Dawn's Reading Nook: Guest Author Day with Anne Barwell

Please give a warm welcome to author Anne Barwell as we chat about their latest book, Shadowboxing.

How did you start writing ‘historicals’?

I starting writing my first historical story ten years ago. I wanted to read an action/drama story with gay characters and couldn’t find anything, so I wrote what I wanted to read. I’d always been drawn to stories set around the world wars, and so Echoes Rising was born.

Now, there’s lots of wonderful stories to read in that genre, which makes me happy.

Plotter or pantster?

A bit of each. I start out with the bullet pointed plot, but expect it to change direction and expand as I write and get to know the characters. I always have the ending plotted out though and that doesn’t change much.

With Historicals I have to plot a bit more before I start as the historical landmarks have to be accurate and the timeline line up. For example in Echoes Rising I knew the last book finishes just after DDay in Normandy so I had to make sure everything that came before that worked out so they’d reach the area shortly before 6 June 1944. I also researched when the bombing raids were in different parts of Germany, including the time of the day/night. I’d originally thought I’d have my characters avoid the worst of it, then decided it would be more interesting – and fun for me, not them – if they were at ground zero. At one point I was trying to figure out how to break one of the characters out of Gestapo custody, and shifting the timeline back a week meant a bomb that had dropped on that location would provide the distraction they needed.

What are three things you have on your writing desk?

My planner, which I can’t do without. Pen and pencil. And a cup of tea.

Tell us a little about your new release. What character in the book really spoke to you?

Shadowboxing is the first of my WWII Echoes Rising series. It’s set in Berlin in 1943. Kristopher (Kit), is a scientist working on the German atomic bomb project, whose conscience gets a loud wake up call. He ends up on the run with the final piece of formulae needed to make the weapon a reality.

Although this book is really Kit and Michel’s, the series is very much about an ensemble cast. I loved being able to explore the time and place from different perspectives. Kit is German, Michel, undercover French Resistance, Matt and Ken are American, although Ken is part Japanese. Liang is British Chinese.

As well as having diverse backgrounds, they approach their sexuality in different ways. Kit has been in denial for years, while Michel knows fully well he’s gay (although they wouldn’t have called it that) and has done for some time. Matt’s been trying to make a go of a relationship with a woman before he realised that although he loved her, he wasn’t in love with her, so broke it off. Ken’s never been interested in anyone before he met Matt. I suspect he’s probably demisexual but that term wouldn’t have been used back then either.

Out of all the characters, Kit is the character who really spoke to me while writing this. He goes through the biggest journey in not only deciding to follow his conscience in regard to the project he’s working on, but that he needs to accept himself for who he is, not who others expect him to be. He begins the series as Kristopher, and slowly becomes Kit. Interestingly he’s the last person to call himself by that name.

Finish this sentence: I write because ____...

I have a lot of stories to tell and characters who are very demanding about wanting theirs told. I like to sleep at night.

What is your favorite type of character to write about?

I prefer my characters flawed. They make mistakes and don’t always know the answers but they’re prepared to fight for their happy endings.

What is the sexiest scene you ever wrote?

In Shades of Sepia, the first of The Sleepless City series I wrote with Elizabeth Noble, Simon and Ben have sex in front of a mirror. Simon is a vampire so he doesn’t reflect… but there is one exception to that rule.

What is next on your writerly horizon?

I’m in the process of republishing my backlist. After my three book Echoes Rising series, I’ll be re-editing my New Zealand set contemporary romance Prelude to Love.

After that I’ll be releasing two new paranormal books. Rosebound is the first of my Kiwi Psi series, and Double Exposure the first of Pōneke Shadows, which continues Ben and Simon’s story and is also set in New Zealand. Both are spinoffs of The Sleepless City, so expect to see a few crossovers between them.

Then I’m heading back to Astria and Naearu to repub, re-edit, and complete my Dragons of Astria and Hidden Places series.

***

Shadowboxing – Echoes Rising Book 1

Genre: Historical

Publisher: LaceDragon Publishing

Complete their mission or lose everything.

Berlin, 1943

An encounter with an old friend leaves German physicist Dr Kristopher Lehrer with doubts about his work. But when he confronts his superior, everything goes horribly wrong. Suddenly Kristopher and Michel, a member of the Resistance, are on the run, hunted for treason and a murder they did not commit. If they’re caught, Kristopher’s knowledge could be used to build a terrible weapon that could win the war.

For the team sent by the Allies—led by Captain Bryant, Sergeant Lowe, and Dr Zhou—a simple mission escalates into a deadly game against the Gestapo, with Dr Lehrer as the ultimate prize. But in enemy territory, surviving and completing their mission will test their strengths and loyalties and prove more complex than they ever imagined.

Author’s note: This is the third edition of Shadowboxing. The first and second editions were released by another publishing house. This story has been re-edited, and uses UK spelling to reflect its setting.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LCRT1ZZ

Excerpt:

This was his chance to put things right, to make sure the project did not go further. He hurriedly shoved the file back into the case and then froze. What exactly was he going to do? Only one complete copy existed as far as he knew, but he wasn’t certain if the Nazis were aware he was capable of replicating the information. He would have to destroy the file, then disappear.

That wasn’t going to be easy. The Nazis had spies everywhere, and he did not know anyone who would help him. He wouldn’t ask Clara, nor would he consider death as an option. He couldn’t do that to her, not after she’d spent so much of her energy taking care of him. Someone had to get the information about this device out to the rest of the world. He had helped to create it. He would make sure the project was only ever used for the benefit of all mankind, but where the hell was he supposed to find the people he needed to ensure that happened? How could he trust anyone now, let alone convince them to trust him?

Click.

Kristopher turned. The office door was opening. In one fluid movement he gripped the briefcase firmly beneath one arm and bent to retrieve a piece of broken glass, holding the jagged edge in front of him in a feeble attempt to defend himself.

The newcomer took in the situation at a glance, one eyebrow raised in an unspoken question. His eyes flickered onto what had once been Kluge, then back to Kristopher, and finally came to rest on his precious cargo, the briefcase containing the culmination of a dream now better described as a never-ending nightmare.

Kristopher debated for all of a second the chances of his success if he tackled the man head-on, then decided against it. Apart from the extra height, Schmitz’s uniform probably disguised a well-developed physique. He also had the advantage of military training and the gun he held. Kristopher’s opponent possessed some degree of intelligence. That much was obvious by the inquiring look on his face and the way his eyes seemed to penetrate Kristopher’s, searching for an answer. For an instant, Kristopher was sure he glimpsed a depth to those eyes, and the man behind them. He edged back a step, taking comfort in the solidity of the desk digging into the small of his back, the sensation grounding him while he attempted to place the pieces of the puzzle together.

How much had Schmitz seen? His expression did not reveal anything.

If Kristopher surrendered now, everything would be over, and the Nazis would win. He wouldn’t give up, no matter what the odds. He gripped the glass fragment tightly, ignoring the sharp pain as the rough edges scratched against his palm, the red liquid seeping into his shirt cuff already stained with the blood he’d earlier unsuccessfully attempted to stanch. He took a step closer, trying to look menacing, fully aware that on a scale of one to ten he wasn’t achieving even a one.

They stood staring at each other, or rather Kristopher stood staring. Schmitz leaned back casually against the door without shifting his gaze. After a few moments with Kristopher’s ragged breathing the only audible sound in the room, the Obergefreiter pulled himself to attention and took a step forward. He lowered his gun and placed it in its holster before holding out his hand for Kristopher’s makeshift weapon.

“Herr Dr Lehrer,” he said softly, the tone of his voice low, an expression of disbelief fleeting over his features. “You’re one of the most brilliant minds in this institution, and yet this is the extent of your plan?”

Shades of Sepia (other cover) – The Sleepless City Book 1

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Publisher: LaceDragon Publishing

To be soulmates they first have to survive.

A serial killer stalks the streets of Boggslake, Ohio. The victims are always found in pairs, one human and one vampire.

Simon Hawthorne has been a vampire for nearly a hundred years, and he has never seen anything like it. Neither have the other supernaturals he works with to keep the streets safe for both their kind and the humans.

One meeting with Simon finds Ben Leyton falling for a man he knows is keeping secrets, but he can't ignore the growing attraction between them. A recent arrival in Boggslake, Ben finds it very different from his native New Zealand, but something about Simon makes Ben feel as though he's found a new home.

After a close friend falls victim to the killer, Simon is torn between revealing his true nature to Ben, and walking away to avoid the reaction he fears. But with the body count rising and the murders becoming more frequent, either, or both of them, could be the killer's next target.

Author’s note: This story was originally released in 2014 by another publisher. This edition has been revised and re-edited with the end result being a better, stronger story.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BLPS6FK

Bio/Links:

Anne Barwell lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She shares her home with Kaylee: a cat with “tortitude” who is convinced that the house is run to suit her; this is an ongoing “discussion,” and to date, it appears as though Kaylee may be winning.

In 2008, Anne completed her conjoint BA in English Literature and Music/Bachelor of Teaching. She has worked as a music teacher, a primary school teacher, and now works in a library. She is a member of the Upper Hutt Science Fiction Club and plays violin for Hutt Valley Orchestra.

She is an avid reader across a wide range of genres and a watcher of far too many TV series and movies, although it can be argued that there is no such thing as “too many.” These, of course, are best enjoyed with a decent cup of tea and further the continuing argument that the concept of “spare time” is really just a myth. She also hosts and reviews for other authors, and writes monthly blog posts for Love Bytes. She is the co-founder of the New Zealand Rainbow Romance writers, and a member of RWNZ.

Anne’s books have received honourable mentions five times, reached the finals four times—one of which was for best gay book—and been a runner up in the Rainbow Awards. She has also been nominated twice in the Goodreads M/M Romance Reader’s Choice Awards—once for Best Fantasy and once for Best Historical.

Website & Blog—Drops of Ink: http://annebarwell.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/anne.barwell.1

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/annebarwellauthor/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/annesbooksandbrews/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annebarwell

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anne-barwell