CHRISTMAS DAY's Author on the 'Hump': Anna Sanders

Her latest release in the Befallen Tides series:

DARKNESS UPRISING

1) How long have you been writing?

I've been writing for fun for about thirteen years now. It all started off as fanfic, which I know can be cheesy but its a nice, safe environment for being creative within a universe. It has the potential to be the building blocks for imagination, or a fuller endeavor, in my opinion. From there my interests evolved into written role play, also cheesy yet daring. The universes I wrote within were CSI: Miami, Xmen, Firefly, and (for comics sake, on occasion) Twilight. I didn't start creating my own themes until I delved into NaNoWriMo, that was in 2007. From there I've dabbled less in my favorite shows and gone on to create my own little haven with my own rules.

2) What is a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?

Well, though writing is my passion it isn't the main source of my income. I work as a massage therapist. I'm lucky that I have been able to take two of my, for lack of a better word, hobbies and made them into something lucrative. I love working on people, and I love working on fiction. The majority of my days are spent with clients, so I really have to make a conscious effort to sit down and write. But I find that when I do make the time, its like taking a deep breath of fresh air. Usually I'm spending my off days from massaging writing while my daughters are napping, taking that chance to make a fresh cup of tea or coffee and slamming at the keys as if my life depended on it. However, I do have a wonderful husband who gives me time to be isolated in the lands of demons and angels. He has been very supportive of me and gives me as much time as I need to meet certain deadlines. So I guess the real answer is, I write within the cracks of time in my day when its convenient.

3) What book (or book series) are you known for?

The only series I have out right now is the Befallen Tides series. Winx Rowan is my main dame, and she highly entertains me. I have other books in the works, worlds outside of Winx's planned, as well as more characters for Befallen Tides, but time constraints make it so that these new revelations will take a little while to be unveiled. But its all in the works.

4) Please give us a fun fact about yourself…something that the readers would love to know!

Alongside massaging and writing filling up my days, I have an intense love of community theater, and I've participated in three shows for 2013. I was in a production of the Vagina Monologues in February, then in 12 Angry Jurors in August, and most recently a murder mystery play called Murder in the House of Horrors at the beginning of December. If I'm not found rehearsing lines lately, I can also be spotted out at karaoke on Fridays at a local bar called the Twisted Spoke. I've been told my voice isn't too bad, my favorite song to tackle lately is I Will Always Love You. Some Whitney Houston isn't an easy feat, but the crowd seems to love it when I crack at that one. I suppose I'm a pretty theatrical person.

5) If you were being interviewed two years from now, here on my blog, where would you be (accomplishment-wise) as a writer? Which of your book series would be the most popular? How many titles?

Two years ago having anything published was just a dream. I would have only had my fanfic to share with anyone. This whole series has been the product of a year and a half of intense work. The first book in the Befallen Tides series, Cursed by Darkness, was a book I had written for NaNoWriMo. It took some (exhausting...but exhilarating!) time for editing, but was recently made available in January. I had submitted it for a publisher to read, thinking it wouldn't be anything too impressive, but got a shock when said publisher informed me that it was something that people would like. This entire writing career that I have started has been exciting and immediate. I'm flattered, honored, and humbled by the fact that these books have been purchased and enjoyed by some of the public. And look, I'm even being interviewed! Its all fun and I'm having a great time with it all. But two years ago? I wouldn't have been able to believe it.

6) What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

I've never thought of anyone interviewing me for my writing. I've thought of maybe being thrown on Conan after some passersby heard me singing show tunes in the shower, or being discovered at karaoke and made an overnight sensation. I'd have been on the cover of magazines, People magazine in particular would be asking if I was gaining weight while the Inquirer was asking if I was losing weight, and I'd belt out ridiculous mash up songs on Glee. Then I'd carry on a secret affair with Adam Rodriguez from CSI: Miami before it ultimately being discovered, I'd have a scandal on my hands, and maybe it would be uncovered that aside from having magical musical talents I'd written a series of books about demons and zombies murdering each other...

But in the future, if I'm to be known for my writing? I'd like to be asked something like, “how do you juggle all of your time and fit in the chance to even think about writing?” And the answer would be, “you make time for the things you love. Period.”

7) How long did it take you to write your current book? In example, how long between coming up with the concept and starting to write, did it take to complete the novel?

The last book I've written for the Befallen Tides series is called Darkness Uprising, and the concept for the book was created over the span of about three months. I started a synopsis of it in February after the second book in the series was published. Then in May I began writing and it was finished by September, to be done with edits and published by October. So for the entirety of the last book, it took eight months. It takes so much out of me to pour my ideas into one manuscript, but cathartic to see it all done with. I'm writing another for the series currently, and I'm hoping it will be ready for edits by this upcoming February in 2014. But honestly there's no way to tell for sure. It can be rather uncertain, and you want to make sure its gone through all the straining and reworking possible before putting it out there like, “Ta-da! Its finished!”

8) What can we expect from you in the future?

The public can definitely expect more Winx Rowan and more Cristis Von Dietrich. But they can also expect a new series that I'm working on, veering away from the Befallen Tides universe and delving into another potentially dark path. I've been plotting away inside this head of mine and there are so many stories brewing. I'm just excited to get to tell any of them.

         9) Alrighty now, just to wrap it up, one last thing. This is the trademark of this blog. What's your favorite bedtime drink? Cocoa, soda, wine? Inquiring minds want to know, please. (Don't worry, you can answer 'water,' if you don't want to say (lol).

My favorite bedtime drink it definitely a nice cold glass of moscato. On occasion it can also be a dark chocolate wine from Chocolate Shoppe. And yes, sometimes water.   

      Thanks for stopping by the blog, Anna!!

      

Happy Holidays, readers!  Stay safe!