Brook Cottage Books is delighted to welcome the lovely Annabelle Blume. Thanks so much Annabelle for enduring the interrogation interview.
JB: I love the title of the book! How did you come up with the title and was the book originally called something else or did you play about with a number of other titles?
Annabelle: Thank you! Melted Tears was always the title, though I wasn’t sure I loved it in the beginning. As for choosing it, I wanted something that implied growth on Cressenda’s part. Frozen Heart was such a perfect description for her emotional state in the first book, I spent a lot of time thinking about where she was in the second book – what she’d learned and how she’d changed.
JB: Tell us a little about you inspiration for your book. Can we look forward to another in the series?
Annabelle: Initially, I though Beckett and Cressie’s story was done at the end of Frozen Heart, but so many readers asked for more, wanted to know what happened next, that I knew I had to explore their future together. Plus, I knew Beckett wasn’t the type to leave well enough alone.
I would definitely like to write more in the Outlier Series. Cressie and Beckett’s story is in a good spot, which leave me the option to explore the stories of the others, like Teagan and Guard Tallion.
JB: From start to finish, how long did it take you to complete Melted Tears?
Annabelle: It took me 4 months to have the Melted Tears manuscript ready for submission to Inkspell. Then Rie, my editor, and I spent a couple weeks fine tuning.
JB: Did any of the characters suddenly develop in a different way than you had originally planned or did you stick pretty much with what you had planned for each of them?
Annabelle: Guard Tallion took on a whole new arc I hadn’t seen coming, but it couldn’t have been any other way.
JB: Do you have a publication day ritual and does it include champagne?
Annabelle: I don’t have a ritual, but I like your idea. Can I steal it?
JB: Your book covers are stunning. Tell us a little about who designs your covers?
Annabelle: Najla of Najla Qamber Designs does my covers with Inkspell Publishing. She is amazing. I haven’t seen any other cover artists whose work even comes close to hers.
JB: Lots of authors tell me they write every day. Are you that type of writer or do you write when inspiration strikes?
Annabelle: I definitely do not wait for inspiration to strike. When I write it is intentional. I carve out hours in my day and I write deliberately and with purpose.
JB: Tell me 3 good things about being a writer and 3 things that suck!
Annabelle: Oh, whoo...man, that’s hard. I’ll tell you a story about the time when my writing dream came true.
About 6 months ago or so, a man I know came to me and asked if I had any copies of my book on hand. He explained that his daughter was in a bad place, falling apart over an ex-boyfriend who wasn’t worth the sock fuzz between her toes and floating somewhat aimlessly now that she was out of high school. He wanted her to read Frozen Heart because he believed Cressenda was exactly the type of woman she needed to get to know. A character she could be inspired by and learn from.
I was floored.
My writing dream had come true. I gave him a signed copy with a personalised dedication to his daughter and a set of signed book marks and wouldn’t take a dime in exchange. He had already paid me far more than money every could.
As for what sucks? That’s easy.
1.People assume you’re going to be rolling in dough as soon as your book is published, which isn’t true at ALL.
2.The reactions you receive when you say you write romance fit in to one of three categories – the haters, the lovers, and the pervs. The pervs are the most annoying.
3.Someone once said to me, “Anyone can write a book these days.” That’s the sentiment floating around out there. It’s insulting on levels even I don’t have the words to describe. I usually respond with, “I look forward to your best seller any time now.”
JB: You have a sociology degree. What made you decide to study this particular subject and is there another area you’d like to study?
Annabelle: Sociology is the summary of reality to me. How we think, feel, behave, etc is all influenced by the society in which we live. I loved studying Sociology. Sometimes I wish I had followed through with my teenage plans to be a geneticist, but in this era of GMO foods, I’m rather glad I didn’t follow that path and end up under Monsanto’s dark cloud.
JB: You write for Vitacost.com also. How did you get involved with this site?
Annabelle: Initially, my ability to talk about sex, openly and honestly, without being too clinical or too crass was what got me the job. The Bombshell Mommy started out completely focused on sex, self esteem, and relationships. Sadly, there are still plenty of very prudish people out there and after wading through tons of backlash, we transitioned to an overall “Bombshell” lifestyle blog, focusing on natural and green approached to health and beauty.
JB: What’s next for you? Do you have any new projects in the pipeline or are you busy enough!?
Annabelle: I’m working on a New Adult Urban Fantasy. This will be my first full length novel. I am terribly excited!
JB: If you could have any other job in the world what would it be or would you stick to doing what you do now?
Annabelle: I’ve always wanted to be a host on QVC. Yes, I’m serious. It’s okay, you can laugh. It seems like the best gig ever. I mean, all you have to do is talk about how awesome a product is and have really big hair. The big hair might be a tough transition for me, but I think it’d be worth it.
JB: Any advice out there for any budding writers?
Annabelle: My only advice is the mantra of Chuck Wendig: Finish Your Stuff (well, he uses more colorful language, but you catch my drift). Seriously though, if you don’t finish anything you’re not a writer, you’re a typist. Writers tell stories from beginning to end. Learn how to follow through with your story arc and your character arcs. Even if you think it’s complete and utter crap, the very act of getting to the end of a story is magical.
Thank you for having hosting me today. It’s been delightful!
About Annabelle Blume
Annabelle is a Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy Romance author, that is, when she's not checking homework or begrudgingly cooking dinner. Wife, mother, and creator of alternate worlds, Annabelle has a penchant for that which is outside the norm. Her Sociology degree has given her the ability to construct worlds that exist only in her head and translate them passionately to the page. The time spent studying individuals, interpersonal relationships, and particularly, women, within the constraints of our society led to Annabelle's unabashed ability to talk about sex as it fits into our modern lives.
| She's also the author/personality of The Bombshell Mommy at Vitacost.com, where she expounds her knowledge of being a vixen clad in sweatpants. A serial book monogamist, Annabelle is deeply devoted to the literary love of her life until the next amazing book falls into her clutches and she obsesses anew. |
Annabelle’s official author page www.annabelleblumebooks.com
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Novella
Release Date: August 2013
Release Date: August 2013
Two lovers face off against a government determined to keep them apart. It’s only brave if it’s hard.
After a decade of being alone in the wilderness, Cressenda is still adjusting to life with the man of her dreams. When Beckett hatches a plan to break her parents out of The Affinity prison work camps, Cressenda must make the biggest sacrifice of her life; trading her freedom for her parents’. Cressenda’s fortitude is tested at every turn, from surviving the conditions of West Fallen work camp to believing in Beckett’s dedication to their plan and their love, even when it looks like all hope is lost. With the help of a unlikely ally, Cressenda learns to stop fighting against her fears and embrace the power of fighting for her dreams.
Will trusting Beckett to take down The Affinity be the ultimate show of faith or a fatal mistake?
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