Hello Ann and welcome to FAR. Pull up a chair and let the readers get to know more about Ann Lory.

Thank you. I’m very excited to be able to participate in an interview with FAR.

I noticed that Eternal Surrender is out. It sounds like a winner. I loved the excerpt and synopsis. Is it the last book in the series? The readers would love to hear a bit about it.

No, it is not the last book. I am currently working on three other books in this series. The next will be Christian’s story, Eternal Salvation.

Eternal Surrender is one of my favorite books so far:

When Alyssa meets Damian she doesn’t hesitate attempting to put a stake thought his heart. After losing against his supernatural strength, Alyssa finds herself a guest in his home, and facing a new dilemma…she must resist him. He’s sinfully handsome and drives her mad with the urge to pummel him one minute and throw herself at him in the next, but she must remain strong. Vampires killed her family and she will not forget her vow to see them destroyed.

Damian was sent to kill Alyssa by D’Angel, his maker, but after a glimpse and a taste of the young woman he cannot bring himself to end her life. Instead he brings her under his protection whether she’s willing or not, knowing full well if she were to face off against D’Angel she would be tortured and killed.

The sparks fly with not only the wicked slash of words and flying fists, but with the heated passion the two try to deny each other. It’s only a matter of time before the walls start to tumble down, and they can no longer resist the urges for one another. They struggle to defeat, D’Angel and her followers and all the while Alyssa must face the truth…not all vampires are evil. Can Alyssa put aside her hate and mistrust and let herself love a vampire? In the end will Alyssa be able to surrender all for an eternity of paradise where she never expected it.

Are you working on another series?

Yes, a couple actually. I am currently working on, The Real Men trilogy. It’s a Si-Fi trilogy about men specifically created for military purposes. And I am also working on a five book series that is currently untitled. The first book in this series is called, A Platinum Purchase, about an uptight lawyer from New York that gets a surprise from her friends while she’s at a Lawyers Convention in Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

You recently had a little girl. Congratulations. I am sure your schedule is really busy. Do you ever have any Ann time?

On occasion, when I have this time I like to either, ride my bike, watch a movie, or take a hot bubble bath with a good book.

What is the hardest part of creating a book? Surviving the editor? Promoting? The last chapter?

I would have to say the last chapter. Making sure that climax is what the reader has been waiting for and that everything is wrapped up with no unanswered questions.

How long does it normally take you to finish a book?

Roughly, I would say about six to eight months. With a day job it eats into my writing time so I can’t put them out as quickly as I’d like to.

Where do you get all these ideas for your books?

There are a number of places, and ways I get ideas for my books. Music is one of those whether it’s classical or rock. The rhythm of song can make me think of things to go along with the music, the hero, the heroine, the dilemma that brings them together and the struggle they must overcome.

Also, seeing the land as I drive, or photos of the world, it makes me think of stories from centuries ago and maybe some of the romances that was there while history was happening around them.

And of course if I see an image of a gorgeous man, I think to myself…he has a story.

Do you have to go through many drafts/edits to get it polished just right?

When I write I try to get it out of my head and on paper not worrying about edits, or anything else. Once done, then I go back over and try to clean it up before turning it over to my editor. After that she gets it and polishes it up the rest of the way. So, I guess one draft and usually three sets of edits. One go around with me and two with my editor.

In your opinion, what are the three most essential ingredients of an excellent novel?

A great hero, a strong heroine, but not where she’s so strong willed you want to yell at her to get off the soap box. :-D And, a fast moving story line where the characters interact in a great setting and it’s not all about sex. I know! I know! I love sex scenes and great ones to boot, but I want a plot too.

You have 3 wishes, what are they?

1. That my family be happy and healthy.

2. That my mother-in-law had lived long enough to see her first grand daughter. We were just as close as my own mother and I called her mom and she called me daughter. I miss her everyday.

3. Lastly, that I could be a writer full time.

Congratulations! You just won a year off from work to travel anywhere in the world and write the story of your dreams. Where do you go, what type of book do you write, and what’s the title?

I could travel across Europe, doing all the touristy things, by visiting every historical and most romantic places in the world, spending quite a bit of time in small village in Switzerland, up in the mountains.

I’d write a romance of course about the American tourist who gets snowed in up in the Alps with a gorgeous hero. He’s mysterious. Why is he there? He’s not Swiss. Who is he? He’s on the run, but from whom? Until they must make a break for it, in the ice and snow, taking on natures elements in order to stay one step ahead of the men chasing them. I’d call it Snowbound with the Spy. Heck, I may go ahead and write that one. LOL!

You just found out your edits to your next book are due tomorrow morning and you have to bake 60 cupcakes, and one cake, for the school bake sale and have them delivered by 9 a.m. Do you panic? Or take everything in stride?

First, I panic -- have my moment of meltdown then I take everything in stride. I bake and I set my computer up on my kitchen table and write while I bake. That could be the new Snow White and Seven Dwarfs song, instead of, “whistle while you work”, I could, “write while I bake”.

Do you have a website other than www.annlory.com that you would like to share with your readers?

Currently, that is my only website, but if anyone is interested in my newsletter, they can visit that website to sign up. It’s a bi-monthly newsletter with updates, reviews, author interviews, contests and stories written for the newsletter. Three have gone out so far and I’ve gotten lots of positive feedback from readers. I also have a Myspace page and I’d love new friends, it’s http://www.myspace.com/annlory.

If you could be a character in any Disney Movie, which movie would you choose?

I always loved Sleeping Beauty growing up, so I’d have to be Rose. Plus, Phillip I think is the hottest of all the Disney Princes, but you know Tarzan was pretty hot too. You know when he lifts the leopard above his head and does his little call. Wow! What a body they drew on that man. Maybe I want to be Jane. Yeah, I take it back, I’d be Jane.

What is your favorite TV show?

Right now, I’d have to say The Office.

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Ann.

Thank you, Linda. It was fun.

Please check out Ann’s website to read more about her releases.

Interviewed by: Linda L.