by Hellion | October 28th, 2009
Another Fall, another delicious Anna Campbell book, Captive of Sin! Fortunately laAnna has graciously agreed to blog with us today about her new book and about writing outside your comfort zone…. Brace yourself and pour the rum! (And aren’t these pictures completely bitchin’!)
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Hey, Pirates!!!! Cool to be back again. I really look forward to my chance to talk buccaneer with you guys. By the way – and I’m sure you already know this – did you know you can change your Facebook language to Pirate? Arrrrrrrr, me hearties!
OK, let’s weigh anchor and get this ship on its way to the Spanish Main!
I have to laugh – the title of this piece makes me think of my father yelling at my teenage self to turn the music down. He definitely preferred different dynamics!
But that’s not what I want to talk about today. Dread Pirate Hellion and I were tossing around ideas for today’s blog and she reminded me that I’d just got my latest book in and that it featured, shock, horror, a non-tortured hero!
“How can this be?” I hear you ask in shock. “An Anna Campbell opus with a non-tortured hero? Sacre bleu! C’est impossible!” Hmm, a French pirate seems to have stowed away. Wait a minute while I pack him away to the galley where he can whip you up some croissants. Yeah, I know croissants be landlubber food, but if anyone objects, we’ll put some nice fish jam on top and make them REAL pirate food!
Anyway, back to the hero of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER which is scheduled for next summer. The Earl of Ashcroft has his vulnerabilities and a few things from his past that he’s not entirely easy with – like most of us. But tortured? Nah! Which meant writing the book was a completely different experience from my previous books where the past has such a powerful influence on the present for the two main characters and the story springs out of past events.
So Hellion suggested talking about things that create a different writing experience. To be honest, all my books have presented a different writing experience. Each time I sit down to write a book, it seems to fling up new challenges. I guess if it didn’t, I’d get bored!
At the moment, I’m promoting my latest release, CAPTIVE OF SIN, which came out on 27th October. It definitely features a tortured hero in Sir Gideon Trevithick. And in fact, my heroine meets the gorgeous Gideon when she’s running away from a beating administered by her greedy and violent stepbrothers. So she’s tortured too!
You can meet Gideon and Charis in an excerpt here: http://www.annacampbell.info/captivesin.html
Both Charis and Gideon are trapped in their present circumstances because of their past. Only when they work together and learn to trust each other and the love that blossoms between them will they prevail against the forces ranging to destroy them. Again, that’s not an unusual theme for me.
But there were a lot of new elements to this story too. For example, it’s my first marriage of convenience story. The MOC is a staple of the romance genre and it’s a trope I always like – hey, they’re under one roof, plenty of room for nooky (yeah, I’m shallow – watch out, your ship will go aground if this conversation continues!). I’d love to write another MOC story some time.
Charis was also my first virginal heroine. Now, to be honest, there were times when I heartily agreed with all those jaded Regency rakes who populate Romancelandia and decided that virgins were more trouble than they’re worth! But I love this heroine – she’s so brave and spirited and determined.
When Gideon, because he’s such a knight in shining armor and he’s convinced he’s completely unworthy of her (you’ll have to read the book to find out why, but he has compelling reasons), insists on a marriage in name only, she fights him all the way. She knows they both deserve better than separate, lonely lives. I really admire a gutsy heroine!
The dynamics of writing a virginal heroine compared to two courtesans and two widows (Diana Carrick in MY RECKLESS SURRENDER is a middle-class widow) made for a completely different story and changed the tone of the love scenes. I hope they’re still passionate and compelling, but at least the earlier ones have to take my heroine’s inexperience into account.
Actually while I’m on things that create a different dynamic, Charis is the youngest heroine I’ve ever written. For the purposes of the plot, she has to be just short of her 21st birthday. When I wrote TEMPT THE DEVIL, one of the different dynamics there (there’s always different dynamics!) was that Olivia was in her early 30s and Erith was in his late 30s. Life for people at that age is a completely different ball game to life for someone who’s just past 20.
So I thought it might be interesting to talk about whether you find these different dynamics operating every time you start a new manuscript. Is different good? Did you ever do something so different you shocked yourself?
One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of CAPTIVE OF SIN. Oh, and by the way, there’s a pirate in CAPTIVE OF SIN!!!! Black Jack Trevithick who is a thoroughly dashing fella! Clearly, this is a book perfect for the library on the Romance Writers’ Revenge! Ahoy, shipmates! All hands to the comment boxes! And may the best seadog win!
Hellie! You mean you’d rather talk about a gorgeous tortured hero than cold slithery things with scales? How weird are you?
Hmm, I think I can safely say without giving too much away that the criticisms you mentioned won’t be a problem with COS. If I say any more, I threaten to spoil the story! Actually the first sex scenes in my books generally DON’T go well. As you say, it’s a great way of ratcheting up the tension.
Laughed at positive and happy being outside your comfort zone! You’re a classic. Be interesting to see how that plays out with the new heroine.
Actually I’ve just heard Avon are throwing some Tim Tams at my piece about sex scenes for the Vauxhall Vixens tomorrow. Swing by and add some pirate glamor to the proceedings!
LOL Anna -thats so funny that you found the BATB theme in COS. I can’t wait to read it. I turn in my latest book this weekend, then next week I get to curl up with COS and have all my ills cured. But now I’m craving a pirate to go with it. Is Captain Jack available?
Bo’sun, I think he has a right to be cranky, by the sound of it! Also sounds like you’re on top of keeping him sympathetic even while he’s cranky. I haven’t actually read ALL of Save the Cat – Trish Morey left it in my hotel room in San Francisco and I was devouring it when she came back to pick it up. Curses!
Actually, Chancey, I’ve just spoken to the Kraken. He wants a frozen nipple now. Sorry – the joys of working in customer service!
Ooh, Chancey, that was exactly one of the problems I had with Gideon. He has PTSD in a BAAAAAD way and it presented some real challenges with the book. Don’t know if it will help but might be worth checking the book.
Ha, wasn’t that a cunning way of selling a COS???!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
With Gid, I had a lot of showing not telling. Hope it worked. I didn’t want to reveal the PTSD thing until well into the book either. Although I dropped plenty of pregnant hints (which is better than dropping a pregnant heroine). I also had his friends comment on what had happened. I was trying to create questions in the readers’ minds so that they were desperate to find out by the time Gideon confesses all.
Hey, a bearded dragon? I like it. And yes, please, I’ll have one.
What’s that, Kraky?
Oh, one for my sea monster friend too, please!
And the squirrels and the bearded dragons have started to party all night here. It’s really hard to get any sleep!
Oh, no, that sounds even more painful than frozen nipples. A tabasco Glittery Hooha!!!!! OUCHHHHHH!
Hellion, keep hassling! What am I saying? You’re a pirate – you enforce your will at the end of cutlass, my hearty!
Oh, man, I ain’t drinkin’ no bearded hoooha!!!! The kraken can have that one!
Yeah, PTSD is hell ta write. Because they don’t know they have it! They just react from it… And everyone who does know somethin’ about PTSD thinks it be all about freakin’ out in public and flashbacks… But sometimes it be about freezin’… and holdin’ the freakouts inside ta the point a’ feelin’ nothin’…
Aye, nice merch push. I’ll look fer the book when I’m out next!
See how ya handled the quandry!
I can see the party now, fuzzy nuts and leather lips…natural party animals!
Jeanne, interesting that you work like that too!
Climb every rigging
Swab every deck
Follow every sea lane
But never have a wreck!
Pixy dust? Now that sounds just right for a Cornish hero. Pixies come from Cornwall, you know!!!!
Jeanne, clearly you’re dreaming. I’ve got video and there’s already people lining up to pay me for it!
I’m not statin’ where I think Sin’s friend, Grand Pixy Sita, comes from…
Ugh! Is that kraken poo I just stepped in. Maybe it’s a good thing the deck’s not quilted. Kraken poo stains like the devil! Must be all those unlucky sunken pirates he eats! Gives him a really bad digestion problem.
Oh, that kraken! He always tries to kiss a pretty wench when he’s had a bit to drink!
Ooh, Duchesse! I think they’d be lining up for miles around to see that. Sounds like fun! Perhaps you’ll meet a Poe-et! Oh, dear, I’m drinking too much. The puns are coming out!
Ooh, the kraken eats inner critics? No wonder his, um, motions are a bit smelly!!!!
Sometimes an inner critic disagrees wit’ him. Pardon, I’ll get the shovel and get that outta here…
But it be a dear service he do fer us. And he gets most a’ his frozen nipple treast when Nessie visits…
Hey, Annie W, your ears must have been burning. I was talking about you earlier! It IS unsettling when a story is completely different. Mind you, so far they’ve all felt completely different! Be interesting to strike one that felt the same. Thank you so much for that wrap for Captive of Sin! I know you love a knight in shining armor hero – even if poor Gideon’s armor is slightly battered and tarnished!
Hey, Santa! Can I just say these hors d’oeuvres are delicious? What you didn’t make them? Jean-Claude did? Ooh, I see a fighting light in your eyes. I’m ducking and weaving. That cleaver you’re toting looks dangerous! I hope Jean-Claude doesn’t lose anything important!
Actually did any of you read Daphne Du Maurier? French pirate makes me think of the delicious hero in Frenchman’s Creek. My 15-year-old did beat faster when he appeared! Actually that’s ANOTHER Cornish story! No, I said Cornish, not corny!
I love marriage of convenience stories too. As you said, so many delicious possibilities. Mind you, I adore handsome French pirate in the kitchen stories too. What’s that? That’s your new project? How interesting!
Actually one of the nice things about being unpublished for all those years is that by the time I did sell, I had an idea of my best way of working. It’s not THE best way of working but it seems to work for me. Good luck in working out your process, Santa!
Is that a faint howl of Zut alors! I hear from below?
Ahoy Anna and Pirates!
Good Lord, 120 comments already! No hope of reading through them all, though I wish I could. Of course I can’t wait for this book. I’m always circling like a vulture for the next Anna Campbell book. Interesting to hear you talk of the differences, Anna. And of course the non-tortured hero in the offing….THAT will be something to read! I’ve just always described Anna Campbell books with tortured characters! Now we’ll get to see another side of you. Can’t wait!
Anna! Sorry it took me so long to get here!
Welcome back to the boat!
I do think the different dynamics is good. And I love the pics above as well.
Kracken shit on the deck? Now that’s just gross. How many times have I told him to go to the rail when he needs to go out? Sheesh!
Santa made it aboard before lights out. I’m amazed! Good to see you come out of that galley now and then. I’m sure you and Jean-Claude will make beautiful eclairs together.
Snort, Miss Neville! I’m shocked! Any more comments like that and I’ll feed you to the kraken!
Ooh, a virgin hero. I love virgin hero stories. Can’t wait to read that one. By the way, I’ve been madly sending your beautiful coverflat all over the place. What a gorgeous cover for The Wild Marquis!
Actually I will write more virgin heroines. As you said, it’s kinda the default state for a historical heroine. Hmm, perhaps de-faultless?
Tawny, if you’re intending to fight our pirates here for a Captain Jack, I think you need to sharpen up a custlass or two. And put powder in your pistols. Oh, I do like a man with powder in his pistols. Flutters eyelashes becomingly…
Hey, cool that COS is your reward. As you know, Feels like the First Time was my reward for getting MRS in!
Actually you sent me TEENAGE squirrels and they’ve been tearing up the neighborhood ever since they arrived, the little devils! The lizards are looking tired, I have to say! They’re not nearly so vigorous!
And hey, my merchandise push worked? Ha, my work is done!
Oh, come on, Chancey! If you tell me, it will go no further!!!!
Snort! I know how old kraky feels. My inner critiques are VERY disagreeable. In fact, they often give me an ill wind!
Oh, man, now I’m having a picture of Kraky and Nessie flirting over a cocktail or two. My imagination will never recover!
Let’s just say…Sita is usually sweatin’ when she shows up…
Hey, Cassondra! Another bandit buddy. Lovely to see you.
Actually Ashcroft does go through some torture in the process of the story so I think your urge for mayhem will be answered
But he’s not tortured before the story starts like all my other guys.
And you circle like a swan, not a vulture, hon! Only the most elegant of avians to describe you!
Hey, Marnee Jo! This is turning into such a party! Thanks for letting me stow away on the Revenge. And thanks for saying you like the photos! Now, get yourself a rum! Chancey!
Hey, he’s the Kraken! He doesn’t have to take orders from nobody, Bo’sun!!!!
Mmm, I’m partial to an eclair. What is that Santa doing down there???!!! Oh, right. OK, no tales out of school!
Snort to Sita! Sounds like she gets into some sweaty SITA-ations! Groan! No, no, Kraky! No more jokes, I promise!
He ain’t likely ta have taken a dump, more likely, it were an ill aimed burp. As I said, those Inner Critics don’t always agree wit’ him. But he do us a service by gobblin’ them up!
What would ya like, Marnee! A Marneasy!?
De-faultless. Aagh!
You and I keep finding books we both like – Frenchman’s Creek is just the latest in a long list. Sooo romantic. Funny you should mention the age of 15. I was about that when I spent a vacation in Falmouth, Cornwall where the book is supposed to have been set. There’s an inlet there called Frenchman’s Creek (in honor of the tourists, I think). Anyway, a boy took me for a moonlight ride in a rowing boat to look at it. This may be the most romantic date I ever had (OMG that sounds sad).
I’m very excited about COS’s Cornish setting.
Miranda – A moonlight ride in a row boat would be near the top a’ me list!
Ahoy there, me hearties! Permission to climb aboard!? Hi Anna, Hellion and the rest of the crew!
Anna, looks like I’m immensely late to a party that has seriously rocked this pirate ship, but I saw you mention Black Jack Trevethick and thought Hmm, if I can’t have the luscious, tortured Gideon (Charis would make me walk the plank!), can I have Black Jack, please?
Readers are going to swoon over CAPTIVE OF SIN! I’m so glad it’s finally hit the shelves so everyone can enjoy it.
Thank you for all the birthday wishes!
I did sign up for NANO.
I love when the party gets loud, people tend to spill all kinds of good secrets. I am loving all the puns.
Di
Miranda, your moonlit evening on Frenchman’s Creek sounds like the stuff of romance novels! Are you going to use it one day?
Chancey, thanks for clearing that up. I think!
Oh, wow, Miranda, that sounds SOOOO romantic! Lucky you. It’s got such a sad ending, that book, though, hasn’t it? But he was loverley!!!
Hey, thanks, Christine. Actually the gorgeous Black Jack with his devil may care attitude and dashing ways will fit into the pirate ship just fine. Hmm, you can have him if I can have Vane!
And Charis is quite a tough little chicky. I think she WOULD make you walk the plank if you look askance at Sir Gid!
Thanks for swinging by and saying those lovely things about Captive of Sin!
Hey, Di, how kind of you to bring us a birthday cake. Santa was going to bring one up but she seems to have taken French leave!
Anna, sorry I’m late for the party…life happens…you know, family and balancing act. Ok, Anna..or who’s got the bottle of rum. Please, make me a double.
Congrats on your release, yay!! Talking of naughty bits…I love them…don’t write YA books, please.
Anna, I am speechless with awe at the way you are fielding all of these comments. Only an Aussie could field like that!
I liked the music analogy. Today you feel like a one-woman band. *grin*
I’m off to look for COS
I knew the party would continue well into the evening hours. Sorry for my absense, had to make dinner and all. Santa has barricaded the door to the galley so we were all on our own.
Miranda – That does sound wildly romantic. And what a gorgeous cover! Makes me think of the classic covers from my youth.
Thank you all the Banditas for dropping by. The decks are really getting crowded. We have a vast assortment of our own hottie crew members. If you’d like a personal tour of the rooms below decks, feel free to enlist one to show you around.
Snort! It’s all that cricket we play, Quantum! People who don’t understand say it’s a boring waste of time but we in the know recognize it’s the perfect training for a blog tour!
Hey, hope you find COS! I think it’s still making its way across the States.
Anna,
My uber-alpha was Rothburn. Haven’t been able to repeat his alphaness and I really want to!!!!
On the snakes… was hiking somewhere on my uncles property with his dog (buddy–gorgeous husky/border collie with the bluest eyes ever) and walked into them. Screamed. Got over it, and then hightailed it out of there! LOL I think I was around fifteen at the time.
Anna, I found COS as an ebook at fictionwise but they wouldn’t sell it to me. It seems that I have to live in the US or Canada to buy it.
What a swiz! Those Americans think they are the centre of the Universe!
I will figure a way to get it though. *grin*
Hey, Bo’sun! Miranda’s great – and isn’t that a wonderful cover? That red dress, yum! Personally I think the Banditas just wanted to avoid the wedding clean-up. I could be wrong but the evidence points that way. And if you expect them around to pick up bottles and clean up kraken burp and swab the decks in preparation for quilting, I feel you’ll be whistling, my friend! They’ll have moved on to the next venue for their mayhem! Well, I suppose they’re bandits! What can you expect?
There’s some very strange noises emerging from the galley. Do you think we should check on Santa? Even more importantly, do you think we should check on Jean-Claude???!!!
Hey, Quantum, where are you? I just assumed Canada. Silly me – one should never assume. Do you know about the Book Depository? They’ll post any book anywhere in the world for NO POSTAGE!!!! That’s right – you only pay for the book. It’s in pounds sterling which means it’s a bit dearer than a U.S. book but the no postage makes up for a lot and the pound’s down against a lot of currencies right now, including ours in Australia. Which means the Book Depository is seeing a lot of me! http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/homepage.php
Thanks Anna.
I’m actually a Brit. And I haven’t forgotten the way you Aussies stole those ashes!
I can probably enlist help from a friend with an American bank account. but the Book Depository could be a last resort.I do like digital formats as my house is stuffed full of physics books … and one or two of yours!
Oh, my goodness, you can CALL into the Book Depository then! Ha ha, you know exactly what I mean about bowling a maiden over too. Oh, dear, an oldie but a goodie. Well, actually not that good. Where in England are you? I lived there for two years in the mid 80s and I’ve been back several times since. I’m a complete Britophile! Hey, we only LENT you the Ashes to cheer you up when your little chins were wobbling…
Ahhh “Captive of Sin“ sounds like a wonderful book. Sigh … and I haven’t been able to get my hands on it because I’m stuck in my house with the flu.
Vanessa Barneveld brought up YA. She is right. There are never enough YA books.
I’m stuck in my house with the flu… and my teenage daughter… who has finished reading all of Her books. If I see another episode of “Degrassi” I’m gonna go DeCRAZY!
HELP!
Julie – Surely you can find someone to do a book run for you both. Thank goodness my kid is not into that show yet. Then again, she has her own TV in her room, so that’s a plus.
Anna – Thank you so much for being with us today. You are always one of our best guests and today was no different. Here’s to books flying off the shelves and that new book flying onto the page!
Now as for the question:
Did I ever do something so different I shocked myself?
I have a hard time finishing a letter so Anytime I actually finish writing whatever it is that I have to finish … I am genuinely shocked! Seriously.
Umm … different and shocking?
The story about:
When I had to draw a “kumquat.”
The time my Dad made me retouch a photo.
The bell ringer’s story that I wrote one Christmas Eve because I felt guilty for not writing it down.
Then there was the thing I wrote about dancing with death, literally… that I wrote (this is the shocking part) for a friend with a sick cat.
The most “different story” I’ve ever written was started as a joke for my DD. But I found that writing “it” kept my mind active, like doing a crossword puzzle. So I kept working on “it” to see how long I could keep it up.
“It” is written in, are you ready for this?
“It” is written in Rhyming Couplets or Quatrain or iambic pentameter or something different like that. Really I’m not a writer so … yah… If I seem like I have no idea what I am doing
Its Because I don’t.
So judge for yourself what “It” is:
It was once upon a sometime
but not so long ago
I was reading a story to my guppy fish
by the light of the lanterns glow
That’s right … I actually have this ode thing-idy-bob thing that is written about A Guppy. A rhyming couplets quatrain iambic pentameter something or other Ode to a Guppy… that is over a hundred pages long… shocked?
The DH is out of Town!
Help … before I’m reduced to
writing rhyming couplets or quatrains
about Degrassi’s two timing teenagers
who are vain…
Would you look at me? I am simply covered in flour! Jean-Claude showed me a new recipe for some delightful meat pies. The crust was just a crispy, flaky dr…What? I have flour all over myself. I just said that…Where? On my bum? Handprints? Ah, yes, well..I can explain that. Jean was giving me a lift so I could reach the spices on the top shelf. Oui, I mean, yes.
Anyhoo…Thanks for your words of encouragement, Anna. Anytime I get discouraged, I remember your perseverance which has paid so handsomely for everyone who gets to read your wonderful books.
I must get back below deck and clean up the mess Jean made. Why am I cleaning up the mess? Well, let us just say that Jean Claude is a wee bit tired right now.
Ciao for now!
Wow, Tiff, that sounds like one gorgeous dog! Hey, interesting about Rothburn – he’s kinda like your Kylemore, isn’t he? Would you believe a red-bellied black snake killed my horse? Seriously! Pretty scary stuff!
Oh, man, Julie, De Grassi High! I was a bit old to miss the 80s version but when I worked as a subtitler, I worked on a few of the reunion programs. Not my cup of tea! I can see why you want more YA books in the house! Sorry to hear you’re sick! Here, have a hot rum toddy. That’s good for colds. And even if it’s not, it’s guaranteed to make you feel better.
Snort! I loved your list of new and different. Yep, it was definitely new and different! And seriously, start drinking – it will help with the Diapoetria!
Snort, Santa! Hasn’t Jean-Claude got a big….
HAND!!!!
Hand, I really meant to say hand!
Actually should go into the instruction manual – don’t fool around in the flour. You’ll get found out!
Thanks so much for having me today, Pirates. I always have a ball when I’m with you guys. Seriously, you ought to be Bandits!
Yeah, I know dem’s fightin’ words. And thanks to everyone for their amazing comments! Wow!
Don’t forget to check back to see who won the signed copy of CAPTIVE OF SIN!