Interview and Giveaway; Anne Elizabeth

Please join in me in welcoming Anne Elizabeth to Debbie's Book Bag today. Anne is here promoting her book, Once a Seal. I got a chance to ask Anne a few questions, I hope you enjoy the interview. The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Once a Seal, see details at the end of the post.

DEB: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

AE: I’m a Navy wife, a romance author, a comic creator, and a columnist for RT Book Reviews on the topic of comics, manga, and graphic novels. I have a BS in Business and a MS in Communications from Boston University and am a member of the Author’s Guild and RWA as well as a regular presenter at the RT Book Lovers Convention. Along with my husband, I volunteer for the California State Parks and we both enjoy mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling.

DEB: What was your inspiration for this title?

AE: My inspiration for ONCE A SEAL came from my readers. I am often asked what it is like to be the wife of a Navy SEAL. So, I had a wonderful discussion with my editor Leah Hultenschmidt who agreed that I could write a story on the topic of a newlywed SEAL and his wife. We agreed it would be a little outside the normal romance box, but I loved every minute of writing this book. Just to make sure my viewpoint wasn’t the only one in there, I interviewed military wives from several branches of service. The similarities in some circumstances were astonishing. I hope readers enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

DEB: Is it a single title or part of a series?

AE: Each book is a standalone title as every book focuses on a different SEAL Team—One, Three, Five... But, there are reoccurring characters as the community is fairly small and people tend to know each other.

DEB:  Have you always been interested in writing military fiction or is this a new passion?

AE: My husband encouraged me on the this path, and I’ve enjoyed it greatly. The main goal, in my pursuits, is to honor the community, our friends, and him.

DEB: How has your experience as the wife of a Navy Seal affected your writing?

AE: Being the wife of a Navy SEAL has forced me to make sure that I get my facts right. Portraying the community in a positive light and sharing nuances of life without violating anyone’s privacy or any vital strategic info.

DEB: Did your career as a columnist for the RT influence your decision to write a book of your own or was being an author always something you wanted to do?

AE: I began my journey in writing long before I started writing for the magazine. In high school, I wrote oodles of stories on the PULSE world, stockpiling them for a later date, and even started a literary magazine in college. My first official publishing break came in the form of a short story—Sugar and Butter Poured Over Muscle-- produced by Zane in her collection CARAMEL FLAVA.

I’ve wanted to be a published author since I was a toddler. My mother tells this adorable story of how I taught myself to read so I could put my stories into books. Unfortunately, it took significantly longer to learn to write. :)

DEB: How does writing a novel compare to creating a comic? Easier or harder?

AE: Crafting fiction and comics are two totally different skill sets. While I might write a novel in a few months, it takes almost that long to write a script. Adaptations of a book into a comic take even longer as I strive to make sure that every detail is correct. Though, in the long run, I feel comic-writing has improved my fiction as its forced me to be more concise and to lose the long-winded details for swifter action and snappier dialogue.

DEB: Do you have a favorite author or genre you like to read for pleasure?

AE: I read all sorts of books. Last night, I finished an Agatha Christie mystery and tonight I’ll probably reread a Cathy Maxwell book. On cold nights, I like to snuggle into my favorite chair with my dog, a cup of tea, and a wonderfully delicious comfort book.

DEB: Tell us something about yourself that readers may not know?

AE: I like watching stand-up comedians. Laughter warms my insides and when I get a chance I try to catch up on who is doing what, saying this and that, and where are their careers going.

DEB:  What are you working on right now?

AE: Right now, I am working on edits for Book III of the SEAL series—A SEAL FOREVER—and editing my fourth graphic novel. I’m also working on a few short comics for the ZOMBIE POWER and THE HALL OF INSIDES series, which are stories off of the PULSE OF POWER world.

Check out my review of Once a Seal by Anne Elizabeth later today!

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Once a Seal by Anne Elizabeth.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 3rd.

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