Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anna August. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Anna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning how to write began in my childhood via weekly creative writing assignments in elementary school. That combined with a lifelong love of reading taught me story structure. When I decided to start writing fiction as an adult, I wrote the characters that came to mind along with their stories, recognizing each plot had to have a beginning, a middle, and an end, along with a world for them to reside in. I had no idea if I was creating something that others would enjoy, but I loved writing enough to keep going.
That was sixteen years ago. As more words fell into composition notebooks, I had no idea what to do with my work. That was an obstacle. Most of my work was handwritten and the software available at the time frustrated me. The closest writers group was ninety minutes away. I kept writing when I could, but most of my focus surrounded my family and the community I lived in.
About seven years ago, I moved to Boise, Idaho. I joined local writers groups, determined to find a way to improve and publish my work. Being able to talk to and ask other local writers about their publishing journeys has been essential. They’ve answered my questions, offered advice, and shared software recommendations. Their shared experiences and knowledge, alongside workshops and conferences have taught me how to improve my craft and self-publish my work. I have writing software that I love now along with a fantastic editor who has helped me fine-tune my work.

Anna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up in California, the oldest of three daughters, and graduated with degrees in English and Geology from the University of California at Davis. Something about books and rocks together completed a piece of me. I’ve been married over thirty years to the love of my life and have two adult children. I’ve lived in Illinois, Texas, England, North Carolina, and Idaho as a military spouse. I never get bored; I can always create a creative project for myself to do whether it be something having to do with gardening, baking, or art.

When I began writing as an adult, I wrote what came to mind. My initial efforts involved a romantic suspense saga and a fantasy novel. I grew up reading mysteries along with suspense, romance, literature, fantasy, and poetry. I love the combination of romance and plot twists which led to my focus on romantic suspense.

Overall, my work is inspired by real people, moments I’ve witnessed within the multiple states and communities I’ve lived and worked in, the people I’ve met along the way, and exposure to different lifestyles, different beliefs, and various issues that people around me face. I find joy in witnessing snippets of interactions while writing in my favorite coffee house, whether it be two friends catching up, shared looks between two individuals falling in love, or an older man treating his granddaughter to a pastry before walking her to school.

Inside my books, I hope to provide readers with a story they’ll enjoy, one that will make them feel emotion, in such a way that they’ll root for the main characters and at the end, make them smile.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The thing I love most about being a creative is that I’m only limited by my imagination. When I sit down to work on a current project, other character’s stories nudge their way into my mind as I write. It can be difficult to stay focused when that happens as there is a temptation to start writing that particular story. I had to learn to shut that compulsion off. Sometimes, if the idea is compelling, I’ll take a few minutes to write some notes down on the invasive thought, but I’ve learned to minimize it to a paragraph or two so that I can return to my current work in progress.
I love it when I can label a chapter as finished and ready for my editor to read, especially when it’s come together the way I want.
Holding a physical copy of my first book in my hands was a dream come true. The knowledge that something I created is out in the world is a beautiful feeling. I also value the text messages, emails, photos, and in-person comments I receive regarding my work.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Writing makes me happy. I learned quickly that putting words down on a page is essential to my need for creativity and mental health. When a day is too busy and keeps me from having time with a notebook or my laptop, I feel grouchy, like there’s something essential missing from my day.
My goal is to spend time everyday putting the stories inside my head down on paper or into my computer so that they too can be launched into the world for others to read.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://annaaugustbooks.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/annaaugustbooks/
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/annaaugustbooks/

Image Credits

Anna August
Sherry Briscoe
Meghan Olsen