Good morning everyone, welcome to our next installment of the Mystery We Write, Blog Tour. Today our guest is Anne K. Albert. As always, there are refreshments for all. Pull up a seat or settle on the grass so we may begin.
Mary: Anne, letās begin with contact information. Please tell everyone where we can find you. Web site, social media, blog etc.
Anne: Hi Mary, itās great to be here!
Readers can visit my website: http://www.AnneKAlbert.com
My main blog: http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com
My MRM blog: http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com
Iām also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnneKAlbert
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/AnneKAlbert
Mary: Please tell us about you growing up, where are your roots?
Anne: I grew up on the outskirts of a small, rural community where everyone knew everyone elseā¦and their business. My ancestors came from Ireland during the Potato Famine of the 1840s. I grew up in a large, extended family where everyone played the piano, violin, or āspoonsā, but somehow I never inherited that musical ability. Family gatherings were frequent and the perfect excuse to dance a jig. I had no idea how Celtic my upbringing was until many, many years later.
Mary: Do you know what you chose the Mystery/Suspense genre? Or did it pick you? Did your growing up years color your choice?
Anne: I suppose it was a little of both. The first books I read as a series were of Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden. From there I discovered Agatha Christie and Erle Stanley Gardner. Iāve always loved a cozy mystery.
Mary: Everyone comfortable? Please feel free to refill your glass whenever youād like. And donāt miss out on the stuff mushrooms. Ready to continue? Anne, I see that you like to write in series, why?
Anne: It just feels like a natural thing to do, really! Returning to a story setting, visiting with characters whoāve appeared in a previous book, and introducing new characters is just a whole lot of fun for me as an author. I think readers like that kind of familiarity as well.
Mary: What was the first book you remember that you read over and over? Was it a mystery?
Anne: Actually, it was a Tom and Jerry picture book. Jerry and his friends stole cupcakes from the humanās kitchen, and of course, Tom wanted to stop them. I can remember the images of those delicious cupcakes in vivid color. The only mystery to me is why Iāve hung onto that particular image all these years!
Mary: What advice would you give to someone who is about to set pen to paper for the first sentence? Or finger to keyboard, as the case may be.
Anne: Just have fun. Go with it. Finish the story. Then start another. Writers learn by writing.
Mary: Do you recommend that someone new to the industry belong to a writing organization? If so which one/ones, and why?
Anne: Oh, definitely. Belonging to a professional organization is a must. Taking that first step shows youāre serious about writing. I highly recommend Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Mary: Okay, Anne, itās time to get down and personal. No Iām not asking about secrets in your closetāthough if you want to shareā¦ What I want to know is, what does Anne do for fun, enjoyment or relaxing when she doesnāt have her writer hat on.
Anne: I love to travel and discover new places, but I rarely stay put in one place very long, and hardly ever return for a second visit. There are just too many wonderful places to see before I die.
I could very well be a nomad, or a full-time RVer (even though Iāve never set foot in one!) Iāve crisscrossed America many, many times, and still have so much more to see. Plus, touring Ireland is on my bucket list.
Mary: Is there anything youād like to share with us that I havenāt thought to ask?
Anne: Iād like to say thank you for featuring me, Mary, itās been so much fun. Iād like to invite readers to drop by my Muriel Reeves Mysteries blog http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com and leave a comment mentioning this interview, Iāll enter their name in a draw to win a pdf copy of FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL. Iāll announce the winner at the conclusion of the tour, sometime during the week of August 22, 2011.
Mary: Thank you, Anne, for joining us today in the Garden. Iāve had a blast and Iām sure everyone else has also.
Anne: It was my pleasure, Mary. Thank you!
Mary: Anne, letās begin with contact information. Please tell everyone where we can find you. Web site, social media, blog etc.
Anne: Hi Mary, itās great to be here!
Readers can visit my website: http://www.AnneKAlbert.com
My main blog: http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com
My MRM blog: http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com
Iām also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnneKAlbert
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/AnneKAlbert
Mary: Please tell us about you growing up, where are your roots?
Anne: I grew up on the outskirts of a small, rural community where everyone knew everyone elseā¦and their business. My ancestors came from Ireland during the Potato Famine of the 1840s. I grew up in a large, extended family where everyone played the piano, violin, or āspoonsā, but somehow I never inherited that musical ability. Family gatherings were frequent and the perfect excuse to dance a jig. I had no idea how Celtic my upbringing was until many, many years later.
Mary: Do you know what you chose the Mystery/Suspense genre? Or did it pick you? Did your growing up years color your choice?
Anne: I suppose it was a little of both. The first books I read as a series were of Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden. From there I discovered Agatha Christie and Erle Stanley Gardner. Iāve always loved a cozy mystery.
Mary: Everyone comfortable? Please feel free to refill your glass whenever youād like. And donāt miss out on the stuff mushrooms. Ready to continue? Anne, I see that you like to write in series, why?
Anne: It just feels like a natural thing to do, really! Returning to a story setting, visiting with characters whoāve appeared in a previous book, and introducing new characters is just a whole lot of fun for me as an author. I think readers like that kind of familiarity as well.
Mary: What was the first book you remember that you read over and over? Was it a mystery?
Anne: Actually, it was a Tom and Jerry picture book. Jerry and his friends stole cupcakes from the humanās kitchen, and of course, Tom wanted to stop them. I can remember the images of those delicious cupcakes in vivid color. The only mystery to me is why Iāve hung onto that particular image all these years!
Mary: What advice would you give to someone who is about to set pen to paper for the first sentence? Or finger to keyboard, as the case may be.
Anne: Just have fun. Go with it. Finish the story. Then start another. Writers learn by writing.
Mary: Do you recommend that someone new to the industry belong to a writing organization? If so which one/ones, and why?
Anne: Oh, definitely. Belonging to a professional organization is a must. Taking that first step shows youāre serious about writing. I highly recommend Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Mary: Okay, Anne, itās time to get down and personal. No Iām not asking about secrets in your closetāthough if you want to shareā¦ What I want to know is, what does Anne do for fun, enjoyment or relaxing when she doesnāt have her writer hat on.
Anne: I love to travel and discover new places, but I rarely stay put in one place very long, and hardly ever return for a second visit. There are just too many wonderful places to see before I die.
I could very well be a nomad, or a full-time RVer (even though Iāve never set foot in one!) Iāve crisscrossed America many, many times, and still have so much more to see. Plus, touring Ireland is on my bucket list.
Mary: Is there anything youād like to share with us that I havenāt thought to ask?
Anne: Iād like to say thank you for featuring me, Mary, itās been so much fun. Iād like to invite readers to drop by my Muriel Reeves Mysteries blog http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com and leave a comment mentioning this interview, Iāll enter their name in a draw to win a pdf copy of FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL. Iāll announce the winner at the conclusion of the tour, sometime during the week of August 22, 2011.
Mary: Thank you, Anne, for joining us today in the Garden. Iāve had a blast and Iām sure everyone else has also.
Anne: It was my pleasure, Mary. Thank you!
Comments
Vivian
Ann
Pat Browning
Anne thank you for visiting.
Jackie