Welcome Author Anita Clenney.....
Having read all of your Highlander Warriors series and Relic Seekers series I would love to ask some questions to share with others.
Anita: The story was inspired by a gripping dream about my young son and myself
seeking help at a castle after our car broke down. The handsome owner and his
companion invited us in to wait for help. They offered us lunch, and as we ate,
I saw a look of pure evil pass between them and knew we weren't guests,
we were prisoners. Of course I woke up as I was plotting a terrifying escape.
It took days to shake that dream, but it fueled the idea of evil hiding behind
a handsome face. I had already been playing around with an idea about a warrior
who was buried but not dead, so I combined the ideas, threw in some hot
highlanders and evil demons and Awaken was born.
Did you always know you wanted to write?
Anita: No. I had no idea until several years ago, but I should have since I've been a daydreamer all my life.
Anita: No. I had no idea until several years ago, but I should have since I've been a daydreamer all my life.
When did you start writing?
Anita: February 6, 2006.
Anita: February 6, 2006.
What made you decide you wanted to write
a book?
Anita: I love reading and had been on a reading rampage when it hit me that I wanted to write a book; the perfect book for me. Little did I know how difficult it really is to write a novel, but I was already hooked by the time I discovered that fact.
Anita: I love reading and had been on a reading rampage when it hit me that I wanted to write a book; the perfect book for me. Little did I know how difficult it really is to write a novel, but I was already hooked by the time I discovered that fact.
When writing a series do you have a
detailed overarching outline for the series plot or just let each book happen
as it comes?
Anita: A little of both. I know in part where the series is going, and I have lots of notes, but with each book new possibilities come into play as the story emerges. Some of my best ideas come at the last moment.
Anita: A little of both. I know in part where the series is going, and I have lots of notes, but with each book new possibilities come into play as the story emerges. Some of my best ideas come at the last moment.
What your favorite part of the writing process?
Anita: Plotting, definitely. I love letting my imagination go and creating the characters and plot twists and turns.
Anita: Plotting, definitely. I love letting my imagination go and creating the characters and plot twists and turns.
Do you have a writing schedule?
Anita: No. Like everything else I do, that's spontaneous. I need to change that.
Anita: No. Like everything else I do, that's spontaneous. I need to change that.
What's the best thing about
writing?
Anita: Seeing my books on the shelf and hearing from readers how much they enjoy the stories. It's humbling and amazing.
Anita: Seeing my books on the shelf and hearing from readers how much they enjoy the stories. It's humbling and amazing.
What's the worst thing about writing?
Anita: Promoting. I don't like pushing my books. Also it takes so much time from my family and my own reading time.
Anita: Promoting. I don't like pushing my books. Also it takes so much time from my family and my own reading time.
How much time is spent researching in
comparison to actually writing?
Anita: My first step is just letting my imagination go and playing "what if"? Then I'll research as I need it. Maybe a place or object, perhaps a myth. I don't spend as much time researching as writing. Partly because I'm somewhat familiar with my material, and with paranormal I can create my own rules. But there are those times when I'm researching and I get distracted by something fascinating and when I look up two hours have passed.
Anita: My first step is just letting my imagination go and playing "what if"? Then I'll research as I need it. Maybe a place or object, perhaps a myth. I don't spend as much time researching as writing. Partly because I'm somewhat familiar with my material, and with paranormal I can create my own rules. But there are those times when I'm researching and I get distracted by something fascinating and when I look up two hours have passed.
How do you keep your characters separate
when you write more than one series?
Anita: Each character is really their own person, kind of like your friends have their own personality. What does prove to be a problem is appearance. Eye color, hair length. I started out intending to use character sheets, which keep track of all those details, but I didn't keep up so if I have a question now I consult the previous manuscript. I'm always checking it for small series details. I have been known to accidentally switch a name. I do a final search for my hero and heroine's names before I submit a manuscript.
Anita: Each character is really their own person, kind of like your friends have their own personality. What does prove to be a problem is appearance. Eye color, hair length. I started out intending to use character sheets, which keep track of all those details, but I didn't keep up so if I have a question now I consult the previous manuscript. I'm always checking it for small series details. I have been known to accidentally switch a name. I do a final search for my hero and heroine's names before I submit a manuscript.
Have you ever been to Scotland?
Anita: No, but I would love to go. I'm fascinated by castles and old ruins.
Anita: No, but I would love to go. I'm fascinated by castles and old ruins.
What do you like to read?
Anita: I love romance, mystery, suspense, thrillers and humor. I usually have a little of each in my own stories.
Anita: I love romance, mystery, suspense, thrillers and humor. I usually have a little of each in my own stories.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Anita: Harlan Coben, Diana Gabaldon, Janet Evanovich, and Elizabeth Peters, just to name a few.
Anita: Harlan Coben, Diana Gabaldon, Janet Evanovich, and Elizabeth Peters, just to name a few.
What are your favorite things to
do?
Anita: Read, bargain hunt (which means collecting things I love - jewelry, candlesticks, decor), decorate, snuggle and watch TV with hubby, watch my son play baseball, watch my daughter ride horses. And of course cuddle with Lily and Luna, my cute boxer doggies.
Anita: Read, bargain hunt (which means collecting things I love - jewelry, candlesticks, decor), decorate, snuggle and watch TV with hubby, watch my son play baseball, watch my daughter ride horses. And of course cuddle with Lily and Luna, my cute boxer doggies.
Any advice for someone who wants to
write a novel?
Anita: Read, read, read. You need to know what kind of stories you are drawn too. Chances are, you will want to write what you love to read, and it's helpful to see what makes a story work well (or not so well) in your eyes. Take some classes to learn the craft, and then write a story that you would want to read.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy writing day
Anita: Read, read, read. You need to know what kind of stories you are drawn too. Chances are, you will want to write what you love to read, and it's helpful to see what makes a story work well (or not so well) in your eyes. Take some classes to learn the craft, and then write a story that you would want to read.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy writing day
My name is Anita Clenney and I write Mysteries and Paranormal Romantic Suspense. I’ve worked in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel, hair nets and all--lasted half a day), a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, been a Secretary, Executive Assistant, and a Realtor, and through it all, I’ve been in love. Sometimes it was wonderful, sometimes it hurt so bad I could hardly breathe. Then I found Mr. Right, and the two of us multiplied into a family of four. We live in Virginia, not far from Washington, DC, where we are slaves to a white Boxer named Lily, who thinks we live and breathe to buy new stuff for her to chew up. My husband is a Network Architect, and it’s a good thing because technology doesn’t like me. My son plans to be a famous hockey or football player, and my daughter will probably figure out a way to rule the world.
With scenes rolling nonstop in my head and my feet rarely on the ground, I should have realized that I was born to write much earlier in life, but alas, no. Not until I was on the wrong side of 40 did I hear the keyboard calling me. But then I tend to do things backwards.
When I decided to wrestle the stories in my imagination and dreams onto the page, my husband and kids encouraged me all the way. Even when I was in the middle of a heated battle with warriors and demons and forgot that people in the real world had to eat dinner and that dishes didn’t wash themselves, still my family supported me. Finally it paid off. After three years, eleven months and twenty-two days, I got THE CALL from my wonderful agent Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency, who is really Wonder Woman in disguise. A publisher wanted to buy my story. MY STORY!!! Not just one, but three of them. A new journey begins and I hope you’ll join me for the ride.
Some of my favorite things:
God -- Family (greatest family in the world) -- Diamonds (ooh la la, do I love diamonds) -- Blue Jeans -- Interior Decorating (I admit I have a fetish for beautiful mirrors) -- Trees and Summer breezes (there’s nothing better than the wind whispering in the leaves on a warm, summer day, especially if you're curled up with a book) -- Reading -- Shopping for bargains (I buy so many they’re no longer a bargain. Can you say one in every color please?) -- Junk food (trying to control that but not having much luck) -- The TV show LOST -- Loreena McKennitt’s music -- Mysteries and Romance… of course -- And my fabulous editing partner, writer Dana Rodgers, another of my favorite things. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
~ Find The Author At ~
~ Find The Author At ~
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~ Her Books By Series ~
Highlander Warriors Series
Reading Order ~ Awaken, Faelan, Embrace, Angus, Jamie (part of the Her We Go Again short story collection), Heart. But the order can be switched. Faelan is a prequel so it could be read first.
~ Review of Series ~ But the order can be switched. Faelan is a prequel so it could be read first.
Jamie: Shadow of a Highland Warrior ~ my review Amazon ~ Buy
Heart of a Highland Warrior ~ my review Amazon ~ Buy
A Connor Clan Christmas ~ my review Amazon ~ Buy
A Connor Clan Christmas ~ my review Amazon ~ Buy
Relic Seekers Series
~ Reading Order and Review of Series ~
Kindle Worlds
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