Biography
Toni Anderson is a former Marine
Biologist turned Romantic Suspense writer who now lives in the Canadian
prairies with her husband and two children. Her stories are set in the
stunning locations where she’s been lucky enough to live and work—the blustery
east coast of Scotland, the remote isolated mining communities of Northern
Labrador, the rugged landscapes of the U.S. and Australia. Check out Toni’s website for a list of current titles, her blog and Facebook Author Page for writing news and
her personal Facebook page and Twitter for constant nonsensical chatter. She is also part of
a wonderful group blog—Not Your Usual
Suspects. Come introduce yourself.I discovered Toni Anderson on a lark. I was in need of a long book to listen to while I did some work around the house. I checked out the Romantic Suspense genre at Audible.com ( one of my favorite genres). Toni had the longest book in the list of books that looked interesting. That book SEA OF SUSPICION . I was hooked. After finishing this book I looked to see if she had any other books. WOOHOOO to my delight she had two more books on the shelves. STORM WARNING and her first book published HER SANCTUARY .
After reading all three books, I wanted more to read and I wanted to tell the author how much I enjoyed her books. I hit google up and found her on facebook. I messaged her and told her just how much I enjoyed her books and how I really hoped she had another one coming out. Luckily for me she didn't find me as stalker-ish as I'm sure I sounded and accepted my friend request on facebook. Toni has been nice enough to indulge me in my amateur interview skills and is granting me an interview for my blog. Toni describes her books with the tag line Atmospheric Tales of Love & Murder. I have to agree. Now on to the Interview.
1. I know you had a full career in marine biology before you became a published Author. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Well a fiction writer anyway? I’m sure you did plenty of writing as a marine biologist J
If you want references to my old papers I am sure I
can track them down...just kidding J. The weird thing is I
did a lot of writing as a kid. Poetry, songs, torturous diary entries, but then
my older sister read my diary and exposed my secrets to the world and I don’t
think I wrote another thing—outside science—for 20 years. Then when I moved to
Canada in 1995 (for the first time) I discovered romance novels and this really
gave me the impetus to at least think
that I could try my hand at writing a novel. When I was back in Scotland,
expecting my first child, I finally got the time to give it a go.
2. How
did you figure out what genre you wanted to write?
I knew what genre I loved to read—Romantic
Suspense—and the types of TV shows I love to watch (CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS),
so Romantic Suspense and Mystery seemed like a good fit. I love the idea of
people falling in love in difficult, even dangerous, circumstances. Actually, I
did once write a straight contemporary aimed at Harlequin Presents (it’s still
on my PC). It was the hardest thing I’ve ever written (perhaps barring my
current snow leopard story) because you have to maintain tension without any
external help. No bullets or bombs to bring the hero and heroine closer together
or to drive them apart. It opened my eyes as to how something so simple can
actually be incredibly hard to achieve
3. I
know you have shared writing strategies on “Not Your Usual Suspect “
blog such as WIP organization and character naming. Do you enjoy sharing your
writing strategies with others? I know I enjoy learning how others go about
things.
This is a difficult question. I do enjoy sharing
writing strategies, but I’m never sure I have that much to offer other people.
There are so many more established writers out there, and some fantabulous
writing books, that what I’m sharing seems very minor. However, if I do help
anyone, offer encouragement or inspiration, well, that’s a good thing
4. You have your 4th book EDGE OF SURVIVAL. Coming November 21st, 2011, from Carina Press. I know your
readers are excited for its release. (if I could I would have stood over
you with a whip until you were done! ) When you published your first book
HER SANCUARY could you imagine your 4th book coming out
just a short 2 years later (ok not so short for us readers!)
*Ouch*. No whips. I’m work hard,
honest J. And thank you for being excited J.
When you say four books in two
years it actually sounds pretty good, huh? But, yes, I could imagine it because I’ve been working on these stories for a
long time. I’ve been writing for 12 years so no overnight success for me. One
thing I would say, I’m not someone who is easily satisfied and I’m never 100%
happy with my work, but I am cognizant of the fact that there is a time when
you must let it go. I’m getting better at letting go.
5. Is the release
of this book as exciting to you as the first time?
Yes! Actually I really love all
my books. They might not be as perfect as I envisage them before I start writing, but I really love the stories and the
characters in my books. I was super excited to write a story set in Northern
Labrador and I adore my hero and heroine (just hoping others do too!).
6.
Do you do
anything special to celebrate each release? Like send the kids to a sitter and
enjoy some peace and quiet J or do you and your husband go out for a nice dinner and
night on the town?
We go out as a family for a meal,
usually fish and chips in the great British tradition. To be honest my hubby is
Irish and any excuse for a night on the town, he’ll take it J
7.
I know you are
a stay at home mom. When school is out how do you manage to get time in for
writing with the little ones running around?
It can be pretty intense being a
mom and a writer. At first you have to pound it into people that you aren’t at
home, you’re writing. When the kids are out of school my sanity is strained
(understatement). This summer, I took to getting up at 6 am to write. This is
totally out of my natural sleep rhythm. I’d write until midday and then I’d do
stuff with the kids. I also use earplugs—isn’t that awful? J But my workspace is on the ground floor in an open plan
house, so I put earplugs in and ignore everything except blood and broken
bones.
8. Is there
anything else you would like to share with your readers?
I’m always thrilled to hear from readers (well, less
thrilled if you didn’t like the book but thankful you paid your hard-earned
money to buy the book J). And I love connecting with people online
(just ask Doris J) so drop me a comment on my blog, Facebook Author Page or Facebook page.
Again Thank you Toni. I appreciate your willingness to play along.
Next Author Interview will be with up and coming YA SFF writer Jill Schafer Boehme.
I think I am going to have to read her books not only because you enjoy them so much but also because I like her answer's.
ReplyDeleteMom I think you would really enjoy her style.
ReplyDeleteGRRR Can't get the formatting to all work together LOL
Doris, Doris's mom, thanks for having me :)
ReplyDeleteToni, Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions :-)
ReplyDeleteHow come I missed this? Lovely interview, ladies!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you use earplugs, Toni. *snort* Love the whole getting up at 6 am thing. I'd do that myself but I'm allergic to mornings. :)
Thank you Shirley!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had thought of earplugs when my kids were little ;-) not that I was a writer! I do use them now to sleep LOL especially on the nights my husband tends to snore a lot.