Welcome to FAR, Anne. Anne Leland is the author of Donegal and Three's Company.

Thanks, Dena! More than happy to be here, FAR rocks!

Donegal is an enchanting saga of destiny, revenge, and ancient magic through ten generations. Did Donegal emerge unexpectedly or did the narrative materialize slowly?

The beginning threads of Donegal came to me all at once; the story evolved over time, and has actually grown into a trilogy. I'm working on the second book and hope to have it finished by early next year for my readers. The next segment will truly belong to Alex as she further discovers the ancient powers she's inherited and comes to find out she's not necessarily free of the curse that has plagued her family. But that's all I'll share for now…

The short excerpt on your site is tantalizing. Will Elisha find healing with Vicente or only lust?

Now, you know the pat answer for that is: read the story. Ha ha! However, I'll spill a little bit and tell you that Vicente and Elisha are very much soul mates with a bond so strong, not even the circle of time can dim the strength of their love. However, whether she finds healing, love, lust, redemption, or death… that's something you'll discover in Donegal.

What was your favorite aspect of writing a paranormal suspense?

Suspense seems to come naturally to me as a writer; even my comedies have strong elements of suspense, or as some say, "page turners." As for the paranormal, the unknown, the fantasy of it, fascinates me. I love having the ability to stretch my imagination in a story without having to stay in the boundaries of perhaps what is "real."

Will there be a sequel to Donegal and are you able to tantalize us with an excerpt?

Whoops, I jumped the gun and answered that a few questions back… yes, there will be two sequels to Donegal, completing the full trilogy. I'd love to tantalize you with an excerpt, but alas, it's still too early in the game to do so. However, I did leave a few hints in the question above to hopefully satisfy my reader's curiosity. I also encourage my readers to sign up for my newsletter, where they will receive insider information, excerpts, and a lot of special offers from me too. I adore my readership circle and try to let them know as often as possible, how grateful I am for their support of my writing.

Three's Company is a hilarious sexy romp with two handsome men and one independent business woman. Was Jess inspired by any person or did she emerge from an idea?

I must confess, Jess has a little bit of me in her, but really she is inspired by every woman who's ever dared to realize their self worth and the power they hold within. Though it's a comedy, I hope my readers still take away a sense of their own self-worth after reading Three's Company.

Did Ryan and Jared materialize first looking for Jess or did they appear together with Jess?

Ryan materialized immediately. When I first thought of Three's Company, I thought to do a female with two male roommates- sort of a reverse of the old sitcom. As the story progressed, Hannah sort of plunked herself in and I simply adored her character. Jared also introduced himself and he really proved to be the perfect match for Jess as she began to push her boundaries and wonder out of her comfort zone.

How was writing Three's Company different/similar to Donegal? Did a contemporary story require less, more, or the same amount of research?

The best way I can describe my variant styles of writing: When I write romantic comedy, it's sort of like the surface me taking over. I'm a fairly laid-back yet adventurous person who likes to laugh, so my zany light-hearted side takes over. Then there's this other side of Anne, the sort of closet-geek who collects Star Wars toys, gets giddy over exploring mythologies, and gravitates towards fantasy, sci-fi, and everything out of the ordinary-she writes the paranormal, darker romance.

As for research, Three's Company required very little research to write, I knew the characters to some degree already as they are a culmination of many friends both past and present.

Donegal, on the other hand, I spent hours sifting through bookstores, libraries, and my own book collections to research various pieces of the tale. I also spoke at length with a detective friend, who helped me a bit with Kyle, the officer who stumbles into the middle of mayhem in Donegal.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your books?

Actually more of something I'd like to share with my readers- I encourage you to write the authors you like to read. Give them feedback, it's invaluable to us, and ask questions too. It's amazing how often you'll discover more about the characters you came to love in the books. Each of my characters has a back story which is not always written. I love when readers reach out to discover more. We authors are attached to our characters too, it's more than fun to share more with you!

Are there any tasty tidbits you can share with us about your upcoming short story in Paranormal Island Fantasies? How will it differ from Sinful Sundaes?

Daughters of the Isle is my upcoming story in the Paranormal Island Fantasies anthology releasing from Triskelion Publishing this August. The anthology also features the wonderful talents of authors Terry Spear, Beverly Rae, and Kara Griffen. Each story is a Paranormal Romance w/ a common thread of Island settings.

The Emerald Isle called to me for my contribution. Daughters of the Isle was inspired by an old Celtic Fairy Tale, and is a very much a fantasy paranormal. I had great fun writing and researching this particular tale and hope to write more like it in the future.

Sinful Sundaes is a Midnight Showcase anthology, scheduled for release in October '05. A very charming author, Mae Powers, invited me to participate in this project and it is a hoot! The anthology centers around the town of Spellsville, where anything and everything paranormal resides. There's fairies, vamps, ghosts-you name it. At the focal point of each of our stories is the local ice cream shop in Spellsville, Sinful Sundaes. My story is Witches, Warlocks, and Walnuts. Enchanted walnuts, that is…

How open are you in your real life about the fact that you write erotic romance? Have you received any negative comments about it?

I'm completely open about it. I find it amusing that there actually exists some social stigmatism about erotic romance. It's not as if it's a new genre. Quite the contrary, erotic romance goes far back on the literary chain.

I do use a pseudonym, but solely to separate my careers. I write non-fiction under Barb Webb www.BarbWebb.com, but freely cross-support my fiction work.

What is your biggest concern as a writer when it comes to the controversy of erotic vs. mainstream and e-books vs. print?

Personally I have no concerns as I don't cater to the controversy. It's silly. There's room in the world for all types of writing and all formats. Why not compare print to audio? Or screenplays to article writing? What's the point?

I write for the sheer love of writing. It's in me, a part of me, a blessing I don't question or deny. When I write a story, and article, a book, or even a poem, I don't write with the intention of selling of it or necessarily with a particular publisher in mind. I write from the heart and worry about finding a home for my work later, whatever venue that may be.

We could debate the topics until the cows come home, it wouldn't change a thing. The mediums will still exist and there will most likely always be an audience for each venue.

The book world is ever changing and ever evolving. Who knows, maybe we'll be reading books on our televisions in the near future in some quasi-interactive style. Wonder what the debaters will think about that?

Describe yourself in three words.

Hmmm… Mom, Writer, Reader, Friend. (okay that's four, but hoping you'll forgive me.) Or if you are looking for adjectives… Loving, Cheerful, Logical, and Artistic (had to stick with my pattern of four LOL)

Is there any music that inspires the different genres?

I am as eclectic with my music choices as I am with my writing. Whatever suits my mood at the time gets popped into the CD player. Sometimes I'll find a song though that associates strongly with the piece I'm working on… for example, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls really suits Donegal.

Do you have a specific routine before you write? Do you write in one area only or everywhere?

No specific routine, other than I like to concentrate on my work, so preferably I write when the house is quiet (kids are sleeping, etc.) I enjoy listening to music though while I write, and my favorite choice of writing settings is to sit outside with my trusty pen and notebook.

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for a story that immediately has to be written?

Yes! And they smack me in the middle of driving, running errands, in the shower-muses can pick the most interesting times. I've often gotten out of bed in the middle of the night and jotted down notes, written a few lines, or even completed a scene or two. It's not surprising though, when we quiet our minds, we usually open them to be more receptive of ideas. If a particular piece is bothering me or I can't seem to find the words to write, I often go for a walk, and Viola! The answer reveals itself on the journey.

If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

My favorite author, Dean Koontz. He's an extraordinary storyteller. I'd love the opportunity to learn from him.

Who/What inspired you to write?

I wish I had a fancy tale to tell here, but honestly, I think I was born with it. At a very young age, I picked up my first book and the rest is history. I've been an avid reader all my life and writing came naturally to me. By first grade, I knew I wanted to be either a writer or a teacher, or both. I've been very fortunate in this lifetime to achieve both dreams.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

There are too many, but here's a few that are on the top of my auto-purchase pile: Dean Koontz, Alice Hoffman, Stephen King, Haywood Smith, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, John Grisham, S.E. Hinton, and Mary Kay Andrews.

Is there a way other than your website for fans to keep updated?

I have a newsletter loop where I offer my reader circle many extras, including insider info, excerpts, special contests, and exclusive offers. Sign-up is available via my website www.AnneLeland.com or directly by subscription http://groups-beta.google.com/groups/adult_confirm?_done=/group/MischievousMaidens

Also, I encourage my readers to write to me. I'm always happy to answer an email or a letter, and have made many friends this way too. There are so many wonderful people in the world, I'm fortunate to have a great reader circle!

Do you believe writing is a gift you are born with or can it be taught?

In my opinion, anyone can be taught to write and to write well. To me what defines an author is the ability to tell stories- that's an art, and I believe, also a gift.

When you first began writing, what was the most difficult part?

When I first began writing, there were no difficult parts. I think for most authors, we go in with a pretty notion that we are going to write a spectacular best seller on the first run. Ha, ha, ha. That's maybe happened to around 5 or so writers probably, in my lifetime at least. So the first book I wrote was a breeze.

Then reality hits… writing is a craft and though it's a gift, there is still much to learn about your craft. As with any other art, you improve with time if you dedicate yourself passionately to learning the tools of your trade. So, the most difficult part for me, initially, was the editing process. Especially learning to let go and realize that not everything I wrote on the page was necessary and that yes, it's okay to eliminate some of the words and even a scene or two. Now I slice and dice all the time, and continue to study my craft feverishly.

PS: My first book remains unpublished, where it lovingly belongs.

What final advice would you offer to writers who are seeking publication?

Five important things: Believe in yourself, stay true to your heart, make friends with other writers, continue to learn your craft, and don't give up!

Finally, any last thoughts.

A huge thank you to FAR for interviewing me and especially to Dena for being so gracious.

A mega-huge thank you to those reading my interview. Thank you for allowing me to enter your life for awhile.

Thank you Anne for taking the time to answer my questions and give us a glimpse into your life and world. For more information about Anne Leland and her books, visit her website at http://www.anneleland.com/.


Interviewed by: Dena