Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Meet Annette Bower Author of Moving On A Prairie Romance!







Would you like to tell me a little about yourself and how you got interested in writing?
I live in a condo that has a marvelous city- scape view and complimenting the rooftops, and glass fronted towers during the day and lights at night are the fields that stretch to the horizon.  And when I turn in any direction, I see sky. I watch sunrises (in the winter) and sunsets in the summer.  It is the perfect mix of urban and expanse for me.  I confine my writing to my office because I pull books and papers and then drop them to move onto the next piece of research.

Could you tell us about your new novel out and what inspired the story?
Moving On A Prairie Romance is about when life throws you a curve and the dreams you were dreaming are no longer possible. Anna and Nick both have to grieve their pasts and make a decision to Move On toward a different life and different dreams.  I believe that this is a universal experience. The parents dream of a child and as the child develops they notice that their child doesn’t react that same as others, they need to decide how to leave one set of dreams and move onto another. The same happens when a relationship fails or physical health changes or we lose a job or we realize a fortune we didn’t expect. These events change our view of our present world and we as humans, adapt the very best we can with the support systems we have around us.
This is Anna’s first view of the place she has come to change:
The windows were dirty and the exterior paint cracked and flaked. This was just the place she needed if as they say, your environment reflects your state of mind. Maybe in this place they would get off her back. She locked the doors to ward off thieves from her black suitcases piled in the car. What was she thinking? The street was empty. Besides, a battered guitar case shared the passenger seat with empty water bottles and take-away food wrappers, so it looked as if someone had already rummaged through her belongings.”
Later when Nick is in this cottage with her they have this conversation:
“She was drawn to the large windows that revealed waves washing onto the shore while his voice rose and fell in the background. She jumped when he spoke from behind her. “Looks like you’ve got a big job to make this old man’s house a place you’d want to live.” He had picked up a ship in a bottle and held it to the light.
She stood with determined confidence. “They say work is good therapy.” She felt a pang of intuitive kinship with him again. She smiled, “Do you ever wonder if they really know what they are talking about?”
Nick raised his hand and gently touched the side of her face, turning it towards him. He looked deep into her eyes as if he was searching for recognition. “Yeah, they’re probably just a bunch of clowns who think up euphemisms to confuse the rest of us.”
Both Anna and Nick have to find their way out of their old dream that won’t work and into a new one.
When I was very young I know I repeated the things I heard from the grown up talk around me. I don’t know if I hid or if I was just there paying attention. I know I wasn’t malicious but I enjoyed re-telling the stories. I read as much as any child who had siblings and enjoyed playing outdoors. I used the school and public library for our reading until I had a summer job.  I remember one house our family moved into where the previous owners left behind boxes of The Hardy Boy books and other children’s books as well as a set of Books of Knowledge. That was a treasure. I enjoyed reading books about families and children who overcame challenges.  I have a memory of lying on the floor all curled up and crying while I read.

I would love to know what authors you admire and your top two favorite books.
I admire Richard Armour for his Twisted Tales from Shakespeare. I love to laugh when I learn.
I admire Amy Hempel for her short short stories. I have her The Collected Stories where she tells a big story with the smallest amount of words she can.
I admire Tish Cohen for the inside out girl. I cried. Dreams changed and needed to change again.


Are there more books in your future? If so, could you tell us about your current project?
Yes, there are more books in my future. I have one almost ready to begin submission rounds. I would like to put all of my short stories in a collection and I very much want to write Rapid Reads for Adults as published by Orca Books Publishers of Canada or Quick Reads which are published in the UK. These are books that help adults fall in love with reading.

Okay, I like to include a very important question here. What kind of chocolate do you prefer, lol?
My favorite chocolate is a chocolate mint patty.  I like the two flavors that are separate on your tongue.
You can visit me at my webpage: www.annettembower.wordpress.com.


Do you have other places we can find you on-line? Please provide links.
It is available to purchase: www.xoxopublishing.com , www.allromanceebooks.com , www.bookstrand.com , www.amazon.com  XoXo Publishing™ is hoping to have their books on Kobo in March and Nook later in the year.


Moving On A Prairie Romance is a G-rated, one flame, sweet contemporary romance in a small package of 119 pages from cover to cover and under 68,000 words. It is published by XoXo Publishing™ and was released on Christmas Eve, 2011.
Thank you Debra Jayne for having me as a guest on your blog.
                                                                   

26 comments:

  1. Hi Debra Jayne,
    Thank you for posting this review. I appreciate your questions and your work.
    Yours truly,
    Annette

    ReplyDelete
  2. I loved this book as it is a return to the basics ; life and love and romance. As a publisher this was a very refreshing read, as a reader I had empathy with the main characters of the story. Being a prairie gal myself, I can say Annette captured the essence of small towns everywhere. I look forward to seeing more work from this wonderful writer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Penny,
      Thank you for appreciating the small town feel of this book. On a trip I was in a small community in Portugal and an ambulance wound its way into the narrow roads. I was pulled into the event, however those in the neighborhood almost created a wall around their neighbor, shielding them from a stranger's eye. We are different but similar.
      Sincerely,
      Annette

      Delete
  3. This sounds like such a touching story. This is something that could happen to any of us. I am definitely buying this. Thank you so much for doing the interview and review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Rhonda D.
      I have added humor to this story because sometimes we need laughter to help us move forward.
      I agree that Debra Jayne asked insightful questions.
      Thank you for your support.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  4. Your story sounds amazing and I'm definitely buying it. I love to read interviews about other authors, it lets me get to know a little more about them and what helps them write. I might pick up something that might help this newbie in the future
    Thanks
    Lynda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Lynda
      One day at a writer's retreat I had breakfast next to a mega star Canadian writer. My voice shook when I said, "I feel like I am in kindergarten next to you."
      She replied, "We are all in kindergarten when we begin a new project."
      I replied, "Yes, but you probably graduate sooner than I do."
      And she does. I'm moving forward too with each new class, each new reading gig, and now with this publication through XoXo Publishing™ and friends like Debra Jayne who share their talent hosting a new novel author.
      Thank you for your support.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  5. I'm definitely intrigued!
    And I LOVE this site!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Brenda,
      Intriguing a new reader is what we as authors attempt to do and then tell the story to support the intrigue is our goal.
      I agree Debra Jayne has a lovely site.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  6. Love your side and what you do for everyone. You are an extraordinary human being ♥ Dianna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Dianne,
      As an author you understand when another author takes time from her writing to share the success and promote another author,that does support the extraordinary in Debra Jayne's personality. Thank you for sharing your feelings about Debra Jayne's site.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  7. I love to see the interviews about the authors of a book. When you are reading there book it kinda brings more to the experience. I am gonna have to get this one, it sounds like a great read!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Bekalyn,
      I enjoy the opportunity to be interviewed with thoughtful questions. I read about another author who said that after many interviews she had learned a great deal about herself and the book she wrote. I'm looking forward to a similar experience.
      I am encouraged by readers like you who enjoy reading about authors.
      Thank you for taking the time to comment on Debra Jayne's blog.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  8. I have to agree with you, sometimes bad things happen to good people and we deal in different ways. I really appreciate your being here and opening our eyes even more. I find this book to be quite interesting and I'm sure I'll enjoy reading it.

    rshereifa(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Criss,
      Thank you for finding the theme interesting in Moving On A Prairie Romance. All of us have ups and downs in our life, unfortunately some more than others so if we strive to be part of a community and help each other through those times we grow as people. I do hope that you enjoy reading it when you have the opportunity.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  9. I absolutely Love Books like this also. it sounds like Annette has a talent for taking the Reader into her own little world inside the Book. She uses great detail to express the feelings and thoughts of each Character , which i find absolutely refreshing! I am sure ,It will do well with other Romance Readers also. I Look forward to reading this book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Irene,
      I too enjoy reading books where a reader becomes part of the world the author portrays. Thank you for suggesting that indeed I too may have accomplished this feat for a reader. It is a wonderful compliment.
      I am learning that there are readers for every book and I'm glad that you found me through Debra Jayne's blog and kindness to interview me.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  10. This sounds like a really good book to read and I will look forward to reading it soon. Tracey

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello Tracey,
    Thank you for relating to the themes of Moving On A Prairie Romance. When you have the opportunity to read this story I hope that it will meet your expectations.
    Thank you for commenting on this interview on Debra Jayne's blog.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  12. As a reader myself, I loved reading this. Was a pleasant read from paranormal books I normally read. It brought me down back to the basic things in life to appreciate. What you have, still can dream big but this book humbles you. It was funny the character name was Anna like myself. I put myself as if I was her in the book. She did it better than I did. Great job, will be recommending it to others to read. ~Ana~

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Ana,
    Thank you for reaching outside your normal reading category and reading Moving On A Prairie Romance. It is hard sometimes to move away from what we know and into a new category. Thank you for your recommendations.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like a great story. I will have to look for it. I am always looking for new authors to read.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dear JBC Weiss,
    When a reader is willing to search out new authors and read them, you give those of us who have our stories out in the public domain hope. It's like beginning a conversation with a new neighbor to see if you have things in common and who you might actually become friends with. I hope we become friends.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am always in search of new authors, along with my usual authors. There is certainly enough room for new and old authors for me to enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Joanne R,
      You are right there are many authors to try and some to hold close like old friends. Debra Jayne and I are new authors and we appreciate that you are open to give someone like us a try.
      You just never know where you will find a new friend.
      Thank you for finding Debra Jayne's blog and my interview.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  17. The contest is closed. Irene Addiss you are the winner! Thanks for posting and also much appreciation to Author Annette Bower for being my very FIRST guest host! I hope everyone will read Moving On a Prairie Romance!

    ReplyDelete