Guest Interview with Ann B. Harrison

Join me in a warm welcome to Author Ann B. Harrison, as she answers my nosy questions.

*pulls out a chair for Ann*

Make yourself at home, Ann :-)

Hi my name is Ann B Harrison and I write rural romance, erotic romance and young adult.

Hi, Ann, so nice to have you here today.

Q. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?

A. Wow, where do I start? I'm not that interesting really. Big book freak which is how I got started writing. The voices in my head drove me insane to the point that I had to start getting their stories out. I love how my life is turning out.

Q. What made you write ‘this’ story?

A. I love erotic romance. Simple really. I had a trip to San Francisco this year with a friend and loved the place. We took a bus tour down the coast to Carmel and I knew I wanted to write a story set in this region. I just had to wait for Red to make up his mind to join me and what an entry he made.

Q.Tell us about your cover.

A. How hot is that? I hunted for ages for a photo I liked and I kept coming back to this one. My dear friend Annie Seaton made it for me. She is such a clever lady. I am so techno challenged it's not funny.

Q. Describe a typical day’s writing for us

A. I check my emails before I get out of bed. Terrible I know but hubby and I have had this tradition for 35 years. He makes me tea in bed every morning before I get up, (because when I was pregnant I couldn't function without it) and he still does it. So I know before I get up how my day will pan out. I usually do my social media and emails first then I hook into my writing or editing depending on what needs to be done. I very rarely go anywhere without laptop or my iPhone so I can always work.

Q. What inspires you?

A. Anything, that's a hard one because it just happens. When I wrote Taming the Outback, my first book, it was just driving through some country that I hadn't seen before. I started to wonder what it would be like if someone left me a farm and it raced on from there. Before the end of the day I had that story all but written in note form and the next one Mistress for Magnus plotted as well. I can go weeks without getting a single good idea and other days they come thick and fast. I told a friend who has just started writing that once you become a writer, your mind is no longer your own. She is finding that out now and it's driving her crazy.

*nods*  I so agree!

Q. If you weren’t a writer what would you be?

A. A farmer, mixed animals, small crops. I'm a country girl at heart, born and bred. I have to have my animals and plants around me. Typical earthy person.

Q. Do your characters ever surprise you?

A. All the time. I think we are heading in one direction and before I know what's happened, they blind sight me and I'm left reeling.

I think the one that shocked me the most was in my Young Adult book Witchling. In book three, one of my characters gets killed off and I bawled my eyes out. I didn't see it coming at all and my beta readers were very upset too. But it made the story so who am I to complain. I just do as they tell me.

Oh that sounds so very familiar. 

Q. What could not do without when you’re writing?

A. Black tea, weak and hot. I go through gallons of the stuff. I'm tea total and I have the kettle boiling again before I finish my cup.

Q. What words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring authors out there?

A. Don't ever give up, ever. I got turned down heaps before I got my first contract. You learn so much along the way, if it's a passion for you, fight for it.

Q. Where do you see yourself in ten year’s time?

A. Soaking up the sun in Italy or Greece would be nice. Ha ha ha. Seriously, I want to be able to write full time with no backup job. I'm sure there are many writers out there who say the same thing. Unfortunately I'm not there yet but fingers crossed. That's my goal and I'll give it my best shot. Maybe this time next year.

Q. Do you have a favourite quote?

A. A couple actually. One from Nora Roberts always sits in the back of my mind on a bad day writing.

'You can fix a bad page but you can't fix a blank page.'

I saw the following one on P!nk's  website and I'm sure it will make a great book one day. Dark and dangerous.

'Damaged people are dangerous because they know they can survive.' Gets the imagination going, doesn't it?

Oooh, yes I like that!

Q. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

A. I'm not sure there is any such thing really. I've read so many opinions on this and here is mine for what it's worth. Your brain never stops thinking. There are always thoughts running through it so if that is the case you should be able to write them down. They may not be the ones that you want but look at my first quote and take heart. Getting something down is the key. You can always fix it later. I get constantly surprised when I write what I think is garbage because what I want will not come down. I go back later and it usually makes sense.

Q. What other books can your readers look forward to?

A. I have 'Taming the Outback' and 'Mistress for Magnus' out now. Both are available through Breathless Press and Amazon

My YA book Witchling is out under my pen name Ari Harper available from Lycaon Press and Amazon

Q. And finally can you share an excerpt with us?

Here you go.

“If you keep squeezing my ass like that I won't make it to the bedroom.” He groaned as she did it again, laughing at his reaction.

“We have all night Red. I'm sure you won't mind it I have an orgasm or two before you make love to me, in fact I'll insist on it. Why would I worry if you do as well? What's good for the goose and all that.” She looked up at him with a big grin on her face.

Letting go of his ass she wound her fingers through his and pulled him down the hallway and into a large corner room. The long windows in the room reached the ceiling giving clear views over the bay the same as the lounge. The focal point of the room was the huge four poster bed covered in feminine pink and cream pillows piled high against the headboard. Through an open doorway he spotted a freestanding tub in an equally sumptuous bathroom.

Rhian grabbed the collar of his jacket and peeled it down over his shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. She hooked her fingers over his ears and removed his thick glasses, tossing them on to the bed. His t-shirt followed. She tweaked his nipples playfully, glancing up at his face before kneeling in front of him. He stood still as she unclipped his boots and lifted his feet, throwing his footwear away.

He held his breath as she leaned up and popped the button on his jeans. When her fingers ran the length of him before she undid the zip he almost cried out in agony. It had been too long since anyone had touched him. She slid his jeans from his hips, smiling up at him, a wicked gleam in her eyes. His boxers were tented out in front of him, leaving her in little doubt about his present state of mind.

With soft caresses, Rhian ran her fingers from the tip of his cock to his balls. She squeezed his  sac, rolling his balls in one hand and used the fingers on her other hand to rub the head until he was thrusting against her palm.

Thanks for having me Doris, it's been a blast.

You're very welcome, Ann. Come back soon!

You can stalk Ann in these places:

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Hot-ebook/dp/B00AADOJCC/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354405837&sr=1-4&keywords=ann+b+harrison

https://www.facebook.com/annb.harrison.7

http://www.annbharrison.com/