Topic: Author Interview
Anne K. Edwards the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
author, worrier, introvert
2. How do you think others would describe you?
nag, nitpicker, (as applied to their writing) and friend
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
Home, husband, pets, friends, reading and sharing information with other online authors.
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
A few old horses and several cats who run the show. I am allowed a little free time when they are sleeping so that I can write. Sometimes three cats want held at the same time or petted at the same time. Sometimes they decide that I ought to be up at 3:30 in the morning in case they want or need something.
5. What is your most precious memory?
Meeting my husband.
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
Having a nasty home economics teacher yell at me in front of other girls for something that wasn't my fault in the seventh grade. (I have a looong memory.)
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
What I do a lot anyhow--cleaning up cathair and spilled cat food. Seriously, I'd probably read more.
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
The writer, Anne K. Edwards passed away when her imagination suddenly dried up and her muse departed for other shores. Anne leaves behind several unfinished works and cats who will shortly be demanding custody of the can opener.
Anne is survived by her daughter, Hannah Clare--P.I. who starred in Death on Delivery, a son -- Jeremy Kunkle, a son -- Elvis the dragon, and others. Her last wish is that they continue to provide readers with enjoyment.
Anne K. Edwards the Writer
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
When Lida Quillen of Twilight Times Books gave me a contract for Death on Delivery. Until then, I wasn't sure I could write.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
I am currently trying to get some notice for my latest ebook The Last to Fall written as a warning. It has gotten some wonderful comments and reviews. I want to get my schedule organized so I can get Voice in the Dark Zine out sooner, finish three projects in the works so I can do 2 more that I really want to write and follow other interesting ideas around to see where they go.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
I don't set goals like I'm going to get an agent and publish the great American novel. That is very unrealistic, but I do plan to keep writing and hope the stories find favor with readers. The truth is, I am very happy with the publisher who has been very kind to me and hope the relationship continues.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
Good question. I don't adhere to a writing schedule. I try to write a bit each day, bu having critters means they must come first and there always are those interruptios I can't control. In every day I usually read for review, write reviews, work on promo/marketing, write or edit, email friends or other writers.
13. Why do you write?
I write because I must. It's like having a little voice nagging in your ear. You can hear it, but nobody else can. It tells you what to write and you must obey. If you ignore the voice you become restless, grouchy and feel unfulfilled.
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
I don't know if any one writer inspires me. It's more like they all do. I love the written word and find a satisfaction in the wide variety of authors out there with books for me to read. I read old biographies and history, some anthropological books, a lot of good fiction in most genres and I think the exposure makes me want to write too. I read to be entertained first. I have always loved being told stories and I love to meet characters that step right off the page and say "welcome to my world". Tho writers who can create this type of world are the ones who influence me the most because I want to write as well as they do.
15. How do you define your writing?
I'm not sure I can. I write in a start-stop fashion, and a variety. I have a fantasy started (no, not a romance), a paranormal mystery, two kids books, another Hannah Clare mystery set in the area where I live, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I guess the way to describes it is -- an idea comes down the road and I follow it to see where its going. I'm often surprised at the destination.
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
That's easy. Anne K. Edwards wrote stories we can still enjoy.
Anne K. Edwards the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
There's not a lot of information about Anne K. Edwards on the net. Her bio is available on her publisher's website with any of the books published there. http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com She has a website that promotes online writers of good books and a zine. She has a page at http://www.BooksWeLove.com also. Anne's not one to tell about her private life and believes her works are what is most important.
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
http://www.Mysteryfiction.net if they want to subscribe to Voice in the Dark or AnneKEdwards@gmail.com for general questions, but questions for information considered too personal will not be answered.
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
Death On Delivery the first Hannah Clare mystery in print or ebook published by http://www.Twilighttimesbooks.com, Amazon, Fictionwise.com
Jeremy and the Dragon in ebook form only at the moment http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com ebook
The Last to Fall in ebook form only at the moment http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com ebook
The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing (by Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards) due out in June at http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
In Jeremy and the Dragon, they'd find a story about a child learning he can do things and think for himself to overcome obstacles.
In Death on Delivery the reader would find a variety of characters written for realism, lots of bodies, but no gory scenes or sex. I write for the story as lived by the characters who are meant to be as live as I can make them. I try to run the gamut of emotions and have a character who has done a wrong or is planning a wrong try to rationalize it as we would so that it doesn't seem wrong -- sort of it's someone else's fault... I don't hide my killer(s) from readers. One book starts with a murder and you see the killer. I try to write as if it were real life, justice does not always prevail in some instances.
In The Last To Fall, a reader would encounter what our world could look like an a few generations if an effort isn't made to correct problems now in economic and political arenas. On one end of the scale are three teens seeking safe haven and on the other end is a power mad leader and his henchmen.
In conclusion:
21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?
When I write, I live in another place. I go adventuring to meet new people. It's the same as reading a book, you open the cover and step into that world. There's a sort of rule for writers, 'you must tell the reader. They only know what you give them in a story'. But I think that's too simple. A good book is often a guide and the reader brings their own imagination into play and unconsciously adds to the story. Words and ideas are subject to interpretation and each reader brings their own life experience into the reading of a book so each may have a different adventure in that story. So I know different readers due to their own knowledge will take something different from my writing.
I write for New Mystery Reader, an online zine, sometimes and I have a series of short stories--Death and the Detective where Death is a humorless character who encounters weird problems sometimes when he goes to collect a soul and must turn to the very unwilling detective for help. I enjoy writing them as a sort of challenge as in what if Death couldn't find someone?
I love complicated plots for reading and writing them. Life is complicated and I dearly love to know the 'why' of something a character does and I want that character to let me see how he/she thinks. My own have surprised me many times and I hope they surprise the reader too. Writing or reading should always be a new adventure.
