Author Interview–Anya Bast (And a chance to win!)
Posted in Romance on January 14th, 2009 by Cynthia Eden
Today, I am very excited to post an interview that features Anya Bast. Anya Bast is one fantastic writer (and an all-around great lady). Her newest release, WITCH HEART, just hit bookstore shelves, and if you haven’t read her books, well, you are missing out! (And if you want to win one of her books, specifically the very action packed WITCH HEART, then be sure to leave a comment for Anya!)
And now, to the interview!
1. Please tell us a bit about yourself and the genre (or genres) that you write.
My name is Anya Bast. I write erotic and paranormal romance for a host of publishers, including Berkley and Harlequin Spice. I’ve been happily married to a Belgian man for thirteen years (which is also my favorite number…thirteen, I mean). We have one child, an energetic toddler who keeps us both on our toes.
I love red wine and shopping in consignment stores. I love loud music (no ballads, please), but am a pretty quiet person. I prefer the country to the city and adore animals of all kinds. We are owned by eight cats, a dog and one rabbit, most of them rescues. My family lives a big, messy life full of animal hair, purring, and joy. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
My latest release is Witch Heart, third in the Elemental Witches series.
2. Describe WITCH HEART in 15 words or less.
Oo. You’re a tough interviewer. Let’s see….
Former handmaiden to head demon seeks strong and virile fire witch to avert certain death.
3. LOL—I love that description! Sounds like one wild personal ad. 🙂 Okay, now use as many words as you’d like to describe your story.
I’ll do one better and post the blurb…
With the immense powers of an earth witch, Claire isn’t destined to be a demon’s handmaiden. Yet this has been her fate since she was six, when her warlock mother brought her to Eudae. Now as an adult, she’s about to discover her true power—and how far others are willing to go to take it away…
As part of a mission with the Coven, Adam Tyrell rescues Claire from her enslavement—and finds himself immediately taken with the beautiful witch. But this charming playboy soon learns that it’s easier to steal Claire from demons than win her heart, for her life as a servant has ravaged her spirit. But with Adam determined to protect her from those who want to harness her magick for evil, Claire’s resistance starts to give way—and they find themselves in the heat of danger, surrendering to the lure of their deepest desires…
4. Which character do you like better from your current (or upcoming) release—the hero or the heroine? Why?
Well, right now I’m writing the first book in my new series. I love both main characters, but I’m having an especially large amount of fun with the hero. Essentially he’s the Grim Reaper of the Fae. He’s also part incubus and is used to having women simply swoon at his feet. As a result he’s got a sizable ego and lots of confidence with women…a little too much, perhaps.
Don’t worry, the heroine is cutting him down to size. *g*
5. What is the most challenging part of being a writer?
For me it’s book releases. They give me a huge amount of anxiety. I worry how the book will be received, the reviews it will get, how many I’ll sell. It’s something I’m getting better at. I’m having less anxiety with every release I get under my belt, but they’re still amazingly stressful times (with much sweetness and excitement too!).
6. In a fight, who would win…Dracula or the wolf-man? What? This question seems odd? Please, folks are dying to know this answer.
Wolf-man. I’ve been terrified of werewolves since I was a child. They rip people’s heads off and bury them in the forest. He could totally take Dracula, even with Drac’s otherworldly mind control powers.
7. What’s your favorite scary movie? Come on, spill. No explanations—just name it. Let everyone else guess why.
Wrong Turn!! (EEEK! *hides face*)
8. Tell me the one thing you wish you’d known about being a writer, um, before you became a writer.
I wish I’d understood the amount of marketing and promotion I’d have to do. That never really occurred to me beforehand. There’s this business end of things that’s paired with the creative, and I’m much better at the creative.
9. What is your writing schedule like?
I get up early and write before my toddler awakens and my house takes on certain tornadic qualities. I write during her nap and when she goes to bed. Basically, I write whenever my daughter is sleeping.
On Saturdays or Sundays my husband watches the child and I hie myself to the coffee shop to get in some power writing. Sometimes my mother watches her too.
It’s amazing that I get anything done, yet I seem to manage.
10. Tell me anything you’d like to tell me.
Thank you so much for interviewing me, Cynthia!
If anyone wants to read excerpts or contact me directly, just go to my web site – http://www.anyabast.com
Thank you, Anya!!
Now, would you like to win a copy of WITCH HEART? (Who wouldn’t? This book is AWESOME!) Then just leave a comment for Anya. A winner will be announced on Thursday. I’ll combine any comments from this blog and MySpace and one overall winner will be selected.
