Today I am speaking with Ann Morris.

Hi Ann! Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! It is so good to have you with us today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. The readers would love to hear something about Ann Morris.

I must tell you that I read Voodoo Nights and I truly enjoyed it. I am so glad you blended in New Orleans in this book.

And I’m so glad you liked Voodoo Nights. There are plans already for a sequel, Voodoo Days.

Before we hear about your upcoming works, why don’t you tell readers about this great story - Voodoo Nights?

Voodoo Nights is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, pre-Hurricane Katrina. The main characters are Special Agent Victor (Vic) Lambruzzi and Dallas newspaper reporter, Selena Castillo. While Vic is working on a snuff-porn case in the Quarter, Selena’s aunt, a Quarter shopkeeper is murdered. There is reason to believe her murder is tied in with the porn operation. In order to be near the murder scene, where he believes the murderer will show up once again, Vic poses as Selena’s ne’er-do-well husband and moves in with her in the apartment next to her murdered aunt’s store. Early on, Voodoo is suspected as being involved in the murder, which adds an extra element of mystery and suspense to the story. I don’t think I’ll say much more...don’t want to ruin it for any would-be readers out there.

What is Ann working on now?

Currently, I’m working on the first book of a vampire trilogy, contracted by a small press publisher well-respected for their great paranormals.

Does your writing require much research on your books?

I do research for all my books, but some require more than others. Voodoo Nights required less research than most of my books because I’m so familiar with the New Orleans area and its culture. There were a few things though, that I needed to research for historical accuracy.

What is your favorite genre for writing and for reading?

Romantic Suspense, but I guess that could always change.

What do you love most about your writing?

I’m really not certain whether you mean what I love most about writing in general or my writing in particular so I’ll take a shot at both. In general, I love coming up with a story idea, then letting my imagination run wild, while at the same time knowing I have to harness it so that the story I weave will come together in the end. What I most enjoy about my writing, in particular, is getting my characters to interact so that they come off sounding like real people (of course, to me, by the end of the story, they are real people )

Do you have a hectic schedule that prohibits you from writing more than you would like?

I wish I could say that I did, so I’d have an excuse for not writing as much as I’d like, but I don’t. I haven’t worked outside the home in years, so my days are pretty much in my hands. Time however, seems always to be at a premium, especially these days following Katrina when nothing seems like it will ever be normal again.

Does your family support your writing?

Yes, absolutely, each and every one of them.

Have you ever had to change a title or a character because the editor suggested it would be best for the story?

No, not so far. And I should tell you that I love writing titles. The title of my story usually comes to me as soon as I have a firm grasp on the story idea, and always before I write the first word.

Do you get many interruptions during your writing process? And if so, how do you stay focused so not to lose your train of thought?

I’m fortunate in that I am very flexible with my writing process, which is done now, in great part, in longhand. Over the past year, I’ve found that being able to carry a note book with me from room to room, and even in my car at times, is very liberating. I worry much less about the writing itself and more about getting the story down than when I compose directly on the computer. It also means that when I sit down to input what I’ve written, I’ve usually had time to mull it over and do revisions in my head. My computer input then becomes my second round of editing. As for my writing time itself, it is generally uninterrupted, for the most part. Last year I wrote from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. every morning as well as couple of hours in the afternoon. Lately, I’ve adjusted my writing time to my husband’s new work schedule and I’ve been writing from 7 a.m. until 11 a. m. If I am interrupted while in the middle of a scene or when trying to flesh out a new idea, I jot down a! sentence or two...sometimes just a few words in my notebook...to get me back on track when I pick up again.

Do you have a favorite author?

I really do not have one favorite. I’m a big fan of the J.D. Robb In Death series, but I also love Linda Howard and Elizabeth Lowell, as well as many others. I try to read across the board both in subgenre and author. I love when I find a new style or a new writer that shows me something I haven’t seen before.

Is there anyone that has influenced you in your life, Ann, either in writing or otherwise?

It would have to be my mother, bless her, for introducing me to the wonderful world of literature and then allowing me the freedom to make my own choices in reading material.

What comes first to you when composing, the characters or the plot?

The plot. Always the plot. I am definitely a plot driven writer.

Where do you see yourself three years from now?

Sitting right where I am now, in front of a computer, either spinning a tale or answering email . Seriously, I know you mean where do I see myself with regard to my writing career, and I can honestly tell you that all I see in the future is me writing better stories tomorrow than I do today.

Do you have a website other than http://www.annbmorris.com/default.htm that you would like to share with your readers?

Yes, I have a website for my pseudonym Caryn Carter, under which I write Erotic Romance. The web address is www.caryncarter.com. I must tell you though, that neither site is exactly what I want them to be. My husband has been doing website duty for me, but he has been very busy lately and unable to incorporate all the features I would like to have on both sites. We’re working on it, though, so do check the sites every now and then for updates.

For Fun: What is your favorite food, Ann? Your favorite place to visit? And your favorite song?

Oh gosh, you ask a native New Orleanian what her favorite food is? Don’t you know food to us here in southeast Louisiana is as vital as air? There’s no such thing as ONE favorite food...we love it all. Except, Gumbo, chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, is high up on my list of favorites. My favorite place to visit would be the mountains...any of them. And my favorite song changes with my mood. Lately, I’ve been overloading on Country Music and today my favorite song is Making Memories of Us, by Keith Urban.

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Ann. Anyone interested in reading more about Ann and her remarkable books, please visit her website to read more about her exciting works. It has been a pleasure Ann, and I wish you the best with your writing.

Thank you, for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts with you and your readers.

Interviewed by: Linda L