October 22, 2019 – Writer's Treasure Chest

When did you start writing?

Believe it or not, I started writing my first book on a typewriter a long time ago. Talk about a slow process! That manuscript is still on the shelf in typewritten form. Sometimes, I think about going through it and finally getting it in digital format, but I have so many other books in the queue to write, it stays on the back burner. In the early-to-mid-90s, I wrote three more books on my new computer. I sold my first book, a novella, to Harlequin/Worldwide in 1993 and it was published in 1994. During all those years, I had a family at home and worked fulltime, so I didn’t have consistent writing time until 2012, when I no longer had a day job. At that time, I had several books in various stages of completion, so I tackled them one-by-one, beginning with Chloe’s Spirit.

2. What motivates you to write?

Back in the days when you could have a screensaver on your monitor, mine said, “Writing is an uncontrollable obsession.” For me, it really is. My mind never shuts down, so I suppose you could say that contributes to my need to write. I love writing and I feel compelled to put down the words that will make the books. I have dozens of ideas for books that I still haven’t gotten to. At the moment, I have 29 books in print, 1 novella, and 1 short-story collection, and those only scratch the surface of what I hope to write before I no longer can!

3. What genre do you write in and what made you chose this particular genre?

With the exception of my Christmas Valley Romances, I write cross-genre books: mystery-thriller-suspense with a love story and usually paranormal or supernatural elements. Like most authors, I write what I love to read. I also love doing research, so I look for intriguing and interesting elements to introduce into my stories. With every book I write, I learn something new, and that new knowledge is something I’m able to pass along as part of my story. I want to ensure that my readers keep turning those pages, intrigued and excited about what will happen next.

4. What is your goal in writing? Do you have dreams where your writing should take you?

I have one goal when I write, to entertain readers. Along with that, I want to keep them guessing, and to ensure that they’ll be anxious to move on to one of my other books. I’ve always dreamed of being a published author and I’ve achieved that. As far as where my dreams take me in writing? My imagination has no limits. I can go anywhere and write anything. As long as readers are enjoying my words, being enthralled by them, I’m happy.

5. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, and if yes, how do you deal with it?

I have to say that I’ve never suffered from writer’s block. That’s not to say that I’m not stumped sometimes about which direction I should take a story, but generally, that works itself out in a day or so. Honestly, I don’t understand writer’s block. I know some writers lament that they have it, but when I’m temporarily stumped, I just keep writing, either on the book I’m working on, or one of the other books I have started. My mom always use to say, “If you don’t get something you want, it’s because something better is coming along.” I feel that applies to writing, too. I no longer plot out an entire book before I start writing. Instead, I know where the book will start and how it will end up, but I’m flexible on all points in between. That said, I’m also flexible on an entirely different ending than I had envisioned in the beginning. For me, this method works, and always for the better.

6. What advice would you like to give new, hopeful authors?

Best-selling author Cynthia Freeman, who began writing late in her life, once said (and I paraphrase), “Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from the thrill of trying.” If you want to write, write. It’s as simple as that.

7. Please, tell us about your work.

I write three series, Grace Gabbiano Mysteries, Andi Comstock Supernatural Mysteries, and Christmas Valley Romances. My Grace books now number 5, with another to be released in July 2020. The Andi books stand at 4, with a new release scheduled for release in October 2020. The Christmas romances number 8, with two new titles coming out on November 15.

In addition, I have two short series, Chloe’s Spirit and Chloe’s Spirit Afterstories and First Star and First Star Afterstories. Chloe’s Spirit and First Star were both Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Finalists. I currently have five stand-alone books in print, as well, with another due out in May 2020. One of my stand-alones, Blessed Are the Eagles, was also an RWA Golden Heart Finalist. All my books are available worldwide from Amazon in both ebook and paperback format, and all are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Thank you for having you as my guest.

Connect with Ann:

Email: ann@annsimas.com
Website: https://annsimas.com

Social Media Links
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Ann-Simas-Author-410011319127684/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ann-simas
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7039844.Ann_Simas
Amazon https://amazon.com/author/annsimas
Twitter https://twitter.com/AnnSimasAuthor

Ann’s books:

Stand-Alones
Blessed Are the Eagles https://amzn.to/1P5cGhh
Loose Ends https://amzn.to/1OFEdoD
Heaven Sent https://amzn.to/1NMbGhw
Black Moon Rising https://amzn.to/2gC316l
Here and Gone https://amzn.to/2Iyylkq

Grace Gabbiano Mysteries
Dressed to Die https://amzn.to/1eRzlAw
Sliced to Die https://amzn.to/1M47iyb
Buried to Die https://amzn.to/2uTsX4I
Quilted to Die https://amzn.to/2JONRgZ
Taken to Die https://amzn.to/2JBDPy0

Andi Comstock Supernatural Mysteries
Holy Smoke https://amzn.to/1IL8y5a
Penitence https://amzn.to/1sZGNkx
Angel Babies https://amzn.to/2hFxB53
Hellfire https://amzn.to/2V6zZV6

Christmas Valley Romances
Santa’s Helper https://amzn.to/1N3ZLPV
Candy Cane Lane https://amzn.to/2gMkw3Z
Let It Snow https://amzn.to/2fFLONw
FruityCakes https://amzn.to/2yTlB7d
Sleigh Bride https://amzn.to/2zkCy6x
Angels on the Rooftop https://amzn.to/2C6Gazk
Deck the Gnomes https://amzn.to/2LMPMPz
Back-Door Santa https://amzn.to/2NEmgNx
Jingle Bell Clock https://amzn.to/2MF84EO
Reindeer Blitz https://amzn.to/2MFBNNR

Afterstories
Chloe’s Spirit https://amzn.to/1MMjHEB
Chloe’s Spirit Afterstories https://amzn.to/1XoigPS
Second Chance, Foolish Heart
First Star https://amzn.to/1gIPydi
First Star Afterstories https://amzn.to/2kUHuc0
All That Glitters/Starry Night

Short Story Collection
All’s Well https://amzn.to/1JSMgj8