Anna Campbell is the author of very sensual and intriguing novels that focus on the hero and the heroine and how they overcome their (most of the time) tragic pasts. Her novels are always very deeply moving. (Photo: Copyright Robyn Hills Photography)
Thank you for taking the time for this interview.
Thank you for inviting me, Julia. I’m really looking forward to talking to German readers!
Your novels are really focused on the development of the relationship between hero and heroine. I love that. How do you begin with your stories?
Thanks for saying that. I must say as a reader, I love the intensity I get from a romance where the focus is on the main couple. Usually when I start a story, I get an opening scene in my mind. That usually means I have a hero, a heroine (sometimes a villain) and a problem. I let the story grow organically from that. Someone once described my process as being my own first reader – that’s a description I really like.
Your heroes most often carry with them a hard past which is healed by the heroine before they can help heal her sorrows. Are such tragic characters easy for you to write?
Oh, what an interesting take on the books. I think you’re right – there’s usually a psychic wound that needs healing in my characters and usually one character is slightly more ‘wounded’ than the other. Dealing in some of this dark stuff can be hard. I remember writing Gideon’s story in „Captive of Sin“ (published in Germany as „Fesseln der Sünde“) was really tough as I had to relive all the horrible things he’d gone through as a prisoner in India.
Your descriptions of the love making scenes are very detailed while always being aesthetic. How do you come up with such great descriptions?
Hey, thanks! I really work hard on the love scenes. I think the secret of a good love scene is never to lose connection with the emotional reasons for what’s happening and to convey how that love scene changes the characters. So the love scenes are part of the character arc.
How do you research the time period you write about?
I’ve always been interested in history and the Regency period is fascinating. I’ve done a lot of general reading so I’ve got a good general grip on what is possible/unlikely in that era. Generally with each of my books, there’s a subject or two that I have to research in greater depth. To give you an example, in „Untouched“ (Zart wie die Nacht), I needed to research the treatment of mental illness at the time. Wow, was that scary!
Since „My Reckless Surrender“ (Eine geheimnisvolle Lady) has been published in Germany in August 2011 your next novel might be coming out this year. Can you tell us something about the plot and the (I am sure of it) to-die-for hero of „Midnight’s Wild Passion“?
Actually, I regret to say I don’t have a German publication date for „Midnight’s Wild Passion“ yet. I live in hope, though! The other books have been very popular in Germany and I know you girls LOVE a good historical romance. I actually think „Midnight’s Wild Passion“ might be one of my favourite books. It’s the closest I’ve come to writing a classic Regency romance. The hero is a rake who sets out to ruin a young girl for vengeance but comes up against the young girl’s chaperone who is the most intriguing woman he’s ever met. It’s wonderful watching Nicholas become a better man, much against his wishes! And Antonia was fun to write – she’s so strong and resolute and determined to fight against this overwhelming attraction she feels for a man she knows is a scoundrel. For those of you who read English, there’s an excerpt of „Midnight’s Wild Passion“ on my website.
Many authors take a family and write books about all the children. Since you’re planning a series – will it be about a family, friends or something like that? Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Right now, I’m waiting on confirmation of a few things for the series so I’ll have to be general, but it’s based on three male friends who are linked through a common difficult experience as boys. They’re very different men so it’s fun exploring the way each of them responds to the challenges in their lives – and the challenges the heroines throw at them!
How do you spend the time when you’re not writing?
I read! I’m a compulsive reader. I’ll even read the back of the milk carton if there’s nothing else, LOL! I love to travel – I’ve visited Germany once and look forward to coming again. I was hoping to get over this year but sadly personal circumstances interfered and made it impossible. I’m hoping to get there sometime soon. I love music – I find it’s very inspirational when I’m struggling with a story to bash away at the piano.
Do you get fanmail from German fans?
I do and I love it! One of the wonderful things about this job is hearing from people all over the world who have enjoyed my stories.
Your books are translated into Japanese, Turkish, Norwegian, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Indonesian and even Thai. How exciting is that? Did you ever visit the countries your books are being published in?
Oh, wouldn’t it be fun to do an Anna Campbell translation tour! So far, I’ve visited France, Norway, Spain, Italy and Germany. I’d love to see the other countries that have bought my books!
You’ve written two short stories for „The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance“ and „The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance“. Do they come easier to you or is it more exciting to write novels?
By nature I write long (can’t you tell from his interview? LOL!). It’s good discipline for me to write something shorter. Although having said that, the Mammoth stories are both mini novellas of about 13,000 words each so not exactly short! I’m hoping to write a couple of novellas linked to my new series and I’m looking forward to that. As a reader, I love novellas. You can get that quick bite of romance deliciousness when you don’t have time to settle down to a full-length novel.
Thank you for your time. I am looking forward to your next book – maybe this year.
Oh, I’d love that, Julia. I’ll let you know if I get a publication date for „Midnight’s Wild Passion“. Thank you for having me as your guest.
