Q1. Hello. Can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Annette Marie Stephenson. I am married with 3 children and 7 grandchildren. My husband and I have been married for 41 years. I love to active biking, hiking, and running. I love fitness and wellness. I am 60 years old and have been writing since I was 10 years old. I started out writing poems and short stories about being loved and having security with someone special. During the times I was raising my family, I dreamed of being a full time author. I was an interior painter and contractor while living in Oregon. I am currently a real estate agent as well. I am originally from San Jose, California and currently reside in the San Diego area.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing The Last Memory?
Coming out of my comfort zone and writing an aggressive character. Antagonists are hard for me to write because I have always written about good natured characters. The man in this story was just someone who was born into a bad life. He wanted the control and he didn’t care about human life or even his own life. He was sly and a sycophant when it came to luring his way into someone who would trust him. He knew he couldn’t be trusted and the main character took a chance trusting him. After reading the whole story, I’m glad I wrote about him and what he was capable of.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I love Nicolaus Sparks and Robin Carr. When I read The Message in a Bottle, I was amazed how someone can put detail into a story. I love emotion and drama that pulls you in. Loss and recovery always make my heart want more. I love to see characters become happy and get their life back and being in love. I started reading Judy Blume when I was11 and I loved the way she appealed to the younger generation. It’s hard to find good books that make you get hooked and you can’t put down to put down. I used to love biographies but learning about true life stories was not something I was interested in writing about. I love fiction.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I’ve always loved California. I lived in Oregon for 32 years before coming back to California. I love any place that has water. Lakes, streams, the ocean just make me feel calm and give me inspiration to write. I love the mountains and hiking different trails. It’s hard to pick a favorite place since i like to explore new things and places. I’ve been to Bermuda and Canada and I loved visiting and the people were welcoming. I live near the beach so that is a favorite of mine and my husband’s. Oregon is very pretty and green so I guess I could say I liked visiting there. I like to travel any place that gives me inspiration for a good story.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
Not really. I write things down on paper to get ideas. I have a big imagination and I play out the characters I write. I love to explore screenwriting and acting out what I write makes it come to life. When I get writer’s block, I let my brain take a break and let the story rest. Rushing a story will make the dialogue boring and lifeless. To put excitement into a story, you have to take your time and read it over and over again to clean out any mistakes or cheesy lines, I am very picking about how the story flows.
Q6. How long did it take you to write The Last Memory?
The Last Memory took me 4 months to write. I knew when I finished my last book what I wanted to write. I thought what would I do if I lost everything I worked hard for and I had to start over and get a new life? What would that be like? As a kid, I didn’t have the best childhood. There were times I wished I could just erase all the pain I felt and be someone else. The character in the story had an extensive resume. She worked very hard to be the person she always wanted to be. Life changed for her and that change had consequences. Since 2021 I have written 7 books and I started another one soon to come out in about 3 months.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
I am on Amazon, Kindle, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Audible.com. If they look at my website, they can order there and it will take them to Amazon. romancebyannette.com I am also on Goodreads.
Q8. Tells us about the process of coming up with the book cover and title The Last Memory.
The story is based in Julian, California, a place I love to visit with my husband. It has many orchards and it basically the apple country. I loved the farms and fields mixed in with old barns and country charm. I was looking for a cover that displayed that scenario and I wanted to capture the romance for the character. I also wanted it to be a place of fear for Tess. After all, she had no idea where she was and she was alone not know who she was. I wanted the light to come alive when she meets Kyle. It now becomes a beautiful place for her to call her own. I wanted a cover that had the fields of gold and a world she has never experienced before. This cover was perfect for the story.
Q9. When writing a book, how do you keep things fresh, for your readers and yourself?
I think about what warms the heart. What would a reader love to get caught up in? I don’t write about sex or extreme violent scenarios. I like to put the suspense where it belongs and just grab the audience and help the story flow. As far as keeping things fresh, I just go with what suits me. There are certain subjects I am not fond of like science fiction or psychological violence. I know some of these subjects are appealing to the masses, but I want to write about subjects that move and touch someone’s life, something they can relate to.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that are not in the blurb) you can share with your readers?
Well, I don’t like to give away something that is a surprise. I can tell you that Tess Charlton starts a new life. Does she become a reporter? We’ll see..
Buy The Last Memory on Amazon
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