleni. It's actually my second win, but the first was a long time ago and the field has really grown. We have so many wonderful authors here now, and the competition is fierce.

The Stolen Princess is book one of the Devil Riders series. How did this series come about? 

I was thinking about how difficult it must be for soldiers to settle back into peacetime life. These days it’s recognized, but not so much in the past. So I decided to write about a group of school friends, who joined the army together and spent years fighting. They're dare-devils, which served them well during war, but now it's peacetime, and they're finding it hard to settle. My editor liked the idea and suggested I make them younger sons, which means they have to make their own way in the world.

Your latest novel To Catch A Bride was released last month. Congratulations. How long does it take you to write one of your books?

Thanks. How long? How long is a piece of string? Seriously, sometimes a book will just fly along, and other times... not! Most of the time I allow 8 or 9 months, but when stuff happens, it slows me down.

You began writing books set in the Regency period, but you also write a contemporary romantic comedy.  Do you think you will write another romcom?

In some ways I'd love to — I often get ideas for contemporary romantic comedies — but believe it or not, it's a really tough market. Besides, I don't have time to write both historicals and contemporaries.

What attracted you to the world of the Regency?

I grew up reading Georgette Heyer who pretty much single-handedly established the Regency as a sub-genre and associated it with comedy. So it was an irresistible combination. The period had so much happening that it allows me to explore some of the darker areas, as well as the fun stuff.

Your character Gideon from The Perfect Rake was a fun character. Was he as fun to write as he was to read?

No, he was a complete pest! He was supposed to be dark and dangerous and he just would not behave! He utterly refused to brood or smolder or loom threateningly, and insisted on being funny and flippant and totally charming. So what can you do? I let him have his way. ;)

How much research do you do for your books (they are extremely in-depth but it’s flawlessly added through the writing)?

Thank you. I do quite a bit of research but it's part of the fun. It's a form of procrastination. ;)


That said, I try not to let the research dominate. Its job is to serve the story — to make the world real and alive and fresh to readers, not to give them a history lesson. My biggest compliment is when I get an email from someone saying, "I don't usually like historicals but I really enjoyed yours."

How do you think your writing groups and associations have helped you in your writing?

When I first started writing, I didn't know any romance writers at all, and because of that I made every mistake in the book. I eventually found a small group who came together for critique, and that was great, but I only joined RWA after I'd finished the full manuscript of Gallant Waif, my first published novel.

Since then however, I have made a bunch of friends that are the best in the world. I've got friends who will brainstorm plot problems with me, and who'll give me feedback on scenes and whole manuscripts. They help me through the tough times, and help celebrate the good times and generally keep me sane...ish. ;)

You are now part of the blogging team at Word Wenches. How did this come about?

In 2008 Mary Jo Putney interviewed me as a guest on Word Wenches. Later, when Loretta Chase decided she needed to spend less time blogging and more time writing, they were discussing possible replacements for her and my name came up. I was thrilled to be invited to become a Word Wench — it's a very cool group.

Many unpublished writers believe that once you get the call, you’re in. What is your experience with this?

Getting published is just the beginning of the next, very steep learning curve. I don't think you ever stop learning. This business is changing all the time and you have to keep adapting along with it.

Publishing can be very ruthless. You're only "in" as long as you're selling well. Or the line you're in is selling well. Or your editor likes your ideas. Or the publisher you have keeps making a profit. Or... you get the idea.

At the Awards ceremony, you get people to stand up if they have been accepted, or won a competition, or... and the list goes on. By the end of the night, pretty much the whole room is standing. What inspired you to do this? (BTW – I think it’s a fantastic idea.)

Thanks, I love it, too. The first time, it was just a spur of the moment thing. I was MC for the awards night at the first Gold Coast conference, and I sat there watching people get up and accept awards, and I thought, they were winners, sure, but the others weren't losers. And there were so many people not in any competition who'd still achieved wonderful things. So I thought we should celebrate everything people had achieved, from major prizes and bestselling authors, to people who'd sent off their first partial or simply entered a competition. So when it came time for the MC’s wrap up for the night, I did the first “stand-up,” making it up along the way.

Then the next year, Kerri Lane was the MC and I was thrilled when she decided to do the “stand-up”, too. And so it became an RWA tradition. It's been going 7 years now.

A few years ago a woman came up to me at the end of the night and said that at the end of the previous conference (her first) she'd been left sitting down. She said the “stand-up” made her determined to have something sent off by the next conference, so she'd be standing up, too. And she did, and wanted me to know it. I loved that.

What are you working on now? And what’s in the near future for Anne Gracie?

 I'm writing a new book. LOL. I'm always writing a book. This one is a spin-off from the devil riders — one of the brothers, Nash. It's a twist on an amnesia plot and has a very naughty hero. I’m having a lot of fun with it.

Yia sou Anna – um Anne *grin* for joining us. Anne has kindly offered a copy of ‘TO CATCH A BRIDE’ as a give away .

 Evharisto, Eleni. It was my pleasure.

For your chance to win Anne’s new book, TO CATCH A BRIDE leave a comment about your thoughts on any aspect of the interview, or answer this question: who or what helps you through the tough times in writing?

Comments will be open until end 22nd. 

Comments now closed.....

To read a blurb and excerpt from To Catch A Bride or any other of Anne's books, visit Anne's website.


Good luck!!
~yia sou~

Eleni-fest: this week and CFS

Before I get into my topic of the week - CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), I'm just going to run over the schedule for this week.

Special Guests

On the 12th October, my special guest will be Mel Teshco, an Ellora's Cave (erotic romance) author. She has a choice of either  copy of her debut release Stone Cold Lover or a critique of your first chapter as a giveaway.

On the 13th, Sexy Sensation (Modern Heat) author Anne Oliver will be my special guest. She is giving away a copy her latest release, Memoirs of a Millionaire's Mistress or a copy of a title from her backlist. 

Urban Fantasy author Tracey O'hara is my special guest on the 15th. She has NCK promo pack (tote bag, T-shirt & hat) as a giveaway, and in honour of Tracey's book, Night's Cold Kiss helping Eleni-fest kick into gear, I'm adding in a wizard shaped pen too (see website competition for your chance to win a copy of NCK).  

R*BY nominated Claire Baxter will be my special guest on the 16th She will be giving away a copy of The Best Love Stories of 2009 (which has 6 of the short category nominations including Claire's The Single Dad's Patchwork Family). 

R*BY award winner and historical romance author Anne Gracie will be my special guest on the 17th. She will be giving away a copy of her R*BY award winning book, The Stolen Princess. 

What a fantastic line up eh?!

Blogs visiting

I will be at the Romance Writers of Australia's blog on the 14th, so pop over there for your chance to win a writer's pack & souvenir pack.

Now to the topic at hand - 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

You know those days when you feel so tired, you just want to crawl into bed and sleep for a year? Yep, I get many of those days on a regular basis. Some weeks  more than others, sometimes less than other days. It's not just the fatigue, it's the aching pains of the body, the headaches, the feeling as if you are drudging waste deep in mud, your head is twirling, the emotions, and the lack of mental and physical energy. The overall sluggish feeling.

CFS is an umbrella term for those conditions where someone has had constant fatigue for more than 6 months that can't be explained by another diagnosis, does not get a huge amount of relief from resting, energy levels diminish, and there is no extra exertion to explain. Basically it is not known what the exact cause of CFS nor is there a one stop cure. You can read a fact sheet and an overview of CFS (opens a pdf document) from the ME/CFS Australia (SA) site. They can put it into words much better than I can. Yes I know I'm a writer but these folks have a better way of conveying the right information the right way. 

And here's a snippet taken from on their website -

"Well known people who are or have suffered CFS (or CFS-like illness) include: 

•	Charles Darwin (naturalist)
•	Florence Nightingale (nurse, writer, statistician)
•	Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer)
•	The Duchess of Kent (British Royal)
•	Linley Frame (Australian Olympic swimmer)
•	Barry Sheen (World Champion motorcycle rider)
•	Tottie Goldsmith (Australian media personality)
•	Johanna Griggs (Australian media personality)
•	Richie Richardson (former West Indies cricket captain)
•	Alastair Lynch (former AFL footballer)
•	James McDonald (AFL footballer)"

I wanted to shed light on this subject even though luckily in the last few years more and more people understand that this not a made up illness. It's real. And I live it along with many many other people.


I've had CFS for about 9-10 years (mine being largely inflammatory). But I was one of the lucky ones that initially I was able to go to work. I basically worked hard all day (in one job, I managed to grab a nap during lunch time) but I crashed as soon as I got home. I hardly saw my friends or extended family. I did eventually go to part time which helped me out. And seemed to find a balance for a little while. My work was not affected and until it did, I wouldn't give up my job. Another thing was that my employers didn't know. Again unless it interfered, I just went about doing my job.

That worked until 3 and half years ago. My CFS flared up and so did anxiety and it affected my work in a huge way. My work mates were fantastic and surprised to learn of the CFS and were a huge support to me when I tried to decide how to tackle it. I tried to keep going but my body just had enough. I was not only fatigued physically, but mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. It was a very difficult time. My family were amazing, as were my health care professionals. 


I haven't worked since that time. I didn't do anything for a very long. Reading was hard going. TV helped some. About 2 years ago, I started slowly to get back into writing and reading. Baby steps. Then the Bootcamp came along and that opened more up for me. Still more baby steps than others. I've made progress since then, but again it has to be balanced. 


Oh I do help out with things in RWAus, write/edit, studying very part time, and have been looking for work the last 18 months, but finding the right job has not been easy. And at the moment, my job case manager and I have decided to take a little break from job hunting.


Writing to me is the perfect job - I can write with my night owl tendencies (despite trying to break this cycle) and take breaks when I need them to balance out the day. It's still not perfect as I tend to still be a person who pushes themselves. There's pushing and there's over-pushing. I tend to fall in the latter group.

One thing about CFS that people don't realise is that even though on the outside you may look okay, on the inside you may feel truly awful. It's not something you can always 'see'. So it's akin to wearing a 'mask'. So even though I feel like my eyes are dragging down and burning, my body ready to collapse and in pain, it didn't always show. And then there are times when it does show through or I go visiting somewhere and can't keep my eyes open. Family are used to me closing my eyes abit on their couches. Some days I sluggishly move along...a snail could beat me!


While more and more people got to know about my CFS, I still held onto my old fear of prospective employers finding out, but seriously after so much time off, they would know something was up. And it was applying for the Arts grant that made me realise not to hide anymore from the wider world. Sure I didn't have to say a thing. But the choice was mine and it was freeing. It's like I 'own' the CFS now. It's why I never joined the ME/CFS association - for fear of discrimination. I was honest in one job interview (pre crash) that I had it, and even though everything had gone smashingly until that point, I think that put a huge cross next to my name, despite at the time feeling well enough to tackle the job. Then again another place offered me a casual job and was very grateful for my honesty. 


With being so mentally drained, I read about CFS in spurts in times when I do have the energy as I just didn't want information overload. I'm lucky I have one hell of understanding physician who helps me in my journey to find the right course for me. I've been along some paths that looked promising but I needed to hack my way through. It's not a static thing - CFS - there are moments you can actually feel almost 'normal' (whatever that is) and then moments when you can't keep your eyes open even though you've only been awake only for a couple of hours, or when mentally you are more awake but physically your body is aching, or vice versa. It's like a jigsaw puzzle that changes its image.

My writing buddy Nikki Logan and I were chatting via IM one day and she made a suggestion of maybe writing a story about it in a fictional setting. I'd been thinking of starting a blog and this resonated with me. I have started the blog but it's different from what I imagined. It's about Lo'EnGee who lives in the world of Fatiguedom. I will work more on the story later but I think these beginning posts are making me think of how I can convey the info...it's experimental... see what you think. Again, despite wanting to keep this up to date - it all comes down to energy.

I once heard a theory about a lady talking about lupus on a blog somewhere (& darned if I can find the link) but can be used to describe CFS. She had to explain to her friend about what it was like living her day. Basically she said you have a set number of spoons each day, say 12. You can not get more spoons and spoons can not be left over from the previous day. It takes say 3 spoons to wake up, crawl out of bed and take a shower. And so she continued to go through the day saying she couldn't do this or that because it would take more spoons than she had and needed to be mindful for the rest of the day.


I agree with the spoon theory though for me I think it is spoonfuls. Some days the spoons are heaped, others they are level, and other days there is very little or nothing there. 

When I was at the conference, you could wonder at me having CFS. I was upbeat and energetic when I was around people (well to my standards). Their positive energy and the buzz from being at a conference helped. But when I was alone and at night, my body reminded me how much it ached and I was taking pain killers every day more than once (I usually try not too have too much). When I crashed some nights I was just drained - mentally, physically, emotionally. I had a wonderful time don't get me wrong. I crammed in as much as I could into 5 days but of course I had to be prepared to rest when I returned home. Luckily for me my chiro, 'Mr Magic Fingers' as a fellow client calls him, saw me the day after I returned so I was able to get a good sleep after my appointment. Whenever I get an adjustment I know that I get the best sleeps. I still crashed but this helped lessen the depth.

The ironic thing about CFS is that you need energy to be sick. I mean you just want to let go and go with the flow, but you have to think about your diet, about going to appointments, about trying this and that, exercise. At times I have to admit I've had to say 'stop' and taken a break of thinking about it all the time. It takes energy.  But I've found that understanding health care professionals, understanding family, friends and co-workers make a very huge difference. I've not sought out support beyond that. Energy reasons and because I am one of the lucky ones who have had support from the start. Others unfortunately don't. You have to do right by you - and that is indeed the part I struggle with. Each day is different. I may think I can do a, b and c and maybe the day I plan them I can. But when I wake the next morning I can only cope with a and b, well that's just part of the package.


For example I'm having a blast with Eleni-fest but I've chipped away at it, stayed at the computer longer than normal, had less naps so far, to get it happening. But I have to keep the balance otherwise I will be headed for a major crash & I especially don't want that happening right now. Hence the chipping away.


Despite all the ups and downs over the years with CFS, I still feel blessed to have the support I do and that I have my writing. It has helped me in more ways than I can count. And so have stories where I have been able to escape too.


I hope you have found this post interesting and informative. 




Now while I know chocolate is not the best for those with CFS, it's okay to have some in moderation (dark preferably). I have a small packet of Haigh's chocolates, a bookmark, a little owl key-ring watch and some fantasy stickers as a giveaway.

Just make a comment below. Comments will be open all week until the end of the 17th October.

Comments now closed. Congratulations Nicky!

Be well all.
~yia~