ALL THE WORLD’S A PAGE



Welcome, Effie, and thanks for treading the boards with us today!

1.      Are you inspired most by places, people or experiences and how do these work their way into your writing?

Everything around me is a form of inspiration. Even the most miniscule thing can find it’s way in my writing…Greek aunties with hot bowls of soup…a fork as a weapon. (Not the plastic type you get on planes I’m guessing!)

2.      Please share one of your favourite moments of inspiration with us.

Isn’t every day a favourite moment of inspiration? For me it’s every day, every sunrise, every sunset. I can never isolate my inspiration to one thing because it’s a multitude of threads that make up the whole. 

3.      How did you come up with the idea of Phantasma Phi 1?

It just materialized.

4.      How do you come up with your characters’ names?

I usually have faces but no names. I do have a list and don’t ask how I got my hands on it, as research is fun for me.  It’s an old list of ancient Greek names.  I also use a baby name book. 

5.      If you could pick a soundtrack to match your main character’s life, what would it be? 

Ooo the soundtrack from Harry Potter – Order of the Phoenix. Largely because that’s what I was listening to when I wrote most of the book.

6.      What is your favorite holiday?

One where I don’t have to cook!  (With you on that one, Effie!)

7.      How many times were you turned down before you finally got published?

I’m new in the world of Authorism (and yes it’s a word because I can make them up – I have that super power)…so I’ve had a couple of rejections and believe they are the last. This baby isn’t taking no for an answer.  Lol .

(I’m absolutely certain we’ll be seeing Phantasma in print soon. Love your title too!)

8.      What reason(s) did the publishers give for their rejection of your manuscript?

Too many elements, hero/heroine relationship needs more conflict and development. Deep down inside I knew this was the case. I wanted to put so much in this book and had to cut out so much too, which in my case over filled some areas and fell short on others. 

9.      Who is your literary hero?

Oh…I have so many…I lurv Eric Northman, James Bond (because he gets the best cars, gadgets and women), Fitzwilliam Darcy, Reyes Farrow, Dimitri Belikov, Sherlock Holmes, Atticus Finch and Perry Mason.  I could keep going but I’d bore you and probably scare you with my choices. (Atticus and Sherlock and James Bond—oh yeah!)

10.  Who do you most admire and why? OR  If you could meet anyone alive or dead and spend an hour with them, who and why? 

Homer - for granting us two epic stories that have inspired us for more than 2,865 years. Everything you need as far as story is in those two books. It’s the classic hero’s journey and ultimately story is about the journey. I’d ask him how he plotted those stories, where his ideas came from etc. (Another Ancient History lover!)

11.  What is your favourite book of all time that you can reread a hundred times, and it still feels like the first time?

Drum roll…are you ready for this one? I don’t think you are…Gone with the Wind. Sadly, I’ve never felt that way about a book.  It would be very rare for me to read a book twice. So much to read so little time. I do however flick through books I’ve loved just to get reconnected with the story. Basically, I read random pages and smile as the whole story opens up in my mind.

12.  What do you need to set the mood for you to write?

A note book and my fountain pen, anytime anyplace. 

13.  If there is one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing a book in that specific genre, what would it be? 

Crime, because it was always my first love.  I love trying to solve the case. (Don’t you love a story/movie that stumps you but makes glorious sense when all is revealed?)

14.  How many blurbs did you have to write before the final one?

A gazillion and I’m not sure if I’m satisfied.

15.  If you could bring one of your characters to life, who would it be? And why? Probably Tithon, my bounty hunter vampire.  He gets himself into a lot of hot water by managing to irk some fairies…constantly. There’s one incident where he stands up a particular fairy. (I’d like to hear the whole story on why he stood her up.) 

16.  What are you working on now?

Cleaning up Phantasma Phi1. Writing Phantasia Phi 2 and Chosen at Delphi - my new baby outside of my 10 book Paranormal series. I’m also working on other personal writing projects.   

17.  Would you like to share an excerpt from your writing or a photo or music link that inspires you?

Men in kilts inspire me for obvious reasons.  The whole skirt on a man and sword in hand thing, it just does things to a woman’s psyche. Lol. 

Favourite cocktail would have to be the Moonlight Martini, which I was exposed to at the QT, Gold Coast with a very good friend who has superior taste. (Who could that be, I wonder?) Oh and shaken not stirred! http://mybestcocktails.com/recipe-195-Moonlight-Martini.html

ALL THE WORLD’S A PAGE



Welcome and thanks for treading the boards with us today and congratulations on the release of Summer of the Moonflower, already on two bestseller lists!

1.      Are you inspired most by places, people or experiences and how do these work their way into your writing?

I think places are the most common inspiration for me...places, setting, things like sunsets, starlight, smells...and the list goes on. I close my eyes and characters and their lives populate those settings and they bring their story with them.

2.      Please share one of your favourite moments of inspiration with us.

Peter Frampton’s song ‘Lines on my Face’ inspired a paranormal time slip novel I am currently working on...Magic in Music. I play the song over and over and the words and the mood flow for me. Absolutely with you on the power of music, Annie!

3.      If you could pick a soundtrack to match your main character’s life, what would it be?  Frampton Comes Alive... which I might add is the biggest selling live album of all time!

4.      What is your favorite holiday?

Anywhere near the ocean... beside it, on it on a sailing boat, looking at it, swimming in it! Any ocean, anywhere will do! And I’m looking at it right now! In, on, but not under for me!

5.      How many times were you turned down before you finally got published?

Ah...hangs head a tad embarrassed...erghh...none. First submission, I was offered four contracts. (Don’t you love a fairytale beginning! And go, Annie!)

6.      If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, and spend an hour with them, who and why?

That would be a tie between John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, or David Bowie. I love the romance of John of Gaunt and Katherine de Roet. I adore David Bowie and his music and have seen him live (but alas from afar) each time he has toured Australia

7.      What is your favorite book of all time that you can reread a hundred times, and it still feels like the first time?

Katherine by Anya Seton (1954 publication date) or anything by Essie Summers.

8.      What do you need to set the mood for you to write?

A quiet room filled with the noise of the ocean.

9.      How many blurbs did you have to write before the final one?

I love writing blurbs and tags. I often find that the easiest part of the journey!

10.  What are you working on now?

Um... a bit embarrassed again... I am a bit of an over achiever! How long have I got? (Let it all out, Annie—we want to know everything!)

Outback Affair...the third book in the Indulgence series of the Richards brothers

A Passionate Deal... A Dead Sexy novel for Entangled.

Worth the Wait... a sweet romance for the Bliss line

Magic in Music... a time slip novel

Surrender by the Sea - a paranormal, sexy romance set in Carmel, Northern California


Inventions, Alchemy and other Wicked Adventures -Book 3 in the de Vargas steampunk series


 Smugglers, Spring Blossoms and other Brass Things -Book 4 in the de Vargas steampunk series

From the Ashes – a single title. The story of a young Australian mother after tragedy strikes and she rebuilds her life.

(I am so glad you are an overachiever, Annie, because you’re such a lovely writer and I can’t wait to read all these new titles! What a treat!)

11.  Would you like to share an excerpt from your writing or a photo or music link that inspires you?

I love a feisty, sassy heroine. This is from Summer of the Moon Flower, released on 21 December.

Sofia woke slowly as voices drifted into her consciousness.

It was Dougal.

She would recognize the voice of the man who had haunted her dreams for the past three days whether she was awake or asleep. Climbing down from the high bed, she shivered as her bare feet touched the cold stone and she reached for her cloak before walking over to the door. She had pushed it and pulled at it for the past day. Finally deciding to wait and overpower the maid when she next came to replenish the food, she had waited in vain as the woman had not returned. Hysteria had clawed at her throat in the middle of the night as she imagined the worst; being abandoned in this godforsaken place until she starved to death. There was no way out. She had felt her way around every inch of the solid walls, and had pulled at any protruding piece of stone. She had crawled across the floor and lifted every woven rug, looking for a trap door to no avail.

“Mary, hand the tray to me and I will take it in.” Dougal’s voice was close.

Sofia could not understand the words of the woman who seemed to be arguing with him, but eventually they faded. She stepped back to the side, looking wildly around the room. There was nothing she could use as a weapon. The logs on the fire had burned to ash and there was nothing small enough to pick up to fling at the murderous bastard when he came into the room.

She stepped to the hinged side of the door and pressed her back against the wall waiting for the door to open. The bolt creaked and the door opened slowly. The shadow of a large body darkened the floor in the doorway. Dougal stepped into the room and Sofia shrieked and jumped onto his back, reaching around for his eyes and gouging with her fingertips.

The tray he was carrying crashed to the ground as he reached up behind him and grabbed her arms.

“Mord bastard.” She screeched like a banshee trying to beat at him with hands now held securely in his grasp. “You murdering bastard, let me go.”

Thanks so much for having me, Susanne!

It’s an absolute pleasure having you here, Annie! Thanks for stepping into my spotlight. And visit again next Sunday 30th December when EFTHALIA PEGIOS takes a star turn.