It began with Lessons

I first wrote Lessons around 1995. I believe it was my forth novel. (The first three: a YA, a romance and a mystery – they will not be published.)

For me, the story and the characters came alive and when I started writing it was as if someone else was telling the story, and I was just the typist. When I finished the book, I was busy in my real life, so I didn’t do anything with the manuscript. But some fifteen years later I decided to release it as an eBook.

Before release, I did some major rewriting, editing, sent it through a beta reader and then to a professional editor.

I wasn’t ready to leave the characters, so I decided to write a second book, this time a mystery. When I initially wrote Lessons, I wrote about the timeframe I was living in. When I started The Senator’s Secret, I wanted to do the same thing. So from the time Lessons ends and The Senator’s Secret begins, there is a 16-year span.

When reading the different books in this series, the reader should not expect the same read. While she’ll find many of the same characters, it won’t be a formula plot, similar to other books in the series.  For example, there is far more explicit sex in Lessons than in The Senator’s Secret. I didn’t do that to be salacious, but because the story called for it.

Lessons is a story about a happily married woman, who finds herself a widow and confronts a discretion from her past. One reviewer wrote: "Lessons" is a deep, rich story of love, family and friendship.

For more about The Senator’s Secret, read tomorrow’s blog.

My First Historical Novel

I never intended to write a historical novel. It’s not because I don’t enjoy reading them. I do. I just want to read historically accurate fiction. While it is fine to have a jet flying overhead when watching a Mel Brook’s western, not cool in historical romance. This means if I write one, I want it to be historically accurate.

So why am I jumping into this pool of uncertainty?  I’ve wanted to write a prequel of sorts to The Coulson Series. My initial plan was to take the readers back to the 50s and 60s, to tell the story of a younger Garret and Alexandra. While that period might be teetering on the historical, it is my generation so I don’t think it qualifies.

While plotting my story, I had a nagging desire to take it back farther. This series is actually a family saga – so shouldn’t I go back to Randall Coulson the founder of the town?

The story ended up not being so much about Randall – but more about his wife Mary Ellen Browning, who was born in 1900. It took a surprising twist for me, and will make readers of Lessons and The Senator’s Secret take a complete different look at those books, and the stories told.

This morning I finished the first draft. Still no title; this one hasn’t come to me yet.  Writing involved a fair amount of research. One thing that helped, my main character was a few years younger than my Grandma Hilda, who when she was alive, shared stories and anecdotes with me involving her younger years. There was even a saying she shared with me – one my grandfather told her when they were newlyweds – which I gave to Mary Ellen’s brother.

This story spans almost fifty years, from 1900 to 1949. I found it fascinating how much the world changed during my character’s lifetime. Born just 35 years after the end of the Civil War, in 1949 Mary Ellen’s world was a vast different place than it was when her story began.

There is still work to be done – rewriting, beta readers, editing – oh, and it needs a title and cover.

Wish me luck!

 (Photo: Grandma Hilda and Grandpa George, same time frame as the first part of the story mentioned)

Sugar Rush hits the Havasu Paper!

Actually - it was in the local newspaper paper almost two weeks ago. I'm just a little late in posting the piece. Thanks to the Havasu News-Herald for their nice article on Sugar Rush that appeared in their July 27th, 2013 edition.













Other news: my cover artist, graphic designer Elizabeth Mackey - just completed book covers for my Sensual Romance Series. Look for the paperback version of all three books in the series - After Sundown, While Snowbound and Sugar Rush in the near future!

Write on!!

Killing off Characters

Today I received an email from a reader who had purchased Lessons, and was just about finished with the book. She wrote, “God I hope you are going to kill Emily off!” And then went on to tell me she was enjoying the story.

I had to laugh because that is the same thing my sister said after reading Lessons, when she learned my next book, based on the characters, was a murder and romance.

I won’t tell anyone Emily’s fate, but she is returning in The Senator’s Secret.

Lesson's Target Audience

I just finished reading a marketing article at Marketing Central, over at Amazon’s Create Space. One point made by the author of the article was the importance of identifying your book’s audience. Ironically, this was something I discussed with my daughter earlier today.

I believe Lessons appeals more to female readers in the 30-plus age bracket – and especially to those in the baby boomer generation, as the main male character was born in the mid-1940’s, and the female character in the mid-1950’s.

The story includes some adult scenes; therefore, the book is not for all readers. My mother (who is 83) loved the story. She has read it at least three times – and she is brutally honest with me, in that when I write something she doesn’t like (which I have), she will tell me. While Mom liked the book, I’m afraid it would be a bit racy for a few of her contemporaries.

It is an adult love story – and there are no vampires or zombies. Although, there is a brief encounter with a possible ghost, yet that is more in the realm of reality as opposed to fantasy.

My daughter reminded me she enjoyed the book, and she is just 29. I had her read Lessons before she designed its cover (she is a professional graphic artist.) At the time she read the book, my son-in-law asked her why anyone would want to read a romance about old people. Of course, he didn’t read the book, and the central characters were in their mid 30’s and 40’s during part of the story, and ten years older in the latter part.

The central characters from Lessons will be even older in the next book, The Senator’s Secret. Yet the love story will involve the next generation, along with murder.

Lessons - Now at Smashwords!

It's 11:41 pm as I write this. Just a short while ago I finished publishing Anna J. McIntyre's Lessons, at Smashwords. At Smashwords, you can purchase the book it in a variety of eBook formats. I also published it at Amazon, but it will take several days for it to show up.

I have more to do in my promotion, and websites to update. But it is late, I am tired, so off to bed.

I hope you enjoy the book.