When you’re brainstorming for a new story, what usually comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
When I’m writing as Anna Markland my medieval novels follow a family and its offshoot branches, so the characters are usually created in an earlier book. For example, I am currently writing the love story of Alexandre, grandson of my original hero in Conquering Passion. Alex was born in Passion in the Blood, and is now old enough to fall in love!
Writing under the pen name Roxanne Rogerson became a different challenge because hot contemporary romance is a completely new genre for me. So the characters in Boom! evolved seemingly from nowhere. By the time I got to the second book in that series, Zing! I knew which characters from Boom! I was going to write about next.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a pantser. I love making stuff up as I go along. I have a vague notion of where I’m going, and in the historical stories the events of the time control the plot to a certain extent.
When you’re writing, who is more in control, you or your characters?
Definitely the characters. I’ve often joked that the medieval heroes and heroines are reaching through time to tell me their stories. Families multiply as generation follows generation, so now I have a multitude of characters to choose from for new books. However, there’s always one who “speaks” to me, insisting they be next! I even have a family tree set up in a genealogical software program so I can keep track.
Can you write sex scenes at any time or do you have to be “in the mood?”
Funnily enough, I have to be in a certain mood to write sex scenes in my medieval books, but the contemporary stuff, which is more erotic, just seems to flow! I think that’s because there’s a lot of laugh-out-loud humor in my contemporary stuff (yes, even in the sex scenes). I like to think I’m putting the fun back into kink after some rather dark novels have perhaps made people believe it’s all about pain.
What do you like about writing series books?
I get to know the characters and enjoy seeing them develop. For example, Alexandre’s character has been molded by events that occurred to his father in Passion in the Blood. He also appeared in Heart and Crowns where I had a chance to give readers a heads-up about his personality.
Would you tell us about your latest release?
Roxanne’s latest release is Zing! Went the Strings…
What are you working on now?
Anna is back in the Middle Ages completing Alex’s story, tentatively titled Queens and Pawns. It’s set at the time known as The Anarchy when King Stephen and Queen Maud vied for the throne of England.
What are a few of your favorite book covers that have been done for your books?
I’m very proud of all my covers. Most of them were done by Steven Novak.
Do you prefer writing your heroes, your heroines or do you like writing both equally?
I tend to like heroes better.
When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?
Genealogical research.
Would you tell us about yourself?
I was born in England, but I’ve lived most of my life in Canada. I have a keen interest in genealogy and this has had a tremendous influence on my stories. My medieval romances are about family honor, ancestry, and roots. My novels are intimate love stories filled with passion and adventure. Following a fruitful career in teaching, I transformed my love of writing and history into works of fiction. One of the things I enjoy most about writing historical romance is the in-depth research necessary to provide readers with an authentic medieval experience. And I love happy endings! I hope you get as much pleasure from reading my books as I do writing them.
Do you have an excerpt from your latest release you would like to share?
Yes. I had fun with this and you’ll understand why if you bear in mind I’m a medievalist.
Stuart is 10 years younger than the woman he craves as his Domme, but she is recently widowed. Don’t forget these are 21st century characters.
“Stuart filled his lungs, then held his breath after pressing his thumb to Maureen’s doorbell. He heard the echo of the bing-bong. After a minute or two, the door opened.
He couldn’t grasp the vision that appeared—a petite Queen Elizabeth the First, complete with crown, ruffed collar, jewel encrusted gown, rouged cheeks, red hair and imperious glare.
His cock paid homage to his monarch.
Maureen smiled mischievously, a gleam in her eye as she took his hand and pulled him inside. “Do you like it? Impressive, don’t you think?”
She’d adopted a role, and chosen one of history’s most dominant women. Did this mean—? “I—I’m—”
“Speechless?”
She thrust her chin in the air, turned abruptly and walked away, the skirts of her elaborate costume swishing against the hardwood flooring. “Follow me, Lord Stuart.”
Perhaps he was dreaming? Heaven knew he’d fantasized often enough about playing games with Maureen. He shut the door, eased off his runners and followed in her wake.
She stood by the living room fireplace, one hand on the mantel, her face stern. He sensed she was trying to hide her nervousness. He bowed. “Your Majesty.”
A hint of a smile crossed her face. “You may kneel at my feet, Lord Stuart.”
He obeyed, keeping his eyes on the rug.
“Put your hands behind your head and look at me.”
He did as she bade him.
“Excellent. I appreciate an obedient subject.”
Was this happening? He’d planned to bring Maureen up to speed on the Jag, but it could wait. He wanted to know what Her Majesty had in mind.
She cupped his chin. He toyed with the idea of kissing her hand, but she hadn’t given permission.
“Lord Stuart, as you see, I have arrived at a decision.”
He stared into jade green eyes and thought he might drown. Words refused to form. Probably better to say nothing.
“I have come to the realization I cannot remain in mourning forever. I need distractions, courtiers to amuse me, to obey my every wish and command.”
He felt the warmth of her delicate fingers under his chin. Would she punish him if he licked them?
She trailed her fingertips from his chin to his lips. “Do you wish to be my courtier, Lord Stuart? My amusement?”
He decided to chance it. He swiped his tongue lightly over her fingers. “I live to serve my Queen,” he rasped.
She shifted her weight nervously, withdrawing her fingers, touching them to her lips. “First, we shall have to see if you are man enough to be my plaything. Strip to the waist.”
Stuart had imagined undressing in front of Maureen, but never like this. He hoped he’d manage to undo the buttons, because his brain seemed to be completely paralyzed. But his cock was happy and his balls were in heaven.”
Where can we visit you online?
http://annamarklandromanceauthor.blogspot.ca/
http://roxyrogerson.blogspot.ca/
Buy Links for Anna (Conquering Passion is on sale for 99 cents for a limited time)
Buy Links for Roxanne
Boom! http://amzn.com/B00FL8L636
Zing! http://amzn.com/B00HMUCXDI
BTW, if you’re a fan of historical romance you might want to visit the Love Historicals website where you’ll find 13 authors and links to their books.
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Great interview Anna, loved hearing about your process. The excerpt from Boom! was both funny and evocative. My Mom is into genealogy also and really enjoys it. Not sure if you use it or not but the Mormon church has a huge genealogy department in Salt Lake City which I believe is accessible by the general public.
That last line of the excerpt made me exclaim, “Crikey! Anna.” Certainly makes one want to read more… 🙂
Fantastic excerpt. I love role playing.
Enjoyed the interview, Anna. 🙂
Great post, Anna! Love your split personalities! LOL! Very fun excerpt!
Wow. even with split personalities both types of covers rock! I think I’m partial to those men on the medievals. Do you ever find yourself putting some humor or spicy things in the medieval that you didn’t realize because of your two different writing styles?
Thanks for having me as your guest today, Kate.
Thank you for being here, Anna!
How interesting. I usually just sit and listen to what my characters want from me. They tend to lead me into their stories.
I know what you mean about characters “taking control” of a story as you write. The one book I wrote in first person had me in the heroine’s head the entire time, and she led the way!
Great job, Anna.
This is all new to me and really quite fascinating at several levels. I like this support of one author for another. Then we discover Anna is writing two quite different styles of books, medieval romance and contemporary romance. I enjoyed the excerpt. It is naughty, fresh and exploratory. Even though one character is a dominant, the two characters somehow seem as equals in terms of enjoying their roles. I previously thought kink was a dark strange place to go, but I can see now it can be fun. I will definitely want to read more of Anna/Roxanne’s books. Anna has a sound approach to the medieval romance books, and I’m sure breathing life into her characters. I will want to sample those books too. How enlightening! Thanks to Kate for introducing us to Anna.