Please welcome Anita Mae Draper to our blog today. Anita Mae has a new novel out 15 Jan. Thanks Anita Mae for joining us today.
1. Can you tell us something
interesting that readers may not know about you?
After retiring from a career in the
Canadian Armed Forces, my husband and I ran a commercial greenhouse operation
where we supplied a local grocery store chain with bedding plants.
2. Do you get to read many books and
if so do you have a favourite Genre?
I don’t read as much fiction as I used
to, as research takes up a lot of my time, but when I reach for a book to feed
my soul, it’s bound to be historical romance.
3. Where did you get the idea for your
current book?
Austen
in Austin
came about when the gals of the Inkwell Inspirations blog were commenting on
Jane Austen’s books. Now, I have Jane Austen’s book collection at home, but
historical westerns are my first love, so at one point in the conversation, I
teased the others that the only way I’d read a Jane Austen book was if she rode
on a horse carrying a rifle across on her lap. Suddenly, they all got excited
about how fun it would be to take Jane Austen’s stories and set them down in
historic Austin, TX. And that’s exactly what we did. (Jenny here now that sounds exciting as I have never read her books and don't really enjoy them but this sort of book sounds fun)
4. In your latest book did you learn
any interesting titbits in your research?
Yes, my novella, Romantic Refinements, is second in Austen in Austin, and part of it takes place at the state fair.
That involved researching midway rides and booths. I was most surprised that
the belting which ran from the steam donkey to the carousel wasn’t protected in
any way. I used that in one gripping scene to show my hero rescuing a child who
may have died or been mangled because of this equipment.
5. What does a typical writing day
look like?
I try to start the day at 9 am with
email, switch to social media, and then get to writing. After a lunch break, I’ll
write until 5 pm. But some days are so full of promotion, or working on my
website, etc, that I don’t get to write. And other days, I’m eager to get
writing and don’t check email at all. I’m not a disciplined writer, to be sure.
6. If you had one tip for aspiring
writers what would it be?
Don’t let negative criticism take away
your dream. People are cruel. Contests are subjective. Editors only buy what
they can sell. If it’s your dream to be published, then don’t let anyone stop
you. Keep learning and submitting. It may take a while, but it’s all in God’s
timing.
7. What do you hope readers take out
of your latest book?
That God wants to give us
the desires of our heart, and all we have to do is wait for it.
You can find Anita Mae on line at:
Discover four heroines in historical Austin, TX, as they find love--Jane Austen style. Volume 1 includes:
If I Loved You Less by Gina Welborn, based on Emma
A prideful matchmaker examines her own heart when her protégé falls for the wrong suitor.
Refinements by Anita Mae Draper, based on Sense and Sensibility
A misguided academy graduate spends the summer falling in love . . . twice.
One Word from You by Susanne Dietze, based on Pride and Prejudice
A down-on-her-luck journalist finds the story of her dreams, but her prejudice may cost her true love . . . and her career.
Alarmingly Charming by Debra E. Marvin, based on Northanger Abbey
A timid gothic dime-novel enthusiast tries to solve the mystery of a haunted cemetery and, even more shocking, why two equally charming suitors compete for her attentions.
If I Loved You Less by Gina Welborn, based on Emma
A prideful matchmaker examines her own heart when her protégé falls for the wrong suitor.
Refinements by Anita Mae Draper, based on Sense and Sensibility
A misguided academy graduate spends the summer falling in love . . . twice.
One Word from You by Susanne Dietze, based on Pride and Prejudice
A down-on-her-luck journalist finds the story of her dreams, but her prejudice may cost her true love . . . and her career.
Alarmingly Charming by Debra E. Marvin, based on Northanger Abbey
A timid gothic dime-novel enthusiast tries to solve the mystery of a haunted cemetery and, even more shocking, why two equally charming suitors compete for her attentions.
Romantic Refinements in The Austen in Austin Collection - Release day - Jan 15! Available for Pre-Order Now
Refinements by Anita Mae Draper, based on Sense and Sensibility
A misguided academy graduate spends the summer falling in love . . . twice.
A misguided academy graduate spends the summer falling in love . . . twice.
Romantic Refinements - Individual novella - Release Day - Jan 15! Available for Pre-Order Now
Anita Mae Draper is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and lives on the prairie of southeast Saskatchewan, Canada with her hubby of 30 plus years and their youngest of 4 kids. She writes historical romance set in Canada and the United States.
Anita Mae has had 2 stories published in Guideposts Books A Cup of Christmas Cheer series. Volume 1 Tales of Faith and Family, Oct 2013, contains the Edwardian tale, Riding on a Christmas Wish, whereas Here We Come A-Wassailing, found in Volume 4 Heartwarming Tales of Christmas Present, Oct 2014, contains a contemporary tale set in Divide County, North Dakota.
Giveaway
Anita Mae has offered on person who comments on this post the chance to win a kindle copy of this book. You need to make a comment more than just enter me or sounds good enter me. The giveaway is open to all who comment including members of this blog. The winner will be announced on this thread next Tuesday Jan 19th.
Anita Mae has had 2 stories published in Guideposts Books A Cup of Christmas Cheer series. Volume 1 Tales of Faith and Family, Oct 2013, contains the Edwardian tale, Riding on a Christmas Wish, whereas Here We Come A-Wassailing, found in Volume 4 Heartwarming Tales of Christmas Present, Oct 2014, contains a contemporary tale set in Divide County, North Dakota.
Giveaway
Anita Mae has offered on person who comments on this post the chance to win a kindle copy of this book. You need to make a comment more than just enter me or sounds good enter me. The giveaway is open to all who comment including members of this blog. The winner will be announced on this thread next Tuesday Jan 19th.
Love Jane Austen - and many of the multitude of re-adapations (including Bride and Prejudice and the Lizzie Bennett diaries). This one sounds like fun. BTW Anita Mae, you have me intrigued, what is a 'bedding plant'?
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette. Up here in most parts of Canada, we have greenhouses where we buy plants that are already started. Not sure why they're called bedding plants, but most greenhouses open on May 1st and that includes your annuals, such as marigolds, snapdragons, petunias, etc, as well as your veggies like cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, cukes, pumpkins, etc. It gives us a head start on the growing season because we start getting frost at the beginning of Sept. A very short growing season.
DeleteFor our commercial greenhouse we also bought cuttings such as geraniums, begonias, and lots of trailing 'basket stuffers' in Feb and then sold them as potted plants.
It's very common in May to drive down a residential street and see a sign on the side of the road "Bedding plants for Sale" as people use the season as an extra way to bring in money.
Thanks for asking. :)
I think we call them seedlings here we get them from the nursery in trays already growing also.
DeleteReally? Up here, seedlings usually refer to baby trees or other woody plants.
DeleteSo different, eh. :)
Hi Anita, Welcome to ACW and congratulations on your lovely anthology collection. The Jane Austen in Texas theme is fascinating and the stories sound like fun reads :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Narelle. It was a lot of fun adapting Jane Austen's stories to Texas. The problem was trying to follow the original character so she would be recognized, without imitating her. I hope you'll have a chance to read Austen in Austin and see how we did. :)
DeleteJenny, thank you so much for hosting me on the ACW blog. It really is a honour to be here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anita Mae, I have to admit I am probably one of the very few who never read Jane Austin.
DeleteWell Jenny, although I had the books since my early 20's, I never read them as I much preferred to watch the movie versions. And even now, the book that my story is based on, Sense and Sensibility, is the only one I've read.
DeleteHistorical romance is my first choice too! I guess because I am a genealogist and love to dig back in time!
ReplyDeleteIts mine too. I am not a genealogist but do love learning about history.
DeleteI love hearing that, Sonja, because I am an amateur genealogist! Researching family history is exciting and because I can't keep it to myself, I have a special 'Author Memories' blog where I post letters, photos and whatever I've discovered. So many people have contacted me - 'cousins' and otherwise - through the blog and my website, that it really is a worthwhile way to share what I know. :)
DeleteLovely to meet you, Anita. The cover looks beautiful, and I enjoy Jane Austen themed novels. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI really love the look of the covers and have seen the cover for each novella and they are really nice too.
DeleteThank you, Paula. I really hope you enjoy the Austen in Austin stories if you ever get a chance to read them.
DeleteWhat a fascinating concept! Thanks for sharing, Anita.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Iola. Thank you for visiting me here. :)
DeleteHello Anita,
ReplyDeleteI have read and enjoyed the first two novellas in this collection. I recognize the way you have used the characters in their new settings and how women and relationships are similar, in the old world and new. In your story, Romantic Refinements, Marion's sense and sensibility come into play when she is asking for guidance to find the man who will love and respect her. Great job.
Yours truly,
Annette
Thank you, Annette. This was my first time writing a love triangle and I struggled with that aspect of it, so I'm glad you got what I was trying to convey. :)
DeleteGood afternoon everyone! I think that the best visual thing about this post is those gorgeous covers! They sound like interesting stories and I'll keep an eye out for them! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend!
-Catherine.
I agree the covers are gorgeous. thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThanks, Catherine. The covers are the beautiful designs of Roseanna White, our WhiteFire Publishing owner/editor. What I liked best about working with WhiteFire is that Roseanna sent us the artwork and asked what we thought. Then, upon us offering a few miniscule suggestions, she changed the covers to suit. It really makes me feel good to work with a publisher who respects the judgement of its authors.
DeleteThanks again for noticing. :)
Congratulations Paula you are the winner of this book.
ReplyDeletePaula is the winner? Great! I'm looking forward to sending her a digital copy of Austen in Austin! :)
DeleteJenny and guests...thank you so very much for sharing your time with me here. I hope I get a chance to do it again someday. :)
ReplyDelete