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Random thoughts on our impending doom and everyday life, courtesy of a Romance Writer who occasionally feels the need to talk like a Sailor.

Monday 7 January 2013

New Years Blog Thingy + Give Away with... Anna Campbell.



Today we have the singular delight that is my friend, Anna Campbell, visiting us. Anna writes the most wonderful historical romances and if you're not reading them then I dispair of you. No, I'm sorry, but I feel it's best to be firm about this. But lucky you, today you have the chance to redeem yourself. Anna is giving away a copy of her fabulous THE WINTER WIFE: A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA! Take it away, Anna...


Hi Kylie! Hi, everyone! Delighted to be here today to share some thoughts about the departure of 2012 and the arrival of 2013. I hope it’s a wonderful year for the whole world.  Thanks for inviting me, Kylie. 

What did you learn in 2012?
I learned that I can write a lot faster than I thought I could – and that if I’m writing more, I need to read more just to keep everything in balance. I also learned that it’s great fun having an indie publication out for Christmas. In December, I released THE WINTER WIFE: A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA as my first self-pubbed venture and it was so enjoyable having something out appropriate to the season. 

What were some of your highlights of 2012?
Early in the year, I was lucky enough to be voted Favourite Australian Romance Author again at the Australian Romance Readers Awards. MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION collected favourite historical of 2011 at the same event. So looking forward to the ARRA conference next March in Brisbane. In October, I was so excited when my seventh book SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED hit the stands. I hadn’t had a release since May 2011 and it was lovely to have something new out. Not just something new, but the first book in my first series, Sons of Sin. I always love getting together at writers conferences and I went to two great ones in 2012 – Romance Writers of Australia on the Gold Coast in August and the fabulous debut of GenreCon in Parramatta in November.  On a personal level, while I didn’t get overseas in 2012, I had a wonderful trip south for a week in October to see the National Gallery of Victoria’s Napoleon exhibition and to comb my way through the NGV’s fabulous permanent collection in search of Regency inspiration.  

What have you got planned for 2013, publishing or otherwise?
Having had such a lovely time with THE WINTER WIFE, I’m looking forward to my next indie effort THESE HAUNTED HEARTS in March (it’s another extended version of a story which originally appeared in a Mammoth anthology). Then there’s a Sons of Sin novella, DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES, in August 2013, and the second book in the series A RAKE’S MIDNIGHT KISS, in September 2013. Lots of new Anna Campbell stuff out this year! On a personal level, I’m really excited that I’m going to see the Bolshoi Ballet twice in the middle of the year – ballet geek from way back!

Any movies, books and suchlike being released in 2013 that you're really looking forward to?

I’m a bit out of touch with movies these days although I’m looking forward to seeing Les Miserables, a musical I absolutely adore. In books, there’s a couple of series I’m following that have new installments in the first half of 2013. C.S. Harris’s fabulous Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs books. Julia Spencer-Fleming’s mysteries. Liz Carlyle’s BRIDE IN THE MOONLIGHT. Madeline Hunter’s THE CONQUEST OF LADY CASSANDRA. LONDON’S LAST TRUE SCOUNDREL by Christina Brooke. Lots of luscious reading ahead of me in 2013! 

So what books are you looking forward to in 2013? To whet your appetite, I’ve got a download of THE WINTER WIFE for someone who comments today. Good luck! (Please leave us your email address in the comments.)

62 comments:

  1. Hi Anna - lovely post. How exciting to have your own self-pubbed story out there. Congrats on The Winter Wife.

    Les Miserables is fabulous! And I'm very jealous about you going off to The Bolshoi Ballet. I'm also a ballet tragic but never go - must change that! When I lived in London, I went to the theatre and performances all the time. A bit hard down here in Northern Rivers!

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    1. Jenn, lovely to see you here. Had hoped to see you today over at the Romance Bandits but we've had major website troubles over there, grr. Thanks for the congrats. I actually went to a preview of Les Miserables so I'm one of the very first people to have ever seen the stage show in its English language incarnation. Still remember how completely blown away by it I was! Yeah, excited about the Bolshoi. We don't get a lot up here on the Sunshine Coast either but for really good stuff, I'll travel to Brisbane and pay accommodation.

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    2. Hi Jenn, thanks for stopping by! I hear you about London, so many wonderful concerts to go to. I've never been to the ballet but I bet my little girl would love to go. This might be the year now that she's a bit older and can sit still for longer than 3 minutes.

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    3. Kylie, the Australian Ballet is touring a lovely traditional version of Swan Lake and it's coming to QPAC - a lovely intro to ballet for a little girl.

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    4. Exactly Kylie - never at a loss for something to do in London.

      Love Swan Lake. Might have to take my little ballerina (except all she likes is hip hop?!?!?)

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    5. Happy New Year Anna, bit late but better than never. I am so looking foward to your newesst book. But IT must admit I am really looking foward to the newest in the OUTLANDER series.

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    6. Forgot to leave my e-mail. blondemoon1260@msn.com

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  2. By the way, Kylie, love your intro! Will you write ALL my intros?

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    1. Ha! You're very welcome and I'd love to. Thank you again for visiting!

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  3. Hi, Kylie! Hi, Anna! Happy 2013 to you both. Congrats on your many successes in the past year.

    I still have a pile of books I bought last year that I haven't had a chance to get into yet! I've already made a few purchases in this first week of 2013 - I bought John Green's 'Fault in our Stars' yesterday. I've heard lots of great things about it, so I'm really looking forward to that.

    No need to enter me in the draw as I have my very own copy of the fabu WW. :)

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    1. Hi Vanessa! Happy New Year! I'm slowly whittling my way through the TBR pile - it's coming down - well, I take out three and add two but that counts as reduction, doesn't it? Have fun with Fault in our Stars. I hadn't heard of it. Is it YA? And thanks for saying nice things about TWW!

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    2. Hey Vanessa, 'Fault in our Stars' looks really interesting. Be curious to see what you think of it. Cancer in a YA is a big topic to tackle. Thank you for commenting and Happy New Year!

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  4. Thanks for the update and congrats on the self-pub. I loved Seven Nights-thank you for writing it!

    I'm looking forward to Sarah MacLean's One Good Earl Deserves a Lover and the next in Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series.

    Loved Les Miserables, also!

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    1. Hi Cara, Anna is genius, isn't she? Les Mis looks lovely and Hugh Jackman is always billiant. Thank you for entering, good luck!

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    2. Cara, you have excellent taste in reading. I'm looking forward to both of those too! And thanks for saying you loved Seven Nights - I'm just putting the final touches on Richard's book, no. 2 in the series. Much less gothic!

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    3. Wow, Kylie, thank you! You can write all my blog comments now too! ;-)

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  5. I am looking forward to Margaret Mallory's new book, THE CHIEFTAIN. I love Julia Spencer-Fleming’s mysteries, but am a book or two behind and much catch up. Will gladly add anything new to the pile. I have been waiting a LONG time for PAX DEMONICA (Book 6) from Julie Kenner. It will be out this Fall I hope.
    I have a bunch of historical romance authors (you among them) that have new books coming out and I can't wait to see and read them.































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    1. Margaret Mallory and I share a publisher, Pat. She always sounds so lovely - would love to meet her one day. So great you're another JSF fan - talk about a great forbidden love story! And they're so hard to bring off in the modern day. I don't know Julie Kenner's stuff - will have to check it out. Thanks for saying you're looking forward to the new book! x

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  6. Hi Anna and Kylie!

    Congrats on your indie book, Anna - it looks (and sounds!) fantastic. I'm sure it will do amazingly well =)

    Ballet is something I've never seen, but would love to experience it one day. Oh, unless the Tap Dogs count lol!

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    1. Thanks, Mel! I'm certain the Tap Dogs count.

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    2. Thanks, Mel! Tap Dogs surely does count! Happy New Year!

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  7. Kylie and Anna, great interview.

    Anna, so pleased we'll be seeing lots more stories from you this year.
    I met Margaret Mallory in NYC in 2011 and she is indeed a lovely and very kind lady.
    And we're both counting off the days until the next installment from C.S.Harris in scrumptious Sebastian's life. Can't wait! Far too long between her books.
    I was at QPAC on Saturday to see The Mousetrap and absolutely loved it. A real Agatha Christie classic.
    Suzi Love

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    1. Hey Suz, Ooh I'm jealous. Seeing the Mousetrap would be wonderful. I'm inspired now, definitely going to go to some live shows this year.

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    2. Suzi, jealous of you seeing the Mousetrap. That looked great! Yes, definitely counting the days to the next C.S. Harris. Those books are getting better and better.

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  8. Hi Anne! Congrats on the release of The Winter's Wife. I'm looking forward to Kristen Callihan's Winterblaze & Anne Gracie's The Autumn Bride to list a few. Did you watch The Hobbit? I really liked it but then I love fantasy.

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    1. Hi Linda, loved the Hobbit. A wonderful book and a fun movie. Plus, it had my secret husband Richard Armitage in it.

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    2. Linda, I haven't seen the Hobbit. It's on the list - especially with scrumptious Richard Armitage in it! I was lucky enough to read Kristen Callihan's debut for a quote and was just blown away by it.

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    3. Hold on, RA is MINE!!!!! Step back, ZQ!

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    4. It would be said for us to have to duel to the death over this...but I am willing to go there. Or at least my fevered imagination is. :)

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    5. & the winner has to fight me for him! Scrumptious is definitely the right word!

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  9. I'm looking forward to a new Miranda Neville and have hopes for a Carolyn Jewel historical at some point in 2013. Hobbit 2, Star Trek, Thor 2 and Iron Man 3 are on the list of movies I look forward to.

    GrowlyCub at yahoo . com

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    1. GC, I ready two Miranda Neville's over Christmas and loved them both. The novella THE SECOND SEDUCTION OF A LADY and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WICKED. Love her writing.

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    2. The last book in her 1st series, Confessions from an Arranged Marriage, is my favorite by hers. One of my 2 best of the year historical roms. Hope you'll read it too. The rest of the series is good too. :)

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    3. ALL of those movies hold great promise. Can't wait for Star Trek in particular. Good call, GC.

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    4. Read them all, GC. Loved Confessions although I think my fave is still The Dangerous Viscount. Loved the characters in that one.

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  10. I'm looking forward to a number of books. JD Robb's Calculated in Death, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Necessity's Child, Patricia Briggs' Frost Burned, Jo Beverley's Seduction in Silk.

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    1. I need to read some more JD Robb. Read the first, and loved it, but then got side tracked. One day I'm going to buy myself the whole lot and go crazy. Thanks for stopping by, Robin!

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  11. Robin, such a great list! I must get into the J.D. Robbs - everybody raves about them.

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  12. Hi Anna Congrats on the release of The Winter's Wife. I'm looking forward to read Seven Nights and Cinder.

    Btw The book looks fantastic :)

    liesje_mra@hotmail.com

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    1. Hi Lyssje!Thanks for the congrats and for saying you're looking forward to reading 7 Nights! Good luck in the draw!

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    2. Thanks for entering, Lyssje. :)

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  13. Hi! Congrats on your latest. :) I am looking forward to 7 Nights! :) And the next JD Robb books. :)

    maybe31 at yahoo.com

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    1. May, a few people here seem to be looking forward to the J.D. Robb books. Sounds like a riot in the bookstore! ;-) Thanks for saying you're looking forward to 7 Nights.

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    2. Hi May, thanks for stopping by!

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  14. There are 2 books I'm looking forward to especially this year - The Firebird (Susanna Kearsley) and Frost Burned (Patricia Briggs).

    Happy new year all! :)

    hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net

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    1. Kaetrin, I'm hearing a lot about Susanna Kearsley! Should check her out. Thanks for swinging by and happy new year to you!

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    2. Thanks, Kaetrin, I'll check those books out. And good luck!

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  15. I'm looking forward to hitting my keeper shelves and re-reading some of my old favorites. So many have been calling to me. Shadow On The Crown by Patricia Bracewell has been one that I've been patiently awaiting. It sounds like you have a full year ahead of you. Here's hoping the words flow smoothly and that deadline monster stays in the closet. :)

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    1. And I forgot my e-mail..... :/

      leahweller(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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    2. Isn't it fun to re-read old favorites? I've been doing a bit of that lately. Lovely feeling. Thanks for stopping by, Leah, and good luck in the comp!

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    3. Thanks, Leah! 2012 was really busy and 2013 is shaping up as more of the same from what I can see. Oh, well, would hate to be bored!

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  16. Happy 2013, Anna and Kylie! So many books to anticipate this year! Ann Aguirre has some that I'm eagerly awaiting, as does Carrie Lofty... And you, and a bunch of the Banditas... and well, that TBR isn't getting any smaller this year, no matter how fast I manage to read ;) Woohoo! ;)

    f dot chen at comcast dot net

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    1. I don't think TBR piles are meant to get smaller. Clearly, that is a myth! Thanks for entering!

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    2. Hi Fedora! Ooh, looking forward to Ann Aguirre's next one - and as you say, there are so many Romance Bandit releases coming up. We've been so busy in the lair, haven't we?

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  17. What did I learn in 2012? Nothing is forever.

    The book I am looking forward to in 2013? Anything I can get my hand on. The TBR pile is so high, I have set my goal to 150 books this year because after 2012 I have to start living again.

    I like this blog and Anna, I so love your books (and comments on fb). :-)

    Fluser2010@hotmail.com

    Manuela

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    1. Wow, Manuela. 150 books is fantastic. I've never kept count of how many I read in a year. Might be interesting to do so. But I *bet* it won't be anywhere near that! And thank you very much for your kind words about the blog. I really appreciate it. :) Hope you enjoy Room with a View.

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    2. Hey, thanks, Manuela! I've enjoyed our interactions on FB too - I really have to stop posting Grumpy Cat pics, though. People are starting to talk about me in very strange ways!

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  18. Loved reading about your year and your achievements, Anna. Good luck with your busy year ahead. No need to include me in the contest as I already have my copy of Winter Wife which I loved.I think 2013 is going to be a wonderful year with new Aussie authors debuting and I'm particularly looking forward to reading the new Escape and Destiny authors' stories. Always on the lookout for JD Robb and I hope Matthew Reilly will be releasing another book this year. All the best.

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  19. S.E., there's a whole swathe of new Aussie authors on the block with the new imprints, isn't there? It's so great to see all this success. Thanks for swinging by and saying you enjoyed the interview!

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    1. Oh, and for saying you enjoyed TWW! Thank you!

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