Let’s Talk Books With Annie West, Author of The Flaw In Raffaele’s Revenge

 

 

Today I am super excited to have one of Australia’s very own romance Super Stars Annie West! Annie writes for Harlequin Mills & Boon’s Sexy line and her stories are simply to die for.  Set usually in exotic locations, her stories feature dashing heroes and strong spirited heroines who slow dance their way to love. It seriously is nothing short of amazing to witness the power of Annie’s words as her characters slowly fall in love before your eyes. I’ve been emotionally gripped and moved by many of her books to date and I’m a relative new Mills & Boon reader!

Growing up on the east coast of Australia, I didn’t get to ride a kangaroo to school but I did acquire some valuable survival skills like what to do when faced with a venomous snake or when caught in a dangerous rip while surfing. As the dangers of ocean swimming involved close observation of tall, burnished surf life savers, you could say I began researching early to become a romance writer.

I’ve been a reader almost as long as I can remember and the idea of being without a book sends a chill down my spine. In my teens I got hooked on romance and never looked back. The boys at school just didn’t make the grade when compared with all those strong silent types, flashing-eyed Italians, haughty Spanish aristocrats and the rest. No wonder the boys at school just didn’t make the grade!

With an impressive 30+ books out already, and her latest   – THE FLAW IN RAFFAELE’S REVENGE –  having just released this month, Annie is a wealth of story knowledge and knows a thing or two about a great book. So without further ado, I’m going to hand over to the lady of the hour.

A fragile beauty that tamed the beast within… 

Italian Raffaele Petri needs reclusive researcher Lily Nolan to see his revenge plans come to fruition. But the damaged beauty is feisty, argumentative and all too intriguing to be ignored!

Scarred as a child, Lily shut herself away from cruel prying eyes, so working for a man as breathtakingly handsome as Raffaele makes her own physical imperfections harder to bear. Until Raffaele’s kisses awaken the untouched woman inside.

As Raffaele’s retribution draws closer, Lily must use her newfound strength to help him release the torment eating at his soul. But will Raffaele risk his vengeance for her love?

EDIT: Before we get any further into this post, I just discovered that it’s Annie’s Birthday today! She never told me, so on behalf of readers everywhere, and The Never Ending Bookshelf, please join me in wishing Annie West the biggest, Happiest Birthday ever!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE WEST!!

Hey Annie, thank you so much for chatting with me today.

Hi, Jess, thanks so much for inviting me to visit!

What are you currently reading?

Christine Wells’s The Wife’s Tale – utterly absorbing!

What was the last book you bought?

Ben Aaronovitch’s Foxglove Summer.

Do you prefer to read books in print or electronically?

Print, though I read in both. There’s something about holding it in your hand that makes it a different experience.

I totally agree!

If I was to walk into your house right now, what would your bookshelves look like? Do you have an organisation system (genre, colour, author…) or are you just happy to go with the flow?

Overloaded! Yes, I sort of have a system. Non fiction on a couple of bookshelves, fiction on others. Non-fiction is roughly by subject/interest area and fiction by author. But some of them are double-stacked. Basically I need a library!

How often do you read?

It varies enormously. Sometimes it’s several times a day. If I wake early I’ll often read before anyone else gets up. Sometimes I’m more absorbed in the book I’m reading than in what’s happening in real life. At other times, especially when I’m really wrapped up in finishing one of my own stories, I may decide to put other books on hold for a couple of weeks so I don’t distract myself. It depends how intense and all-consuming that fictional world is.

Describe what you would expect to find in your dream book?

A story (fiction is my favourite) that draws me in from the opening, intrigues me and keeps me wanting more, more, more. I prefer a happy or at least satisfying ending and I love stories that make me pause along the way just to savour something especially wonderful – a character, a plot twist, a turn of phrase or an idea.

How do you choose what to read next?

Preferably by the mood I’m in. I prefer to read a book that appeals at the time, rather than one I feel I should read. Sometimes its intense, sometimes light, other times something completely different.

So you’ve started a book and discover it’s not for you. Are you more likely to discard it or finish it?

I always used to finish a book I’d started. Now, if it’s really not working for me I might give it up and devote my time to something else

If you could read any book again, for the first time, what book would you choose?

Ooh, that’s tough. It could be any one of a dozen or more. Maybe Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter or something by Georgette Heyer. I love the idea of discovering something wonderful again for the first time.

  

What is about books that appeals to you so much? What is your favourite part about reading?

Entering into another world. It’s magic!

Was there any particular book that inspired you to start writing?

No, there were lots of them. I read all the time and I read lots and lots of romance. Over the years I simply developed a fantasy that perhaps I could create stories like the ones I was so enjoying. To my delight I found that, though it’s not easy, it’s immensely satisfying and so much fun to dive into those worlds of your own making and create stories not just for yourself but for others as well

Do you have any advice to other writers out there?

Lots of suggestions. First of all, read and keep reading. I don’t know any successful authors who aren’t readers. Secondly, keep writing. Practice your craft, stretch yourself by writing and seeking to improve (by more writing and by getting feedback via contests or readers). Thirdly, if it’s really your dream to be published, don’t give up. Persistence means you’ll be honing your craft and, as I heard once years ago, the difference between a published author and an unpublished one, is that the published one never gave up.

And lastly, what are you currently working on?

I’m putting the final touches to a story that is scheduled for release early next year. It features a ruthless sheikh determined to save his nation and a spirited princess who is forced into a marriage of convenience against her will. I had such fun with this pair as neither would give in or give up and each was determined to win till they discovered the joys of compromise (and love). This pair just about leapt off the page as I wrote their story and I’m hoping readers will love them as much as I do.

Thank you so much for stopping by Annie and congratulations on your new release again.

  

To learn more about Annie West, visit the following social media sites:

Annie’s website | Facebook | Goodreads

Don’t forget to grab a copy of Annie’s latest release while you are at it too!

A fragile beauty that tamed the beast within… 

Italian Raffaele Petri needs reclusive researcher Lily Nolan to see his revenge plans come to fruition. But the damaged beauty is feisty, argumentative and all too intriguing to be ignored!

Scarred as a child, Lily shut herself away from cruel prying eyes, so working for a man as breathtakingly handsome as Raffaele makes her own physical imperfections harder to bear. Until Raffaele’s kisses awaken the untouched woman inside.

As Raffaele’s retribution draws closer, Lily must use her newfound strength to help him release the torment eating at his soul. But will Raffaele risk his vengeance for her love?

To purchase a copy of the book, visit the following online retailers:

Amazon AUS | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Mills & Boon | Book Depository | Booktopia |

 

 

 

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