Reinventing Yourself by Anna Markland

This morning, I'm having coffee with Anna Markland who has an interesting story to tell about her writing journey.

Anna is giving away a free Kindle book so be sure and leave your email address with your comment to be eligible to win. All the details are given below.

Anna, tell us more!

Reinventing Yourself
by Anna Markland

I spent most of my professional life as an educator. It was a rewarding career, both financially and emotionally, but after 25 years I burned out. After that I worked with my husband in the management of his business. My final “career” was as Director of Administration of a global disaster relief organization.

About 20 years ago, my cousin wrote a historical romance and became an overnight success — NY Times bestseller among her accomplishments. She has since authored many wonderful books. The thought niggled at the back of my mind for years — I could write a book, too. Many people have that ambition and do nothing about it, put off in part, I believe, by the prospect of trying to sell their idea to a large publisher.

I Began

Not content to fade away into retirement gracefully, I embarked upon writing a romance, essentially for my own satisfaction. I chose the medieval period because, as an amateur genealogist, I cherished a dream of tracing my own English roots back to the Norman Conquest — an impossibility since I am not descended from nobility!

So I made up a family. I based the plot on an incident that actually happened to a Norman noblewoman, and before I knew it I had written over 200,000 words.

Publishing Revolution

In the meantime, I gradually became aware of the revolution taking place in the publishing world, thanks to the Amazon kindle device.

I decided my novel was too long, had too many heroes and heroines, and too much you know what. (Did I mention it was a romance?) I reworked it into four books, and published them as a series in quick succession on Amazon. What was there to lose?

My dream was to sell 100 books in a year. As of today I have written 15 novels, all revolving around or branching off from the original family in the first series. I’ve sold over 34000 copies. It’s a thrill to receive emails from readers telling me how much they enjoy following my families.

Life Has Changed

It used to be that people had one lifelong career, retiring with a pat on the back and a gold watch, or something similar. I think those days are long gone. Technology and changes in societal expectations have made it possible for people to reinvent themselves over and over if they wish.

By taking a chance, I discovered a talent I did not recognize I had! I can tell a good story! Sometimes when I re-read my own work I am wonderstruck at where the ideas came from!

If you’re thinking of writing and publishing a book — go for it. Just make sure you get it edited and critiqued by a few people whose opinion you trust before you take the plunge.

I often joke that if only my heroes and heroines had revealed their stories to me in chronological order, it would have made life easier for my readers. I have a handy list on my blog.

Adopting New Persona

You’ll see from my blog that I am well immersed in the Middle Ages, but — hold the phone! I have recently morphed once again, this time into a writer of erotic contemporary romance! This aspect of my career required a new pen name.

I published Boom! Listen To Your Heart as Roxanne Rogerson.

Roxy has certainly added excitement and a new challenge to my life, which is why I believe many people are motivated to reinvent themselves. People are living longer and the same old same old doesn’t cut it any more.

Blurb: Boom! Listen To Your Heart

A near-fatal heart attack changed Michael Atherton’s life. He learned from it, changing his lifestyle. Healthier and in great physical shape, Michael tries to come to terms with long-buried cravings and desires unleashed by his near-death experience. His wife does not share his inclination to the erotic so they divorce. Alone, he explores the emerging Dominant side of his personality. But a Dom needs a Submissive. Enter Jessie Halliwell, bestselling author of a novel about submission, created from research not experience.

Set in the intimate city of Victoria, Canada’s garden paradise, and the lush country of Panama, the story takes Michael and Jessie on a roller coaster ride of emotions as Michael’s work as a private investigator unwittingly puts Jessie’s life in jeopardy.

If you enjoy contemporary erotic romantic suspense with a touch of humor, give Boom! Listen To Your Heart a chance.

My Original Love: Medieval Romance

If you’re more interested in the medieval side of my work, and you’re in a Halloween mood, you might enjoy Haunted Knights (Montbryce~The Next Generation Historical Romance).

Two loyal brothers must cope with afflictions that render them unmarriageable and, in their minds, unfit for love. Two sisters, also afflicted and locked in the attic of a manor home their entire lives, cope with freedom and the love offered them by these noble men.

Haunted Knights takes an unusual and heart-touching approach to the stories of these four people, then weaves it with a tale of court intrigue and malicious intentions that place the lives of these endearing characters in jeopardy.

Giveaway

Anna is giving away 1 Kindle copy of Haunted Knights and 1 Kindle copy of Boom! To be eligible to win one of these copies, do this:

• make a comment
• with your comment, leave your email address (write out at for @ and dot com for .com or whatever it might be)
• specify which book you'd like to receive which you would prefer

A winner will be chosen at random. Anna will notify the winner by email.

Takeaway Truth

Thanks, Anna Markland, for visiting today.