HISTORICAL AUTHORS: Anna Campbell

Queenslander ANNA CAMPBELL has written six historical romances for Avon HarperCollins and her work is published internationally, including in the United States, Germany, Russia, Turkey and Japan.

Anna has won numerous awards for her sweeping, emotional stories set in the first quarter of the 19th century. These awards include Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (three times), the Heart of Excellence, the Aspen Gold (twice) and the Australian Romance Readers Association's most popular historical romance (four times).

She has twice been nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award and three times for Australia's Romantic Book of the Year. The Australian Romance Readers Association voted Anna their favorite Australian romance author of 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In 2012, Anna launches an exciting new publishing venture with her first series "Sons of Sin", beginning with SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED in October 2012.

Published works: 7 (plus two novelettes).

Publisher/s: Avon HarperCollins, Grand Central Publishing.

What is historical romance and which era intrigues you the most? 

Thanks for having me as your guest, Kylie! Lovely to see historical romance in the spotlight.

A general definition of historical romance is romance set in any period prior to 1945. My books are set in the most popular era with readers, the Regency (largely thanks to Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer). To purists, the Regency is officially from 1811 to 1820 when King George III became incurably mad and his son stepped in as Regent to fulfil his father’s royal duties. In 1820, King George died and the Prince Regent became George IV.

For historical romance readers, the Regency encompasses stories set in the UK from the French Revolution at the end of the 18^th century through to the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. My books are all set in the 1820s.

The first quarter of the 19^th century is a fascinating period in British history. The empire was taking its final form after the loss of the American colonies, the industrial revolution was hitting its stride, the Napoleonic Wars cast a long shadow over the early years of the century. It’s also a time of glittering high society and decadence before the rise of Victorian morality. There is political unrest and a huge divide between rich and poor. It also marks the beginnings of modern feminism with the publication of Mary Wollstonecraft’s A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN in 1792. Add to that elegant fashion, furniture and decorative arts, a scientific revolution and the explosion of Romantic and romantic literature (gothic romances were hugely popular in this era).

It’s difficult not to find this period fascinating.

What's the most fascinating aspect about writing in this genre for you? 

I love trying to get inside the heads and hearts of people who lived in the past. I love thinking about how the mores and customs and technology of the times make these people different from me, but also how sheer humanity makes them the same.

I love the larger than life quality I can write into a historical. I love that the whole sexual element of a relationship has such high stakes in a historical. Risking her reputation can be a matter of life and death for a woman. Makes for great tension!

Oh, and the dresses! I love the dresses. And the boots. What? Me? Shallow? NOOOOOOOO!

What challenges did you face publishing in this genre? 

When I started submitting to agents and publishers in the mid-2000s, the word around the book trade was that the historical was dead.

Fortunately, to paraphrase Mark Twain, the rumours of the historical romance’s death was greatly exaggerated. Lucky for me because I love writing this genre and perhaps just as important, I love READING this genre.

Which authors have inspired you in your own writing? Or which ones do you enjoy reading?

Oh, so many! There’s the classics like Georgette Heyer, Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart. Jane Austen and the Brontes. Christina Brooke. Annie West. Loretta Chase. Laura Kinsale. Liz Carlyle. Anne Stuart. Liz Fielding. Dorothy Dunnett.

I’ll stop there but I could go on. I’m a voracious reader so you could say every book I’ve read has influenced me.

When you get a chance to relax, what do you like to do? 

Read. Play the piano. Swim. Walk. Travel. Have a drink with my friends. Watch a good movie. Go to art galleries.

Could you share your latest release, or a selected book, and tell us a little bit about it?

My latest release is SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED which was out 25^th September in North America and the beginning of October in Australia and New Zealand. It’s also available as an audiobook from Tantor Audio. Rogue is the first instalment in the “Sons of Sin” series, my very first series. It’s a classic Beauty and the Beast story.

SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED

Will a week of seduction... 

Desperate to save her sister's life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate: Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic-even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both. 

...Spark a lifetime of passionate surrender? 

Ruthless loner Jonas knows exactly who he is. Should he forget, even for a moment, the curse he bears, a mere glance in the mirror serves as an agonizing reminder. So when the lovely Sidonie turns up on his doorstep, her seduction is an even more delicious prospect than he originally planned. But the hardened outcast is soon moved by her innocent beauty, sharp wit, and surprising courage. Now as dangerous enemies gather at the gate to destroy them, can their new, fragile love survive?

You can find an excerpt here: http://annacampbell.info/rogue.html

Website: www.annacampbell.info
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaCampbellFans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annacampbelloz

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/296477.Anna_Campbell

And readers, Anna's generously giving away one copy of SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED, so please make her feel welcome by saying hi and leaving a comment or by asking her a question. Don't forget to leave a contact email address - you must do all this to be eligible for the draw.