May 2018
Ann Simas
Your new book, HERE AND GONE, was released today, from where did you draw your inspiration for this book?
Here and Gone started out as an entirely different story, with a different title, when I sat down to write it. I knew what I wanted to say and where it was going, but I didn't realize until I was about halfway into the book that I was actually writing something other than what I started out to write. That other book will still get written, and it'll be under that other title, but it won't be anything like Here and Gone.
Do you work from an outline or are you a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants ("pantster") kind of writer and why?
Years ago, I thought I had to work from an outline and pages of notes and full characterizations of my protagonists, but I gave all that up when I decided to go indie. I didn't even know there was a name for it, and I'm still not sure how I feel about being called a pantster, but I do know that plotting as I go has given my work a fresh, unique feel and outcome. I'm completely happy and satisfied with the way I write now.
What was the hardest part of writing this book and why?
This may seem weird, but this is the first book I've written where my two main characters do not have a sexual relationship. Relying instead on sexual tension throughout the book is not as easy as it might seem. That's not to say that writing sex scenes is easy, either, but Hannah and Noah are a couple who fall in love at first sight and abstaining is difficult for them, which makes keeping them apart difficult for me. I hope I've achieved it successfully. I know their story left me pulling for them, even as the author, and I think it's a pretty intense love story.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
At the risk of putting forth a spoiler, I will pass on this question.
We all love a hero. Was there a real-life inspiration behind your protagonist(s)? Please explain.
Sheriff Noah Ward, a retired Navy SEAL, had to be tough, knowledgeable, understanding, and sensitive. I also wanted him to have what it takes to be join law enforcement in his thirties, which is why I gave him the SEAL background. One final thing about Noah. He couldn't be afraid to admit his feelings for Hannah to her and to himself.
Is there a clear villain in your book and if so, how did you get in touch with your inner villain to write this book?
Here and Gone actually has three villains, all equally evil. They all sprouted from my imagination, because of course, I don't have an evil inner villain myself.
Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it?
With every book I write, I learn something new. Sometimes, it's regarding law enforcement, sometimes it's involves the locale or the occupations of the characters. In Here and Gone, my female protagonist is a scientific illustrator. I may never have discovered there's an Elvis Presley Shield Bug if I hadn't written this book.
If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
I didn't realize until I took some law enforcement-related classes to enhance my writing that I had an interest in forensics. In retrospect, that might have been a viable option for me as a career, although in real life, I'm not one for gore. Just sayin'.
What are your future project(s)?
I currently have a list of about 25 books that I'd like to write. Some of them are for my Grace Gabbiano and Andi Comstock mystery series, and some are for my Christmas Valley Romance series, but most are single-title books. Here's hoping I'm able to keep writing that long!
Is there a message in your novel you hope readers will grasp?
No. I write to entertain. Whatever my beliefs or opinions, I'm pretty sure my readers aren't interested in hearing about them in my books.
If you would like to contact Ann, check out her website: annsimas.com or via Facebook at facebook.com/Ann-Simas-Author. You can also reach her via her email: ann@annsimas.com
"I love it when readers send photos of themselves reading my books. I post them on my Fan Page."
Here and Gone started out as an entirely different story, with a different title, when I sat down to write it. I knew what I wanted to say and where it was going, but I didn't realize until I was about halfway into the book that I was actually writing something other than what I started out to write. That other book will still get written, and it'll be under that other title, but it won't be anything like Here and Gone.
Do you work from an outline or are you a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants ("pantster") kind of writer and why?
Years ago, I thought I had to work from an outline and pages of notes and full characterizations of my protagonists, but I gave all that up when I decided to go indie. I didn't even know there was a name for it, and I'm still not sure how I feel about being called a pantster, but I do know that plotting as I go has given my work a fresh, unique feel and outcome. I'm completely happy and satisfied with the way I write now.
What was the hardest part of writing this book and why?
This may seem weird, but this is the first book I've written where my two main characters do not have a sexual relationship. Relying instead on sexual tension throughout the book is not as easy as it might seem. That's not to say that writing sex scenes is easy, either, but Hannah and Noah are a couple who fall in love at first sight and abstaining is difficult for them, which makes keeping them apart difficult for me. I hope I've achieved it successfully. I know their story left me pulling for them, even as the author, and I think it's a pretty intense love story.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
At the risk of putting forth a spoiler, I will pass on this question.
We all love a hero. Was there a real-life inspiration behind your protagonist(s)? Please explain.
Sheriff Noah Ward, a retired Navy SEAL, had to be tough, knowledgeable, understanding, and sensitive. I also wanted him to have what it takes to be join law enforcement in his thirties, which is why I gave him the SEAL background. One final thing about Noah. He couldn't be afraid to admit his feelings for Hannah to her and to himself.
Is there a clear villain in your book and if so, how did you get in touch with your inner villain to write this book?
Here and Gone actually has three villains, all equally evil. They all sprouted from my imagination, because of course, I don't have an evil inner villain myself.
Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it?
With every book I write, I learn something new. Sometimes, it's regarding law enforcement, sometimes it's involves the locale or the occupations of the characters. In Here and Gone, my female protagonist is a scientific illustrator. I may never have discovered there's an Elvis Presley Shield Bug if I hadn't written this book.
If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
I didn't realize until I took some law enforcement-related classes to enhance my writing that I had an interest in forensics. In retrospect, that might have been a viable option for me as a career, although in real life, I'm not one for gore. Just sayin'.
What are your future project(s)?
I currently have a list of about 25 books that I'd like to write. Some of them are for my Grace Gabbiano and Andi Comstock mystery series, and some are for my Christmas Valley Romance series, but most are single-title books. Here's hoping I'm able to keep writing that long!
Is there a message in your novel you hope readers will grasp?
No. I write to entertain. Whatever my beliefs or opinions, I'm pretty sure my readers aren't interested in hearing about them in my books.
If you would like to contact Ann, check out her website: annsimas.com or via Facebook at facebook.com/Ann-Simas-Author. You can also reach her via her email: ann@annsimas.com
"I love it when readers send photos of themselves reading my books. I post them on my Fan Page."
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