Straight Chatting from the Library: Annette Bower

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Annette Bower will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE INTERVIEW

What is your favorite book today?

My favorite book written by me today is Fearless Destiny, the book about an artist, an architect, a mine, and a town filled with hope. Tomorrow, it will be one of the other books I’ve written, and the next to that day, the new book I’m writing.

But my favorite book that I’m reading today is The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. Translated from Swedish. I’m reading the audio version. The introduction and dedication provided the clue to this unlikely story. The author said that his grandpa captivated his grandchildren’s imagination when he told stories. ““Grandpa is that really true?” The grandchildren would ask wide eyed. “Those who only says what is the truth, they’re not worth listening to.” Grandpa replied.” This book is dedicated to Jonasson’s grandfather.

What are you reading right now?

The minute right before I began this interview, Fast Minds How to Thrive if you have ADHD (Or Think You Might) by Craig Surman, M.D. Time Kilkey, M.D. with Karen Weintraub. FAST MINDS stands for: Forgetful, Achieving below potential, Stuck in a rut, Time challenged, Motivationally challenged, Impulsive, Novelty seeking, Distractible, Scattered.

If you could see the state of my office and if you knew that before I began reading, I watched Masterpiece Theatre procrastinating my research, you could suspect that I’m reading this to confirm my own personality. This reminds me of "XI" by Emily Dickinson:

Much madness is divinest sense
To a discerning eye;
Much sense the starkest madness.
‘T is the majority
In this, as all, prevails.
Assent, and you are sane;
Demure,--you’re straightway dangerous,
And handles with a chain.

However, I have an idea for a story and I want to understand how ADHD might affect a character.

E-Reader or print and why?

Both. I quickly adapted to e reading after I won a Sony e reader in a silent auction for our local library. The books I can have in my TBR pile hardly vie for territory in my thrifty spaced condo. I enjoy the convenience of always having a book with me on my iphone and ipad through the Kindle app, Kobo app, and Harper Collins app. And I enjoy the convenience when I hear or read about a book, I can instantly purchase it, and it appears on my iphone, and synchs to my ipad within seconds.

However, I have shelves with books; the above book Fast Minds is a hardcover print book from our local Chapters store. And another research book, The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin, I purchased after I heard the author speak. I prefer to read print before I go to sleep, to slow down my brain.

When do you do most of your reading?

Most of my reading takes place in the morning with my coffee and then before bed. But I also have audio books on the go and listen when I run errands, walk for exercise, or ride my bicycle around our local lake.

Favorite place to read?

My most relaxing reading takes place on an airplane. I enjoy being seat-belted in and someone brings me a drink and a snack and I can read uninterrupted. My favorite is an overseas flight. No stops allowed over the ocean.

Favorite genre?

Give me a contemporary or historical romance with HEA, and subgenre women’s fiction. When I was a young teen my aunt shared the first of many romance books, back then it would have been Mills & Boon and Doctor Nurse romance. In fact, when I was a new nurse working in northern Canada, I was infatuated by a young intern. When I heard his name on the intercom, I swooned. We dated, but alas it didn`t take. He wanted me to cook dinner for the hospital director and his wife, but I hadn’t learned; I took Latin in high school rather than home economics. I invested in the tome, The Joy of Cooking but later I married a man who enjoys preparing meals and who purchased Harlequins for me to escape after a stressful day with our young children.

I’ve also come to appreciate reading the woman’s journey in women’s fiction, where the heroine is the central focus of the story. They remind me of chats with friends where I learn or confirm something about my life through the characters.

In the book, The Merchant of Venus, Inside Harlequin and the Empire of Romance, on pp 245, David Galloway, the then Harlequin president, spoke to a largely male audience. He asked how many read the Globe and Mail. He had many hands in the air. After another question with regard to news, he asked how many had read a Harlequin in the past three months. Only his hand went up. “Well, let me tell you,” he said. “Harlequin readers read – and watch television less than the average [person]. And they have better sex lives.” One man in the audience piped up: “How many books does it take?”

Now where it says, Harlequin, I think romance as there are so many small presses and Indie authors who also publish romance, and if we can provide better sex lives for those who read, we’re doing a service to couples around the world.

How do you keep your books organized?

I have a shelf that begins with Modern British Literature and ends with the Holy Bible.

Another shelf that begins with Websters New World Dictionary and ends with the CD of The Hero’s 2 Journeys with Michael Hauge and Christopher Vogler. In between is Dynamic Characters, Stephen King On Writing and Idiot’s Guide to Getting your Romance Published.
,br> And on it goes for many shelves behind closed cupboard doors. However, I’m not sure about other authors, I find myself turning to the internet for definitions and research more than the hard copies during my writing.

Keep books or give them away?

Man, I’m trying to give books away. I have a box in the hallway where I promise myself I will place one book a day to donate to the Seniors’ Life Long Learning Centre fund-raising book sale. The box is far from overflowing. In the past when I’ve given books away, I’ve taken pictures of the covers and then if I feel I need their touchstone, I can glance at the cover and if necessary, possibly re-order, hopefully electronically.

Thank you Librarian for hosting me today.

READ THE BLURB

From the Romance Review Readers Choice nominee, Annette Bower, comes a new small town romance, Fearless Destiny.

Tiffany George, riding high on her commission as a fresco artist, returns home for some deserved rest and relaxation. The drive is uneventful until she rescues Will Cleaver on the side of a highway. While savoring memories of a kiss and a well formed butt, her future goals do not include a romance.

Once in town, she discovers the hopes and dreams of her community hinge on the development of a new resource mine and Will Cleaver’s designed neighborhood. Her parents demand she give up art and resume her working partner role in the family business. Tiffany George is pulled by her community roots and stretched by her newly discovered independence.

Will Cleaver knows about taking charge of destiny. He models the courage she uses to become the woman she needs to be.

READ AN EXCERPT

“Tiffany, you’ve been away.” Mayor Robert stepped forward and turned Tiffany toward the model.

“This is our town after the urban development is completed.” He put his finger on the cenotaph.

“The new neighborhood is here on this land, with access to hiking paths, the park, and further along the street are the new family homes. And here’s the new school and a new community hall.” Mayor Robert spoke slowly, providing time for Tiffany to absorb all the changes that had been planned for Apex.

“Then of course there will be infill. Some of the older places will be torn down and new buildings taking their place.” Mayor Robert nodded.

“Everything and everyone needs to adjust.” He kept his arm securely around Tiffany’s shoulder like a kindly uncle.

“Nikki is the construction engineer. She’s responsible for the infrastructure. She knows how large our lagoon and water supply will have to be.”

Although Nikki was talking to Will, he watched Tiffany.

Mayor Robert gulped a deep breath. “I’m surprised your parents didn’t mention anything. Or you haven’t been watching our Facebook page or Twitter account.”

“Facebook page? Twitter account?” Tiffany frowned. “It feels as if I left home and returned to a strange place.” She stared at the three-dimensional model on the table in a makeshift office.

“We can’t stand still,” Mayor Robert said. “I hear you haven’t.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

Annette Bower sets her romance novels in Saskatchewan because she believes home can be as exotic as anywhere else in the World. Annette travels extensively, but always returns home to Regina, Saskatchewan. Born in Regina, her experiences as a nurse, administrator, town councillor, teachers’ assistant and student inform her stories and reflect the experiences of many readers. Annette’s stories are read around the world and have been shortlisted on many national and international stages.

Annette Bower writes about women’s roles in families, in communities and women’s emotions at the beginning and end of love in her home office in Regina, SK. Her short stories are published in magazines and anthologies in Canada, United States, and United Kingdom.

Her women’s fiction novels with romantic elements, Woman of Substance and Moving On are published by Soul Mate Publishing.

Annette Bower’s day-to-day experiences as a nurse, administrator, town councillor, teacher’s assistant and student means that her stories are the real thing because they are about you and your neighbours. Her short stories and novels are read around the world. Her romance novels are set in Saskatchewan because she believes home is as exotic as anywhere else in the wide world she has visited.

WEBSITE:www.annettebower.com
BLOG: www.annettebower.com/blog
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/annette.bower1author
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BowerAnnette

Buy the book at Amazon.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway