And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Annie Burrows. Annie lives in the United Kingdom with her family. We first met Annie two years ago and, after reading her interview below, you should check out our interview in the archives.

http://romancereaderatheart.com/clues/mysteryauthors/burrows/

And, of course, visit Annie at her website: annie-burrows.co.uk

1. So it's been about two years since we last talked. At that time, you had
said your daughter had a hard time reading a romance novel written by
Mom. *Smile* Has that changed at all?

No—she still can’t bear to read anything by Mom. But my son, who has just graduated with a degree in Russian and linguistics, has set himself the task of reading my complete output, beginning to end, during his train journeys to his new job. He has complimented me by saying that my stories are vivid, character driven and fluent, and a nice break from studying Tolstoy. (Yay!)

2. I've been reading reviews of your books and the one thing I see often is that your style is that of "Traditional Regency" (perhaps your love of authors such as Jane Austen coming through?) and your detail to historical accuracy. I'm thinking you must do quite a bit of research for your books? What do you do when writing? I'm picturing reference books everywhere!.

Yes, I can’t resist buying books about the Regency period. My latest acquisitions have been on the life of Joseph Grimaldi, which gives a fascinating insight into the world of Regency theatre, and one called “The age of Wonder” which is about early scientific discoveries. The more I find out about all aspects of Regency life, the more accurately I hope to be able to portray the mindset of my characters.

3. What's a typical day for you? Do you write as the mood strikes you or do you set a schedule for yourself?

I set a schedule for myself, and have to be quite strict (or I would just sit about reading all those fascinating reference books!) Once everyone has left for work, I shut myself in my study, and pretty much spend all day typing. I do have a kitchen timer though, which goes off every hour, which makes me get up, stretch, make a cup of tea, or do a few minutes of household chores, otherwise my back would seize up completely. Back problems…the curse of all writers, I daresay.

Usually, about four in the afternoon, my brain has seized up too, and I set about making the tea. I don’t write in the evenings. Just can’t concentrate with anyone else in the house. Which rules weekends out, too. That’s when I do “admin” jobs, like updating my website, and so on.

Doesn’t that all sound industrious? But then I haven’t owned up to exactly how much time I spend on spider solitaire…

4. I was at your website and reading through the books you read during 2008 for the National Year of Reading. I had to chuckle over your entry regarding Diana Gabaldon's CROSS STITCH (OUTLANDER here in the states). You were dead on when you said beginning the series is at your own risk- very addictive! But I have to ask: did you ever read the others?

I did read one more—DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, but couldn’t get into it the same as the first. I felt as though I got a whole new perspective on Bonny Prince Charlie, but not enough of Jamie Fraser and Claire’s love story. And at the end I was quite upset to think of Claire living without Jamie, and growing old, when all the time she might have been living with him, since he did not die at the Battle of Culloden as they had feared.

But that’s me—I like a happy ending, and my historical romance to be weighted very heavily in favour of romance, with the history taking second place.

Having said that, I might read the next one, some day. I do feel some curiosity about where Diana is going to take the daughter, now she knows her father is a Scottish Highlander….

5. Tell us about your newest release, THE VISCOUNT AND THE VIRGIN?

This is an episode in a mini series, called “Regency Silk and Scandal”, although you can read this story without knowing anything about what went before. My heroine, Imogen Hebden, is the daughter of a man who was murdered when she was a toddler. His death, and the effect it had on her mother, has left a shadow hanging over her. And when she goes to London for a season, all anyone can do is gossip about her scandalous parents. She’s just on the verge of giving up any thoughts of marriage, when she bumps (literally) into Viscount Mildenhall, a man with a family about as dysfunctional as her own. The sparks fly between them, igniting into a passion so hot that neither of them can quite handle it…and then there is the mysterious gypsy who stalks Imogen, tempting her to join him in his vendetta against those responsible for her father’s death…

6. And as always, what is happening now? Are you working on anything you can share with us?

Well, my next book will be out in December—I can tell you about that! A COUNTESS BY CHRISTMAS tells how Miss Helen Forrest, determined to stand on her own two feet, and never have to depend on any man, attracts the attention of the Earl of Bridgemere. At first, he tries to persuade her that marrying him is the logical thing to do, but soon a titanic clash of wills develops, as he tries to persuade her to yield to the irresistible attraction that springs up between them...

Read our 2008 Interview with Annie Burrows