Friday, September 17, 2010

Author Interview - Toni Anderson


 Congratulations to the winner!!

Sue B!

(Deanna does not pick the winners on any interviews)


Thank you for joining us on the beach today! I’m so pleased to be able to introduce you to yet another wonderful romance/suspense author, Toni Anderson. Toni is a former marine biologist who conducted her Ph.D. at the Gatty Marine Laboratory in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland.  She was born and raised in the U.K., but now lives in the Canadian prairies with her husband and two children, living about as far from the ocean as possible. Her stories are set in the stunning locations where she’s been lucky enough to live and work—the blustery east coast of Scotland, the remote isolated mining communities of Northern Labrador, the rugged landscapes of the U.S. and the Red Center of Australia.  She escapes the long brutal Canadian winters by writing Romantic Mystery and Suspense stories.

For hobbies she loves reading, traveling, photography, painting, drawing and walking—especially on the beach with a big hairy mutt splashing in the shallows.

Thank you for being with us, Toni. Your website is full of information and photos.

Toni: Thank you for having me as your guest. I love hearing from interested readers so I hope they comment so we can chat.


Deanna:
  Tell us a bit about yourself that our readers might not know.

Toni: Readers might not know that I was once a marine biologist—like Susie Cooper in SEA OF SUSPICION. Unlike Susie, who got to work on octopods, I worked on fish. I spent a lot of time measuring fish, and chasing them around remote regions of North America.  It was cool.  I’m pretty quiet and reserved, but not a pushover. My art teacher always used to say he gave people enough rope to hang themselves and it’s become a motto I live by. But I love people, love meeting new people and traveling.  The world is a big exciting place and everyone has a story. One thing people don't generally know about SEA OF SUSPICION is I wrote it listening to the Rolling Stones and there are references to their inspirational music throughout the story.

Deanna:  What happened that made you want to become a writer?

Toni: I read. Lots. Compulsively. Eventually I ran out of things to read and started penning my own tales. As a child I felt compelled to write but was torn between science and arts and followed the science path through university. Looking back I don’t think the two should have been mutually exclusive, but it’s hard to do everything at once.  And I like to think my science background gives me a good basis for my characters.

Deanna:
 Do you write under a pen name?

Toni: No, ‘Anderson’ is one of the most common names in the world so I don’t worry too much about being tracked down.  And I’m proud of my writing.  I don’t want to hide the fact I’ve written stories and had them published.  I’m thrilled.

Deanna:
 Is there a certain type of character that is easier to write than another?

Toni: I find it disturbingly easy to write about flawed people.  Flaws are what make characters interesting and these people sing to me.  Be it villains or protagonists, the worse they are, the more easily I can get my claws into them. The trouble starts when I deal with nice people—innocents—I find it really hard to make those characters open up.  Susie Cooper was a challenge to write because she’s just so nice! Nick Archer, the dark tormented hero, was the proverbial piece of cake. Not sure how that reflects on me….

Deanna:  Do you read in the same genre that you write in?

Toni: Yes, I adore Romantic Suspense/Mystery stories. I love Nora Roberts, Tami Hoag, Loreth Anne White, Elizabeth Lowell, Linda Howard and Suzanne Brockmann. 

Deanna:
  Tell us a bit about SEA OF SUSPICION.

Toni: Marine biologist Susie Cooper traded her life in America for a dream job on the rugged Scottish coast. Now all she lacks is the right man to start a family with. After their first meeting, she knows sexy Detective Inspector Nick Archer isn’t what she’s looking for. He’s the type of guy whose idea of commitment is staying the whole night.

Nick has returned to St. Andrews for one reason only—to fulfill his vow to find his wife’s killer. Relentless in his twelve-year quest for justice, he has no problem using Susie to get close to his primary suspect: her boss. But the passion between them smolders, and as it ignites, Nick finds himself torn between his past and his present—with Susie.

When one of her boss’s students is murdered, Nick’s investigation draws Susie into a web of madness and betrayal. They will have to learn to trust each other if they’re going to catch a killer…and come out of this alive.
  
I have a sequel coming out to SEA OF SUSPICION in October called STORM WARNING and I’m so excited that both books are being published by Carina Press. I feel blessed with the support of the Carina team, especially my editor, Deb Nemeth and the art department.  I love to meet new people and I have a blog, I’m on Facebook  and I also have a website with some cool photos on it. 



Deanna: Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Toni:  I thought I’d give away an e-book copy of my first book HER SANCTUARY to one lucky commenter.

Deanna: Readers, you read it correctly. Comment away...and Sunday morning Toni will draw one commenter to be the lucky winner! Don’t forget to hop over to Toni’s blog then her website and read about her upcoming sequel!

Toni, thank you again for being here today! We’ve had a wonderful time learning about you and your novels!


17 comments:

  1. Thank you to those who are stopping in. Please leave your comments for Toni! She'd love to chat with you...and it will put you in the drawing!

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  2. Thanks so much for having me here today, Deanna :)

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  3. Great interveiw and Tony your book sounds amazing. I love romantic suspense Elizabeth Lowell is one of my favs. Thanks for sharing today!

    eric250r@coosnet.com

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  4. Hi Toni - great interview. I have to agree with you about flawed characters. They're much more interesting because the reader is never sure if they're going to make it or slip back into bad habits again. They definitely make a more intriguing reader experience.

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  5. Hi Toni and hey Deanna - another great interview. Toni you have lived in some fascinating places! Visiting Scotland is so on my bucket list. Are you also on Goodreads? - I'd like to add your book to my "to reads". Is the book in print to purchase on Amazon? Nora Roberts is one of my favs. I love a good Romance Thriller! Good luck with this book and the sequel.

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  6. Isn't it strange how going through school and into uni people give you the impression it's Science or the Arts? As if the two can't coexist in a person. Glad to see you proving them wrong, Toni!

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  7. Johanna, Elizabeth Lowell is wonderful :) Thanks for commenting.

    Shelley--I'm never quite sure either :) Perhaps that is why I love them so much too.

    Brenda--I am on Goodreads--a recent member and still sorting everything out on there. Thanks so much for commenting and I hope you get to Scotland soon. HER SANCTUARY is in print, the other two are digital.

    Jenny--yes, it is strange. I have never understood the streaming system or the narrowminded approach and I am far from unique. :) Thanks for commenting!

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  8. *Bringing more drinks back to the beach along with shade umbrellas*

    Hi everyone! Wow, we have a beach full of guests! Nice to see so many stopped by to chat. Thanks so much for helping us make Toni's party fun!

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  9. I just read the excerpt. Very good!
    Heading over to Goodreads to add book and you as a friend :)
    I am still sorting things out on Goodreads and I consider myself advanced on websites LOL Take care. Night.

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  10. Hi toni. Love your book covers. You are a new author to me. Your books sound really good. Will be adding them to my reading.
    Sue B

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  11. HI TONI AND DEA!

    TONI I'D LOVE TO READ THESE BOOKS AS THEY SOUND SO AWESOME! AND NOW MADE A NEW FRIEND!

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  12. Thanks for the refreshment, Deanna :)

    Thanks, Brenda, Sue & Hotcha12 :)

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  13. This was a great interview! Thanks Deanna and Toni! I have something new to put in my TBR pile!

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  14. Great interview with Toni Anderson. Haven't read SEA OF SUSPICION, but i am putting this book on my TBR list. I am also on Good Reads.

    rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. We used to take kitchen trays to St Andrews every week in the summer and tobbogen down the sand dunes :-) You can't do that now!! It looks like you've exchanged one beautiful setting for another.
    And...:-) I love the sound of your book. I am adding it to my wish list.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  16. Tigris--glad you liked it. Hope you like the books.
    rbooth43--thanks. Give me a shout at goodreads!

    Sherry--I think they arrest people for that now ;) I always wanted to hang my washing on the Old Course as my right, but hubby wouldn't let me. Or graze a few sheep :)

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