We’re happy to welcome back today Anna Campbell! Comment for a chance to win a copy of Tempt the Devil…
Risky Regencies: It’s been a while since we’ve “seen” you here at RR, Anna! What have you been up to?
Anna Campbell: Hiya, Riskies! Thank you so much for having me back to visit. I love it over here, as you know! But where is Bertie? You know I hang around here mainly to flirt with that a la mode paragon. Don’t tell me he has found another ballroom to grace! I shall weep into my Mechelin lace handkerchief! Although I won’t blow my nose in it. Euch!
2008 did not feature a new Anna Campbell book on the shelves in America, but I’ve definitely been busy in the interim. I wrote my next book, which as yet is without an official title. I’m currently calling it the “Manderley book” because the hero has a lovely old house on the Cornish cliffs. It’s out in November, and features a runaway heiress and a PTSD knight in shining armor here. Standard angst-ridden Anna Campbell fare!
I had my first 2 short stories publisjed in a really big magazine here in Australia. That felt like a huge achievement for someone who didn’t think she could EVER write a short story. You can find them both here–just go to the bottom of the page and click on either title.
I shall control my blushes and say my biggest moment for 2008 was the double-RITA final. That was one of my writing dreams that came true! It was such fun visiting San Francisco and wearing those green ribbons at conference. Actually, it was just fun to visit San Francisco. What a great city! Another special moment was when Claiming the Courtesan was nominated for Romantic Book of the Year here in Australia.
RR: You call Tempt the Devil a “Regency noir Affair to Remember.” Sounds intriguing! Tell us more about that. How did you come up with this idea?
AC: I suspect I’m the only person who will see the connection! An Affair to Remember was my late mother’s favorite film so I watched it a lot! One day I was thinking about those characters in a Regency setting and realized that Terry is a kept woman, i.e. courtesan, and Nicky is a rake, if not a gigolo! For these sophisticated, jaded characters, falling in love is a disaster. They’ve got life pretty well sorted out. Then wham! Love takes them over and they’re stuck doing all sorts of things they wouldn’t have dreamed of doing. I also loved the way both Nicky and Terry used wit as a defense against the world. That part of An Affair to Remember definitely translated to Tempt the Devil.
RR: What are the famous historical women you used as inspiration for Olivia?
AC: Olivia was very much her own person, but I did steal a few details form actual women to round out her character. Some of the research I did for TTD was just too good to be ignored!
In appearance, she looks very much like a young Lauren Bacall. I wanted someone who wasn’t a conventional beauty but could still stop traffic. Some of her behavior is borrowed from George Sand, the French novelist, who was such a scandalous and charismatic character in 1830s Paris. My book is set in 1826 so it didn’t seem too much of a leap. Sand was an amazing character–althought I’m not sure I would have liked her very much. These days she’s mainly famous as Chopin’s lover, but she was a strong, dynamic, self-willed woman of genius who supported herself with her pen when that was almost unheard of. She regularly wore men’s clothing and smoked in public, and led an extremely torrid love life!
I borrowed a few minor details from a famous courtesan in the Victorian era called Skittles (apparently because as a child prostitute she plied her trade outside a skittles alley). Her real name was Catherine Walters and she became the mistress of Edward VII as well as a number of the best and brightest of the time. She never kissed and told, and all reports indicated she was a sparkling, joyful, compassionate companion. I think I would have liked her! She was also a famous horsewoman and used to have herself sewn into her riding habit for rides in Hyde Park so her superb figure was shown to best advantage.
RR: And what’s next for you?
AC: I just started my 5th book for Avon. I always like the early stages of a book–anything seems possible! It’s set in London and will have a similar atmosphere to Tempt the Devil. Or at least that’s the idea so far. I find out the stories change drastically from conception to actual writing!
RR: This week we’ve been talking about some of our favorite reads for 2008. What are some of yours?
AC: I actually had a great reading year! Some new authors I discovered are C.S. Harris who writes Regency romantic mysteries featuring a charismatic hero, Viscount St. Cyr. On the complete opposite of the spectrum I discovered a wonderful Harlequin author called Kathleen O’Reilly who writes amazingly textured books full of emotion and sensuality. I’d recommend her stuff to anyone. I discovered the Inspector Lynley mysteries by Elizabeth George late in the year and have since read 7! I read my first J.D. Robb and disovered what all the fuss is about. One of my Bandita friends, Jeanne Adams, wrote a great romantic suspense as her debut book, Dark and Dangerous. I really enjoyed Deanna Rayburn’s Silent in the Grave and Silent in the Sanctuary. As far as old favorites go, I really enjoyed books by Christine Wells, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Madeline Hunter, Annie West, Tawny Weber–too many to mention, really!
You can read more about Anna Campbell and her books at her website!
Hi Anna,
Congrats on the release of “Tempt The Devil.” I’m so excited to hear about your next book. I can’t wait to see the cover for “Captive of Sin.” You write the best tortured heroes.
Hi Riskies and Anna!
Great blog! Thank you!
Anna, I’m in awe of your knowledge about interesting women figures in history. You’ve peaked my curiosity as I’ve read your blogs and I’ve had to Google the women you talk about to find out more about their stories. They’ve managed to be so influential in their times – against what must have been incredible odds. Fascinating!
Congratulations on Tempt The Devil! It’s a brilliant story!
🙂
Sharon
Hi Riskies! Hi Anna, great to see you here. I’ve missed all my regular blogs because I’ve been traveling, but I’m glad to be back, seeing with the Riskies are up to.
Anna knows this, but TEMPT THE DEVIL is my favourite of her books so far. I adore the sophistication of this couple and enjoyed seeing love hit both these tough cookies right where it hurts! Congrats on another raging success, Anna!
Hi Anna,
Just another fan following your blogging.I absolutely love your writing.I also enjoy reading about all the woman back in history,
Congrats on Tempt The Devil Anna.
Wishing you great success with all your books.
Carol L.
Hi Anna!
Love to hear the process behind the book. I just picked up my copy of Tempt the Devil! Can’t wait to dive in.
Did this one give you any trouble as you were writing? Or was it one of those books that flow right out?
Anna, your blog posts always crack me up. I picked up TTD in the bookstore yesterday – can’t wait to read it.
Congrats on being a double Rita finalist and for finishing your most recent book.
Do you have any research techniques you can share with us?
Hurray for the new release! Is the cover what you suggested, or was his handsome face a surprise?
Good morning, Fo me love and Riskies!
I’m currently reading TEMPT and all I can say is: “WOW!” Fo, you hit it out of the park with CtC and you’re just getting better and better and better with each book.
Ooooh, I love how you “constructed” Olivia from bits and pieces from so many different women well-known for their quirks.
What made you choose the year 1826? Did you set the story originally in that period, or did the story migrate there due to how the book changed in its writing.
You sure you haven’t been dipping into my bookshelves? From what you’ve written here and from the Bandita blog, I see that we shared cent percent of our book interests.
How about converting you to reading PD James? If you liked Elizabeth George, you’ll like James.
Welcome back, Anna! I also recently read my first CS Harris book, and it will definitely not be my last. I love the characters and the atmosphere! (hey, that sounds like I’m talking about YOUR books…)
And thanks for the peek behind Tempt The Devil! 🙂
“Tempt the Devil” sounds like a fine read. Congrats on it coming out
Ammanda and Fo, isn’t C.S. Harris just the best? Love Sebastian!!
Sounds like an interesting book. I look forward to reading it.
Hi, Anna,
Great to have you back here with the Riskies.
I never knew George Sand was Chopin’s lover….I knew her only as a writer.
This sounds like a fantastic book, Anna! Well done. It’s going on my TBR pile for sure.
Hi Anna and Riskies!
Tempt the Devil is absolutely brilliant. I read the entire story in one day. I swear, Erith and Olivia absolutely refused to let me put their book down!
Anna, it’s fascinating to read about your process and the characteristics from different women that you used as inspiration for Olivia.
I haven’t read C.S. Harris but I’ll definitely be adding her books to my TBB list.
I’m also looking forward to seeing the cover for Captive of Sin. Love that title! 🙂
I am looking forward to reading “Tempt the Devil”. Congrats on the Rita noms!
Hi Anna
Can’t wait to read TTD. I particularly loved your book about the man who wasn’t crazy – the title eludes me at the moment. For George Sand fans who haven’t come across it, see the movie Impromptu. One of my all time favorites with a very young Hugh Grant as a terrribly whimpy Chopin and wonderful Emma Thompson as a crazy duchess, to mention just two members of a superb cast.
Hi Anna
Can’t wait to read TTD. I particularly loved your book about the man who wasn’t crazy – the title eludes me at the moment. For George Sand fans who haven’t come across it, see the movie Impromptu. One of my all time favorites with a very young Hugh Grant as a terrribly whimpy Chopin and wonderful Emma Thompson as a crazy duchess, to mention just two members of a superb cast.
Congrats on your new release! I can’t wait to read Tempt the Devil 🙂
Hello, La Campbell! I am SO excited about Tempt the Devil! Everything said about it makes me want to read it more! Then again, I do love all things AC!
Some interesting research there, my dear. You are becoming quite the expert on courtesans! George Sand in particular is a favorite larger than life woman of mine. Miranda is right. Impromptu is an excellent portrayal of the affair between GS and Chopin.
An Affair to Remember is one of my all time favorite films so I will be very interested to see how TTD compares to it.
Now I absolutely must find the C.S. Harris books and read them.
Some of last year’s favorite reads were –
Flowers from the Storm – Laura Kinsale (What a truly great love story!)
Scandalizing the Ton – Diane Gaston
(fabulous story and wonderful romance!)
A Firefighter in the Family – Trish Milburn (this was SUCH a great, sweet, funny love story.)
An Improper Aristocrat – Deb Marlowe (sexy, funny and a terrific story!)
The Last Rake in London and Unmasked – both by Nicola Cornick
(anyone who has not read these you don’t know what you are missing! These are truly divine stories!)
Knave’s Honor and A Lover’s Kiss – both by Margaret Moore (two very different books and both wonderful!)
The Dangerous Duke – Christine Wells
(run, don’t walk to get this one. The hero is BEYOND HOT!)
The Trouble with Moonlight – Donna MacMeans
(This one was hot and SO MUCH FUN!)
I could go on and on. Suffice it to say that I had a wonderful year reading wise in 2008 and I KNOW 2009 will be even better! Especially with Tempt the Devil!
Hi Jane! Hi Riskies! I am officially out of bed!
Jane, thanks for the congrats. I’m so glad I’ve got a title now for the Manderley book! And a really great title too – thanks, Avon (I didn’t come up with it although I did start the ‘Sin’ suggestions). Can you tell I love torturing my poor heroes? The poor guy in Captive of Sin was calling his union before I was done with him!
Hey, Anna! That’s really interesting information about the real-life women who inspired you.
Just curious — where do you write? At your desk? With a laptop outside? Curled up on the couch?
Hullo, la Campbell! Wonderful to see you over here and to learn more about Tempt the Devil. I think your ability to take a modern story like ‘An Affair To Remember’ and put it in a Regency context is a rare gift. So many contemporary things simply have no Regency counterpart!
It’s great to hear your Manderley book is still delighting you. Beginnings of books are always so hopeful. Such a drag when they turn into work! I hope the whole thing is a delight and simply flows from your fingertips. Of course, that’s a selfish wish because I really want to get my hands on it!
Hi Sharon! Lovely to see you here too. Isn’t this a great site? Actually as you can probably tell, I find the women of the past fascinating and I think one of the things that builds that fascination is that it was so incredibly tough for them. Yet so many strong, clever, brave individuals did such great things. I suspect GS was a bit of an old bag but there’s no doubting she was smart and savvy and didn’t let anyone march over her (after her youth). Skittles I think would have been really wonderful! Thanks for those kind words about TTD!
Hi Christine! Welcome back to the Riskies. Hey, thanks for saying that about Tempt – much appreciated. Actually I enjoyed seeing people who thought they were pretty cool fall victim to overwhelming love. It’s SOOOO painful for them 😉 Hmm, I’m starting to sound like a really awful person. Bwahahahahahahaha! I don’t torture puppies, only characters! I’ve envied your travels, Christine, although it’s been fun being able to share them with you vicariously!
Hey, Carol, you can follow me around anywhere 😉 It’s always a pleasure to see you! Actually one of the thing I like about historical writing in the last 20 or so years is that a lot of these women are getting the attention they deserve. I’ve said it before but when I went through school, it was all boys and boys’ stuff. I’d much rather have heard about courtesans and female writers! Thanks for saying that about my writing, mwah! The Aussie edition should be out and about any day now. It’s gorgeous – a big trade paperback and the cover is like the last two, using that clinch picture that Amanda has very kindly included in the blog (not Cary and Deborah!).
Deb, snort! Just flow out??!!! I’ll let you know if I EVER have a book that goes like that. No, I’ll be too busy dying of shock to email you! By the way, thanks for picking up TTD. I hope you like it!
A lot of my friends have had second book blues. You’ve sold one book and you’re not sure why and you have an absolute crisis of confidence over the second book. When I sold CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, I had already written the first draft of UNTOUCHED. So my ‘second book’ blues hit me on my third book. I second guessed everything! And it wasn’t helped by the fact that this book was so different to the other two. For a start, it’s heroine-centric, there’s no subplots, there’s no melodrama to keep the action going, the characters are so different to the characters in the first two books. You name it! Horrible experience all round 😉
Tracey, thanks for picking up TTD! I hope you enjoy it! Glad I gave you a giggle. Actually I hate to pimp (well, I don’t hate it that much) but pop round Writers at Play tomorrow – there’s a really fun interview where Olivia and Erith are vying for dominance. It was fun writing the characters again!
http://www.writersatplay.com/wordpress/
Tracey, as you’ve probably gathered, research is something I can talk about forever! What I do (partly for enjoyment) is read a lot of stuff about the Regency without doing specific ‘research’. That will give you a great general knowledge about the period and usually sparks story ideas that will fit the times. Once I’ve got a story, I’ll read a couple of books specific to the topic – mental illness or courtesans or whatever. ONLY a couple! Then (or at the same time), I’ll start writing the story. START your story as early as you can. Research can be a black hole and if you let yourself get sucked in, you’ll never write the book. You’ll end up knowing a lot but you won’t have a mansucript to show for all your efforts. I usually continue reading research books while I’m writing. They help to keep me in the world of my story. I use the internet for quick things like the distance from London to Dover but there’s a lot of unreliable information out there. Something wrong pops up on one site and just gets copied over and over. I find books are a much more reliable source for the important stuff.
How does everyone else research?
Hope this helps!
And thanks for the congrats!
Hi Gillian! His handsome face was most definitely a surprise. I thought they’d stay with the gothic clinches. He’s VERY gorgeous, though, isn’t he? Let’s hope he’s tempting a lot of people to pick him up and buy him 😉
Keira, babe! Nice to see you! Yes, I laugh every time I see your recommended reads – they’re so close to mine! I’ve read most of the P.D. James books although not the latest couple. She was an absolute craze of mine at one stage. The BBC did some great adaptations (not the ones with Martin Sheen, earlier ones that I felt were closer to the books) and I decided I HAD to read these stories. And I did!
I’m SOOOO happy that you’re liking Tempt the Devil! Thank you for letting me know!
Actually I picked 1826 for a VERY specific reason and it was nothing to do with research. I had a lot of mail after CTC came out asking what happened to Verity and Kylemore and there was a hint that she might have been pregnant at the end of that story. Personally I wanted to know what happened to them too. CTC was set in 1825 so do the maths! 😉 With this being another courtesan story, it seemed an ideal opportunity to bring Verity and Kylemore back for a brief appearance. That was fun. I loved revisiting them!
Amanda, isn’t C.S. Harris great? Did you know she wrote a couple of really good romances as Candice Proctor? I love her characters – so compelling, even the minor ones. And as you say, the atmosphere is just amazing. It’s been a good year for me for historical mysteries – I really enjoyed the Deanna Raybournes too.
Thanks for inviting me to visit today!
I’ll have you know, Fo, I put PD James’s latest down to pick up TEMPT.
Hi Everyone
Congrats on Tempt The Devil Anna I finished it last night and WOW what a truely awesome book loved it from start to finish. You write beautifully the characters are so real, Olivia and Julian are wonderful for each other.
Thank you
Have Fun
Helen
Thanks, JC! Hope you enjoy TTD!
Keira, I love Sebastian too. Some of my favorite heroes are called Sebastian. There’s Dane in Lord of Scoundrels and Sebastian in Christine Wells’s Scandal’s Daughter. It just seems to be one of those great names! And doesn’t poor Sebastian suffer in those C.S. Harris books? I tell you, he should call his union too!
Thanks, Anonymous!
Diane, thanks for the invite to visit. You know I’m a long-time fan of the blog! Although I’ve been missing Bertie lately! 😉
How interesting that you didn’t know about Sand and Chopin. I once had dreams of being a concert pianist (only slightly less realistic than my dreams of being a ballerina, LOL!) and I spent a lot of time reading about composers. Most of the books I read definitely cast Chopin as the ‘goodie’ and Sand as the ‘baddie’ – in fact there’s a school of thought that blames her for his death. A recent one where she doesn’t come out terrifically well is Benita Eisler’s Chopin’s Funeral which I read long after I’d handed in Tempt the Devil. I suspect, like most doomed love affairs, there were faults on both sides! But they make an absolutely fascinating duo – it’s almost like he takes on the traditional feminine role and she’s the man of the family in 19th century terms. She was definitely a strong woman!
Afternoon (USA time) Anna! Hi Riskies! What a great interview. And how exciting to know that that 1826 date means Verity and Kylemore show up for a wee moment. Helen and Kiera, I’m so jealous you’ve had time to dig in and read TTD. I’ve got page counts to do before I allow myself the treat because I KNOW I will pull an all-day-er or an all-night-er to read and finish it in one gulp. Haven’t yet been able to put a La Campbell book down once I started. (They don’t much like that in car pool lane, let me tell you!)
*Blush* thanks for the nod on your reading list, Anna. Dark and Dangerous has done well by me this last year. Grins. Glad you liked it.
It’s so wonderful to read everyone’s favorite list. I get so many new titles and authors to tempt myself with. Keeps ME hammering out the pages so I can read! Grins.
Oh, hey, Anna…have to say that I first learned of Skittles in a REALLY old Barbara Cartland novel. Sent me looking for details once I learned she was real. Wow, did that woman have a life!
PJ, I think you’d really enjoy the C.S. Harrises. I’ve read three so far and while there’s always a strong romance thread, it’s varied from book to book. But that central character is fantastic – so tortured and complex and almost like a superhero. I reviewed the first two for RNTV a few months ago and had a real rave.
I was SOOO happy you loved TTD! I love it when people I like like my work. That’s just the best buzz! Thank you for saying those lovely things about Olivia and Erith.
Yes, I’ll be interested (understatement of the year!) to see what the cover of Captive of Sin turns out to be. What’s funny is it’s set, as you know, on the Cornish cliffs so the stepback for Tempt the Devil would be absolutely ideal!
Hi, Anna–
Having enjoyed TTD so much, I’m interested in the historical background for Olivia. She’s a wonderful character, full of shading and pain and courage, and you’ve given her a hero worthy of her. You structured the conflict so that the romance seemed hopeless, but without either character being unreasonable or unheroic.
As Jeanne points out, seeing Verity and Kylemore again was also a treat.
As for other books, I can honestly claim to have loved Kathleen O’Reilly’s for a long time, but I discovered C.S. Harris because you blogged about St. Cyr on the Romance Bandits. I loved Madeline Hunter from the beginning. Of course, I spent the year happily digging into the various Romance Bandits’ books.
Deanna Raybourn was a happy discovery, thanks to the freebie book (and RITA winner) at RWA. I just wish she wrote faster.
One new author who really blew me away in 2008 was Jessica Andersen, with her series based on Mayan mythology. The first book, The Nightkeepers, came out in the fall, and the second, The Dawnkeepers is out now. It’s shelved in paranormal romance but has very strong fantasy world-building and an epic plot.
Another whose work I already knew, but who knocked me over with her latest release in 2008, was Laura Anne Gilman with Free Fall, the 5th novel in the Retrievers series from Luna–a wonderful, layered urban fantasy with a gut-wrenching romantic arc.
Hi Denise! Thanks for the congrats. I’ve got to say the RITA finals were wonderful 😉 A dream come true! Hope you enjoy TTD!
Miranda, lovely to see you here. And congratulations on your February debut book NEVER RESIST TEMPTATION. It sounds great! Untouched is the book you’re thinking of! Thanks for saying how much you enjoyed it. I hope you like TTD!
Impromptu is fun, isn’t it? Isn’t Julian Sands Liszt? And isn’t Mandy Patinkin in it? I LOVE Mandy Patinkin! Great cast. And again, poor George comes across as a real battleax!
Marie, what a cute photo of the two birds! Thanks for the congrats!
Hey, it’s Louisa!!! La Cornell!
Actually courtesans are fun to research. All that glamor and high life and sex! 😉 There’s passion and tragedy and comedy and, well, everything really! Actually I think I’m the ONLY person who will see the ATR connection – it was more an inspiration than anything else. And you will love the C.S. Harrises!
I’ll definitely back you up on your great selection of books. I’m already looking forward to 2009. A lot of my favorite writers have new books coming out!
Trish, I always find the real-life women interesting too. Glad you enjoyed those tidbits. Honestly, you could write something the length of War and Peace about George Sand. She’s utterly fascinating. I don’t think I’d want her living next door but that doesn’t take away from her qualities!
Each book tends to get its own pattern of being written. I did the first drafts of both CTC and Untouched longhand while curled up on my sofa or on my bed in my flat in Sydney. I did Tempt the Devil sitting at my computer in my house on the Sunshine Coast where I live now, looking out at my jungle of a garden. I did the first draft of Captive of Sin longhand in a gorgeous notebook that Annie West gave me as a birthday present in 2007. I’d sit out on a lounger near the pool and look at the lake for inspiration. I think the next book which I’ve just started will be back on the computer but I’m not far enough in yet to know. What about you?
Hi Caren! Another Bandita risks the Riskies! Thanks for popping over. I’m glad you enjoyed the blog – actually I find putting a Regency twist on non-Regency things can often come up with some really interesting stories. That’s one of the reasons I read a lot of general history, not just Regency period stuff.
The Manderley book is actually Captive of Sin which comes out in November. The one I’ve started now is kind of an O what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive story. It’s mainly set in London and has characters more in the style of Tempt the Devil – older and sophisticated. The Manderley book is probably closer to Untouched – a knight in shining armor hero, for example.
Caren, I’m taking your wishes and applying it to this new book. Wouldn’t it be lovely if I could say, “Oh, it flowed out of me like water over a waterfall in the wet season”? Snort!
Keira, you know she’s a Baroness? She’ll get MI5 out after you if she knows you discarded her for my disreputable characters! 😉
Fo wrote, “And doesn’t poor Sebastian suffer in those C.S. Harris books? I tell you, he should call his union too!”
The aristocracy having their own union? Bwahahaha.
Read the Deanna Raybournes, too. Her Nicholas is such a risky character.
Didn’t Impromptu have Hugh Grant in it? Do I have it aright? The best thing about the first couple seasons of the TV series E.R. was Mandy Patinkin. He’s a good actor and a fabulous singer.
Helen, you’re gorgeous! Thank you! I’m so happy you loved that book. What a lovely wrap for TEMPT THE DEVIL! I love Olivia and Julian too even with all their flaws.
Ooooh, I hope the MI-5 comes after me. You know season 7 (last fall) had RA in the lead role. Ooh la la.
Hey, Jeanne, you know I LOVED Dark and Dangerous! Can’t wait for your next one. Laughing at you holding up the traffic because you have to find out what happens next in an Anna Campbell book. I think that could make a great trailer (pun intended!). Good luck with your pages. I want you to read this book!!!!
My only gripe about the best of lists is that I always end up adding to my Amazon order. My poor Visa card is almost as tortured as one of my heroes now!
Jeanne, I found out a lot about cyprians from Barbara Cartland books. I remember Skittles from that too, now you mention it. I remember the sewn into the riding habit stuff. I know people make fun of BC now but she always got her history right and as you say, there was a lot of interesting stuff in there amongst the breathless heroines!