My guest today is
Anne Greene. Anne delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines.
She writes both historical and suspense novels. After falling in love with
several countries and their people, Anne set a number of her books in exotic
locations. She and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene,
have visited twenty-five countries, including three communist countries. A
visit to Scotland Galveston
When she’s not
deployed with her husband, Anne makes her home in McKinney , Texas University of Texas Dallas
Anne K. Albert –
So good of you to drop by! Now that you’re here let’s talk writing! Tell us a
something about yourself that you would normally only share with close friends.
Anne Greene - My
family thinks I’m pretty quirky. I’m accused of living in my own world-whatever
that means! I do sometimes get so involved in whatever story I’m writing that I
forget appointments or show up at a social event on the wrong date or at the
wrong address. I think I’m rather like the Absent-minded Professor.
Lots of writers
like to work in their pjs. I like to be completely dressed, including make-up.
Who knows when I’ll want to run out and see a friend for lunch or run an
errand? I’m pretty spontaneous. I can only write for a period of time before I
need some social interaction. But then it’s back to the grindstone.
And I dread
exercise! Going to the gym. So easy to pass that by. When my mind is occupied
with a book, my body wants to sit in that chair and write. Time passes and
before I realize it, the day is gone.
I love hanging
with friends, new ones as well as old ones. I love sports—where I’m playing,
not watching. I love sailing, vacationing, travel. Life is made up of favorite
things. Jesus said He came to give us life and to give it more abundantly. And
He does!
Anne K. Albert - Tell
us about A Texas Christmas Mystery.
Anne Greene - A
lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of
murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both. As
Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne, sparks fly. She needs to solve
her first case. But the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her
toes tingle. Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous
job. When his past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves?
Anne K. Albert –
Would you share an excerpt with us?
Anne Greene –
Absolutely!
Only one thing
scared Derrick Darbonne. He had no fear of fire, hurricane, sabotage, high
seas, drunken roughnecks, reckless roustabouts, brawls, or hard work. But
losing the job he’d slaved all his life to obtain terrified him.
He’d worked
himself up from oaks draped with Spanish moss, murky alligator-filled water,
and a tiny cabin on the banks of the bayou with no running water or
electricity. He’d finally gotten to where he wanted to be. And now someone was
trying to pin a murder on him. Some Christmas present.
Derrick crushed
the schematics he’d been scanning and jammed them into his pocket. He braced
his legs wide on the steel floor of the oil rig and raised the powerful
navigational binoculars. A Coast Guard cutter slashed a white wedge through the
sparkling Gulf waters straight toward his oil platform.
His jaw tightened,
his spine stiffened, and he swallowed.
Standing beside
him, Joe Bridges, the MIC, Man in Charge, swore.
If Derrick had
been a swearing man, he would have joined Joe. Instead, he gripped the
navigational binoculars tighter. “Third time this week. If I had anything to
hide, I’d jump ship.” He smacked his hard hat so thoroughly his ears rang.
“Thought so! That guardsman is a female.” Here was a Coastie bearing down on
him with the authority to shut down the operation. The men would be out of work
just in time for Christmas. What pretense to investigate the murder was the
Coast Guard using this time?
Derrick lowered
the binoculars and frowned. “She looks familiar.”
“Ever since you
arrived for the routine inspection, Cajun, the Coast Guard’s been on our
backs.” Scowling, Joe thrust out a hand for the glasses. “Then there was the
murder. That’s the reason the big boss’s keeping you out here again, so long.”
“Don’t I know it!
I’m looking for a saboteur as well. Probably the same guy.” Derrick slapped the
binoculars into Joe’s hand and tried to lighten his foreboding with a jabbing
tease. “Now I’ve got to get the Coast Guard environmental crew out of your
hair.”
“Rib me, will ya?”
Joe repositioned his yellow hard hat over his bald head and shook a
work-hardened finger. “I’ll bet you I can get that Coastie to go for me and my
shiny head before she goes for you and that Cajun accent of yours. Loser pays a
hundred bucks.”
“You want us to
distract her with our masculine charm so she won’t sniff out any violations
that could shut us down?” Derrick surveyed the rig’s two-hundred-foot deck
looking for any OSHA or EPA trouble the Coast Guard might use to give a
citation. Sunlight slanted off the metal plates causing enough glare to hurt
his eyes. He didn’t like Joe’s plan.
Anne K. Albert –
Sounds like a lot of trouble headed their way! What do you enjoy most about
writing? What part do you loathe?
Anne Greene - I
don’t dread any part of the writing process. And I love to rewrite and polish.
I love working with words and images and bringing them to life. I do begrudge
the time I spend marketing. One day I’d love to hire a PR person.
I find the whole
process of writing rewarding. I like becoming the characters and living in the
settings. I like the adventure of finding out what’s going to happen. If I
didn’t write I’d like to be an archaeologist. I’d love to spend time on a dig
and unearth treasures of the past. I’d like the camping out with like-minded
people who get their hands dirty and keep their minds agile. I’d like to sit
around at night after a profitable day in the field and discuss larger than
life characters who made a mark in time.
Anne K. Albert - Of
all the characters you’ve created, does one hold a special place in your heart?
Why?
Anne Greene - I absolutely
identify with all of my characters. I
become one with each of my characters. Just as an actress takes on the
character of each person she portrays, so I become the character in each drama.
She/he tells me what is happening inside and what she plans to do about it, and
then I let her/him do it. That’s what so much fun about writing. I live each
journey, each adventure of each character.
I love to write
about redemption in every form. Second chances, forgiveness, grace, finding
God’s will, and finding and walking with the Savior. I love the grace of God,
and His unexpected ways of showing His love. The spiritual theme of my books
come directly from the characters and whatever problems they struggle with.
The character I
love writing about the most—is the one I’m currently working on. However, I do
think I like being in the male point of view slightly more than the female. I
like being macho and looking at life from a different perspective. I like being
strong enough to handle a couple of thugs. Of course my detective knows martial
arts, but she doesn’t use her fists. I love having a woman use her wiles and
smarts when that’s all she has going for her.
Anne K. Albert - What
advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Anne Greene - Definitely
join a writing group like American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope
and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. They have classes, critique
groups, and you get to meet other peculiar people.
The craft takes
years to learn for most writers. Every element is important. But, I think the
writer’s imagination is the most important. Her voice, what makes her who she
is, and what she is passionate about. Of course, even the most talented writer
must learn about characterization, plot, vivid words, and all the ABCs of
writing style.
And join a
critique group and enter contests. These people give valuable feedback on what
works in a story and what doesn’t.
Anne K. Albert –
Great advice. Thank you for chatting with me today, Anne. It’s been a pleasure! Readers, your comments are always welcome and appreciated.
Happy reading!
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