Ask the Author: Anna Faversham
Answered Questions (24)
Anna Faversham
Thank you, Alice, for your question - it's certainly made me think.
When I wrote my Dark Moon trilogy, I could use the extensive research for the first book, One Dark Night, for the second and third books. I had already written a time travel romance, which was my first published novel, and this was set in the same era as the trilogy as well as being in the contemporary style/era - easy.
Then came the book that Amazon have called 'speculative fiction'. Immortality: This is Probably a Novel. Definitely different and also set in several different countries. This should have been my greatest challenge - but for most of the time it wasn't.
A character - Chester - had been knocking around in my head for some time and it was obvious he had a story to tell. Other authors might know what I mean. I do know that Emily Bronte had the same experience. The character she created, Heathcliff, strongly led, she said (and that's an understatement). In my case, Chester did, so it should have been plain sailing. However, he was eager in early London scenes, the Middle East and New Zealand, leading my fingers to fly across the keyboard, but then left me stranded. It was as if he said, 'You're on your own now'. That was my greatest challenge. He was off the South American coast - an area I don't know at all and I had never read speculative fiction before, nor much sci fi. So I was stranded in a different genre and a different setting. I suddenly had to do a whole lot of unexpected research. Loved it, of course.
Chester eventually made it back to New Zealand, a country he grew to love, and I could leave him there - where he was meant to be.
I'm fairly certain I shan't be writing sci fi or speculative fiction again - but who knows?
When I wrote my Dark Moon trilogy, I could use the extensive research for the first book, One Dark Night, for the second and third books. I had already written a time travel romance, which was my first published novel, and this was set in the same era as the trilogy as well as being in the contemporary style/era - easy.
Then came the book that Amazon have called 'speculative fiction'. Immortality: This is Probably a Novel. Definitely different and also set in several different countries. This should have been my greatest challenge - but for most of the time it wasn't.
A character - Chester - had been knocking around in my head for some time and it was obvious he had a story to tell. Other authors might know what I mean. I do know that Emily Bronte had the same experience. The character she created, Heathcliff, strongly led, she said (and that's an understatement). In my case, Chester did, so it should have been plain sailing. However, he was eager in early London scenes, the Middle East and New Zealand, leading my fingers to fly across the keyboard, but then left me stranded. It was as if he said, 'You're on your own now'. That was my greatest challenge. He was off the South American coast - an area I don't know at all and I had never read speculative fiction before, nor much sci fi. So I was stranded in a different genre and a different setting. I suddenly had to do a whole lot of unexpected research. Loved it, of course.
Chester eventually made it back to New Zealand, a country he grew to love, and I could leave him there - where he was meant to be.
I'm fairly certain I shan't be writing sci fi or speculative fiction again - but who knows?
Anna Faversham
Oh ouch, Lexi, this is not easy. I’ll give it a go. So the choice of heroes has to be taken from:
Daniel in One Dark Night: He immediately leaps out as a possible favourite. Blond, physically well built because he is a farmer, and not afraid to tackle those who should be tackled! He protects Lucy in ways she does not know. And he has an adorable dog. On the down side, he’s the leader of a pack of smugglers – he’s an outlaw. This could turn out to be a bad decision.
Karl in One Dark Night: A fine, upstanding, wealthy man who tackles various ills in society, including the slave trade. He also hovers to ensure Lucy is safe. Yet he is driven, initially, by revenge and it is not until that revenge is satisfied that he allows his good values in life to drive him. But drive he does and the world is a better place for this. A life of luxury with an admirable man awaits if I choose him.
Adam in Hide in Time, 19th century: Tall, dark, very good-looking. Misjudged. Saddled with a seemingly dozy father and a covetous brother with many failings, he strides the stage, keeping the family afloat. Time is not on his side but nothing stops him from bringing those he loves to a happy ending. He's also a front-runner to run away with. I'm not sure he'd run away though.
Matt in Hide in Time, 21st century: Despite being tall, dark and handsome, he is ignored by Laura as a possible suitor and has to put up with her trying to fix everyone else’s paths in life. He patiently waits until she is ready and in the meantime he continues with his clandestine life as the saviour of marine life in far flung oceans. Oh yes, I like him.
Chester in Immortality: This is Probably a Novel: An investigative journalist. A definite hero. Someone who seeks out criminals and brings them to justice. Charismatic. Copes with amazing, yes amazing, difficulties and never forgets the girl he’s been forced to leave behind. Not easily swayed. A man like him is a rarity. Definitely not boring.
Nick in Mistake in Time: Dr Nicolo Nylander, with his Italian charm, high intelligence, courage, loyalty, leadership and so much more, must surely be at the top of any pile of heroes.
How does any woman make that once-in-a-lifetime choice from these heroes? I could mull over this for a very long time, but I’ll opt to run away with a man who cares for others - Daniel and his dog. (Gentlemen, apparently the female of the species can often fall for a nice dog and then it rubs off onto the owner - or so I've been told!)
Daniel in One Dark Night: He immediately leaps out as a possible favourite. Blond, physically well built because he is a farmer, and not afraid to tackle those who should be tackled! He protects Lucy in ways she does not know. And he has an adorable dog. On the down side, he’s the leader of a pack of smugglers – he’s an outlaw. This could turn out to be a bad decision.
Karl in One Dark Night: A fine, upstanding, wealthy man who tackles various ills in society, including the slave trade. He also hovers to ensure Lucy is safe. Yet he is driven, initially, by revenge and it is not until that revenge is satisfied that he allows his good values in life to drive him. But drive he does and the world is a better place for this. A life of luxury with an admirable man awaits if I choose him.
Adam in Hide in Time, 19th century: Tall, dark, very good-looking. Misjudged. Saddled with a seemingly dozy father and a covetous brother with many failings, he strides the stage, keeping the family afloat. Time is not on his side but nothing stops him from bringing those he loves to a happy ending. He's also a front-runner to run away with. I'm not sure he'd run away though.
Matt in Hide in Time, 21st century: Despite being tall, dark and handsome, he is ignored by Laura as a possible suitor and has to put up with her trying to fix everyone else’s paths in life. He patiently waits until she is ready and in the meantime he continues with his clandestine life as the saviour of marine life in far flung oceans. Oh yes, I like him.
Chester in Immortality: This is Probably a Novel: An investigative journalist. A definite hero. Someone who seeks out criminals and brings them to justice. Charismatic. Copes with amazing, yes amazing, difficulties and never forgets the girl he’s been forced to leave behind. Not easily swayed. A man like him is a rarity. Definitely not boring.
Nick in Mistake in Time: Dr Nicolo Nylander, with his Italian charm, high intelligence, courage, loyalty, leadership and so much more, must surely be at the top of any pile of heroes.
How does any woman make that once-in-a-lifetime choice from these heroes? I could mull over this for a very long time, but I’ll opt to run away with a man who cares for others - Daniel and his dog. (Gentlemen, apparently the female of the species can often fall for a nice dog and then it rubs off onto the owner - or so I've been told!)
Anna Faversham
I moved into a cottage in the country and a neighbour said it was haunted and she had seen ghosts. Yes two. Well, I hadn't and I didn't really believe in ghosts anyway.
A friend came to stay and couldn't sleep. She said, "It's as if...
I saw nothing and I thought this was a bit flaky - not up-my-street at all. Until...
A friend came to stay and couldn't sleep. She said, "It's as if...
I saw nothing and I thought this was a bit flaky - not up-my-street at all. Until...
Anna Faversham
It was the cutest eighteenth century country cottage I could possibly have imagined and it was now mine, mine alone and, having spent the day unpacking, I slipped into bed, exhausted. The following morning, I sat up in bed, overjoyed until, in my ear, there came the husky whisper, “Thank you, I’ve been so lonely, please don’t leave me like all the others have.”
Anna Faversham
If you read how to go about it, you'll see that only the moderators can add your book.
Do read the rules and you'll find it will be worth it. You'll need to review someone else's book before they will add yours.
Getting reviews takes time, unfortunately. Good luck.
Do read the rules and you'll find it will be worth it. You'll need to review someone else's book before they will add yours.
Getting reviews takes time, unfortunately. Good luck.
Anna Faversham
Here it is, Roger: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Anna Faversham
Hi Roger, I'm afraid I have a very long list of books to read and if I like them, I'll review them.
You might like to join this group - Indie Authors at the Round Table. They encourage members to review books. I'll send you an invitation.
Good luck with your new book.
Anna
You might like to join this group - Indie Authors at the Round Table. They encourage members to review books. I'll send you an invitation.
Good luck with your new book.
Anna
Anna Faversham
Hi Pamela, I can't see a bio on your profile page, or am I looking in the wrong place!
A secret hidden which needs bringing to the light for a good reason, that really sounds like your wip is both interesting to write and will be interesting to read. All the best to you for this project.
A secret hidden which needs bringing to the light for a good reason, that really sounds like your wip is both interesting to write and will be interesting to read. All the best to you for this project.
Anna Faversham
Oh ouch... this is difficult. I'll answer the second question first because I've only written five and a half books (the half is a little book of little stories) and so it should be easier to choose. Should be, but isn't because its like asking which of your children do you like best? After much tearing out of hair, I think I can say that I enjoyed the research for the Dark Moon Series (cheating, I know, as that's three of the five covered!). Of those I think the last one, One Dark Soul, wrenched my heart to the extent that I had to have a box of hankies nearby while I wrote the last chapters. It starts slowly and it ends reflectively and I loved it. The trouble with this one is that you have to have read the other two first to really understand why this one tugs at the heart strings. Hide in Time is the most successful so I like that one very much! The latest is a departure from my usual genre and it all but wrote itself, I just had to keep up on the keyboard. (Other writers might know what I mean!) So that is extra special too.
That's not a very good answer is it, Mark? Sorry.
As to which books I've read. Phew! Impossible. Maybe Wuthering Heights because it is so atmospheric, it took me deep into the Yorkshire moors (a place I've never been). Tess of the D'Urbervilles affected me most - how could any writer end a book like that? What's wrong with the man? But it's like a magnet for me. My head constantly rewrites the ending. Best Indie is possibly Replica by Lexi Revellian. Best of the books read in the last couple of years - Abir Mukherjee's Sam Wyndham series. Best... I'd better stop, I'm not doing as asked.
Thank you for making me think hard - I'm going to make a nice cup of tea now.
That's not a very good answer is it, Mark? Sorry.
As to which books I've read. Phew! Impossible. Maybe Wuthering Heights because it is so atmospheric, it took me deep into the Yorkshire moors (a place I've never been). Tess of the D'Urbervilles affected me most - how could any writer end a book like that? What's wrong with the man? But it's like a magnet for me. My head constantly rewrites the ending. Best Indie is possibly Replica by Lexi Revellian. Best of the books read in the last couple of years - Abir Mukherjee's Sam Wyndham series. Best... I'd better stop, I'm not doing as asked.
Thank you for making me think hard - I'm going to make a nice cup of tea now.
Anna Faversham
Hello Mike, I'll take a look, but I can tell you before I do that I have a very long list of tbr's and so you would be better to join one of the groups where there are lots of people willing to review. Something like Indie Authors at The Round Table (I hope that's their proper name - I forget). Just read how it works and then you can decide if you'd like to join.
Thanks for asking and I wish you lots of reviews.
Thanks for asking and I wish you lots of reviews.
Anna Faversham
Hi Contessa, thank you for your question. It's making me think of several quotations about perseverance all agreeing with what you say.
When we moved house recently I found some old diaries and noticed that in a 2007 one I had written 'Write a book.' Not once, but scattered throughout several months. As I had a full time job and various other responsibilities this was, as you say, a dream. I must have finally obeyed myself because in 2012 my first book was published.
In order, as requested, these are the titles of my books with little 'stories' attached:
Hide in Time - Time Travel Romance. It was conceived in St Paul's Cathedral on New Year's Eve when the Dean kept repeating the words 'Past and Future' and on the journey home my mind fleshed out the bones of what became my first published book.
One Dark Night - Book One of The Dark Moon Series (smugglers and love in Regency times on the UK coast.
Under a Dark Star - Book Two and some of the characters bear the names of unsung heroes - nobody seems to have spotted them yet.
One Dark Soul - Book Three of The Dark Moon Series might bring tears to your eyes. I had to move the box of hankies closer as I wrote it.
Immortality: This is Probably a Novel. A complete change of genre from historical to Sci Fi or Speculative Fiction or as Amazon have plonked it in: Metaphysical and Visionary. They're right, of course. After I looked up exactly what that genre was, it did describe my book, those Algorithms are smart - or maybe an Amazon employee read the book... hmm... yes we can dream.
Quite a bit of my life oozes into my books.
Thank you, Contessa, for making me think.
Anna
When we moved house recently I found some old diaries and noticed that in a 2007 one I had written 'Write a book.' Not once, but scattered throughout several months. As I had a full time job and various other responsibilities this was, as you say, a dream. I must have finally obeyed myself because in 2012 my first book was published.
In order, as requested, these are the titles of my books with little 'stories' attached:
Hide in Time - Time Travel Romance. It was conceived in St Paul's Cathedral on New Year's Eve when the Dean kept repeating the words 'Past and Future' and on the journey home my mind fleshed out the bones of what became my first published book.
One Dark Night - Book One of The Dark Moon Series (smugglers and love in Regency times on the UK coast.
Under a Dark Star - Book Two and some of the characters bear the names of unsung heroes - nobody seems to have spotted them yet.
One Dark Soul - Book Three of The Dark Moon Series might bring tears to your eyes. I had to move the box of hankies closer as I wrote it.
Immortality: This is Probably a Novel. A complete change of genre from historical to Sci Fi or Speculative Fiction or as Amazon have plonked it in: Metaphysical and Visionary. They're right, of course. After I looked up exactly what that genre was, it did describe my book, those Algorithms are smart - or maybe an Amazon employee read the book... hmm... yes we can dream.
Quite a bit of my life oozes into my books.
Thank you, Contessa, for making me think.
Anna
Anna Faversham
Hello Alice, first let me thank you for purchasing all three books in The Dark Moon Trilogy. Your question is making me think – ouch!
You say this is a different genre; then it is probably a completely different world for you. Some of what you read is based on truth but I trust it will not sound like a history book. I hope you’ll be able to immerse yourself in this new experience and take away something that you will be pleased to have resonating in your present life.
The first book in the trilogy has a theme running through it of "We owe so much to those who hurt us". I saw this thought on a bookmark and it intrigued me. I bought it and mulled over it regularly. Could it be true? I thought of my own life and, yes, I could see how it was true. It made a huge difference to me. I could now be grateful to most of those who had hurt me because they had either given me something to work on, or they had changed my life and I had surfaced stronger. So you might listen for that message in One Dark Night.
The second book is built upon another saying: "All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". This thought is usually attributed to Edmund Burke, a British Parliamentarian. In Under a Dark Star you should see, right from the very beginning, how two good men take up the fight against the wrecking of ships. Such a fight is not easy but evil must not be allowed to flourish.
One Dark Soul has the theme "Redemption". Is it available to all? Is it ever too late to be sorry? I explored the soul of the antagonist, his/her reasons (mustn’t ‘spoil’ it). It is the tale of our heroine finally finding true happiness when, as in the Garden of Eden, a serpent arrives. Life can be like that, can’t it?
I hope this helps answer your question and thank you for asking.
You say this is a different genre; then it is probably a completely different world for you. Some of what you read is based on truth but I trust it will not sound like a history book. I hope you’ll be able to immerse yourself in this new experience and take away something that you will be pleased to have resonating in your present life.
The first book in the trilogy has a theme running through it of "We owe so much to those who hurt us". I saw this thought on a bookmark and it intrigued me. I bought it and mulled over it regularly. Could it be true? I thought of my own life and, yes, I could see how it was true. It made a huge difference to me. I could now be grateful to most of those who had hurt me because they had either given me something to work on, or they had changed my life and I had surfaced stronger. So you might listen for that message in One Dark Night.
The second book is built upon another saying: "All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". This thought is usually attributed to Edmund Burke, a British Parliamentarian. In Under a Dark Star you should see, right from the very beginning, how two good men take up the fight against the wrecking of ships. Such a fight is not easy but evil must not be allowed to flourish.
One Dark Soul has the theme "Redemption". Is it available to all? Is it ever too late to be sorry? I explored the soul of the antagonist, his/her reasons (mustn’t ‘spoil’ it). It is the tale of our heroine finally finding true happiness when, as in the Garden of Eden, a serpent arrives. Life can be like that, can’t it?
I hope this helps answer your question and thank you for asking.
Anna Faversham
Hello, and how good it is to come across someone who asks! I sometimes find new followers appearing and it takes me by surprise - a nice surprise, of course.
Some while ago I used to knit squares and post them off to Africa, it was a useful way to use up odd scraps of wool that people would give me. You're making me think that I should dig out my knitting needles again.
Everyone I know who is retired says they are busier now than ever, so maybe you'll get asked (or perhaps you'll volunteer!) for all sorts of things and find you don't have time to flatten that nice plump cushion! Although it sounds as though you make excellent use of your cushion-flattening time.
Thank you for 'following' me. I'll try not to lead you astray!
Anna
Some while ago I used to knit squares and post them off to Africa, it was a useful way to use up odd scraps of wool that people would give me. You're making me think that I should dig out my knitting needles again.
Everyone I know who is retired says they are busier now than ever, so maybe you'll get asked (or perhaps you'll volunteer!) for all sorts of things and find you don't have time to flatten that nice plump cushion! Although it sounds as though you make excellent use of your cushion-flattening time.
Thank you for 'following' me. I'll try not to lead you astray!
Anna
Anna Faversham
Thank you, John, though it's a bit late now as my next book is going to be set inland and for once the sea is unlikely to get a mention - though who knows? Once the characters are created they have a way of running away from me. I have to firmly haul them back to their fates.
Anna Faversham
My first published book was in 2012, less than 6 years ago, and to some extent, not a lot has changed in the way to upload to Amazon (which is all I know about). I struggled with my first, but the rest were easy peasy. Amazon make uploading eBooks to their site and their Kindles etc., very easy. It became very much easier when I found a book called Building Your Book for Kindle. I still use it and I would recommend it to you.
I wish you all the best. Just set aside several days for your first book, then by the time you upload your fourth (unless anything has changed) you'll be uploading in an hour.
I hope you enjoy the experience and that your books are successful. It's a very crowded market.
I wish you all the best. Just set aside several days for your first book, then by the time you upload your fourth (unless anything has changed) you'll be uploading in an hour.
I hope you enjoy the experience and that your books are successful. It's a very crowded market.
Anna Faversham
Hello Peter, so sorry to hear your huge number of likes didn't result in a sale.
Being an author is like buying a ticket for a roller coaster ride.
In answer to your question, there have been many surprises but I think the biggest relate to my time travel romance, Hide in Time. It was the first book I published and within a week it started selling in the US .com market as well as the UK. That was a surprise as I had only expected it to sell in my home market. Then it went on to sell as many as ten times more in the US. Then it tailed off almost to a standstill. And I worried!
The biggest and best surprise was when it then went on to reach #1 in its genre.
Thank you for your question - it really made me think.
Being an author is like buying a ticket for a roller coaster ride.
In answer to your question, there have been many surprises but I think the biggest relate to my time travel romance, Hide in Time. It was the first book I published and within a week it started selling in the US .com market as well as the UK. That was a surprise as I had only expected it to sell in my home market. Then it went on to sell as many as ten times more in the US. Then it tailed off almost to a standstill. And I worried!
The biggest and best surprise was when it then went on to reach #1 in its genre.
Thank you for your question - it really made me think.
Anna Faversham
Hello again, Gordon,
I'm not into review swapping nor responding to requests to review. I am a writer, not a reviewer and I only review books I genuinely want to read and have read. I have a lot of books in my queue already and I am looking forward to reading each one but I am a very slow reader.
You might like to read the rules of Goodreads. I see you are new and you may be breaking the rules of Goodreads to keep asking an individual. Your best way of enticing people to review your book, is to read theirs - choose ones you really like - and leave a review. That way people might be inclined to look at your profile and see who you are, and if your book is showing on your profile pages, they may be tempted to take a look and buy it, then possibly review it.
You can also join various review groups if you fancy reviewing books. Just go to 'Community' and search for groups with 'reviewing' in the title.
It's a slow process, Gordon, and I realize you'd like to hurry things along, but rules are rules!
All the very best to you and thank you for asking.
Anna
I'm not into review swapping nor responding to requests to review. I am a writer, not a reviewer and I only review books I genuinely want to read and have read. I have a lot of books in my queue already and I am looking forward to reading each one but I am a very slow reader.
You might like to read the rules of Goodreads. I see you are new and you may be breaking the rules of Goodreads to keep asking an individual. Your best way of enticing people to review your book, is to read theirs - choose ones you really like - and leave a review. That way people might be inclined to look at your profile and see who you are, and if your book is showing on your profile pages, they may be tempted to take a look and buy it, then possibly review it.
You can also join various review groups if you fancy reviewing books. Just go to 'Community' and search for groups with 'reviewing' in the title.
It's a slow process, Gordon, and I realize you'd like to hurry things along, but rules are rules!
All the very best to you and thank you for asking.
Anna
Anna Faversham
Hello Gordon, the best way to obtain reviews is to join one or two groups, such as this one https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... then click on the 'Introduce Yourself' section and tell everyone about your books in the 'Meet the Author' section.
If you're having a problem once you have joined the group, loads of people will try to help. I am a member of the group and if I could do it for you, I would.
I wish you every success and I hope you enjoy your writing.
Anna
If you're having a problem once you have joined the group, loads of people will try to help. I am a member of the group and if I could do it for you, I would.
I wish you every success and I hope you enjoy your writing.
Anna
Anna Faversham
Hi Mary,
Well fancy you living right in the middle of my story! I wonder whereabouts you live. You can always private message me if you don't want to shout it out. Or just leave me wondering!
Under a Dark Star is set mostly in the south part of the island, 'the back of the Wight' and, like Book One of the Dark Moon Trilogy, it is about smuggling and worse in 1823. I have altered the names of the villages on the island, for instance, Brightstone is called Brigton in my book, but then perhaps you'll know that Brightstone used to be called Brixton but changed its name in the early 20th century (I think it was then). If you go to Brightstone church, that is the church where, in the book, the parson disappeared from.
In the book, the south part of the island is under the control of "The Dark Star" and Karl and Daniel (heroes of Book One) join together to defeat this guy's stranglehold on the local population. Needless to say, they encounter far more than they anticipated. Lucy, refusing to be left behind, keeps cool and firm until her beloved Daniel appears to be in trouble.
If you buy the book, I hope you will enjoy the story and enjoy picturing where it is all happening.
Thanks for the question.
Anna
Well fancy you living right in the middle of my story! I wonder whereabouts you live. You can always private message me if you don't want to shout it out. Or just leave me wondering!
Under a Dark Star is set mostly in the south part of the island, 'the back of the Wight' and, like Book One of the Dark Moon Trilogy, it is about smuggling and worse in 1823. I have altered the names of the villages on the island, for instance, Brightstone is called Brigton in my book, but then perhaps you'll know that Brightstone used to be called Brixton but changed its name in the early 20th century (I think it was then). If you go to Brightstone church, that is the church where, in the book, the parson disappeared from.
In the book, the south part of the island is under the control of "The Dark Star" and Karl and Daniel (heroes of Book One) join together to defeat this guy's stranglehold on the local population. Needless to say, they encounter far more than they anticipated. Lucy, refusing to be left behind, keeps cool and firm until her beloved Daniel appears to be in trouble.
If you buy the book, I hope you will enjoy the story and enjoy picturing where it is all happening.
Thanks for the question.
Anna
Anna Faversham
An interesting question, but one that my mind answered immediately.
One Dark Night is the one that I lived and breathed for some years while it took shape. I even cried over my poor Lucy. And I began to feel the hardships of living in the early 19th century. I was so pleased she had Martha to confide in.
The characters became real to me and live on in the sequel.
Thank you for making me work out why it is the book of which I am most proud.
One Dark Night is the one that I lived and breathed for some years while it took shape. I even cried over my poor Lucy. And I began to feel the hardships of living in the early 19th century. I was so pleased she had Martha to confide in.
The characters became real to me and live on in the sequel.
Thank you for making me work out why it is the book of which I am most proud.
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