1. What do you write and why?
I write stories in the Contemporary Romance I write contemporary romance because I enjoy writing in that genre and well as reading in it.
2. What do you read and why, especially if it's different from what you write?
I love reading the “Death” series by JD Robb and the “Arcane Society” paranormal series by Jayne Ann Krentz. I like historical romance novels by Amanda Quick and Johanna Lindsey, I like a lot of Nara Roberts contemporary stories as well. I also loved the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling just to name a few. There are so many great writers out there and I like to read as many of them as I can.
3. What publisher(s) do you write for?
I currently wire for Sugar and Spice Press and Melange-Books.
4. How long have you been writing?
I have been writing for several but was only recently published. Isabella’s Dilemma was my first release in May 2010 followed by Christmas Collectibles: A Picture Perfect Christmas in November 2010. Guilty As Charged is due out April 16, 2011, Coming Home is due out May 14, 2011 and I have another book slated to be released in January 2012 entitled To Love and Trust Again.
5. How do you world build?
Since all of my books have been contemporary romance I have not had an opportunity to World Build yet.
6. It’s the month of love and romance. What was the funniest/ greatest Valentine your Significant Other ever gave you?
My husband always seems to find really funny cards. They make me laugh and brighten my day. I look forward to them each year.
7. How do you build characters and their personalities and looks?
Usually I start with a plot to the story and my characters develop from there. Each character personality really depends on their role in the story although both my hero and heroine have strength of character. Their looks vary depending on what type of mood I’m in when I start writing.
8. Tell me about some of your heroes and heroines:
My goal has always been to create heroines that have strength, determination, persistence and spirit. They will fight to overcome adversity, are romantics at heart and believe that love triumphs over all odds.
My heroes are sensual, charismatic, successful and strong. They are passionate about the heroine (although may not show it right away) and about life.
Both my heroes and heroines are loveable, passionate and real enough to linger long after a reader has finished the story.
9. Are you a pantser or plotter?
I am a pantser. I also don’t write chapters in order either. Sometimes I start with the end of a story then go to the beginning. I hop around a lot so I usually don’t have a cohesive story until I’m 2/3 of the way through it. But it works for me.
10. What's your latest release and tell me about it:
I have two books that currently released:
Isabella’s Dilemma
Currently available from Sugar and Spice Press
Blurb:
Isabella Sheridan has a big problem and his name is Jake McAllister! Jake is now Isabella’s business partner. To make matters worse he owns more of the Sheridan Advertising Agency than she does. He is difficult to work with, has a hostile attitude toward her and makes business decisions without consulting her. So why does she respond with so much passion when he kisses her?
Jake McAllister does not like Isabella Sheridan. As far as he’s concerned she’s shallow and without moral values, both in her personal and professional life. So why is he so attracted to her? You’d think he’d know better based on past experience. And why, after just one passionate kiss, is he ready to give her the benefit of the doubt and become involved?
Will Jake and Isabella resolve their differences and find love or will past perceptions be too much to overcome?
Christmas Collectibles
Currently available from Melange-Books
A Picture Perfect Christmas – by Anna James
Blurb:
Its Christmas time in New York and the city is alive with holiday cheer. Carly Monroe could use a little cheerfulness in her life after the year she’s just had. Her husband cheated on her, gambled away their life’s savings and was indicted for embezzling millions from the company they both worked for. She’s lost her job and her friends. Her confidence is at an all time low. That’s why she is reluctant to give in to her feelings for old friend Trent Mackenzie.
Trent Mackenzie is instantly attracted to the gorgeous, sexy woman he sees at the Architecture Awards ceremony he is attending. He is shocked when he realizes that woman is Carly Monroe, an old friend.
Will the Christmas holiday work it’s magic and convince Carly that her feelings for Trent are real and lasting or will the doubt and betrayal of the past prevail?
Also included in this anthology: To Love A Music Master-By Nancy Pirri ; The Wizard of Mars - by Jack Wear; Coming To Her Senses - By Maranda Russell; Charlie’s Christmas - by Glenn Parkhurst; A Simple Christmas - by Glenn Parkhurst; Protolanguage, Cookie Dough, And Mistletoe – by SS Hampton, Sr.; Wassail and the White Witch, Ellen Margret
Guilty As Charged
Available April 16, 2011 from Sugar and Spice Press
Blurb:
Passion ignites between Nicole Bradford and Max Paradis the second they lay eyes on each another. Nicole seems to be everything that Max is looking for in a woman. She’s sweet and loving and incredibly sexy. But looks can be deceiving. Hadn’t he learned that the hard way?
Nicole is crazy for Max. He is sensitive, caring and his kisses are to die for. But when secrets from her past are revealed will she be found innocent or is she Guilty as Charged?
Coming Home
Available on May 14, 2011 from Melange-Books
Blurb:
Two years ago, Christine Kincaid found her sister, Andrea, in the arms of her fiancé, James Buchanan- this after Andrea confessed to having an affair with James and being pregnant with his child. Christine now suspects she was deceived by Andrea and is determined to return home and win James back.
James Buchanan was devastated when his fiancée deserted him. He had thought they would be together forever. But he'd been wrong. Why did she leave him? And what is he going to do now that she’s back?
Will Christine and James resolve their differences and find love again? Or will the past be too much to overcome?
11. What genre haven’t you tried, yet, that you would love to explore?
I just tried my hand at a story with a paranormal flare and would like to get more into that. I also like sci-fi romance and would like to try that as well.
12. If you could take one of your characters out on the town, who would it be and what would you do?
It would have to be Jake McAllister from Isabella’s Dilemma, available from Sugar and Spice Press. Isabella’s Dilemma was my first published novel so I have a special place in my heart for the characters in that book. As for what we do, we’d go site seeing in the San Francisco Bay area. There is a chapter in the book where Jake and Isabella do this. They visit Fisherman’s Warf, Pier 39, Ghirardelli’s Square and many other places.
13. Favorite naughty dessert and decadent drink.
Dessert: Almost anything with chocolate!
Drink: Chocolate covered martini
14. If we looked on your bookshelf right now, what are some of the titles we would find?
Indulgence In Death – JD Robb
Bed of Roses: Bridal Quartet Series – Nora Roberts
The Stormy Love Live of Laura Cordelias – Susan Hanniford Crowley
15. Where can we find you on the internet? (Please list your links here)
Facebook:
Publisher's website:
Other Web sites: http://www.manicreaders.com/AnnaJames/
Yahoo Groups/Newsletters:
A sneak peek excerpt from Guilty As Charged
Available at Sugar & Spice Publishing HERE Releasing April 16th, 2011
Passion ignites between Nicole Bradford and Max Paradis the second they lay eyes on each other. Nicole seems to be everything that Max is looking for in a woman. She’s sweet and loving and incredibly sexy. But looks can be deceiving. Hadn’t he learned that the hard way?
Nicole is crazy for Max. He is sensitive, caring, and his kisses are to die for. But when secrets from her past are revealed will she be found innocent, or is she guilty as charged?
Excerpt:
The door to Reed’s office burst open, crashing against the adjoining wall. Reed looked up. Nicole turned to see who had made all the noise. Max stood in the opening, a thunderous expression on his face.
“Well, big brother, what can we do for you?” Reed queried in a casual tone.
Max didn’t answer; he just stood glaring at Nicole.
“M–Max, you’re home early.”
“Surprise,” he said sarcastically.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Reed asked.
Instead of answering, he strode into the room and stopped in front of Nicole.
Suddenly, she was on full alert. She noticed the large manila envelope in his hand. The letterhead on the front made her sick with shock.
“Care to explain this?” he drawled, his tone at odds with the aggression emanating from every fiber of his being.
“What is it?” Reed asked a confused look on his face.
It was what she feared most. Legal documents, containing, no doubt, her arrest record and everything else about that horrible incident that had happened so long ago.
“Well?” Max asked ominously.
Nicole couldn’t speak. What could she say? It was all there in black and white.
After several moments of electrifying silence, Max turned his attention to Reed. “Are you aware you’ve hired a convicted felon, little brother?”
“I am not a convicted felon.”
He turned toward her. “I stand corrected, you were never convicted, however¾” Nicole made to speak, but Max overrode her efforts. His attention was on Reed again as he continued. “As I was saying, are you aware that you’ve hired a drug smuggler?”
Reed’s eyes opened wide and Nicole cringed in her seat.
She shot to her feet. “That’s enough. You know nothing about what happened.”
“Oh, you’re ex-lover Carlo was more than happy to tell me what happened when he met me at the airport this morning. He told me what you’re really like. You present this sweet, innocent façade to the world, but these—” He picked up one of the documents that lay strewn across the desk and threw it at her. “These tell the truth about who you really are.”
“Max, you can’t be serious. There’s got to be some mistake.”
“There’s no mistake, little brother. See, she’s not even going to deny it.”
Nicole glared at him, furious now, her body shaking with anger. “You think just because…” Her voice trailed off. She threw her hands in the air, a gesture of defeat, and then slumped into her chair. What was the use in trying to explain? He wasn’t going to believe her. No one had believed her before. No matter how hard she had tried to convince them that she was innocent of any wrongdoing. She stood again and addressed Reed. “You’ll have my resignation on your desk tomorrow morning. I’m sorry.” She turned and walked out the door with her head held high.
