Interview--ANNIE SOLOMON 1

Thanks for being here Annie! It’s a pleasure.

Well, thanks for hosting me!

#1- Tell us a little about yourself outside of your writing career…

Hmm, let’s see. I’m a TV junkie, a devout Farscape fan (as those who’ve read my blog, Annie’s World—www.anniesolomon.net/blog—know), and I’m always ready for a new craft project. My favorite color right now is green, and my last meal would probably be spaghetti and meat sauce.

#2- You are originally from New York, but now reside in Tennessee. Was it difficult adjusting from a Yankee to a Southerner and how does it compare?

As a New Yorker I was accustomed to a big mix of cultures that wasn’t here when we first moved to Nashville. There were almost no ethnic restaurants or neighborhoods, and the lack of diversity seemed reflected in a narrower world view than I was used to. I liked to say that no matter who you are or where you come from when you come to Nashville you turn into white bread…

But so much has changed—including me! Our city has grown, become much more sophisticated; I’ve come to appreciate the family-friendly atmosphere, the lack of pretension, and the southern accents. I enjoy New York, but Nashville is home.

#3- As you know, I reviewed your title ONE DEADLY SIN for Bookpleasures and loved it! But how do you handle the negative reviews and critiques you receive?

I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. As for those negative reviews, I hate to say it, but I don’t handle them well. I don’t have much of a thick skin.

#4- We are both members of the Romance Writers of America, and you are a RITA winner. What do you feel you have gained from your membership and would you recommend it to other aspiring romance genre writers?

I not only do recommend RWA, I have. In fact, I taught a fiction-writing class this past February, and really touted RWA. I wouldn’t be where I am today without its knowledge and resources, and especially the support and encouragement I received from so many of its members.


#5- Assuming you get any time to read, what authors do you like to read, and were there any books that stand out from your childhood as favorites?

I confess I don’t read as much as I used to. But I’ll always love the Victorians—the Brontes, Charles Dickens, and George Elliot. In contemporary romance, a couple of my top faves are probably everyone’s—Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, and Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale. Anne Stuart is another top pick. As for childhood, I was a voracious reader as a kid. The books that stand out in memory are the Edgar Eager series of fantasy books, Half Magic, Magic by the Lake, and Magic or Not?; the Betsy and Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace and anything by Beverly Cleary.


#6- Are there any upcoming releases we would like to know about, and could you give us your web site so readers can check it out?

I’m extremely excited about my May release, ONE DEADLY SIN. It’s a revenge-gone-wrong story about a woman looking for payback. And you know what they say about payback—it’s a bitch. Which is exactly what my heroine, Edie Swann, finds out when she returns to her hometown and gets caught in her own deadly trap. Like they say, going home is murder…

There’s an excerpt on my website, and as the time gets closer to release I’ll be adding some behind-the scenes articles and other interesting stuff about my research and what inspired the book. It’s all at www.anniesolomon.net

#7- This about concludes it. Thank you again for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Maybe I’ll give one last plug for my blog, Annie’s World, anniesolomon.net/blog. I do blather on, but it’s fun, and I talk about everything from shopping green to favorite words—and occasionally my writing. I love to hear from readers, so stop by and say howdy.

Thanks for having me, Kelly. And Happy Reading Everyone!