Interview with Author Annslee Urban & TWO Giveaways!

Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance. This week, I’m so pleased to introduce you to Annslee Urban. Like me, Annslee writes romantic suspense. I LOVE the sound of her latest release — and she’s giving away TWO copies of it! One lucky winner will get an ebook, and one lucky winner will get a paperback! Read on to see how you can be entered to win!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I grew up in the hot Arizona desert, lived in the cold north for a few years before finally settling in cozy warmth of North Carolina. I’ve been married for over 30 years, have 5 kids and am “Nina” to six awesome grandkiddos. I love the outdoors, am an off the beaten track traveler and a night owl who loves to write long into the night. And most of all I am a grateful servant of the Lord who is ever amazed at HIS generous blessings.

Tell us about your current release. Broken Silence is my second romantic suspense with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense and is about a heroine whose tragic secret forced her to walk away from the man she loved. A decade later someone is trying to kill her because of what she knows and the person charged to protect her is the fiancé she never forgot.

Whats the first major news headline that you can remember and what do you remember? The first vague memory I have of recalling a major headline was when I was about four years. My siblings and I were watching TV, sitting on the floor, eating our lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese when the news broke that JFK had been shot. I wasn’t sure what all that meant, but I knew it was bad because my mother was crying. Even now after all these years when I hear even a reference about him, my mind tumbles back to that day.

Have you always wanted to write a book? I was somewhat of a daydreamer long before a writer. From the time I was young, I was conjuring up stories in my head. I loved Cinderella fairytales, sweet romance and happy endings. It wasn’t until my children were nearly grown that I sat down and tried to write a novel. Although, I’ve never marketed that story, it sparked a passion in me to become an author.

Do you have pre-determined length in mind when you first begin a book? Word count is very important when writing a story. My last two books have been with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, so I tailor my story to their guidelines which are 55,000-60,000 words.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Never give up on a dream that the Lord has given you. Persevere, Pray and write daily.

What is your preferred method of writing?  I love my laptop. I prefer to write and rewrite using Microsoft Word. It’s so easy to move bits and pieces of my chapter around, or delete and start over. And it’s so easy to read through it as I’m writing. My handwriting would never allow that.  🙂

What is your inspiration for writing? My inspiration is more often than not sparked by my life experiences. Threaded through my books are bits and pieces of my life. Places I’ve been, people I’ve encountered, emotions and memories. I love to explore the unknown, try new foods, travel to new destinations, talk to and enjoy friends and family. All of these things continue to spark my creativity, and sometimes just a phrase that I’ve heard or a situation is enough to start my mind churning. And once that happens, creative thinking kicks in and characters come to life. Getting into the heart of those characters is what drives a story!

Who do you envision your typical reader to be? I’ve always loved love stories and happy endings, so writing for women was my target audience from the get go.

Christian Book Store

TWO lucky winners will receive Annslee’s latest release — 1 paperback and 1 ebook! Check out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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