The Second Day of Christmas with Anna C. Bowling by Gerri Brousseau

We welcome Anna C. Bowling to Nights of Passion.  We're so excited to have you here with us today.

ACB: Thanks. I'm excited to be here.

NOP:  Please tell our readers about Orphans in the Storm.

ACB:  Orphans in the Storm is a historical romance set at the end of the English Civil War, which is one of my favorite eras, ripe for intrigue and adventure.

Raised in isolation on the remote Isle of Man, Jonnet Killey never expected to learn that she was an exiled countess in her own right, or that her return to her birth family would release funds needed to bring Charles Stuart back to English soil.

Ever the king's man, Simon Burke embarked upon the dangerous mission, hoping to make amends for past failures. He never expected to lose his heart to the wild Manx minx or  that necessity would require him to link his life to hers.

A new life awaits Jonnet, with a mother on the brink of madness and a treacherous uncle who will stop at nothing to keep Jonnet's inheritance to himself. While the end of exile nears, danger mounts. Simon and Jonnet must depend on their inner strength and their newfound love to sustain them while the storms of treachery rage.

NOP:  What inspired you to write Orphans in the Storm?

ACB: Orphans in the Storm actually had its roots in a role playing game a friend was running.  She invited me to play, and asked if I could come up with a female character from the British Isles, who would have been born in the seventeenth century… but she couldn't be English, Irish or Scottish. Which left either Wales or the Isle of Man. I knew nothing about the Isle of Man, but I liked a challenge, so I dove in, and fell in love. As soon as I saw the Three Legs of Mann symbol and read its motto, translating to "whichever way you throw me, I stand," my heroine, Jonnet, popped into my head fully formed, and the turbulent events and aftermath of the English Civil War were the perfect world to shape her resourceful and resilient character.  The game fizzled, but by that time, Jonnet and Simon were too deeply ingrained in my head to let them vanish.

NOP: Of all the characters you have created, do you have a favorite?  If so, who is it and why is he/she your favorite?

ACB:  Right now, it's Angus MacLaren, the hero of my time travel manuscript, A Dance in Highland Time. Angus loves deeply, has a strong sense of responsibility, and will do whatever it takes to make amends for his greatest regret.  Though his heroine, Summer, has made her share of mistakes and isn't the easiest person to get along with, Angus loves her exactly as she is. Plus he can dance and has a fabulous accent.

NOP: How would your hero and heroine have spent Christmas?

ACB:  Since Jonnet grew up in isolation and Simon has been living in exile, Christmases haven't been grand affairs for either of them, and Christmas celebrations had been banned in England under Oliver Cromwell. Charles II, known as "the merry monarch," loved a good party, and as the king goes, so goes the country. This would be a time of new traditions for them, which is perfect for two newlyweds.  I think they'd find a good balance between the excitement of the new/old festivities and the quiet spiritual side of the holiday that is more familiar to them.

NOP: If you were to give a Christmas gift to your hero, what would it be and why?

ACB:  After all the time Simon has spent in exile and in disguise, I think he's earned a new wardrobe suited to the needs of a courtier.

NOP: What advice do you have for new writers who are striving to get published?

ACB:  Tell your story until it's told. Bottom in chair, fingers on keyboard. Rough drafts are rough; finish the story and then edit. Write, finish, submit, repeat. Nobody can tell your story but you.  If writing romance, I highly recommend joining RWA and a local chapter or online special interest group.

NOP: If you were unable to write, what other profession would be of interest to you?

ACB:  Artist or actress.  I have come to accept that I am hardwired for creative pursuits.

NOP: How do you deal with the dreaded "doubt monster"?

ACB:  Kick it in the teeth and keep going. Doubt Monster isn't very smart, so it keeps trying to sneak in, but if I don't tell my stories, nobody else will. I like to keep a file and/or scrapbook of good reviews and positive comments, so a look through either of those usually yields the added boost of confidence needed for the aforementioned monster kicking.

NOP:  Do you ever get writer's block and if so, how do you deal with it?

ACB:  I do, and sometimes a big case. Usually, that's when my creative well needs filling, so that's time to take in story; read, watch tv or movies that inspire me, make art, and once the well is full enough, I'll be back to writing before I know it. If that's still not doing the trick, then I probably need to talk.  We extroverts process thought by talking, so I'll find a writer friend and talk out what's blocking me; usually, all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to point out the right solution that's been there all along.

NOP: If you could be any fictional character, who would that be and why?

ACB:  Good question; I don't normally think about being someone else's character. Though every romance heroine is guaranteed a happy ending, in the books I like best, they have to go through some pretty trying times first. On more stressful days, though, I wouldn't mind being one of the survivors in The Walking Dead graphic novels; busting zombie heads sounds like it would be cathartic. Then again, I like electricity, a dependable food supply and the lack of zombies, so I think I'll stay myself and create any character I want.

NOP:  Who is your favorite author?

ACB:  That's a hard question, as I'd hate to leave anyone out, but right now, I'm very happy reading books by Marsha Canham and Judith James.

NOP: What is your favorite novel?

ACB: Skye O'Malley by Bertrice Small. I remember where I was when I started and finished reading it, and I can quote the closing scene pretty close to verbatim. Skye and Niall are star crossed lovers who have to work for their happy ending, even going toe to toe with Elizabeth Tudor herself.

NOP:  What's next for you?

ACB:  The next new project for me will be a Georgian era historical, with an independently wealthy heroine and a hero who has no concept of self.  Slate and Melanie are another pair who came to me fully formed, and I can't wait to give them my full attention. Right now, though, my main focus is polishing A Dance In Highland Time, to fill a request for a full ms. I'm very happy to be blogging at Heroes and Heartbreakers (www.heroesandheartbreakers.com) and my own blog, Typing With Wet Nails (www.annacbowling.blogspot.com).

Anna has agreed to give away a copy of Orphans in the Storm to one lucky reader.  In order to qualify to win you must use the words "I want Two Turtle Doves."  Thanks for entering and good luck.

Filed under: romance