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 18th
century through to the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. My books are all
set in the 1820s.
The first quarter of the 19th 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 25th 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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaCampbellFans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annacampbelloz
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.
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