A Happy Cristmas from Anne Greene

Like many other Christians, Christmas is the most moving, meaningful, and magnificent time of the year for me. 

First, just saying Merry Christmas these days provides an open door to tell people we meet in stores and on the streets that we want to keep Christ in Christmas. Depending upon the situation, when I receive a smile in return and an openness to talk via the person’s body language, I can discuss why keeping Christ in Christmas is so meaningful to me. Plus, all the awesome Christmas programs in churches provide so many opportunities to bring friends in to hear the gospel. Even school Christmas programs provide opportunities to talk about our Savior. After we applaud their cute program about Santa and giving gifts, we can bring the Perfect Gift God gave to each of us into the conversation with teachers and students. We parents are not prohibited from talking about Jesus on school grounds. In my neighborhood a home sits on a hill right next to an elementary school. Each year the lovely people in that home drape a huge banner across their fence for all the students to see—Christ is the Reason For The Season. All the cars passing by on that very busy street enjoy the sign as well. 

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I sing in a two hundred person Sanctuary choir and it is my pleasure each year to spend many extra hours rehearsing songs that worship our Lord. Then on performance night I offer my sacrifice of praise to my Lord. And I love to sing Christmas songs and carols from Elvis and Dolly Parton to The Messiah. Music flows in our home during the Christmas season. It does my heart good to see the boxes to collect toys for kids in need in every grocery store, drug store, and almost any place where people gather. And don’t you love the smiling Salvation Army bell ringers. One I saw last night was singing carols in front of Walgreens. And, of course, in our home Christmas is a warm family time. My whole family, small though it is, twelve people ranging in age from six to seventy-three gather for good food and gifts. Before the bountiful dinner, my dear husband always reads the Christmas story about the greatest gift ever given.

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I love the story of Mary, so young probably only about fifteen, telling the man she loves that she is pregnant. And young Joseph, probably not more than twenty himself, loving her so much and believing the angel that yes, his betrothed though with child, is still a virgin. How both may have been shunned by their families, but Joseph stepped up like a man and took his beloved Mary for his wife. How they walked to Bethlehem together. Despite tradition, I’m sure young Joseph couldn’t afford a donkey. How Joseph lay down his tunic for his bride-to-be and there on the dirty floor of a manure-stinking barn delivered God’s own son. Can you think of a more lowly birth for the King of heaven and earth? What a picture to show that He came not to be served but to serve. Only the Creator God could imagine such a birth.

Christmas is our time to rejoice, worship, and give. Let us make the most of the time until The One born so lowly comes again—only this time as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in all His splendor and glory.

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May I too, take this opportunity to wish everyone

a wonderful Christmas

and a very happy 2011

Some more things you may not know about Anne Greene

Anne, Thank you for joining The Heart of Romance all this week. Please will you share a little bit more about yourself, today?

If you didn’t write, what would you do? 
I’d like to be an archaeologist. I’d love to spend time on a dig and unearth treasures of the past. I like the camping out with like-minded people who get their hands dirty and keep their minds agile. I’d like to sit around at night after a profitable day in the field and discuss larger than life characters who made a mark in time. 
That sounds fascinating.  There's I programme here in the UK I love to wach called Time Team.  A group of archeologists share their digs with us and the sites cross all sorts of time and culture spans.  I try never to miss it. 

Why do you write in your specific genres?
I love history—and mystery. These are the types of books I enjoy, both to learn something new and to exercise my puzzle-solving bent. All my books include suspense and mystery, even the Historical Romances like Masquerade Marriage. My books always include adventure, romance and suspense with a large dose of characters learning their most important lessons.

You have talked about the many countries you've lived in, if you had to live somewhere else in the world, where would it be? And why? 
I’ve visited twenty-four foreign countries and though I love some of them, there is no place like the good old USA. However, if I had to live somewhere else, I think it would be the United Kingdom. My roots go back to Scotland and Ireland, and I feel right at home there. The landscape is beautiful, the customs delightful and just enough different to make them unique experiences. And I have no problem with the language. I also love Italy. Love the singing, the countryside and the food! 
Italy is such a romantic country and the singers are to die for.  Scotland, too, is a special place for me and littered with my ancestors too :-) 

Do you base your characters on real people? 
I’ve had two real heroes in my life and each offer some traits to my written heroes. My heroines are usually women who are totally opposite from me. Where I am cautious, she is not. Where I am hesitant, she jumps right in. Where I am timid, she is fearless. And so it goes. So, my answer is yes and no.

What car would you buy if money was no object?
I’m not that interested in cars. What I’d rather buy with that money would be a tropical island, and a summer place in Alaska. 
LOL that's quite a contrast! 

Do you have a favourite colour?
My favourite colours run in phases. I’ve had phases of yellow, then red, now it is green. I like green because that colour brings out the green in my eyes.

What is you least favourite aspect of writing?
I love it all. I love the initial meeting the characters and finding out what they want to do. I love fleshing out backgrounds and settings. I love watching the characters and transcribing their actions to the page. I love rewrites and working with words to express exact meanings. I love polishing to see if I can make the story even better. My least favourite aspect of writing is the publicity part. It’s not enough these days for a writer to tell an awesome story, the writer must also sell that story to readers, and get her name known. That means book signings and making public appearances. That’s hard for most writers who would prefer to be sitting quietly at home rather than being the center of attention at some store or library. 

If you could meet any two people in the world, who would they be, and why?
That’s a really hard question. I’ve already met the people in the world that mean the most to me, my husband and family. I love meeting new people who become my friends. I’m not star struck, so there are no famous movie, media, or sports figures I’d love to meet. I’m not avidly political, so there’s no president or politician I’d like to meet. I’ve already met many of the wonderful authors I read. I think I’d travel way into the future and want to meet my great-great-grandson and daughter to see if my Christian legacy remains with them—that is if the Lord doesn’t come first.
What a fabulous concept. meeting great-great-grandchildren.  Pperhaps that's an idea for a new book?

Please tell us something about the other books you’ve written and I particularly like the sound of your sassy detective, please will you give us some teasers about these books? 
My sassy detective is a bit like the Janet Evanovich character, Stephanie Plum, except Holly Gardens is a Christian with a Christian world view, and she has two men deeply in love with her. She rescues both of them, but having been dumped at the altar by a third, is unwilling to risk her heart again. This is a first book in a series of mysteries that she and the two male detectives solve. Each contains the growing tension of which man will ultimately win Holly. Holly’s overriding passion is to be a light in the dark underbelly of society as she solves mysteries. She’s also out to find the culprit who murdered her detective father and painted him as a drug dealer. Each mystery she solves brings her a little closer to finding her father’s killer and taking the detective agency out of the red.
I also have several other books you might find interesting on my website, http://www.annegreeneauthor.com/
Anne, Holly sounds a very strong lady.  Earlier you said you are a 'panster' and yet you have the basis for a whole series of books set out here, and they sound compelling.

Anne thank you for spending all this week at The Heart of Romance, I hope you have a happy and joyful Christmas and that 2011 is kind to you and yours..

Masquerade Marriage Blurb and Excerpt from Anne Greene

MASQUERADE MARRIAGE


Blurb:
To avoid marrying a sadistic English Lord, Lady Megan MacMurry weds a Highland warrior with a price on his head, whose name she chose from a secret list provided by her pastor.
To protect his widowed mother and younger sister from murderous English soldiers, and to avoid being hung, Brody MacCauley marries Megan and takes on the identity of a Scottish Laird. The two high-spirited people clash as Brody adjusts to the very alien world of the gentry.
When English soldiers discover Brody’s real identity, he must sacrifice his life to protect his wife. Will she love him enough to come up with a risky plan to save him?

Excerpt:
Like a determined hero, the fugitive warrior strode through the door at the far end of the tiny stone kirk.
Megan’s eyes widened. Her clenched jaw relaxed. Some of her dread dissolved.
“Impressive.” Molly, Megan’s Irish maid, whispered from where they stood together in the vestibule.
He stopped in front of the hand-carved altar and half-turned toward her. Megan pulled in an uneven breath. This Highlander, wearing formal kilts, was no scrawny lad grown older, nor was he a big, hairy Scot with a bushy beard. The tall, strapping soldier stood with legs braced as if about to do battle.
Her heart skipped. Though she’d known Brody when she wore short skirts, this blond warrior was far more than she expected. Her pulse throbbed in her temples. Doubt niggled her brain. Brody was too tall, too obviously a Highlander. How could she hope to pass him off as a Lowland Laird? He appeared to have too big a chip on his shoulder to let her command him.
Brody’s thick sandy hair swept the collar of his linen shirt. Lace-trimmed cuffs matched the white jabot at his muscular throat. A silver broach clapsed his crimson and black tartan to his wide right shoulder. His Claymore, dirk, and thick sword belt startled her. Megan suppressed a shudder. The English outlawed kilts. With his dress, Brody spat in the face of the English and further imperiled his life. Why?
His intense sapphire stare blazed a trail across the empty wooden pews toward her. His eyes made her feel dizzy as if she just danced a fast reel with a lively partner.
Molly grinned and handed Megan the bridal flowers.
What had she gotten herself into?

Read a review of Masquerade Marriage at -->
http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/search?q=Anne+Greene 
Masquerade Marriage 2010 available at WhiteRosePublishing.com 
My webiste: http://www.annegreeneauthor.com/
Characters You'll Always Remember2009
Genesis Finalist Suspense2010
Genesis Finalist Historical

Come back tomorrow and join Anne for her author interview.
On Christmas Day Anne shares her thoughts
on the meaning of Christmas. 

Today Anne Greene Talks about the process of writing Masquerade Marriage

Today Anne talks about her writing, her favourite authors and other topics.

During a long visit to the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland I became intrigued with why Highland Clans no longer occupied the Highlands. You’ll find the surprising answer in my book Masquerade Marriage. I’m of Scottish ancestry as are so many Americans, and bagpipes music makes my heart sing. I fell in love with the awesome country and the friendly, complex people. So, being a writer, of course I had to write of what I knew. I love the clear fresh air, the handsome people, the amazing openness of the country, the castles, and the Scots violent, adventurous history. In the next few years I plan to add Cailin and Fiona’s love stories to Megan’s legendary love.




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I also write contemporary suspense novels. I have a sassy detective novel, a modern day cowboy suspense, and a Coast Guard mystery, all set in my home state of Texas in the works. Did you know parts of the Civil War were fought in the west? I have a novel in the pipes that is a second book of a family saga which occurred in Talaquah, Oklahoma. I also have a World War 11 Women Pilots love story. I’d love to know if you prefer historical novels to contemporary novels. I’m taking a poll, so could you leave a comment?

* * *
My favorite authors: If a book doesn’t hold my interest I throw it across the room and never read it again. Still, my favorite author list is fairly long. First, I love all the books I write. They are all books of my heart. My passion. So, I’d have to vote for myself as my favorite author. That sounds vain, but it’s not. A writer really lives the books she writes. She goes deep into her own emotions to discover the emotions of her characters. She lives every minute of their lives. Often her characters take her down strange, unexpected paths that open startling new truths. The problems the characters struggle with are many times the questions and events the author faces or has faced in her own life.
That said, I like Philippa Gergory and her books about historic Queens, Janet Evanovich and her Stephan Plum mysteries because they are so funny. I like Sophie Kinsella and her laugh-out loud Twenties Girl. I like Suzanne Brockman and her wounded warrior heroes. I like books that put me in a different dimension than my daily living one. I like books that make me laugh and make me cry. I like books that teach me—subtly. I like books that are surprising. I have favorite inspirational authors, but I know so many of those lovely ladies I don’t want to offend any by forgetting to name them. I have a huge library of books, and the ones I’ve kept I love.

My Website: http://www.annegreeneauthor.com/
Masquerade Marriage 2010 available at WhiteRosePublishing.com

Characters You'll Always Remember2009
Genesis Finalist Suspense2010
Genesis Finalist Historical

Please come back tomorrow to read Anne's blurb and excerpt of
Masquerade Marriage

Today Anne Greene talks about her writing schedule

Thank for for joining me again. Today I want to share a little bit about my approach to writing.
I am a pantser. I have tried plotting out a book in advance, including storyboarding, and that just doesn’t work for me. I start with a general idea, a setting, and a general idea of what characters I’m using. But very soon into the first draft the characters take over and direct the book. It’s a bit like watching a movie and just writing down what is happening. It’s quite exciting to see where the book will go. 

I write in the  Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, and Historical genres. As a girl, I didn’t like history—until I read my first Historical. Then I was hooked. So, I know many people today don’t enjoy history, and my goal is to open up the glories of the past to them. History was modern life lived with all its heartache, joy, and excitement in a world very different from our own. I bring these different worlds into vivid, living color, and give a painless dose of history along the way. I write Romantic Suspense because I like to see good win over evil with fast action, surprises, and some who did it and why. 

The character I love writing about the most—is the one I’m currently working on. I love all my characters. However, I do think I like being in the male point of view slightly more than the female. I like being macho and looking at life from a different perspective. I like being strong enough to handle a couple of thugs. Of course my detective knows martial arts, but she doesn’t use her fists. I like looking at a woman I’m interested in and being totally confused as to what makes her do the crazy things she does. But, on the other hand, I love having a woman use her wiles and smarts when that’s all she has going for her. But Megan and Brody from Masquerade Marriage are probably closest to my heart. 

Masquerade Marriage is a book of my heart. My paternal ancestors are Scots of Clan Gunn, which was located in the far north of Scotland in the Caithness area where Vikings intermarried with the Scots. 

I visited Scotland with the purpose of setting one or more historicals there, and fell in love with the country. The final battle between the English and the Scottish Highlanders changed the Highlands forever. A way of life ended. The drama in this story appealed to me, and so I wrote Masquerade Marriage. I love this time in history and so enjoyed living it as I wrote the book. I hope the reader finds a new world to love as he reads my book. 

I do a great deal of research for all my books, including the contemporary ones. I always visit the setting and get some good pictures. Then I find books about the history and time. Small details I research on the internet, but the important ones come from non-fiction books. I am extremely careful in my research because if a reader discovers one error, then I lose credibility.

If I’m writing detective, I have a detective look over the manuscript before I send it out.

If I’m writing WW11 stories, I find someone who has been there. I always find a person who has done the job I’m writing about to look over the finished manuscript.

Of course, when I go further back into history I have to rely solely on the non-fiction books. But I enjoy research and often do far more than I ever use in any one book.

If I’m under deadline I can write an 85,000 word novel in six months or less.

My website is at http://www.http/AnneGreeneAuthor.com

Readers can buy my book at http://amazon.com and http://WhiteRosePublishing.com.

Please join Anne Green tomorrow when she talks about hethe process of writing

Scroll down to read Anne's previous comments

Author Anne Greene talks about her Faith

How important is your Faith in your writing?
I don’t think I can NOT include faith in my writing. I am a new creation in Christ. I have a Christian worldview. I have deep beliefs and a few boundaries that cannot be crossed. I want my books to have meaning and take-away value. I want my readers to take a deep delicious breath and say—‘Oh, now I understand. How beautiful God’s way is.’

If you couldn't be a writer, what else would you do?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. But when my youngest left the nest for college, I took serious inventory of my life to see what I wanted to do besides sell real estate and run a photography studio. After serious prayer, I talked with a Psychologists friend who questioned me on what I loved to do. I never mentioned writing, but after hearing my many answers, he said writing looked like the best career choice for me. I was so surprised and delighted to receive this audible answer to my prayers.

Have you ever reached a point when you thought of ditching your writing?
Even in my darkest moments I’ve never given up writing. Something deep inside compels me to continue in spite of all the rejections a writer faces. I can’t not write. Whenever I was discouraged, God let me win a contest or hear an encouraging word from a critique partner or a friend.
Writing is my life. I’m always working on two or three books. Always trying to write better, plot better, listen to what my characters tell me better. I want to write the best book I can for God’s glory.

Does Masquerade Marriage have a spiritual message?

God is in control. A person doesn’t always see God’s hand working in their lives unless they look back in wonder at what God has done. Discovering God’s will for one’s life is both vastly rewarding and extremely helpful.

Masquerade Marriage is my second published book. I’ve been writing for about ten years. Reading was my escape in my growing up years, and I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I graduated from the University of Texas cum laude with a degree in Literary Studies, but worked as a photographer and as a Real Estate Agent before diving in full-time to write. When I joined American Christian Romance Writers, the journey to writing got much easier. I have a wonderful critique group, and because of their annual conference, I’ve met many editors and agents. Finalling in writing contests gave me excellent feedback, plus got me my latest contract with White Rose Publishing. So, I recommend both contests and conferences.

Readers can buy my book at http://amazon.com and http://WhiteRosePublishing.com.

You can also find me at WhiteRoseInBloom.com.  

My website is http://www.annegreeneauthor.com/ 

 

Please come back tomorrow

to learn more about Anne Greene.

If you missed Yesterday's visit ~

you can read it immediately below todays post.

Please welcome this WEEK's Guest Anne Greene

Today Anne tells us a little bit about herself and her travels and how she came to write her latest book MASQUERADE MARRIAGE
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Anne Greene delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. Anne graduated from the University of Texas, Dallas, cum laude, with a degree in Literary Studies.

She’s freshly back from Seoul, Korea with her very recently retired Army Special Forces Colonel husband. Anne loves to travel and has visited twenty-nine countries, including three communist ones. After falling in love with several countries and their people, Anne set a few of her books in exotic locations such as the American Virgin Islands and Istanbul, Turkey.

Anne’s love of sailing, horseback riding, history and art, as well as her Plano Police Academy training and her military life, often migrates into her books. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to awesome new worlds and touch their hearts.A visit to the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands resulted in her newest release, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE.
 To learn more of Anne and to view her art as well as pictures from her extensive travel, visit her at www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com



Masquerade Marriage 2010 available at WhiteRosePublishing.com


Characters You'll Always Remember2009
Genesis Finalist Suspense2010
Genesis Finalist Historical

Please come back tomorrow when Anne talks about the process of writing Masquerade Marriage