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Welcome Author Anne Lange



I'd like to welcome Anne Lange to my blog today. 
So Anne, tell me about yourself and your new book,  Worth the Risk

 

Hi Lynda. Thank you so much for having me.  I’m really excited to be here.  And congratulations on your upcoming release, Rescued from the Dark.  It is exciting, isn’t it?  I know exactly how you feel.



What is the single most important part of writing for you?
Reading.  I truly believe you can’t be an effective author if you don’t read yourself.  I read books in the genre I write, because it’s what I like, but it also allows me to analyze the work of others.  What’s working for them that might not be working for me?  In what aspect is at their work stronger than mine.  How did they handle a certain type of situation that I’m struggling with?  Or sometimes, I just can’t think of a word or the next logical step and I need a trigger to get me back on track.  I also need to step back and read my own work as if I were the outside buyer.  Does it sound right, make sense? Is it logical?  Is it realistic?  Would I want to buy this book?

And beyond that, it’s my escape to free my mind.  When I’m blocked or just need a break, I read.  It allows me to get away from my own writing for a while and focus on somebody else’s story for a while.  It’s funny how changing focus can actually help me focus more.  Then when I go back to my own story, it’s usually with a fresh perspective.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?
A thought.  I get an idea and let it tumble around in my head for a few days until it settles down and starts to gel. Then I start to think about the lead characters and they become vague images in my head. For example:  A few weeks ago I was in bed and happened to turn my head towards my nightstand.  I spotted this box, a game, and I took note of the title.  Very casually, I thought it would be a cool title for a book.  Well, that thought became glued in my head.  Over the next few days the plot and characters unfolded. So, I wrote it down. Five minutes and a handful of 4x6 sticky notes later, I have a high-level outline of a story and I know who the 3 main and at least 1 extra characters are.  

What did you learn from writing your first book? 
Great question.  The answer – this is freakin’ harder than it looks!  LOL.  Who knew there were so many rules!  You mean to tell me it’s not as simple as throwing some words on the page, having a few characters chat back and forth, maybe have a fight, maybe have some sex.  And then a very well-known agent and an editor is not going to coming knock on my door and give me a nice big fat cheque and thank me for the book?

Yeah, not likely.  I realized I didn’t know how to write a complete story, at least not in the format it should be in.  I knew nothing about points of view, relationship arcs, pacing, GMC, hooks…and the list goes on.  I certainly didn’t anticipate the level of effort involved in promotion and marketing. 

It’s been a steep learning curve, on a very tight schedule, for the last little while.  But I don’t regret a moment of it.  It’s been difficult, it’s been frustrating, it’s been overwhelming, but it’s also been exhilarating.  That moment when you get word that somebody likes your story enough to want it. Wow.  That’s the “Oh, my God. I did it” moment.

How many hours a day to you spend writing?
No even remotely enough.  Seriously.  I’m still trying to find the right balance between writing, promo, my day-job and my family.  

Because I have a full-time job outside of the home, I have to squeeze in time to write. I try to get in an hour during my lunch break.  Maybe another one while I’m waiting for my ride home.  The rest comes after dinner, kids, husband, email, and promo.  And then there are the weekends.   If I’m successful during the work week, I’ll get one or two hours per day.  I try to make up for it on the weekends and get at least 4 hours per day.  Then I go nuts to meet deadlines.

If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?
Go after your dreams.  You know what you really want to do, so don’t let the situation or the people around you dictate the choices you make.  If you want it bad enough, you can have it. There are ways to make it happen. It won’t happen overnight. It may take years. You may not get it all at once, but you can do it. Baby steps.

And know what the real dream is.  If your dream is to be a published author – does that mean you need to be another Nora Roberts? Or does that mean you need to have one book, published electronically, and available on Amazon for just one person to buy.   

Understand the goal, and work towards it. Regardless of when it’s achieved, the sense of fulfillment will be worth the trials it took to get you there.

What are some jobs you've done that would end up in a book? 
Well, my day job is in project management.  I’ve been doing that for about twenty-five years.  I’ve worked my way up from a junior administrative assistant (back then I was called a stenographer) to a National Project Control Manager and Project Manager.  Now I’m essentially a consultant within the organization I work for.  I’ve worked on all kinds of projects from administrative based to IT, to construction, environmental and even one-of a kind technology. You name it, and I’ve probably had my hands in one just like it. 

So, building on what I know and can actually talk about without doing loads of research, you’ll probably see project managers (in various industries), construction managers, administrators, administrative assistance, authors, wives (that’s a job, right) and maybe even a mom.

List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.
Oh my, only two? I can’t keep the list that short. There are SO many, depending on my mood, and the size of my to-be-read pile.  Shayla Black, Lori Foster, Suzanne Brockmann, Lorelei James and Milly Taiden are in a box right now waiting for me to let them out.  LOL well, not really.  But their books are.

Tell us about Worth the Risk.
I would love to.  Molly and Tanner grew up in a small town in Eastern, Ontario, Canada.  They dated, fell in love, and had big plans for a future together. Then, just before their graduation from university, Molly tells Tanner it’s over, that she doesn’t want to be in a committed relationship any more. 
Ten years go by and he’s come home. Tanner wants answers. Molly wants the memories to stay buried; she had her reasons for ending things between them.  But, neither can deny the attraction and the heat that still exists between them. 
Would you share an excerpt with us?  Absolutely.  And thank you, Lynda for inviting me to visit with you today.  I’ve really enjoyed this.  And I hope your readers liked meeting me.






Worth the Risk by Anne Lange, a Contemporary Erotic Romance, a Novella
Blurb: 
Even the hottest sex might not be enough to ease the pain of the past…
Molly Simpson arrives at a beautiful provincial park, ready to spend the May Two-Four holiday camping with friends. This weekend is the highlight of her year—or it was, until Tanner Daivies showed up. Her high school crush is all grown up, sexy as sin, and he’s demanding answers—answers Molly isn’t sure she can give him. She had her reasons for leaving him all those years ago, but now, sex with Tanner is scorching, and when they’re together, it’s clear they were never meant to be apart. But the past doesn’t want to stay buried, and Molly isn’t sure reliving it is worth the risk…

Excerpt: 590 Words
It was really him. Curiosity got the better of her, and she glanced back over her shoulder. Memories assaulted her as he removed his six-foot-plus frame from the car to stand in the center of the welcome circle. Her friends were all talking at him, their voices filled with excitement. Judging by his glazed expression, their reaction left him a little overwhelmed.
Ten years. She rubbed her chest, thinking back to the invisible ache that had bothered her earlier on the drive here. She’d struggled the entire two hours to keep her focus on the road and not on painful memories from her past.
She flexed her fingers. Maybe the cause of her earlier distress was the fact that this year served as a milestone. Ten years since graduation, ten years since she last saw Tanner, and ten years since…fuck. When did she start counting? Molly searched the area for possible escape routes.
Colleen’s gentle shake brought her back to the moment. “Brad texted me earlier and said he took the afternoon off. He also said he was bringing a surprise with him. He’s been dating somebody new. I just assumed—”
“Um…yeah. I wouldn’t have expected Brad’s surprise to be Tanner either. It…ah…caught me off guard. That’s—” Oh, crap. “I just need a few minutes.”
“You’ve got no color in your face. I’m sure it will be OK. Awkward, yes, but probably fine.”
Molly’s heart palpitated. Colleen’s mouth moved, but the buzz in her ears drowned out the words. She swallowed hard. Air, she needed air.
“Besides, the others won’t let him cause a scene. You’re the one we’ve stayed close to over the years, not him. Our allegiance is to you, honey.”
Molly swung her gaze to where her childhood friends had gathered around the car, effectively pinning Tanner against it. Sam and Olivia, a couple since they were in diapers, were married now, and both glowed like beacons.
Violet, a transplant from Toronto when her parents divorced, hovered close, waiting for her turn to say hi.
Brad and Tanner had been best friends through grade school and high school. Brad had been pissed when Tanner left town without a word to anyone. Looked as though he got over it.
Molly had never told anybody why she and Tanner broke up. She’d stressed over it at the time, deflecting comments from friends about him disappearing days before graduation. She hated the thought of being subjected to the pity she’d see on their faces if they knew the truth. Everybody just assumed the breakup had been his doing. She never corrected them, just implied she’d agreed with his decision.
Colleen’s words began to cut through the insistent noise. Molly nodded. “Thank you. That means more to me than you know.” Unshed tears burned her eyes. She opened her mouth and sucked in a shaky breath, but at least she had oxygen in her lungs now. “You’re right. It will be…fine.” She gulped. “Why don’t you go over and say hi?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’m going to wait here for a few more minutes.” She began calculating the odds of sneaking past her friends and making a quick getaway before any of them noticed. She made a mental note to back her car in next time.
“OK.” Colleen gave her a final squeeze and walked over to join the others.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Molly closed her eyes, wishing for a paper bag. A really big one. She so did not need this in her life right now.

Author BIO:
Anne Lange grew up with a love of reading. In fact, if you take a close look, she’s got a book with her where ever she goes, and will usually sneak in at least a chapter or ten whenever she can spare a few minutes. She reads many genres of fiction, but prefers to write sexy romance with attractive men, strong females, and always a happily ever after.
While embarking on a career as a romance author, Anne juggles a full time job and a family. She grew up in Southern Ontario (Canada), but now makes her home in Eastern Ontario where she lives with her husband, three children, and Rocky, the bearded dragon.
Buy Links: 
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance Ebooks
Kobo
Social Media Links:
Web Page/Blog: http://authorannelange.com/
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneLange
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Anne_Lange
e-mail: anne_lange66@yahoo.ca
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/anne_lange