Exclusive Interview with
Annette G. Anders
When did you start writing?
I wrote my first novel in 2019.
What makes writing your passion?
Creating a new story is like stepping into a different world, even if the story is set in the present. The fictional characters are becoming very close friends to me, and their problems become my problems, which I want to help them fix. And knowing that readers are being pulled into the stories is the ultimate reward.
How long have you been writing?
While I haven’t written a book before 2019, I’ve always loved writing letters, keeping a diary, and playing with words in general.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
Pride and anxiety. Pride, because I fulfilled a life-long dream. And anxiety, because I opened myself up to criticism from strangers. One never knows how a book is being received by readers and critics.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I don’t really choose my characters, they develop as I write, and they reveal themselves and their personality to me in the process. It’s quite fascinating.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
Nothing annoys me about it, even though marketing is not my favorite part of it, but I sometimes wish I could type faster. Especially when ideas for several books tumble through my mind at the same time.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I haven’t experienced a full-blown case of writer’s block yet, but when I feel momentarily stuck, it helps to go on a car ride or a day trip for a change of scenery.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
My advice is to keep writing. Even if it’s only a few sentences a day but try to stay involved in your story and your project.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
“Follow your dreams.”
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
Yes, I read them and try to see the bad ones as par for the course. If a 1- or 2-star reviewer leaves feedback about what they didn’t like, I’m grateful; it gives me something to work with and I know not every story is for every reader. But I’m not too happy with the ones who freely admit right out of the gate that they didn’t even read the book or knew they didn’t like that genre/topic but still feel compelled to slam me with a negative rating.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
Happiness.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
There are experiences of my own life in each of my books, but I don’t make them the main problem.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
The book cover is one of the most important parts of a book. It’s the first thing a reader sees and what’s supposed to grab their attention. If the story turns out to be too different from what the cover implies, a reader will be disappointed.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I’m a social butterfly and love to meet and chat with readers. Because I published my debut novel during a world-wide pandemic, I haven’t had as many in-person experiences as I wish I had. Therefore, I’m grateful for social media and modern technology to connect via Zoom etc.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
Grateful and very humbled.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
I don’t have one favorite author, but Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, James Michener, and Carlos Ruiz Zafón are among my favorite writers. Their skills with world-building and creating unforgettable characters are amazing.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
I don’t believe in wanting to be as big as one particular writer, but I believe in reaching for the stars, and my dream is to have readers recognize my name and await the release of a new book.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Authors are constantly honing their skills by attending workshops or conferences and by reading blogs and articles about writing. We deepen our knowledge in the art of writing, and it hopefully reflects in our newer work. Which means that while our older work might benefit from a rewrite, we might also “improve it for the worse,” because it’s not our original voice anymore. And if we allow ourselves to go down that rabbit hole, we’d forever rewrite older books and never get to write new ones. So, I guess the answer is no.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
I don’t want to switch places with anyone. I’m content with what I achieved and want to continue working toward my goals.
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
I’d like to tell them “Find another hobby.” I want to believe they don’t know what kind of damage they create (especially to newer and self-published authors), but they probably do, which makes it even worse.
What would you say to your readers?
“Thank you for giving my books a chance.”
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I grew up in Germany but have lived in New England for almost 25 years with my husband, our now-grown son, and our 9-year-old boxer.
What is your day job if you have one?
I’m a freelance editor.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
I love to read (big surprise, I know!), I’m an avid traveler, and I enjoy meeting friends for lunch and a chat.
Did you have a happy childhood?
I’ve had many beautiful moments growing up, but my childhood was sadly marred by my parents’ drawn-out and very ugly divorce.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
Yes, in the summer of 2019, I had finished reading a book and couldn’t decide on what to read next. I sat outside and envisioned a woman crying over a book while my favorite musical (Phantom of the Opera) played in my mind. I wanted to know what that particular book meant to the woman, and the seed for my debut novel was planted. Since then, I write the kinds of books that I love to read.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
Yes, I have a first draft of a dual timeline story. It is about a woman who comes of age in the 1960s and what it takes for her to find herself in a time when women still didn’t have a voice and were supposed to follow old-fashioned expectations.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
As someone who worked for twelve years in the public school system and as the mother of a son who attended public schools, I wish the interest in reading would be better promoted. In their early years, many kids enjoy reading for school, but once they are forced to read (to them) boring books in middle and high school, they lose interest. I wish there was a way to give them a voice and a choice about what they want to read instead of forcing them to read what their parents and grandparents already had on their curriculum.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
1) A personal chef—I much prefer writing over cooking. 2) Getting my novels translated in other languages. 3) Never running out of inspiration and ideas for new stories.
What is your favorite music?
I like music that takes me away and lets me dream. Definitely ABBA and lots of 70s and 80s music, but also classical music.
Share a secret with us 🙂
I always develop a little bit of a crush on my male protagonists – but don’t tell my husband.