Anna Willett - Featured Author - Lost to the Lake - December 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Story synopsis:

Following a home invasion, a woman begins to wonder if her perfect life is a lie.

Beth Jacobsen wakes up in the middle of the night to a home break-in and is held at knife point.

Her faithful dog is injured when trying to fend off her attackers. Not so heroic is her husband, Marty, who seems to freeze and resign to whatever fate awaits her.

Although they fight off the intruders, things are just about to get a whole lot worse.

Marty makes a revelation that means they can’t go to the police. Rather they’ll head, with a new set of troubles, to secluded White Mist Lake Retreat.

Yet instead of finding tranquility and a chance to heal there, Beth will be forced to confront a sickening truth and the danger following in its wake.

Goodreads Author Profile for Anna Willett:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Amazon link to buy the book:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...

Also the book is on Kindle Unlimited.

Please welcome, Anna Willett!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Welcome Anna! Cannot wait to read this book! :)

[Latasha]

Welcome Anna!

[Anna]

Hi, it's lovely to be here. Thank you for the feature, I'm really looking forward to it!

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Hello Anna, thank you for joining us. Looking forward to it!

[Nyssa]

*Spot*

[Anna]

Sally wrote: "Hello Anna, thank you for joining us. Looking forward to it!"

Hi, it's lovely to be here!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am going to start this tonight. :)

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

This story sounds incredible, welcome Anna, so good to have you!

[Anna]

Hi Everyone,
I'm thrilled that you're reading Lost to the Lake! I hope you enjoy the ride!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I started it last night and action right away! Going to put some thoughts up later today. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I will throw the first question out. How did this story come about, Anna?

[LTJ]

Greetings, my friends! I'm about to start this now and can't wait to read it :-D

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

LTJ wrote: "Greetings, my friends! I'm about to start this now and can't wait to read it :-D"

Welcome LTJ! :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

So I am 11% in and some thoughts so far:

(view spoiler)[Home invasion is scary - more scarier to wake up and have someone already in the house while you are sleeping. I am already feeling emotions with the characters Beth and Marty and of course the dog Angel.

I would have been freaking too with finding out men were in the house - worried sick also about the dog and all thought would go out the window for me as I would be jumping in the car too to take my dog to the vet. Also Beth finding out that Marty is not what she thought he was would be some major trust emotions to be struggling with. (hide spoiler)]

Cannot wait to read some more of it tonight! :)

[Anna]

Marie wrote: "I will throw the first question out. How did this story come about, Anna?"
Great question! It started with a few simple comments. I have two GSDs and every time I have something delivered, they howl like wolves. Several delivery people made comment that no one would want to break into my house and meet my dogs😆I would always laugh, but one day it got me thinking. And that's when the idea for Lost to the Lake was born.

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Gosh this conversation reminds me of that Audrey Hepburn movie, Wait Until Dark (1967).

[Anna]

Kasia wrote: "Gosh this conversation reminds me of that Audrey Hepburn movie, Wait Until Dark (1967)."
I loved that movie! The whole concept was way before its time.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Kasia wrote: "Gosh this conversation reminds me of that Audrey Hepburn movie, Wait Until Dark (1967)."

I remember seeing that movie many years ago. I might need to track down that movie - maybe it will be on one of my freebie platform sites. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Anna wrote: "Marie wrote: "I will throw the first question out. How did this story come about, Anna?"
Great question! It started with a few simple comments. I have two GSDs and every time I have something deliv..."

I love that story idea. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

With that in mind with your idea of how the book came about, did you have any tense moments while writing the book? Like maybe your dogs barking or carrying on with something outside that made you pause while writing the book? Spook moments. :)

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Marie wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Gosh this conversation reminds me of that Audrey Hepburn movie, Wait Until Dark (1967)."

I remember seeing that movie many years ago. I might need to track down that movie - maybe it..."

It's a wicked good one :)

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Anna wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Gosh this conversation reminds me of that Audrey Hepburn movie, Wait Until Dark (1967)."
I loved that movie! The whole concept was way before its time."

Might have to watch it again :)

[Anna]

Marie wrote: "With that in mind with your idea of how the book came about, did you have any tense moments while writing the book? Like maybe your dogs barking or carrying on with something outside that made you ..."

Not with the barking, but Karma (my younger of the two) spooked me. I noticed she was staring at the ceiling over my head. When I looked up, there was a large black spider. I live in Australia, so we get the big ones. I usually rescue the spiders and put them outside, but not this one!

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Oh no! Not spiders! But what is your other fur baby's name please?

[Anna]

Sally wrote: "Oh no! Not spiders! But what is your other fur baby's name please?"
My other girl's name is Luna. She's very sweet.

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Aw, both beautiful names! I'm glad you have brave shepherds to protect you from the huge spiders!

[Anna]

Sally wrote: "Aw, both beautiful names! I'm glad you have brave shepherds to protect you from the huge spiders!"

😆😆They are my heroes!

[Felina]

Got this on audible. Starting now!

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Happy you're joining Felina!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Felina wrote: "Got this on audible. Starting now!"

Welcome to the read, Felina! :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am up to 21%

Some thoughts:


(view spoiler)[I am exasperated with Marty! lol I can feel Beth's emotions so well and how she just wants to be a million miles away from him.

I was a little tense when they stopped for gas and that nosy guy heard the phone ring in the back of their car. I wouldn't even have been within 10 feet of that guy - I would have been running and jumping in the car skidding out of there! lol (hide spoiler)]

[LTJ]

@Felina: Yay! So glad you're joining us on this :-D

[LTJ]

I just hit 30% and so far am really enjoying it. Great suspense/mystery as I have no idea where this is going to lead and I'm loving it :-D

[Felina]

Spoiler until chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ I’m not a dog person but I was crying about what happened to Angel. Poor buddy. When she thought he was dead I was sobbing. And to set the scene it’s like 5:30am and I’m laying in bed listening and playing a game on my phone trying to stifle my wimpers so I don’t wake my husband. In hindsight it was pretty funny. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am up to 35%

Thoughts:

(view spoiler)[Body is now buried - Marty and Beth hiding out in a cabin by the lake. Marty takes off for a bit leaving Beth with her thoughts which isn't a good thing. Poor Beth wondering who she really married.

Now the mystery deepens with the red piece of cloth that floated away into the lake. Is there another murder afoot?

Marty is definitely hiding something and I am wondering just how much involved he is with this breaking and entering of the masked men. Drug running maybe? Money laundering? lol
I could go on and on with my thoughts on what he did to cause such an upheaval of his marriage with Beth. (hide spoiler)]

Going to read some more tonight to see where this goes. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Anna wrote: "Not with the barking, but Karma (my younger of the two) spooked me. I noticed she was staring at the ceiling over my head. When I looked up, there was a large black spider. I live in Australia, so we get the big ones. I usually rescue the spiders and put them outside, but not this one! ..."

I am not a spider person either. I have had a spider or two slowly lowering itself on a web in front of my face a couple of times years ago. I use to live on a farm/ranch here in Florida and we have what they call wolf spiders which are normally found in oak trees. Though what was in front of my face was baby spiders - not the big momma spiders - thank goodness! lol

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

A lot of your books including this one you mention the back woods or wilds of Perth. So my question is: Around that area is it mostly the wilds with the wildlife or is a lot of that located further away?

[Anna]

The retreat that White Mist Lake is based on, is about three hours' drive south of Perth. I spent some time in the area, even walked in the national park (changed the name) and took photos of the lilies. It’s a place where you can imagine anything could happen while at the same time it's quite beautiful. These are the locations I find most appealing when it comes to danger and tension. There are forests, bush, lakes, red sand and very long stretches of beach within a half days drive in any direction; north, south or east. plenty of wildlife in any direction.
Outside of Perth, which is the most isolated city in the world, you can be in a semi-rural setting in forty minutes. In any of these places one would find an array of wildlife. Once there, there are always expansive areas of bush. To reach another city would take days by car.

[LTJ]

I finished this late last night and enjoyed it! The suspense, tension, and thrills were all very well done. LoL the plot twists also got me as I was guessing until the very end :-)

My review...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Anna wrote: "The retreat that White Mist Lake is based on, is about three hours' drive south of Perth. I spent some time in the area, even walked in the national park (changed the name) and took photos of the l..."

Wow! That will definitely fuel your imagination on what to write within your books! :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am 60% into the book!

Lots going on and keeping me tense! :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I went on a reading kick last night and now up to 88%!

(view spoiler)[Marty is a real piece of work! I was hyperventilating though with him trying to get rid of his wife Beth! But all of it with Pike and Craig - lots of twists and turns in this story! I am on the edge of my seat plus staying up late to read this story! lol Sleepless nights!

Thanks for keeping me awake, Anna! lol :) (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Marie wrote: "I went on a reading kick last night and now up to 88%!

Marty is a real piece of work! I was hyperventilating though with him trying to get rid of his wife Beth! But all of it with Pike and Craig ..."
Glad you're enjoying it!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I finished the book! Really liked it and the suspense/tension fed my insomnia fuel! :)

Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

So I am curious Anna, how did you come up with these characters in the story?

I am always curious how authors create their characters to fit into their stories.

[Anna]

Marie wrote: "So I am curious Anna, how did you come up with these characters in the story?

I am always curious how authors create their characters to fit into their stories."
In part, I draw on people I’ve met. Marty is a definite type of man; stylish, athletic, outgoing and charming–on the outside. But everyone has a public face. It’s what’s beneath the smile that interests me.
When it comes to my female MCs, I enjoy creating flawed characters. Women who find themselves and their inner strength through adversity. I know it’s a clique, but we never know what we are capable of until we’re put to the test. And I love testing a character! For me, there’s nothing better than an MC who takes one step forward and two steps in the wrong direction.
The short answer is, I watch people and pay attention. Sounds creepy!

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Anna wrote: "When it comes to my female MCs, I enjoy creating flawed characters. Women who find themselves and their inner strength through adversity. I know it’s a clique, but we never know what we are capable of until we’re put to the test. And I love testing a character! For me, there’s nothing better than an MC who takes one step forward and two steps in the wrong direction.
The short answer is, I watch people and pay attention. Sounds creepy! ..."

People watcher - doesn't sound creepy at all. lol :)

Thank you for that character insight. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I am curious Anna, what projects are you working on for 2023?

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Hello! Starting this tonight before bed