Today we sit
down for a visit with contemporary romance, new adult romance, and humorous romantic
suspense author Ann Everett. Learn more about Ann and her books at her website
and blog.
When did
you realize you wanted to write novels?
I never intended to write novels. Only short stories
to enter in contests. However, one of my shorts suddenly became 25,000 words
and I wasn’t done with it, so it had to be a book.
How long
did it take you to realize your dream of publication?
Again, I never wanted to be published. But I did want
to improve my writing, so I joined a writing website. One of my readers there
suggested I submit (the short story that turned into a book) to a small press
in her area that happened to be taking open submissions. I did, and they
accepted.
Are you
traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?
Hybrid. I was originally published by the small press
I mentioned above. During my 3-year contract with them, I learned a lot about
self-publishing. When my contract ended, I reclaimed the rights to the two
books they had and added three more I’d written and self-published all five.
Then in 2016, I submitted a book to the Kindle Scout program, and Amazon’s
imprint, Kindle Press published it.
Where do
you write?
I have a corner in my spare bedroom that serves as my
office.
Is silence
golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind?
I prefer silence, but since I score my stories,
sometimes I listen to the song I’ve chosen for a particular scene just to get
me “in the mood.”
How much of
your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in
particular?
In my humorous mystery series, Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy, a
whole lot of it comes from my real life. Most of the characters in those
stories are people I know or family members. The stories even take place in the
town where I grew up, Brownsboro, Texas. Since my sister and I both love to
bake/cook, I made us owners of Sweet Thang Bakery. Since it’s fiction, I made
us younger and gave us bigger boobs!!
Describe
your process for naming your character?
This is a biggie for me. Because Texas is known for
our crazy names, I spend a lot of time choosing them…especially for secondary
characters. In my latest book, True,
Joy Dell Dalton has a storyline, although she is not the main character. That
is a great Texas double name!
Real
settings or fictional towns?
Mostly real, but in my Bluebird, Texas Romance
series, Bluebird is fictional.
What’s the
quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
In just about every book, at least one of my
characters is quirky. In my most recent series, Chirp, main character, Blaze is on the spectrum, (Asperger’s
syndrome) so she has no filters and says what she thinks. In True, the protagonist writes crazy
songs…like, There was Nothing Between us
but Your Penis! So, she’s pretty quirky.
What’s your
quirkiest quirk?
Oh, I have so many, and I give most of them to my
characters. If I forget something, I won’t turn around and go back home. I
don’t do turnarounds. Bad luck.
If you
could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which
one would it be? Why?
Any by either Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Jennifer
Crusie. I love everything they’ve written. They both write multiple storyline
stories, which I started doing with the Bluebird, Texas series. Since I love to
read that type of story, I discovered I love writing them as well. Each of the books
in that series has three romances happening at the same time.
Everyone at
some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours?
If you’re talking about books, then…all of them! I
did rewrite part of the first book I published. Even added a character! After
that, I vowed not to read any of my books again once I hit publish! I just have
to let them go.
If you’re talking about life, it would be to finish
my college degree. I should have. Not really a regret, but a missed
opportunity.
What’s your
biggest pet peeve?
Lord, I have so many. But one of my main peeves is
people who are constantly late…like my sister. She is never on time. It bugs
the crap out of me!
You’re
stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Good Internet connection. Computer. Credit card.
What was
the worst job you’ve ever held?
“Worst” can cover so many things. I had one job where
the boss was a total idiot, one job with more drama than necessary, and one
where office-politics played into everything. The crazy thing is I didn’t hate
any of them. I’ve usually worked two jobs for most of my life. A day job, then
a part-time night job. I’ve owned a toy store, a gift shop, a lawn and
landscape business, and a cleaning service. The hardest was the lawn service.
Laying grass (sod) in Texas heat is no picnic! So, I guess that would win the
“Worst Prize.”
What’s the
best book you’ve ever read?
This is the question where I think I should answer
with some really deep title, but I no longer read books like that. Since I
write romance, I mostly read romance. But if I had to choose from every book
I’ve read in my life, it would have to be The
Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. In a few pages, he sums up how we’re
willing to give up everything for someone we love. That’s a true romance story.
Ocean or
mountains?
I like looking at pictures of both, but since I’m
terrified of water and heights, I don’t want to be at either! No cruises for
me. No vacations in a majestic setting.
City
girl/guy or country girl/guy?
Country girl all the way. I grew up in a town with
304 people. Everyone knew everyone. You’d think I’d want to experience
something bigger, but nope. I thought the world stopped at the city limit sign
and never wanted to live anywhere else. I’ve lived in cities and liked of all of
them. Lubbock, Texas is my favorite. I now live in a town of about
15,000…that’s plenty big for a girl raised in Podunk!
What’s on
the horizon for you?
That’s the beauty of life. We never know.
True
Sometimes it takes losing everything…
True Shanahan must be the unluckiest woman in the world. Either that or
she’s cursed. After another failed relationship, True leaves Dallas with a
broken heart and new attitude. It’s time to walk on the wild side. But when she
makes a wrong turn and ends up in Bluebird, Texas, the only man she wants is
anything but reckless.
…to find all you’ve ever wanted.
Ritter Malone is the town’s favorite son and has the
local hero awards to prove it. Seems he’s always in the right place at the
right time. But when he crosses paths with True, his life takes a turn he never
sees coming. Her songwriting skills may be questionable, but her ability to
turn him inside out is indisputable.
Welcome to Bluebird, Texas.
Where a chance meeting gives two people a chance at
love.
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