Friday, April 29, 2011

Author Interview and Giveaway with Anna Campbell

Today, it is my esteemed pleasure to share with you guys this great author interview I did with one of my favorite authors. I started my journey through this authors works with the book 'My Reckless Surrender', which I remarked in my review as being "beautifully written and diabolically addicting". She proves my statement can apply to more of her books with her impressive latest release. Let's find out more, shall we? Without further adieu, please welcome my special guest:
Author Bio:
"Anna Campbell, always a voracious reader, decided as a child that she wanted to be a writer. Once she discovered the wonderful world of romance novels, she knew exactly what she wanted to write. Her first historical romance for Avon was the multi-award winning CLAIMING THE COURTESAN. CLAIMING THE COURTESAN was followed by another multi-award winning Regency noir, UNTOUCHED. Her third book for Avon, TEMPT THE DEVIL, debuted in January 2009 and her fourth, CAPTIVE OF SIN, was a November 2009 release. CAPTIVE OF SIN was chosen among Publishers Weekly's Top 100 books of 2009. Her next release, in June 2010, is MY RECKLESS SURRENDER, the story of a dangerous seduction in late Regency London. Anna's books have been translated in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Japan, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia and Norway. When she's not writing passionate, intense stories featuring gorgeous Regency heroes and the women who are their destiny, Anna loves to travel, especially in the United Kingdom, and listen to all kinds of music. You can find out more about Anna and her books at her website: www.annacampbell.info"Source


Find Anna Campbell on the web: Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Anna's Latest Release:
'Midnight's Wild Passion'
Releases April 26th, 2011

"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…"
My Review of 'Midnight's Wild Passion': coming soon
Read a review of the book at The Romance Dish: here

Book Trailer:                                               


Get Your Copy Today:

-Q&A Time!!!-
RJ: Hey Anna! Thanks so much for stopping by and giving me and the readers the chance to get to know you and your books a bit better. Congrats on your latest release, ‘Midnight’s Wild Passion’ (from Avon books, April 26th, 2011)! First question: When did you first start writing, and what inspired you to pick up a pen in the first place?
AC: Thanks for having me as your guest, Rita! I loved books right from when my parents read me my first story – which I suspect might have been a romance in the form of a fairy story! It seemed a natural progression to tell my own stories. I started my first novel in grade three, an Enid Blyton rip-off (she was my heroine at the time). I then fiddled with various bits of stories until I finished high school when I finished a medieval that will NEVER see the light of day.
RJ: Why don't you tell me and the readers a little bit about ‘Midnight’s Wild Passion‘?
AC: I’m so excited about this book. It was great fun to write and I love the two main characters. The hero, Nicholas Challoner, Marquess of Ranelaw, is such a delicious rake and I love it when he comes up against stubborn, smart Antonia Smith who knows exactly what tricks he’s plotting. And of course, these two wary, wounded people fall in love, much against their wishes. 
RJ: How long does it usually take you to write a book from beginning to end? And how long did it take you to write ‘Midnight’s Wild Passion’?
AC: I always take a year to write a book from first word to when I’m ready to send it to an editor. A lot of that is polishing!
RJ: Where did the inspiration for your plot, characters and setting come from?
AC: Because this story is probably as close as I’m going to come to writing a classic Regency romance, I suspect I was channeling my inner Georgette Heyer. As you know, in most of my books, people spend more time undressing than dressing up but in this story, they get to go to balls and house parties. There’s an elopement and a duel! Which doesn’t mean readers will miss out on plenty of naughty scenes and drama!
RJ: What challenges or difficulties did you face with the writing of this particular novel?
AC: Actually this story came to me like a gift from heaven. The words just flowed onto the page. That’s a really unusual situation for me.
RJ: The first 3 adjectives that come to mind when describing your Hero and Heroine, Nicholas & Antonia, are?
AC: OK, Antonia – wary, clever, repressed (she doesn’t stay that way, snicker!). Nicholas – seductive, self-aware, crafty.
RJ: I am always intrigued by a good ‘revenge that leads to romance’ plot. How does revenge play a role in ‘Midnight’s Wild Passion‘ and how did you keep the plot fresh?
AC: What a great question, Rita. The people who know Ranelaw have no idea that he harbors a secret sorrow. In his boyhood, his beloved half-sister Eloise was seduced and abandoned by Godfrey Demarest and that one event ruined her life. At last he has the chance to repay Demarest in the same coin. Demarest’s daughter is making her debut and Ranelaw sets out to ruin her. Unfortunately for him, his quarry has a very canny and determined guard dog in intriguing chaperone Antonia Smith. Even more unfortunately for Ranelaw, Antonia proves a major distraction from his quest for revenge. I think all these classic themes like revenge gone astray stay fresh when they’re individual to the characters in a particular story.
RJ: The writing process differs from author to author. Some are planners, and others just jump right in. Some consider themselves evening writers, while others need daylight and a park bench or a coffee shop (wink) to set the mood for creativity; what’s YOUR writing process and atmosphere like?
AC: I call myself an organic writer. I don’t really plan ahead although I have some idea of where the story is going and I have ideas for future scenes, some of which never appear because the winding road of telling the story takes me in another direction. These days, I feel very spoilt when it comes to a working environment. I have a big office littered with inspirational bits and pieces like postcards, pictures, books, gifts people have given me and my writing awards. It looks out on a garden alive with native birds. I can’t write with voices around me, either recorded or real, however music helps me enormously, usually classical or soundtracks. As I said, no words!
RJ: Picture this: Some major motion picture studio buys the film rights to ‘Midnight’s Wild Passion’ and want to make it into a movie. They bring you in as a consultant (you know, since you wrote the book and everything-LOL). They ask you to come up with an ‘ideal’ cast list. Which actors would make that list and for what roles?
Alison Doody
Marcus Gilbert

AC: Oh, I wish! Actually I almost always cast my stories before I write them and then use those people as physical models. Of course, the characters quickly take on a life of their own but I find having an image really helps at the outset. The people I cast for Midnight are probably a bit long in the tooth (and obscure) to make a current big Hollywood movie. But here are the photos I used. Nicholas is my first blond hero and I picked an English actor called Marcus Gilbert as his prototype. Marcus Gilbert was in a couple of the Barbara Cartland adaptations and I think he’s terrifically handsome in that English aristocrat style. Antonia is a Nordic blond and I picked Alison Doody who was a Bond girl as her model. She has a beautiful face but more than that, it’s an intelligent face. Antonia is as smart as a whip!  

"You want me to weed whack WHAT!?"
RJ: In a small paragraph, write the blurb to your life as it is-but exaggerated to how you ideally wish it were.
AC: International woman of mystery,  Anna Campbell, takes time off from championship cross-country skiing races and her life as a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi to write her passionate stories of England’s Regency period. From her library at Chatsworth in Derbyshire’s Peak District, she pens bestselling masterpieces of historical romance while her gardener Richard Armitage tends the camellias (and a few other things too!). Yeah, I wish!
RJ: What do you value in a good romance novel and what sort of characteristics do you like to find in the protagonists?
AC: I like a romance novel to be emotionally satisfying and I love it when the hero and heroine are better, wiser people at the end than they were at the beginning. I like sizzling sexual tension and luscious love scenes. I love it when the characters are smart and there’s plenty of spark and snark between the hero and the heroine. I like the hero to either be a man of honor at the start or discover through the story that he is a man of honor. I like the heroine to stand up for herself or have learned how to stand up for herself by the end. I really want to believe that the happy ending promises a long and fulfilled life together. Don’t ask for much, do I?
RJ: What’s next? What projects are you currently working on and what do the readers (and I!) have to look forward to?
AC: I’m currently hard at work on a gothic take on the Beauty and the Beast story and having a wonderful time. Really sexy hero and a gutsy heroine. Sorry, can say no more right now. I’ve got an extended short story coming out in September in the Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance. You can read an excerpt here: http://www.annacampbell.info/chinesebed.html
RJ: Final Question: What is something shocking or interesting about you that the readers may not know?
AC: Oh, dear, I always feel like the most boring woman on the planet when people ask me these questions. How about I can read really fluently upside down? Sorry it’s not something more scandalous. I save all the scandal for my books!  
--
RJ: It was great having you on, Anna- although, I think author Ashley March and myself (along with a few hundred twitter peeps) might have to tag team you for the rights to have RA as our gardener. Desperate Book Loving Housewives-has a nice ring to it! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing about your book!

AC:Thanks, Rita. Great questions as ever. I’ve been thinking about the casting question. Rita’s readers, if you were casting your favorite historical romance, who would you pick to play the hero and heroine? There’s a signed copy of MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION up for grabs!


~*~Giveaway Details~*~
Anna Campbell has generously offered to giveaway one (1) copy of her latest release, 'Midnight's Wild Passion' to one (1) lucky commenter! To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment with your answer to her question above. The giveaway will end on May 13th, 2011 and the winner will be announced and contacted shortly thereafter.

*For extra entries in the giveaway, you can do any/all of the following:
+2 Follow this blog on Twitter or Like it on Facebook
+4 be a GFC follower of this blog
+4 Like Anna Campbell on Facebook
+5 Spread the word: Blog about it, Tweet, Facebook-whatever (leave a link so I can verify)


(*Make sure you leave your email address and mention which extra entries you would like to claim.)

*[Edit] Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL 
--
Good luck to all the entrants and I hope all of you will make use of the on the web links to get to know more about this fab author and her books. Also, don't forget to pick up your copy of the book if you haven't done so already. It's a wonderful read!

39 comments:

  1. If I were castina a historical romance into a movie, I would pick one set in Scotland and cast Gerald Butler as a highlander in it, with a English duke played by Hugh Jackman, and myself as the heroine, of course being fought over by both guys, LOL. ;D

    +2 Follow this blog on Twitter or Like it on Facebook (June M.)
    +4 be a GFC follower of this blog (June M.)
    +4 Like Anna Campbell on Facebook
    +5 Spread the word: Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000382713864)

    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

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  2. i fell in love with Gerard Butler so he would be my hero my heroine would be Natalie Portman

    +2~ i liked you guys on facebook i dont have a twitter

    +4~ my GFC is: http://www.blogger.com/profile/04050320088174458918 (Lindsey)

    +4 ~ive liked Anna Campbells page for a while now

    +5~ and i shared the link on my facebook you can look if you like : http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/lindsey.hutchison1

    babydoll82959307(at)aol(dot)com

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  3. Hi Rita! Thank you for having me as your guest today. Been looking forward to my visit. What a great lot of questions you asked!

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  4. Lindsey, I suspect Gerard might be selected by a few people today! Let's see who comes out on top! And Natalie is lovely! Great choices! Good luck!

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  5. I have already liked Anna. :-)
    The book does sound fabulous, doesnt it? I enjoy reading author interviews. There is always a little something extra! :-) Who would I cast? At the moment, maybe Alex Olaughlin. I think thats close. The lovely man on Hawaii Five O. And for her, hmmmm....wish I could think of an actress that looks like Kate Middleton. Doesnt she look like the 'one' all the men would be after? Especially with the dark hair! Love it!

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  6. Anna's book sounds great!

    I think I would pick Joseph Gordon-Levitt as my hero. He was really good in Inception and he just seems intelligent too.

    Heroine-wise, I think I would pick Emma Stone. She looks smart too...

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  7. Great Interview - Love the cover to Anna's book which sounds really good!

    For the hero I would choose Chris Hemsworth(he's young, hot and definitely up and coming), for the villian I would choose Hugh Jackman (I think he could really pull it off) and for the heroine I would like Anna Kendrick (she's young, beautiful and up and coming too)

    +2 Like Not Another Romance Blog on Facebook and follow on Twitter
    +4 GFC Follower
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    +5 Tweeted about the post (http://twitter.com/#!/crazymidwestgal/status/63988819564834816)

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  8. Lovely post today! I think I would have to cast Clive Owen. He can play dark and brooding very good and then I would love a heroine that could play light and funny like Reese Witherspoon. I can see her driving the hero mad! LOL! Thanks for sharing today!

    +2 like NARB BLOG on FB
    +4 GFC follower
    +4 like Anna C. on FB

    evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

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  9. Great interview. Midnight's Wild Passion sounds wonderful. Love the cover. If I were casting the characters in a favorite book, I would choose Matthew McConaughey and Katherine Heigl as the hero and heroine.

    +2 like NARB BLOG on FB
    +4 GFC follower
    +4 like Anna C. on FB

    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com

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  10. Krazymamma (are you really? LOL!), love that you chose an Aussie for your man! The interview was great fun - some interesting and different questions too. Thanks for saying you think the book sounds great!

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  11. May, I've always had a real soft spot for JGL, ever since Third Rock days. I thought he was lovely in Ten Things I Hate About You too. Haven't seen Inception - clearly I should! I had to look Emma Stone up - isn't she pretty? Thanks for saying the book looks great!

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  12. Hi Maria! Isn't that a pretty cover? I LOVE that dress! Hey, I love that everyone's picking Aussies as their heroes! And their villains (Hugh has a dark side that I'd love to see more of on screen). Thanks for swinging by!

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  13. Ooh, Clive and Reese, Johanna! What a great idea. I can totally see that working. I was a bit disappointed when Clive and Julia Roberts teamed up in Duplicity - didn't think the chemistry was there. But with Reese, I get a feeling it might just spark like electricity! Thanks for saying you had fun with the post!

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  14. Actually, Crystal, the hero of MWP is a blond and so is MM - that might work a treat! Great suggestion! Thanks for swinging by - so glad you love the sound of the new book!

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  15. My choices would be Leonardo DiCaprio and Jessica Biel.
    +2 follow on facebook
    +4 follow on GFC
    +4 like Anna Campbell on facebook
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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  16. I like the idea of being able to cast myself as the herione -- honestly I can think of no one better than me ;)

    as for the hero, perhaps Hugh Jackman or Chris O'Donnell -- both sexy, charming & with that certain something in their smile and eyes :)

    gamistress66 (at) aol (dot) com

    +2 Follow this blog on Facebook (da kenney)
    +4 be a GFC follower of this blog
    +4 Like Anna Campbell on Facebook (da kenney)

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  17. I'm going with Colin Firth and I don't care what the hero is (highlander, vampire, etc.). Reese Witherspoon would be the heroine; she's very versatile as an actress and cute and smart, too.

    +2 Twitter follower (infinitieh) and Like it on Facebook (S G-s Tieh)
    +4 GFC follower
    +4 Like Anna Campbell on Facebook (S G-s Tieh)
    ironss [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd like to cast Henry Cavill as Nicholas in "A Knight in Shining Armor", with Rachel McAdams as Dougless. Ben Affleck could be horrible Robert and Abigail Breslin could be Robert's daughter.

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  19. Aloha, Anna!!!! I'm thinking Eric Bana and Diane Kruger!

    +2 Twitter follower
    +4 GFC follower of this blog
    +4 Like Anna Campbell on FB
    +5 Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/#!/mrsshukra/status/64149465535229952

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I can't wait to read this book. I have really enjoyed all of Anna's books and I know I'm going to love this one. It looks so good. Hopefully my copy comes soon.

    iqb99@yahoo.com
    +2 Follow this blog on Twitter or Like it on Facebook
    +4 be a GFC follower of this blog
    +4 Like Anna Campbell on Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ooh, Maureen, great choices. I loved Jessica Biel in a rather obscure but really entertaining little movie called Easy Virtue with Colin Firth. Great tango scene!

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  22. Whoa..I'd love to win a copy of Midnight's Wild Passion!

    +2 Following this blog on both twitter & FB
    +4 GFC follower
    +4 Like'd Anna Campbell on Facebook
    +5 http://twitter.com/#!/judimello/status/64158512355344384

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gamistress, I do admire how you suffer to create great art. Hugh or Chris? Goodness me, how can you bear it? LOL! Thanks for swinging by and playing!

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  24. Sheree, I've always liked Reese. She's got a great warmth on screen, hasn't she? Hmm, I'd like Colin to share some warmth with me but that's a different story! ;-)

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  25. Vickij, sounds like you've put some thought into this. Great choices! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that book. Mind you, it always makes me cry!

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  26. Mrs Shurka, great choices too. Ooh, now I want to see all these movies! It's so sad they're all in my fantasy!

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  27. Hey, I just twigged who you are!!! HELLOOOOOOOO!!! Lovely to see you!

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  28. Danielle, glad you loved all the other books. Thanks for saying that!!! Hope you enjoy MWP!!! Oh, dear, I seem to be haemorrhaging exclamation marks.

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  29. I love all of your books.The characters work and the stories are amazing.
    +2 follow on facebook
    +4 follow on GFC
    +4 like Anna Campbell on facebook

    dlynnpen@aim.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey, thanks, dlynnpen! How lovely of you to say so.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hey, I'd love to get a chance to win this book!

    I'm a staunch stalker...er...follower of Anna Campbell!

    I already follow her on Facebook and I'm a GFC follower of this blog.

    I tweeted: http://twitter.com/NasDean/status/64225574951976960

    I just checked. I already LIKED NARB FB page!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'd pair Alex O'Laughlin & Anne Hathaway.

    Like this Blog on Facebook!
    Like Anna Campbell on Facebook!

    sallans d at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ha ha, Nas, but I LOVE it when you stalk me ;-) Thanks for swinging by!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ooh, Di, I think they'd make a great couple! Great choice. Thanks for joining the Fan Page too! Good luck!

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  35. If I had to cast my own historical romance, I would definitely pick Richard Armitage as my hero! Those eyes, that face, that smouldering smile! As for heroine, I thought Annne Hathaway did a great job as Jane Austen in Becoming Jane and she's got that sparkling quality and she's simply gorgeous :D

    ReplyDelete
  36. Opps, forgot my email:
    hilaryrules91@hotmail.com
    and
    I liked Anna Campbell on facebook :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Romance Addict, sounds like you and I would be squabbling over Richard's attention at the local assembly rooms! He's a wonderful actor, isn't he, and he brings such emotional depth to his roles. And Anne Hathaway is gorgeous - great choice!

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  38. If you are thinking of casting one of your novels into a movie I think Marcus Gilbert would be the ideal hero. He is amazingly gorgeous. I can't get over him.

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