You write almost every day: fiction, non-fiction, poems, magazine articles and social media bits. While many choose to focus on a single genre, you seem comfortable across several. Welcome, Anna, and thank you for sitting down with us today.
On LM Alcott
Question: If Louisa May Alcott were around today, do you think she’d be addicted to scrolling her Facebook feed or would she be making dramatic 3-minute rants on BookTok?
Anna
I think she would probably spend some time looking at social media, but rather than becoming addicted to it, she might find herself feeling sad – and perhaps a little angry. Writing was her passion, so I imagine she would be horrified by the way the English language is often butchered online: The endless spelling mistakes and abbreviated words! However, I think she was far too opinionated to merely scroll social media!
If you have read any of her books, you could imagine she’d have strong views on social issues, women’s independence, marriage, money and the publishing world – and she certainly wouldn’t be shy about expressing them. So, although somewhat reluctant, she’d probably have thousands of followers.
On writer’s struggles
Q: How many times a week do you rewrite a single paragraph until you decide it’s a masterpiece, then read it again an hour later and wonder if a toddler secretly logged into your laptop?
Anna
I write almost every day. I’m a pantser, so I usually write an entire chapter without overthinking where the story is going. I might glance through it, then carry on writing several more chapters before printing out several pages and reading them as if they were part of a book.
That’s when I begin the serious editing. I find it much easier to spot things on paper than on a screen. I’ll then do another edit before sending the manuscript to a beta reader for fresh eyes and feedback.
On Amazon
Q: If your Amazon author bio had to strictly describe your actual writing process: distractions, snacks and writer’s block included, what would the main summary say?
Anna
It may sound strange, but writing is my favourite excuse for avoiding other things, such as housework and cooking! When writing, two hours can disappear. Eventually, my stomach starts making increasingly loud complaints, reminding me that fictional characters may survive without dinner, but I probably won’t. That’s usually my signal to go in search of food!
I often get my best ideas just as I’m drifting off to sleep, which is why I keep a tape recorder beside my bed.
On insights
Q: Be honest: When interviewing artists for your articles and books, what’s the percentage of people who give you genuinely deep cultural insights versus people who just want to talk about how great the sunny weather is in the Algarve?
Anna
Honestly, I found the interviewees remarkably candid and passionate when discussing both the good and the bad sides of life in the Algarve. Some spoke quite openly about their experiences, while others were more cautious and preferred not to use their real names, particularly when discussing sensitive or controversial issues.
On wanderlust and belonging
Having lived in about ten countries, including the UK, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Canada, the USA and Greece, you chose to settle in the Algarve six years ago. The question is: why Portugal?
Anna
After leaving school, I worked for the government in the north of England for 18 months before realising that a conventional job wasn’t for me. I was a free spirit, always searching for adventure. Perhaps not knowing my biological family fuelled my curiosity about my roots. Maybe I had a gypsy somewhere in my ancestry! Whatever the reason, I caught the travel bug and went on to live and work in several countries.
After 20 years in America, I returned to the UK, settling in beautiful Cornwall and I might have stayed had the weather been kinder! After a few trips to Spain and Portugal, however, I was ready for another change. While reading an old diary, I came across a note about Greece: “One day I will live there.” So, I moved to Crete — only to discover that living somewhere is rather different from visiting. It was during Covid, with no public transport or Uber, so I made a quick decision to move to Portugal, arriving just in time before Brexit.
Looking back, it was a fortunate move. I found an apartment with a good landlord and soon made friends from all over the world. There seems to be something about Portugal that encourages people to relax, become more sociable and embrace a slower pace of life. Even the bureaucracy surrounding healthcare and immigration cannot entirely spoil that feeling.
Moving to Portugal also inspired me. It gave me the time to return to the many unfinished books I had started years earlier, and finally get them published.
I’ve travelled a long way, both literally and figuratively, but I believe I’ve finally found my home. I suspect Portugal is where I’ll stay for the rest of my days.
Anna’s books so far: https://amoz.onl/7sj
Giving a special shout-out to her latest release: Cornwall’s Midnight Merchants: A Zoe Hunter Adventure https://mybook.to/MidnightMerchants
