Thursday, July 21, 2011

Mystery We Write Blog Tour With Anne K. Albert

Special Interview with Anne K. Albert—Mystery and Suspense Author

Welcome Anne, to Cozy Mysteries and Other Madness. Thanks for dropping by to tell us about your latest book and to share your secrets.

It’s said that Anne’s books chill the spine, warm the heart, and soothe the soul…all with a delightful touch of humor. That kind of a read sounds wonderful to me. So Anne, could we start with you telling us a little about your latest novel, FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL?

Frank, Incense and Muriel is the first book of my Muriel Reeves Mysteries. This story takes place the week before Christmas when the stress of the holiday season is enough to frazzle anyone's nerves. To find a missing woman, Frank and Muriel must deal with an embezzler, femme fatale, kidnapper, and of course, Muriel's eccentric, (but loveable) family.


This story received a 5-star review and Reviewer Top Pick award from Night Owl Reviews.

Your mystery sounds really exciting, is your private life as thrilling as your books? What do you do when you’re not writing?



I love to travel. I could literally be on the road 365 days of the year and never feel homesick.

And I’ll bet that every mile you traveled, another story idea popped into your head. What challenges did a prolific writer such as you face in getting published?

Like so many other authors, I completed and submitted five different manuscripts and I received countless rejections from agents and editors on all of them. The year prior to getting “the call” was the most difficult. It was also the most disheartening. I’d get positive comments about my writing ability. Some would point to my interesting characters and storyline. Others enjoyed my dialogue, etc. They’d include best wishes for a long and prosperous future in the publishing world, but still reject my work. That polite sorry, “not right for me,” comment left me reeling. As the weeks and months wore on, I began to question if anyone would offer me a contract. It got so bleak I quit for almost a year. That period of my writing life really was the dark before the dawn!

You came back to writing after a year’s hiatus. I suspect that means that someone encouraged you to continue writing. Who was this special supporter of your writing?

My husband. He’s always been supportive of me, no matter what I do.

Now, here are some of my writing questions: Do you find yourself talking to your characters when you’re doing ordinary tasks such as putting on makeup, washing dishes, driving your car?

I don’t actually ever talk to them directly. I’m more of a fly on the wall, watching their every move.

What a picture you paint in my mind, Anne. Without closing my eyes I can see you sitting quietly and observing the realm you imagined! Ever find yourself zoning into the world you have created when you’re supposed to be listening to something else such as church services, friends talking, or during a class of some sort?

All of the time! I actually get annoyed with the real world for interfering or disrupting what is happening in my imaginary world.

Have you ever found yourself growing too fond of a villain? How does this affect your story and how do you deal with the problem; assuming it is a problem for you?

Not a problem so far. But I do have trouble with secondary characters that just walk onto center stage and take over. It’s tough getting them to back off!

Those naughty characters; when you breathe life into them, they go their own way and refuse to mind. I have the same problem.

If you could choose another time in history to live, when would that be?

I’m very happy right where I am, thank you! The idea of going any place where women might not enjoy equal rights or have access to an education and top-notch medical care terrifies me.

That’s a very good point. Perhaps all of us would be better off to just travel vicariously through books.

If you could travel anywhere in the world to research a book, and if someone else pays expenses, where would you pick?

I have three places: Ireland, Newfoundland and Cornwall. All provide stunning landscape that overlooks the ocean. Oh, and I’ll pay my own way! All three are on my bucket list.

How do you celebrate special times: finishing a novel, signing a book contract, or solving a tough plotting problem?

I tend to be pretty low-key when it comes to celebrating any milestone in my life. My philosophy is to enjoy and cherish each and every day rather than focus on one or two days out of the year. Or worse, one day out of an entire lifetime!

However, I was visiting the U.K. when my debut novel was released. A pair of sterling silver earrings caught my eye, and I realized they would be the perfect memento. Neither flashy nor expensive, they fit perfectly into my lifestyle…and my budget!

What a wise woman you are, Anne Albert. It’s been so interesting to meet you. Could you give readers some internet sites where you can be found?

Thank you so much, Jackie, for featuring me today on this stop of the Murder We Write Blog Tour. I’d like to invite readers to visit my website http://www.AnneKAlbert.com/ or my main blog http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com.

If they drop by my Muriel Reeves Mysteries blog http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com and leave a comment mentioning this interview, I’ll enter their name in a draw to win a pdf copy of FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL. I’ll announce the winner at the conclusion of the tour, sometime during the week of August 22, 2011.

How about that Readers? I’d love for you to leave a comment here, then go directly to Anne’s Muriel Reeves blog site and sign up for a chance to win this great book. May you all have a blessed day.

Hugs,

Jackie

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you SO much for featuring me this week, Jackie!

Ann Summerville said...

Great post. Cornwall is my favorite place - I lived there for several years.
Ann

bob said...

Great interview, Jackie and Anne.

Jackie King said...

Hi Everyone, Isn't Anne an interesting writer? Sorry I missed posting yesterday, I was totally off the radar. I spent hours in the dentist's chair (yuck) and then hours at a swim tournament with my granddaughter, Morgan. (Yea!)

Best,
Jackie

Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredith said...

Anne always has interesting things to say. I like the comment that you are a fly on the wall watching what's going on with your characters.

Marilyn

Jackie King said...

Thanks for stopping by, Ann (Cozy in Texas). Be sure and check out Anne's blog to sign up for a free book.

Best,
Jackie

Jackie King said...

Hi Bob, I always love it when you stop by and leave a comment.
Best,
Jackie King

Jackie King said...

Oh Marilyn, I couldn't agree more! So like every writer, each of us a tiny fly with different faces and hair color, too small to be noticed! Love it.
Jackie King

Anonymous said...

Hi, Anne:

You have an interesting bucket list. It's odd how we are always drawn to the sea -- maybe there's something to the old theory that we began life there.

I'm always torn between the sea and the desert. My bucket list would be returns to Scotland and Morocco. Morocco has the best of both worlds.

I hope to read FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL in the next few days.

Pat Browning

Marja McGraw said...

Terrific interview, and a wonderful book. It actually made me laugh out loud, which isn't something I do easily when reading. I'm looking forward to your next one.

Jackie King said...

Pat, you've been some wonderful places, too. I have travel-envy. I've spent my life tethered to Oklahoma for the most part and have only been across the Atlantic once, to England.

But thank God for libraries and I can successfully travel vicariously all over the world.

Thanks for stopping by.
Love,

Jackie King

Jackie King said...

Pat, you've been some wonderful places, too. I have travel-envy. I've spent my life tethered to Oklahoma for the most part and have only been across the Atlantic once, to England.

But thank God for libraries and I can successfully travel vicariously all over the world.

Thanks for stopping by.
Love,

Jackie King

Jackie King said...

Marja, I think that the greatest compliment a writer can receive is to make a reader laugh-out-loud.
Hugs,
Jackie

Ann Summerville said...

Jackie, I'm adding a link to your blog on my sidebar. Thanks for stopping by.
Ann

Anonymous said...

Hi Ann in Texas! I'm green with envy. Spending at least three months in Cornwall is on my bucket list. Where did you live?

Anonymous said...

Thanks Bob. I agree with you, Jackie is a terrific host!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jackie, I'm not sure how interesting I am, but when it comes to going to the dentist (which is fairly frequent these days) I'm a total wreck with white knuckles! Hope you're all better.

Anonymous said...

Hi Marilyn, I see the story unravelling as if I were standing next to the characters, yet invisible. Guess I somehow managed to borrow Harry Potter's invisibility blanket! :)

Anonymous said...

Pat, I hope you enjoy reading Frank, Incense and Muriel as much as I did writing it. Hugs!

Anonymous said...

Marja, thank you!

Humor is so subjective, but I can't take all the credit. There's never a dull moment when a zany character shows up...especially when they have their own agenda. And they ALWAYS do. That's the fun part!

Anonymous said...

Thanks again, Jackie, for featuring me.

FYI, I'll be offline all weekend, but promise to drop by again on Monday. Happy weekend!

Jackie King said...

Ann, (Who is REALLY REALLY Cozy in Texas these days) Thanks a million. I love all books, but mysteries and especially cozy mysteries are my favorite.
Hugs,
Jackie King

Jackie King said...

Anne, Hope you have a fun weekend lined up.
Cyber hugs to all,
Jacke king

Anonymous said...

This was a great interview. I found Anne's discussion on some characters growing beyond their intended boundaries fascinating. I have lovable characters who scream for page time, and I have trouble turning them down. I delete much of the words which don't include characterization or something that moves the plot forward, but desire to keep the essence of those lovable characters. What a struggle! To think she quit for a whole year, then returned has given me hope. I quit for decades, then returned to the passion calling me. What a wonderful, supportive husband to help her get back into the game! I found her words encouraging; believing in oneself when others don't is tough, but if you continue to march on, you'll achieve. Thank you, Anne and Jackie for an absolutely wonderful article. - Kat

Jackie King said...

Kat, I was another writer who quit writing for many years. It took a crisis to bring me to my senses and make me realize that writing was what I had always wanted to do.

I'm so glad you stopped by to comment. We writers need to hang together in order to encourage one another.
Hugs,
Jackie

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathleen, the thing to remember is to adhere to Winston Churchill's sage advice: Never, ever, give up!

Happy writing. :)

Jackie King said...

Anne, You've been an outstanding guest! Thanks again.

Jackie King

Anonymous said...

Oh, Jackie! Thank you. It's been such fun. :)