Debut Author Interview: Anna Louise Lucia

We are thrilled to have Anna Louise Lucia as our debut author this month.

MM: We’d love to hear your call story.

Anna: Good, because I love to tell it! The fact is, in the summer of 2006, I was ready to give up on writing for publication. I’d been writing romance seriously since 2001, I’d had some good breaks and worked hard, but nothing seemed to come of it. By 2006, I was finding it harder and harder to prioritise writing over the demands of the day job, family, postgraduate studies… and then, in September 2006, I had a really bad day. I mean, a REALLY bad day. You know, one of those days where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. You’re consistently late for everything, feel like you’re chasing your own tail, miss your meals…. well, add a frustrating hospital appointment into that mix, and you can imagine how I felt when I got through the door.

I dropped my bags, greeted the cats, and checked my phone messages.

There was a message from an editor at Medallion Press, asking me to call her. The bad day became a very, very good one.
I’d sent a story to Medallion Press in early 2005, as a result of a request from a RomanceJunkies.com contest. I’d heard nothing and assumed they’d rejected it, and the letter had been lost. It turned out that book had been mislaid during staff changes, and when it was unearthed and sent to the Editor in Chief who’d requested it, she said, “I’ve been waiting two years for this book.”
They offered me a contract then and there. I may be a writer, but there are no words to express how that changed how I felt about my writing and that book – my first book, Run Among Thorns.

You can read more about my call and the journey of Run Among Thorns on my website, or at www.writeattitude.net.

MM: Did you have an agent? If not, did you send this to an agent before you sold?

Anna: Nope, I’ve never had an agent. For most of the time, I’ve been targeting publishers that don’t require agented submissions, and I’ve focused my energies on submitting directly to publishers. But finding a good agent to help me grow my career is definitely on my short to medium term goals list!

MM: How long were you writing, how many books before you sold?

Anna: I started writing in summer 2001. I was convinced I was just playing and would never finish it, but by the end of the year I had my first completed novel – now called Run Among Thorns. Yes, sorry, I sold my first book! BUT, I did write another two-and-a-half books before I actually sold Run Among Thorns, and did comprehensive rewrites on it and my next book, Dangerous Lies.

MM: What type of books do you write?

Anna: I write adventurous, action–filled, emotional, romantic suspense! If it doesn’t have a car chase, a fight to the death, and a love that conquers all things, I’m not writing it!

MM: Can you tell us about your debut book? What is it about and what genre? When is it due for release?

Anna: Ah, I love Run Among Thorns. It’s hard, uncompromising hero Kier McAllister, and its resourceful, determined heroine, Jenny Waring, are very close to my heart. I’ll admit I’m completely addicted to Kier!

Run Among Thorns is really about falling in love with your enemy…” Jenny Waring isn’t a killer, but she has killed. Now powerful people want to ask why, and the man they sent isn’t asking nicely. Kier McAllister thought he was in control. But the balance of power is shifting, and the woman who was his job might just end up being his redemption.”

I really enjoyed writing Kier’s confusion as his conscience comes back on line, and Jenny’s mix of strength and doubt as she puts her trust in the man who hurt her.

It’s a romantic suspense, set in Scotland and England, in places I know well. It’s due for release in June 2008. You can read a more detailed blurb and an excerpt on my website Books page.

MM: What are your plans for the future? What can we look forward to with you?

Anna: Well, my next book, Dangerous Lies, is Jenny’s brother’s story (and both Jenny and Kier make an appearance, too). It’s due out in June 2009, published by Medallion Press. Here’s a blurb, to whet your appetite!

“It was just a holiday romance. Marianne Forster, deciding it was high time she had a romantic life, love life – any life – was only spending time with a gorgeous man in the hot sun of Morocco. It wasn’t anything more than that – until she was kidnapped at the airport on the way home.

Alan Waring was happy to pretend he was just enjoying a vacation, spending time with a beautiful young woman. He was happy to forget his other, secret job, for a few days. But then his job intruded and put Marianne in danger. And sent him halfway across North Africa to rescue her.”

I’m currently working on what I hope will be my third book with Medallion Press… and yes, Jenny, Kier, Alan and Marianne make an appearance in that one, too!

Apart from that, I’m also playing with a story I’d love to send to a UK publisher, because as an English author, it feels very strange to be writing books that are appearing in stores thousands of miles away! I’d like to see books of mine in stores closer to home, too.

MM: Do you have a website?

Anna: Yes, and a blog. You can find out what I’m up to on www.annalouiselucia.com. Visit the gallery to look at some pics of places dear (and near) to me, and find out more about how I work and who I am on the About Anna page.

You can sign up for my newsletter from my website, too. Please leave a comment on my blog if you visit – I look forward to hearing from you!

MM: Thanks again for being one of our debut authors .

Anna: No, thank YOU for the opportunity! I’ve had a lot of fun.