A Season perennial favourite is back! Please welcome Anna Campbell to the blog. I so can hear her lovely Aussie accent floating across the internet. 🙂 Ask Anna anything you like, she’s game and so responsive. Oh, and Anna comes bearing gifts. Yep, Avon Books is giving away 5 copies of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER to 5 (five) lucky commenters.

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Hi Anna, welcome back. Can you tell us a little about MY RECKLESS SURRENDER, which I will add has a drop dead gorgeous cover?


Hi Beverley! I’m delighted to be back here at the Season! Thank you for inviting me. MY RECKLESS SURRENDER is the story of a dangerous seduction in late Regency London. Diana Carrick has the opportunity to turn all her dreams into reality but in return, she has to seduce notorious rake Tarquin Vale, Earl of Ashcroft. Needless to say, trouble follows! Oh, and yes, that is one bodacious cover! That yellow is just gorgeous and I love that sexy glint in Diana’s eye. You know this is a woman who will cause mayhem in the hero’s heart!


MY RECKLESS SURRENDER, which is also one of The Season’s June Top Picks with 10 Star perfect rating, isn’t as dark as your previous novels. Does this mean you’re headed in a new direction with books in a slightly lighter tone? Or are you just going to keep us on our toes by mixing it up?


Wow, that’s great news, Beverley. Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed this story which as you said is a bit of a departure for me. For a start, the hero isn’t tortured – or at least he’s not when the story opens. Once Diana’s had her way with him (ahem!), that might change! I think there’s still a lot of emotional depth in this story – both characters have a long journey to make before their happily ever after. But yes, I agree, the tone is lighter than something like CAPTIVE OF SIN. The next story (no title confirmed yet but it will be out mid-2011) is similar in tone to MY RECKLESS SURRENDER. The one after that is probably going to be closer to CAPTIVE OF SIN. Tone seems to come with each individual story so what happens next can be as much of a surprise to me as to the reader!


What do you find so appealing about writing about the early 19th century England? Do you think you’ll ever base any of your historicals in a different era, perhaps even century?


Would I sound shallow if I said men in boots? Yeah, I probably would! Actually, all jokes aside I love the elegance and the wit of the Regency era. I love that it was a heyday of decadence (particularly the late Regency, the reigns of George IV and William IV) before the straitlaced Victorians took over. I love the fact that readers love this period! At the moment, I have no plans to move outside the Regency, but I have a Viking story lurking at the back of my mind and one day, it might be fun to visit the children of some of my heroes and heroines and see what they make of life. So that means tackling the Victorian era!


Some of my favourite tropes include the brother’s best friend, or the reunited lovers. Do you have a favourite theme you either love to read or write about?


Well, I think most of my books fall into the Beauty and the Beast trope, perhaps not MY RECKLESS SURRENDER so much. Hmm, I’ll have to think about that more. Although Diana definitely beards the beast in his lair to get what she wants and the beast isn’t nearly so beastly as she was expecting. So maybe MRS is a BATB story too. I love the fairytale/mythological underpinning to a romance. I’m such a big romance reader, I’m a sucker for most of the tropes, frankly! Love fish out of water, Cinderella, friends into lovers, hatred into love, forbidden love, love versus honor, opposites attract, you name it! I wrote my first reunion story for THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF REGENCY ROMANCE which is out at the end of June. That was such fun to put together! I loved giving those two characters a second chance at love.


If you had to choose, which to you is more important, the sexual tension or the love scenes?


Ooh, that’s tough! Actually I think sexual tension can continue into a love scene – or at least dramatic tension does. I love writing sexual tension, that complicated dance! But then I love writing love scenes when the characters aren’t just naked physically, they’re naked emotionally too. Sorry, I know it’s a cop-out, but can’t choose!


Who and what kinds of books did you read growing up?

10 Star ~ June Top Pick!


I’ve always been a voracious reader. I’ll read the back of the milk carton if all else fails. As a kid, I read most of the classics, Heidi, Enid Blyton, horse books by the gazillion. I moved onto adult books fairly early – I must have been about eight when I read my first Georgette Heyer and I was that age when my mother gave me my first Harlequin to shut me up (she was desperate, poor thing, LOL!). In my early teens, I was mad on historical fiction like Jean Plaidy. About that stage, I devoured Barbara Cartland and Victoria Holt and Anya Seton. Clearly I was headed towards historical romance as a lifelong obsession!


If you had to pick one, which author or books most influenced your decision to become a writer?


What a great question. You know, I think it might be Enid Blyton. I can remember reading her under the covers with a torch and she introduced me to that burning need to finish a story, even if the world collapsed around me. She had a great gift for compelling plots and characters you cheered for.


What’s coming up for you next? Can you share any part of the story’s plotline with us?


Well, this is the book currently untitled – in fact, currently in a rather messy draft on my computer! It’s a twist on a few themes that I’ve always loved – secret identity, the Ugly Duckling, the Regency rake undone by love (although it takes him a long time to accept that’s the case), revenge, redemption. There are more of the traditional Regency trappings in this story and they were huge fun to write. I got to step into the glamorous Georgette Heyer world for once!


Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers about you or your book?


I’m really excited about MY RECKLESS SURRENDER hitting the stands on 25th May. Both Diana and Tarquin were such headstrong, passionate characters, I was sorry to say goodbye to them when I finished the book. If you’d like to see a blurb or read an excerpt, please check out my website at: http://www.annacampbell.info/recklesssurrender.html

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By Authors, Avon Books, Giveaways, Interviews230 Comments on Interview & Giveaway – Anna Campbell ~ My Reckless Surrender

230 Replies to “Interview & Giveaway – Anna Campbell ~ My Reckless Surrender”

  1. Good luck with the book. I’ve read and enjoyed all of Anna’s others so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one too.

  3. I love the story line. The cover is gorgeous. I love Anna’s stories. She is an auto-buy for me. Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway!

  6. I have only read one of Anna’s books, Captive of Sin, and I am hooked! I can’t wait for next week when I can pick up this next one, unless I win a copy which would be awesome.

  7. Hey, thanks, Jennifer! I think this one is definitely in the continuum with the others although like all of them, it has its quirks, LOL! I really enjoyed writing Tarquin – nice to have a reasonably well balanced guy at the start, snort!

  8. Rita, I’ve read the review about three times – it definitely improves with return visits, or perhaps that’s just for the author! Isn’t it great? I love stories where people start out with an agenda and then get completely derailed when love comes barging into their lives!

  10. Hi, Phyllis! Thank you so much for those lovely comments! That IS a gorgeous cover, isn’t it? And I love the look in her eyes! You know she’s promising trouble to my poor hero!

  12. What a wonderful interview! I wish you great success with your book Anna, it sounds like a real winner, I can’t wait to read it. Beautiful cover too, very nicely done! 🙂

  14. Hey, Melanie, Gid got you in, did he? I’m so glad to hear that! He was SUCH a tortured hero, wasn’t he? Thanks so much for letting me know and good luck with the draw!

  16. Oh boy, Anna! Looking forward to this one!!! And how funny that many of your books are sort of “beauty and the beast” stories–I do love that trope. Very much looking forward to your ugly-duckling one, too!

  17. Hi Anna, can’t wait to meet Tarquin, and reading a lighter story from you will be fun. I like how you do different things with yours books. Now, I’d love to see you tackle a lusty Viking, always go for them.

  18. Fedora, I’m a sucker for that scene where the guy takes off the girl’s glasses and says in a voice of wonder, “Why, Miss Jones, you’re BEAUTIFUL!” I know it’s corny, but it always works for me. I love that fairytale story style – think all of mine will be one or another! Although not sure how I can work the seven dwarves in! Snort! Only four days to go!

  19. Pam, the Viking story has been lurking since I had four months wandering around the UK in 2004 (that was such a great trip!). I went to this wonderful place in the far north of Scotland which was a perfect Viking lair. Nothing like getting the setting before the story, snort! I think it would be fun to write a Viking – you could just let everything rip and roar, couldn’t you?

  20. My most anticipated book 😀
    hey Anna, I’m so sure that you know i want to read this book badly !
    and i just know that you like Enid Blyton, I love her books too !

  21. Mariska, I think people who say her books are bad for kids are missing the point, really! I know so many people who grew up to read as adults because they had real fun with EB when they were kids. I didn’t want to read worthy or tragic stuff when I was young, I wanted wonderful adventure stories about characters I could cheer for. A bit like growing up to read romance, really! Well, you get tragic stuff in romance, certainly, but there’s always that happy ending to look forward to. So glad you’re looking forward to the book! Not long now!

  22. Hi Anna, super interview! I just adore the yellow cover – so eye-catching! And the look on the heroine’s face is so great.

    I’m rediscovering my love of regency–I’ve been reading/writing paranormal for a few years now–via your stuff, Anna! So chuffed to pick up UNTOUCHED at RTN recently.

    Ooh, and congrats on the Australian Romance Readers Assoc. gong. Very cool stuff…

  23. Hi Anna, those long boots that men wore are the sexiest things, aren’t they! I’m very partial to a nicely kitted out equestrian and I’m sure those black boots and buff breeches are a big part of the attraction!

    I can’t wait for My Reckless Surrender hitting the shops – another Anna Campbell for my keeper shelf!

    And about that Viking book … you’ve told us about it now so you know we’ll remind you somewhere down the track don’t you!

    😉
    Sharon

  24. Hi Anna! I’m a little late to the party, but I’m so excited about your upcoming book! I’ve been drooling over the cover as well with the other Banditas forever it seems like 😀
    As for the boots… heh. I know what you mean – the [most?] appealing aspect of steampunk to me is the clothes! The fantastic coats etc that the men wore… I totally get that. And I love the Regency era as well. So much glamor and grandeur. Congratulations on the upcoming release and thanks for visiting with us!

  25. Hi Anna,
    Congrats on the upcoming release. You already know I’m a fan of your books and your lovely covers. I’m super excited about your first reunion story, I’ll need to look out for the Mammoth Book of Regency Romance.

  26. Love your stories Anna they always keep me enthralled and I am soo excited that there is not long to wait till I can read MRS

    Have Fun
    Helen

  27. Hi, Anna and Beverley!

    Hmm, I would like to see your take on a Viking story, Anna! Your Regency Noirs have kept me very happy and wanting more, though. 🙂

  28. Anna, I loved the interview. Congratulations on the 10 star rating. I’m not really surprised, as this is one terrific book. I loved the switch in theme with the heroine seducing the rake. Bring it on! Congratulations too on your fantastic wins at the Australian Romance Readers’ Awards. Very well deserved.

    To anyone that hasn’t read any of Anna’s books, do yourself a favour and check them out.

    Cheers,
    Annie (grinning at your ‘bodacious’ cover)

  29. Hi Anna, I love the beautiful yellow cover of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER and am interested to read that it heralds a sunnier tone of story. I love your angst-ridden books (hello, my favorites UNTOUCHED and CAPTIVE OF SIN) and am looking forward to reading an Anna Campbell story with a lighter touch. Bet it’s still taut with romance and passion and lashings of emotion, though! Good luck with the launch, fabulous reviews precede it!

  30. I didn’t know you were an Enid Blyton lover, but it makes so much sense! Perhaps I’m destined to be a writer – I too read EB under the covers with a torch, and started GH at 10, although I don’t think I have the wealth of talent that you possess! Can’t wait to read MRS, and congratulations on the Favourite Author award – a well deserved prize!

  31. Anna,
    You kind of threw me at the mention of ‘no tortured hero’ in this book.
    Does this mean I’m going to love it as much as I’ve loved all your others?
    Because I adore your tortured heroes soooo much,
    But I’m still looking forward to getting my hands on a copy and reading it,
    Good luck with the launch,
    Suzi

  32. Great review & interview! The book sound great, I would like to get my hands on it 🙂 Please count me in the giveaway.

  33. Hi, Anna! I am really looking forward to MRS! The cover is perfect! An Anna Campbell Viking story would be great, and with your sense of humor, it would be a fun tale! Does Sven enter that story anywhere? 🙂

  34. Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite storylines! 😀 I enjoyed Captive of Sin (but boy, did it weigh heavy, sometimes), so I’m looking forward to checking out My Reckless Surrender. Thanks for the chance to win!

  35. Wonderful interview, Bev and Anna!

    Anna, congrats on the release of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER! It’s another terrific story with a hero that is mmmm…mmmm good. In fact, Tarquin is running a close race with Gideon as my favorite Anna Campbell hero. 🙂

    I’d sure love to read that Viking story someday. I have a special fondness for Vikings. 😉

    Bev, please exclude me from the giveaway. I already have my copy of MRS.

  36. Hi Anna (waves madly)!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by. How many stories will be getting in the Mammoth Book of Regency Romance?

    I love it that you start your books right in the middle of the action, immediately hooking the reader. Depending on my mood, I’m not always willing to get ‘warmed up’ when I read. 😉

    Bev

  37. Seeing “Anna Campbell” and “viking story” in the same article is reason enough for celebration. I bet it would be fabulous. I’m sure My Reckless Surrender will be as well – even Diana and Tarquin’s names sound delicious together.

  38. I have never read anything by Anna Campbell, but this one looks like a great place to start.

  39. Awesome interview! I’m reading “Captive of Sin” right now and i’m loving it. ^^ Can’t wait to try another Anna book.

  40. You have me sold. I cannot wait until this one is burning at my finger tips

  42. Haha are Aussie accents still considered a novelty?

    It’ll be interesting to read a more light-hearted regency by Anna this time round! Can’t wait to read MRS.

    (sidenote: Enid Blyton FTW!)

  43. Hi Anna – great cover! Your books sounds like it’s going to be great.

    I hope you DO write that Viking story one day, they are my favorites!

  44. I feel the same as Anna Bowling, Viking story had my eyebrows raising to my hairline and a big grin. Love my Viking/Highlanders. But Anna you know I “LOVE, LOVE your books.. And that is a gorgeous cover. Congrats on your newest release and I wish you much success. Please enter me also. 🙂
    Carol L.
    Lucky4750@aol.com

  45. Hi Anna, been a fan since Claiming The Courtesan, had MRS on my queue since last year! And I vote for the ugly duckling storyline, too…really hope you decide to go with that theme. Wishing you much success with the release of MRS. Have a great day 🙂

  46. I have been waiting for My Reckless Surrender since I finish Captive of Sin. While I love a tortured hero, I’m looking foward to MRS and its lighter tone. Can’t wait to read it! Congrats on your new release Anna.

  47. Anna, you know I’ve been a fan since the beginning, and I always look forward to your new releases. While your dark stories really resonate with me (Untouched is a personal all-time fav), I’m eager to see what you’ve done in this lighter vein, especially knowing what a wicked sense of humor you have! Best of luck as always!

  49. congrats on the new release. It looks beautiful and sounds interesting. Great interview & what a review! If I wasn’t interested before, definately would be now.

  50. Hi Anne,

    Congratulations on the release of ‘My Reckless Surrender’. It is on my wishlist and can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! Maybe here?? Anyway, that cover is outstanding! Loved your interview too.

    As I was reading your interview, I had to think there are very few historical romance books set in Australia. What few I’ve heard of, but haven’t read, seem to be more on the order of American Westerns rather than 19th Century English Society. Not knowing much about Australian history, what was city life like in the 19th century? Was there a cosmopolitan society similar to the London Season in the large cities? Is it a setting worth exploring for a future novel?

  51. Can’t wait to get my hands on this one! Congratulations on what promises to be another resounding success! Looking forward to a great read.

  52. Great interview. My Reckless Surrender sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to read this book. 🙂

  54. I am impatiently waiting for this book! What a great author! Thanks for the interview. Although we all feel close to our favorite authors through reading their books, it’s nice to actually hear from them. Thanks for everything you do on this site!

  55. Hi, Anna!!

    This one sounds like another one-nighter. You’ve been batting a 100 so far on those. I can’t wait to read it!

    The cover is lovely, but Tempt The Devil is still my favorite one. 🙂 I wonder why… 😉

    Wishing you mega sales and keep writing, pls. 🙂

    Hugs!

    P.S. Hi Bev! 🙂

  58. Hi, Anna, great interview! I just wanted to pop over from the Romance Bandits Lair to say HUGE CONGRATS on the 10-star rating and I cannot wait for this book to hit the stands May 25.

    My fave theme revolves around Beauty and the Beast too. I always tell Dr. Big it’s because I’m the beauty who married to beast, but I don’t think he buys it LOL. We’ve been married 44 years today; what a long and exhilarating ride!

  59. This looks like a really fun book. Looking forward to reading it.

    Great interview!

  61. Hey Anna mate! *waving*

    Fantastic review and interview, this book is at the top of my birthday list for June, I cannot wait! I love the sounds of the plot, and hey, so the hero is not as dark and tortured as your previous guys, I think I can live with it! LOL! Truly Anna, you deserve all the accolades and great reviews, your books have a place of honour on my bookshelf. Even have a light shining on them…Ok, not really. *snort* Cheers~

    ~Drew

  62. I can’t wait to get this book. I’ve read all the reviews, gone to Anna’s website to read excerpts and am excited about reading this. I’ve read others by Anna and will undoubtedly love this book too. I’ve got lots of books and hope to add this to my collection.

  65. I’ve read 2 of Anna’s books & really enjoyed them. Looking forward to this one!

  66. This book sounds really good. I want to get to know a hero whose name is Tarquin – sounds intriguing

  68. I love Anna Campbell’s work and have all of her books! I’ve talked her up to other librarians, about her unique brand of Regency noir…I do like the cover!

  70. Anna I have seen your book on a lot of blogs and can’t wait to read it.The cover is beautiful eye catching.Thank you for the fun interview I enjoyed it.

  74. Thank you for the interview Anna and Beverley! I really want to read this book, as I enjoyed ‘Claiming the Courtesan’ and enjoyed it and would like to read something else by you. Best of luck to you with book sales! 🙂

  75. I just read the review and this book sounds FANTASTIC. Wow. Awesome! And it does have a beautiful cover. I’d love to read it!

  76. Hi Anna! Great interview! And YAY to The Season for giving it a great rating!

    Swinging by from the Romance Bandits to say how much I’m looking forward to this book – you got me at that cover *g*.

    I love the fairy tale themes too – my favourite is Cinderella (okay, so I loved the shoes LOL)

  77. Great interview Bev and La Campbell !! I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. As you know I LOVE all of your books. And I want to know exactly what you are sacrificing to the cover gods, my friend! Your covers just get better and better!

  78. Congrats on the latest release!! I know it will be another winner for Anna.

  79. Tried to win this book in another contest and was not lucky enough to win — so with % copies in the pot maybe I’ll be lucky this time.

    Can’t wait to get my sticky little fingers on this one.

    FOR JO ROBERTSON AND HUBBY — best wishes on your anniversay and may you enjoy many more together.!!!!!!

    My DH and I will celebrate our 44th anniversary on July 29th — and I haven’t pushed him out of the window YET (operative word is YET).!!! Just kidding of course — would only trade him in for 2 22-year-olds — now that I think about that , that wouldn’t work — my 3 sons are older than 22 –YOW!!

    Best wishes for your continued success, Anna and keep writing those wonderful stories.!!!!!

  82. Hi Anna! *waves madly*

    I think you may have finally put into precise words what it is that makes you one of my favorite writers. I’ve danced all around it, even in conversation with you, about how you take your characters to such dark places and yet manage to bring them to a more glorious redemption because of it. That emotional depth is irresistible to me. But I’ve never found precisely the way to describe it. It is summed up, though, when you said you want them to not just naked physically in a love scene, but naked emotionally as well. That’s the crux of the whole thing for me. Getting them to that emotional state is the skill of course and you are awesome at it. And I agree. This cover is stunning. I can’t wait to read this.

  84. My MIL told me about this and it would be nice to win a copy for her – of course, we share a lot of books. She loves historicals, but will read any genre, while I will read a lot of genres although my favorites are historicals and suspense.

  85. Hey, Anna! Almost release time – can’t wait!!

    Anna said: “I’ve always been a voracious reader. I’ll read the back of the milk carton if all else fails. As a kid, I read most of the classics, Heidi, Enid Blyton, horse books by the gazillion. I moved onto adult books fairly early – I must have been about eight when I read my first Georgette Heyer and I was that age when my mother gave me my first Harlequin to shut me up (she was desperate, poor thing, LOL!). In my early teens, I was mad on historical fiction like Jean Plaidy. About that stage, I devoured Barbara Cartland and Victoria Holt and Anya Seton. Clearly I was headed towards historical romance as a lifelong obsession!”

    I could have said that! Mom gave me a copy of Heidi when I was really young – I loved that book. During my horse craze, I read every horse book I could get my hands on – the Black Stallion series, The Misty of Chincoteague series, Black Beauty, King of the Wind, … I could go on and on but I’ll spare you. 😉 Oh, and Georgette Heyer! I still love those and have them all. I’ve been trying to get Anastasia to read them. I sent her one last year (which she still hasn’t read, have you, Ana?). Early teens – Barbara Cartland (I was mad for the name Leona for years after reading one of those), Victoria Holt, Jean Plaidy, and there was a book by Anya Seton that I just loved… Green Darkness I think, about past life regression. I thought the premise was so cool! Also the torch under the covers – although I called it a flashlight 😉 – that and stuffing clothes or a blanket under my door. 🙂

    Hi, Bev! Wonderful interview, you two!

  86. Hi Anna, great interview! I can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on this book! I love your books and also love the cover of this one. Its beautiful and really eye catching!

  90. Thanks for the opportunity to win one of your wonderful books! I can’t wait to read this one – sounds like I’ll need to call in sick to work that day just so I can finish it! hehehe

  91. I love all your books, Anna, and plan to buy this one at the RWA Literacy Signing in Orlando! See you there!

  93. Hi, Anna! What a great interview! I love your books, and know I will love this one as well.

    Good luck everyone, and have a great weekend!

  95. Great interview, Anna! I can’t wait to read your book. Looks fantastic! I remember my first romance book it was A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodwiss. I have been hooked on them since, and its been a long while! Thanks for sharing today!

  96. Hi Emily! Such fun to meet you on the weekend. Wasn’t Romancing the Novel the most wonderful day? I had a ball! So glad I’m drawing you back to a good old historical romance – I still think they’re my faves of all the genres. A great one really sweeps you away into another world. Thanks for the ARRA congrats. I’m completely reeling with shock – but GOOD shock! So glad you enjoyed the interview. That cover really is mighty pretty, isn’t it? Good luck with Untouched!

  97. I am so looking forward to this book…I love this cover…the yellow is so eye catching….I have my friends at work excited to read this book….Great interview by the way….

  98. Sharon, there’s something about a fine pair of legs in those gleaming hessians, isn’t there? That’s hessian boots, not bags, by the way! I think the whole high collar and neckcloth thing is a great look too. And the clean shaven look – must say too much facial hair isn’t my thing. Which might be a problem for my Viking, snort! Hey, do you like the sound of my Viking. I told that Annie West but she just wants him to write a barbecue cookbook (don’t ask!). LOL!

  99. Hi Anna,

    Congrats on the 10 star rating! I’m so looking forward to this new book. How wonderful that it will be out this Tuesday so I won’t have to wait too long to get it and start reading. cheers!

  100. Lime! You turn up everywhere! Lovely to see you – yeah, I think the cabana boys are even drooling over the cover. That’s quite a sexy little shot of her dress gracefully sliding off, isn’t it? Wish I had a back like that! Actually I think one of the reasons a lot of us love historicals is the clothes – there’s something about those glamorous ballgowns and I must say I rather like a well cut riding habit too! And the men’s fashion is so dashing and romantic too!

  101. Jane, thanks so much for swinging by and leaving that lovely message! I’m really looking forward to the Mammoth book. There’s some of my favorite writers included and we had up to 50 pages to play with so I think there will be some quite substantial stories. Mine needed the full 50 pages to do it justice!

  103. Hey, Vanessa, lovely to see you! Oh, I have no IMMEDIATE plans to write the Viking. He’s happy playing with his long…SHIP in the back of my mind there, snork! Thanks for swinging by!

  104. Hey, thanks, Annie! Actually I’m wondering if maybe I should explain the ARRA thing. I’m extremely proud and happy. They held the Australian Romance Readers Association Awards in Sydney on Saturday night (sadly, I was teaching workshops in Adelaide and couldn’t be there) and CAPTIVE OF SIN was voted most popular historical romance of 2009 and I won most popular Australian romance author of 2009. How’s that? I’ve been leaping around like a lunatic ever since I found out – which is frightening the wildlife, believe me! 😉

    Thanks for the congrats, Annie. Ten stars is pretty fab! Actually I hadn’t realized quite how my stories switch some of the expectations until I was talking to someone on a panel in Adelaide. She loved how in Tempt the Devil, for example, it’s the hero who’s in touch with his feelings, not the heroine. Gave me something to think about.

    And thanks for recommending the books! They all have bodacious covers, snort!

  105. Hmm, Kandy, I’m not sure ‘sunny’ is how I’d describe MRS, in spite of the gorgeous yellow cover! There’s plenty of drama and angst in there but maybe just a FEW more smiles, snort! I’ve been really delighted with the reviews I’ve seen – love the Romantic Times Top Pick! Hey, how interesting that Untouched and COS are your faves – you clearly have a soft spot for a tortured knight in shining armour! Thanks so much for swinging by! And congratulations to you on winning most popular contemporary romance at the ARRA Awards for LOVE IS A FOUR-LEGGED WORD! Go, Kandy!

  106. Debbie, I was quite obsessed with EB when I was a young ‘un! Just the first of many writers who were to occupy my mind! And I’m sure you’re too modest about the talent – although I love the comment, snort! Thank you! Thanks for the congrats. It’s a good week when you hear news like that AND you’ve got a book hitting the stands!

  107. Oh, Suzi, I HOPE you like the new one. He suffers plenty once he gets tied up with Diana 😉 Couldn’t have him happy all the way through, could I? Thanks for the good luck!

  109. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat & Beverly for sharing it with us! This book sounds as enticing as it’s gorgeous cover – wish I could wear yellow – I cannot wait to read it 🙂

  110. Hello, Anna dear! You know I’m dying to read My Reckless Surrender! I’m certain it will have a place on my keeper shelf….with all of you other books. *g*

  111. So excited to read this! I love Anna’s books!! So well written and intelligent!! Can’t wait to get this one and add it to my collection! Thanks Anna!! 🙂

  112. This sounds so good! I love it when the leads have equally strong (& your know stubborn) personalities.

  114. Nice interview and giveaway. (really looking forward to this new book)

  115. Deb, you make me laugh! I’m sure Sven’s very tough but still great at massaging ancestor will definitely make an appearance in the Viking story! And the cabana boys can become CABIN boys! Thanks for saying you’re looking forward to MRS. Only a few days to go!

  117. PJ, lovely to see you! I love that you love Tarquin! Thank you so much! It was fun writing a guy with just a normal amount of baggage instead of a whole ocean liner full like my usual heroes!

  118. Bev, thanks so much for hosting me today. You asked some brilliant questions! I’m not sure how many stories are in the Mammoth book but I know it’s pretty mammoth 😉 512 pages! Sounds absolutely luscious to me!

    Ha ha, thanks so much for commenting on the dive straight into the action stuff. I really work at my beginnings so that happens. Would you believe I canned a whole first chapter of Untouched where my heroine was lost in Bristol and getting kidnapped? Shows you how actiony the REAL action was, snort! I love that Louis B. Mayer quote about starting with an earthquake and building to a climax! LOL. Except I just looked it up and it’s actually Samuel Goldwyn! I really need to find out where my quotes come from 😉

  120. Hey, thanks, Anna (great name yourself, by the way!). I love giving my characters names – and sometimes they don’t settle into the original choice. Tarquin was always going to be Tarquin. But Diana started out as Antonia (too many A’s with Ashcroft), then Harriet – nuh, she ain’t no Harriet – and eventually I settled on Diana which suits her perfectly! Good luck in the draw!

  125. Jennifer, I love the way I visit America and people like to hear me speak! Oh, please, don’t be misled – I think lighthearted is perhaps a misnomer. Not quite as angst-ridden as previous efforts might be a better description! Go, EB! Thanks for saying you’re looking forward to MRS!

  126. Stephenia, thanks for swinging by! So glad you love the cover and the sound of the story. I love Viking stories too – they’re so old school!

  127. Hi Carol! Lovely to see you! Hey, the Viking story sounds like it might get an audience – maybe I should think a bit more seriously about it. I do love a man with a big ax! Snort! Thanks for saying you love the books and for the luck – good luck to you too in the draw!

    I feel the same as Anna Bowling, Viking story had my eyebrows raising to my hairline and a big grin. Love my Viking/Highlanders. But Anna you know I “LOVE, LOVE your books.. And that is a gorgeous cover. Congrats on your newest release and I wish you much success. Please enter me also. 🙂
    Carol L.

  128. Scorpio, thank you so much! So glad to meet someone who’s been there for the whole shebang! The ugly duckling story is written but it needs some work – so definitely that one will be hitting the stands! It’s got that whole secret identity vibe thing going on too which I always like. Basically I’m a sucker for most of those romance themes! You have a great day too!

  130. Thanks, Jamie! So glad you enjoyed Captive of Sin! Nice to shake things up and do something a little bit different now and again, isn’t it? Good luck in the draw!

  131. Hey, thanks, Kelly! What a lovely message – so glad you love Untouched! That book seemed to appeal to a lot of readers, which made the writer extremely happy, snort! Actually one of the fun bits about MRS was writing quite a lot of banter between my hero and heroine. They’re staving off deep emotion so they spark off each other quite a lot in between the naughty bits!

  133. Donna Ann, I was absolutely dancing when I read the review (be glad we don’t have a video link!). And thanks for saying you enjoyed the interview! Good luck in the draw!

  134. Hi Karen! Good luck in the draw. Thanks so much for your lovely message.

    The lack of Aussie historicals is interesting, isn’t it? Even our city life back then wasn’t terrifically glamorous so I think you’re right likening them more to westerns than Regencies. I must say I’m not a huge fan of Aussie history. Did stacks of it at school and uni and frankly it was a relief to get away to the glitz and glamor of those Mayfair ballrooms. Yeah, I know, I”m shallow, snort! I think the convict era is terrifically grim, I think the pioneering era isn’t much better. Even later history didn’t have the sort of scale of economy to support anything like the London Season. Now and again, I reference Oz in a book. Matthew’s old servants who help him when he escapes get transported to Botany Bay in Untouched. And the baddy in Captive of Sin is offered the chance to be transported to Australia for his crimes and says he’d rather be dead – that line always gives me a giggle!

  136. I’m woefully late to this party but just wanted to pop in and say WOOOHOOO!! I’m so excited this story is finally hitting the shelves. I get to read Anna’s books in manuscript form and I love getting a sneak peek but then I’m always champing at the bit for everyone else to read it and start talking about it, too.

    I love a strong heroine paired with a rake–it’s such a delicious combination! That opening scene is a doozy! I defy anyone to put the book down after that. Not surprised it scored such a great rating here. Congratulations on the release, Anna!

    And I get to be among the first to read that Viking story, right?

  137. Hi Anna. I found this interview after watching your other interview on FB! The new book sounds great and I am very excited about reading them both soon. (have to way 4 more days!)

    Regards,

    Ann

  138. Just want to say how much I’ve enjoyed your other books and I’m looking forward to this one. I especially love this cover!!!

  140. I like Anna Campbell in any shade… dark, not so dark, whatever… she never disappoints!

  143. Juli, I love doing interviews. And I love READING interviews. As you say, gives that extra level! Thanks for saying you’re looking forward to MRS. Only a few days to go!

  144. Hey, it’s my buddy, Ana! G’day, Ana! Lovely to see you. Really looking forward to my visit to the Romance Roundtable on 4th June! Thanks for saying such lovely things about the books! That cover for Tempt the Devil was spectacular, wasn’t it? Talking about glints in the eye! 😉

  147. Jo, 44 years? Huge congratulations! And what an achievement. I laughed at your Beauty and the Beast comment – the Beast was actually pretty special under his ‘orrible exterior! Thanks for swinging by from the lair and checking out the interview and the review! The lair loves the Season! Christine was May’s top pick, did you see?

  150. Hey, Drew, great to see you here! Didn’t Bev ask some great questions? And isn’t that review fab! Thanks for checking them out. Hey, I WANNA LIGHT SHINING ON MY BOOKS!!!!! Snap to it, kiddo! 😉 Hope your birthday presents come up trumps!

  155. Joye, I really like Tarquin as a name although I don’t think I’d call a kid that now. You can play with great names in the Regency, though! Thanks for swinging by and good luck!

  159. Thanks, Peggy! Actually I’ve got a bit of a blog tour just starting – lots of blogs next week and the week after to celebrate the release. Good luck in the draw!

  162. Oh my goodness. I’m late to the party. Congrats on your release. I really want to read this book. *crossing my fingers*

  165. Monica, I was utterly stoked by the review. I mean, 10 stars? How cool is that! So glad it made you keen on trying the story! Good luck in the draw!

  166. Snort! I should have known the shoes would be the thing in Cinderella. I wonder if hair obsessives write Rapunzel stories! Thanks so much for swinging by and checking out the interview and the review – so glad you enjoyed Bev and me chatting and isn’t that a fabulous wrap for MRS?

  167. Louisa, this latest one is a doozy, isn’t it? Love that yellow and the expression on her face. And that stepback raises the temperature about ten degrees which is a great thing as we go into winter down here! Thanks so much for swinging by and saying such lovely things!

  168. I’m looking forward to reading My Reckless Surrender, it sounds like another great story from Anna.

  170. Ruth, your post gave me a giggle! Congratulations to you too on your 44 years together with your husband. I suspect you WON’T push him out the window 😉 Good luck in the draw and thanks for trying again. I’m all for putting books into sticky little fingers, LOL!

  172. Renee, what a lovely message! Did you see your lovely Roundtabler colleague Ana has already been by. Was saying how much I’m looking forward to my visit on the 4th June!

  173. Wow, Cassondra! What a wonderful message. I’m glowing at the ‘favorite writers’ bit – seriously, that’s amazing! I love a light romance as much as the next person but I think there’s so much emotional punch in that journey from darkness to light that gets me every time. Truly cathartic. Hey, only a couple of days! THANK YOU!!!!!

  175. Linda, I read right across the genres too. So many great writers out there. Thanks for swinging by – I’m guessing your MIL is the fantastically funny Ruth. Watch out – she’s plotting to throw her husband out the window, LOL! Good luck!

  176. Hey, it’s a Roundtable get-together. How lovely you guys swung by to say hello! Laurie, great to see you. I was MAD about horses – and when I say mad, I mean as in obsessional. I wonder why my parents didn’t throw me out the window. Perhaps they needed to talk to Ruth, LOL! One of my most treasured possessions is a mug of the pony roundup on Chincoteague that a friend of mine brought back and I loved King of the Wind. I even did a favorite things post about horsey books – http://www.annacampbell.info/favethings09.html#sept09 Did you get the Silver Brumby books in the States? They’re brilliant! And I loved Green Darkness – I was older when I read that than when I read Katherine. It was a great thrill to visit Ightham Mote in Kent which is the house which inspired the story – they found a girl’s skeleton behind a wall in the 19th century when they were renovating! Creepy, huh? Sounds like our bookcases were interchangeable!

  177. Thanks, Quilt Lady! And please wash your hands before you do any more quilting, LOL! Thanks for swinging by and saying how much you’re looking forward to MRS! Good luck in the draw!

  179. Terry, that’s the ultimate compliment, someone calling in sick to finish the book! I love it when people email to tell me stuff like that or that they stayed up all night! Music to a writer’s ears! Thanks for swinging by and good luck!

  184. Johanna, another person who can blame, uh…credit her conversion to a Kathleen Woodiwiss! Wonderful! She was a phenomenon, wasn’t she? The success of those books set up the rest of the industry, I believe. Thanks for swinging by and good luck in the contest!

  185. Ellen, thanks so much for spreading the word! Much appreciated. And thanks for saying you enjoyed the interview. It was a fun one to do. Good luck in the draw!

  186. Laura, Tuesday will be here before we know it! Wow! Thanks so much for saying how much you’re looking forward to the book and for the congrats on the review! It’s a beauty, isn’t it? Good luck in the draw!

  187. Helena, I hear you on yellow. It makes me look like a bilious jellyfish! My heroine clearly can get away with it, though 😉 It’s been a pleasure to visit! And wow, what a wonderful welcome!

  188. Oh, Gannon, aren’t you a sweetie? Hey, we’ll get together soon, how’s that for exciting? Thanks so much for swinging by and joining in the fun!

  189. Thanks so much, Kris! Wow, what a lovely compliment about my writing. I’m so glad you enjoy my stories! Not long till Tuesday – I can hardly wait! Good luck in the draw!

  190. Hi Sue! I’m cursed/blessed to come from a family full of strong women – I think that really feeds into my heroines. And the guys are no pushovers either, LOL! I love that head to head charge of two people who really, REALLY want one another and really, REALLY don’t want to want one another. It’s always huge fun for a reader! Thanks for swinging by and good luck!

  194. Hey, it’s the Season’s Top Pick author for May, the fabulous Ms. Wells! Wells done, Wellsy! I’m not surprised. Sweetest Little Sin is delish!

    It’s hard when you read something great in ms and then have to wait a year to talk about it, isn’t it? I feel like that with books by you and by Annie West. But on the other hand, it’s nice to gloat ahead of the rest of the world 😉 Wasn’t that a lovely review? I’m glowing! Glad you love the opening – I wanted something that would drag the reader in and then hopefully not let them go!

    Yup, should I ever write that wicked Viking, you’re first in line, hon!

  195. Hi Ann! Thanks for checking out the interview on video. It’s an odd experience watching yourself! Must say I’m envious of your beach holiday. Want company? Snort! Hope the books are the perfect companions, anyway, even if the writer couldn’t make it!

  197. Hey, thanks, Bev! I mean, THANKS, BEV!!! This is actually the launch of my blog tour and it’s going to be hard to top it. You’ve all be so wonderfully welcoming and I’m absolutely delighted that you’re looking forward to My Reckless Surrender hitting the stands on Tuesday!

  200. Samantha, some new blood at the party is always welcome! Thanks for swinging by and good luck! Wow, this has been some shindig, hasn’t it?

  201. Yay!!!! So happy to hear you’ll be in sunny Orlando this year. And the cocktail is sounding cool and delicious!!!

  203. You’ve got a date, kiddo! Seriously, I told Avon the other day they should sponsor a statue of you, you do so much to promote historical romance! Seriously, hasn’t this been a great day! I think I’m caught up now! I’ll be back!

  204. Hi Anna and thank you Beverley!

    Anna, I always love reading your interviews. They’re so much fun! I’m really looking forward to MRS’s release.

    Can you tell us a little bit about RWA in Australia? I assume you have local chapters like we do here in the States. How about conferences? Anything local Australian romance writers can attend? Probably a goofy question, but I’m intensely interested in how romance writers connect on your side of the globe.

    Take care,
    Tracey

  205. Anna,Im a member of the bandits.I have a question for you .If we wanted to follow you on your blog tour how would we find out where you would blog at next.

  206. Welcome back to The Season Anna! It’s so nice to see you here again!
    I really loved your book “UNTOUCHED”. It was so romantic and dramatic, and I LOVED the hero!!

    I really enjoyed reading your interview with Beverley. Your upcoming book, MY RECKLESS SURRENDER, sounds sexy and wonderful! The book cover is quite lovely also. I liked what you said about reading a book under the covers with a torch when you were young. I wonder if we’ve all done that. Staying up to some very late hour, and hiding under the covers with a flashlight(maybe even with school the next day) so we could finish the book we were reading. 🙂

    Good luck with your new book Anna, and I look forward to many more!
    I hope you have a Happy Weekend!
    Sandra

  207. Tracey, thanks for saying you enjoyed the interview and that you’re looking forward to MRS!

    RWOz has about 700 members, I think, and the conference has about 250 people attending. So much more along the lines of your chapter contests in the U.S. We don’t have local chapters although many members belong to writing groups and there are some larger offshoots. My trip to South Australia for Romancing the Novel was partly sponsored by the South Australian Romance Authors (SARA). RWOz has quite an active email loop and other ways that people interact like a crit partner scheme. We have a conference once a year, this year it’s in Sydney and should be great fun.

  208. Peggy, I always put up the latest list of blogs for the month when I do website updates. Sometimes new ones sneak in after I send my info to my designer. You’ll see a list here: http://www.annacampbell.info/latest.html Once a week, on a SundayRomance Writers of Australia puts a list of blogs coming up that week on their own blog. That is usually much more up to date: http://romanceaustralia.wordpress.com/ Additions for the May list on my website are:

    Monday, 24th May, Emily Gee is interviewing me on Love Cats Down Under http://lovecatsdownunder.blogspot.com/

    Tuesday, 25th May, I’m guesting on the Romance Writers Revenge Blog http://romancewritersrevenge.com/ and on Sarah Maclean’s Blog: http://blog.macleanspace.com/index.html

    The June list will go up on the website on 1st June with the new updates!

    Be lovely to see you at anything you can swing by!

  209. Hey, Sandra, thanks for the great message. I’m delighted you loved Untouched! Yeah, Matthew won a few hearts which always makes me happy! And to think I was worried about doing a virgin hero! But it was one of those situations dictated by the circumstances of the story. I couldn’t see he would be anything else! I’m sure my parents must have known I was still awake reading but wisely they didn’t make a big issue of it. I still get such a thrill out of being carried away into a wonderful story and being desperate to find out what happens next!

  210. Something strange has happened. I left a lengthy commen around 10:30 EDT. I saw it show up after hitting submit. I thought I’d check back to see if Anna commented and IT’S GONE!??? Where did it go? Did I write something offensive?

  211. Oops! I just found it under the review, instead of the interview. I hope Anna sees it.

  212. Looking forward to reading your book, I love Historical Romance and I discovered you on facebook, LOVE the cover.

  213. Great interview, Anna. I should have known The Beauty and The Beast story line was your favorite. It certainly is mine. It is always rewarding to see someone who is hurting be healed and loved. I like that your newer books will be on the lighter side, at least a few of them will be. I like dark, brooding heroes, but appreciate a man who can change.

  214. This sounds like a very intriguing book and I can see you are really totally into it. Lately I haven’t had much opportunity to shop for books, so I haven’t read any of your books yet but I would love to. It would be lovely to win a copy of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER.

  215. Elaine, a few people got caught on that one (I did too on my first run through!). Hey, the review is well worth commenting on, I think. Anyway, I’ll head down there now and see what you said! Thanks for swinging by and good luck in the draw!

  216. Pat, I actually think BATB is a terrifically profound story. It’s about courage and self-sacrifice and learning to love and at its heart, it’s a redemption story. I don’t think you get much more important than that! So I have a feeling I might be writing Beauty and the Beast for quite a while yet. I love the way Beauty is quite proactive in BATB too – those fairytale heroines aren’t always so gutsy!

  217. Ranurgis, good luck with the draw! Your comment gave me a bit of a smile – I spend about a year on every book, I have to be right into them or I’d go nutty. And no comments from anyone who knows me about being nutty already! LOL!

  218. Hi Anna, I’ve read your book Captive of Sin and absolutely loved it! Such a powerful story. Your new book My Reckless Surrender sounds pretty great too and I would love to read it. I too love a guy in boots and those riding jackets are also very uhm, nice! Best, Kirsten

  219. Hi Anna. Your books sound so good and I love your covers. Great interview. Thanks for being here.

  221. Hi Kirsten! So glad you loved Captive of Sin! Thank you for letting me know. Good luck in the draw! Plenty of men in boots in MY RECKLESS SURRENDER 😉

  222. Hi Anna, I love all your books!!! The 1st one I ever read was Tempt The Devil and WOW….what a book. I’ve read it twice and it’s still on my TBR pile so I can read it again this summer. It’s so much fun to find a new author that can write a great story combined with a hot romance….and you that brilliantly!!! Can’t wait to read My Reckless Summer.

  224. Thanks, Amanda! It’s odd promoting MY RECKLESS SURRENDER when my head is crammed full of the current story. I keep starting to say things about the story and then realize it’s the NEW one I’m talking about, not MRS!

  225. Thanks, Mitzi! I’m so glad you loved TEMPT THE DEVIL. Those characters are really close to my heart – I think because they’re older and a bit more ragged round the edges than some of my young things 😉 Happy re-reading – that’s such a lovely thing for a writer to hear. Good luck with the draw!

  229. Wow, Kim, you’re my new best friend! What a lovely compliment! We’ve got party time ahead and after that, I’m buyin’ the drinks 😉

  230. Anna, I enjoy chatting back and forth with you, and I would love to “enter” your contest you have going on here, I have read all of your books I can get my hands on here, since we are limited to the bookstores localy available.. “lol” But, The ones I have read and the ones I am Dying to read, I love your stories, and I want to know where you get your ideas for your characters, areas, timelines, and stories- are they from real-life people and things you see and do, since you seem to travel alot (which of course I am jealous of .. ha ha) I just am really intrigued about how you get all these wonderful stories and how they all come out to these totally engrossing books that a person Just can not put down, I read and re-read them over and over!! How do you keep coming up with such wonderful characters and ideas?? Thanks! Rex

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