Hello Anne and welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews. Pull up a chair and let the readers get to know more about Anne Rainey.

Thanks for having me here, Linda. I’m like most authors, always excited to talk about their books! lol

I was searching your website and noticed your saying, ‘Bringing desire out of the dark’, I like that. You have quite a few books coming soon.

I’m glad you noticed my tagline, I chose it very carefully. I wanted it to reflect the way I think about love and sexuality. When women read my stories, I want them to see that desire isn’t something to shy away from, but a thing to enjoy.

And yes, my coming soon list is longer than my available list. LOL. I’m very excited about all of it, but I’m especially thrilled to be a member of the Phaze Publishing family. My story—a Frost HeatSheet--Suni’s Gift, will come out November 26th and it’s smokin’ hot!

Would you like to discuss Haley’s Cabin that has been Samhain’s best seller for four weeks? Then perhaps you could tell us something about Instructing Sarah which has been Forbidden’s bestseller for three months.

Haley’s Cabin was the biggest surprise to me. It was never supposed to be a complete story, only a single scene. I showed that (hot!) scene to a few online friends and they convinced me that Haley and Jay deserved to have a happy ending. I wrote the rest of the story and submitted it to Samhain. They bought it. Once my editor and I finished working on edits, she told me (with complete honesty) “I think it’s going to sell very well”. Boy was she right. It ended up a recommended read at FAR!

Instructing Sarah was another shocker. I’d written it for a contest, which got me nowhere. Then some folks over at C. J. England’s chat list encouraged me to send it elsewhere. I’m forever grateful that they gave me the push I needed, otherwise it’d still be collecting dust on my computer!

Do you find your books draw you in and it is hard to let go once you have finished?

Some of them have been so much fun that I didn’t want to leave them. Suni’s Gift is one such story. I loved Ross and Suni, they were a fun couple. Others, however, have required quite a bit of research, so reaching ‘the end’ was not just a relief, but an accomplishment!

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

Oy! I struggle with this question, because I’m never just working on one story at a time, so I can’t really say how long it takes me to write one book. I can say, however, I write every single day. I don’t turn off the computer unless I’ve gotten at least five pages written.

Do you have any bad writing habits?

Yes! I get too distracted by outside stuff. This is why I don’t have an instant messenger, even though everyone wants me to get one. I know my own limits, and if I had an IM I’d be playing instead of working. LOL

Can you tell us something about you that makes you unique?

I was raised the only girl with three older brothers, which meant I learned a lot of things normal girls wouldn’t necessarily be taught. I not only know what an uppercut is, but I can recite every Clint Eastwood movie by heart. And don’t even get me started on sports! When I was big enough to walk, I was playing tackle football with them and their friends.

While writing, how does the story develop for you? Do you go from start to finish or create scenes as they come to you?

The concept comes to me first, then I create the title and characters. I can’t write the first sentence until I know my title and my characters. Once I have that figured out, I will sometimes do a rough synopsis. It keeps me on track. Finally, I start writing. I do not jump around. I may have scenes in my head, but I start with page one and go from there.

How do you keep your ideas fresh and imaginative?

I keep in mind the advice I received years ago. A New York Times bestselling author once told me, ‘there is no such thing as writer’s block, sometimes we just write ourselves into a corner and we just need to figure out a way to write ourselves back out again’. Best advice I’ve ever gotten.

Also, when I’m struggling with a new premise, I run it by my daughters (the PG version, of course). You’d be amazed at how wonderfully imaginative kids are!

Besides writing, what is your favorite thing to do every day?

I’m a wife and mother first, everything else is icing on the cake. My favorite activity is spending time with them. And of course, reading. I read everything, not just romance. Books are on every surface in my house! lol

Is any book you have written, your personal favorite?

Yes! I’m currently writing a trilogy called, The Mancini Family. The first two are finished; the final story will be finished in the next few months. You can read blurbs and excerpts on the ‘WIP’ page of my website.

I’ve fallen deeply, madly in love with Nico and Raniero Mancini. They’re Italian, rich, and as arrogant as they come. It’s been a pleasure to see inside their world. I’m currently waiting to hear back from a publisher, but these three stories will (eventually) be in print.

Do you have a favorite children’s story?

I’ve always been a sucker for children’s poems. When my daughters were very young, I’d find they couldn’t sit still for an entire book, so I’d read them poems instead. It was a great way to tuck them in at night.

Who has been the greatest support for you throughout your writing career?

My husband. He’s cheered me on every step of the way. In the days before I was published, he’d give me the push I needed to keep going. He’s always had faith in me. He thinks I’m wonderful. Truthfully, I don’t know what I ever did to deserve him.

Which room in your home would you say is your favorite?

Without a doubt, the living room. It’s where my computer is. It’s where my daughters and I have our reading hour. It’s also where we have our weekly family talks.

Do you have a website other than http://annerainey.com that you would like to share with your readers?

I’d like to encourage everyone to come to a few of my favorite places. First: The Romance Bistro After Dark, run by Paige Tyler and myself. Also I’d love for you to come check out my myspace. I’m always open to new friends! Here are the links: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rb_afterdark/
http://www.myspace.com/annerainey

You have been invited on a picnic and must bring three food items, a dessert and something to drink for thirty people. What would be your choices?

Well, since I can’t cook worth spit, I’d bring a bunch of KFC. Then I stop by the grocery store and get three dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. LOL

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Anne. Please check out Anne’s website to read more about her releases. While there, be sure to check out Anne’s erotic poetry.

Interviewed by: Linda L.