Welcome to author Ann. Thanks so much for taking the time to fill out 27 Questions so readers can better get to know you and your work!1. What got you started writing to begin with? I started out as a voracious reader, I read anything I could get my hands on. Gradually, through reading indescriminately, I developed taste. When I got married and started having children I decided that keeping a record of their lives was a good idea and so, over the years, I wrote every Sunday evening in their journals. The material was endless and before I started writing I would read through the growing record. This taught me what worked and what fell flat. Where I needed more detail and where brevity would have made the story better. We now have a family of 10 children and I count that journal keeping discipline as the best thing I could have done to hone my skills. 2 .What was the first thing you wrote? A little book about life and death called 'Goodbye Flutterfly'. A condolence book for those who grieve. Our son died at age two and this book attempts to explain death by showing the parallels between our lives and the life cycle of a butterfly. 3 .What inspires you? My children. I learned from them that each of us is endlessly creative and so I gain confidence that I am creative as well. They give me hope. 4 .Do you “people watch” for your writing? I feel bad about this because I put my son-in-law in my book and ended up killing him off. When I named the character I thought that if it didn't work out I would just re-name him but it didn't work out that way. He became as real as you or I and so it proved impossible to change his name. 5. Who are your favorite authors? I love great story tellers. JK Rowling, Jane Austen, Eric Stanley Gardner and Charlotte Bronte, Harper Lee 6. What is your favorite book? To Kill A Mockingbird or the Harry Potter series 7. What genre do you most like to read? Mystery/Thriller 8. What genre do you write? Is this reflective of what you read? My novel is a historical mystery and before I wrote it I thought that it would make a great Dan Brown book. I love fast paced books that have an element of truth in them. My book 'The Throne of David' is all of that! 9. What genre do you have a difficult time with that you wish you could write? I start 30 love stories to find one that I like although I don't think I will ever write a full-on love story. Including a love story in a larger work, that I will attempt. 10. What kind of research do you do or have you done for your story? The research needed for 'The Throne of David' was extensive. Writing about a true legend means that everything has a basis in fact and I had to check and re-check the details to be accurate. There is a lot of controversy over the throne of David legend and I had to sift through everyone's opinion to get to the truth. It was something I really enjoyed. 11. Do you have any writing rituals like eating chocolate or lighting incense? My rituals involve convincing the kids to leave me alone for a period of time. I talk to them, remind them and then tape a sign on the door to keep them from interrupting my concentration. 12. Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind? My real world is so noisy that I seem to need complete quiet while I write. The voices in my head are clamoring to be hear and music drowns them out. 13. Introduce us to your current book. 'My book, ‘The Throne of David’, is a historical mystery and joins works such as the ‘Da Vinci Code’ or ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ in unraveling ancient legends. The story follows the history of the throne of David, you might remember that king David was promised that his throne would endure until Christ came to personally reign on the earth. David's throne has always been joined with a sacred stone and you might be shocked to learn that this throne exists today, hidden in plain sight. The book is set in New York, London, Ireland and Scotland and is a fictionalized account of the intricacies of this great mystery. Prophecies about the throne abound and my book follows its history through time and across continents. The book ultimately reveals the likely resting place of the coronation stone - symbol of the royal throne of David. 14. How long did it take you to write it? It took nine months from start to finish. I found that the writing was extremely difficult but I adored the editing. Weird, right? 15. Which character(s) of yours do you most relate to? I think I would have to say that I relate to Camryn because she has known death and is struggling to survive her grief. I admire her vulnerability and grit. 16. Who is your favorite character in this story? David Lord, by far. He is smart and tender and does what is right in spite of his own self interest. 17. Which character is the best role model for readers? I have received more feedback on Enrique than on any of the other characters. I think that his background in the military and his struggle with addiction resonate with my readers. 18. How did you decide on your cover? My cover was designed by an award winning designer named Michelle May. She wins awards every year and although I envisioned something a bit more political thriller-ish Michelle designed the cover to show the historical moodiness of the book. I loved it from the first time I saw it. 19. What do you hope people discover while reading your story? My hope is that my readers come away from reading my book understanding the history of some of the most famous artifacts of the British monarchy. Why they are venerated and how the religious history of Ireland and Scotland is woven all through their secular history. 20. Have you written anything else? Tell us about it/them. Just the two books, 'Goodbye Flutterfly' and 'The Throne of David' 21. Do you experience writers block, how do you deal with it? I believe that writers block is nothing but a writer that is on empty. When I struggle to write I stop and take time to fill myself up with music or art or nature. I sit on our front porch and listen to great music (and by that I mean music from the 70's!) or I take the kids to the river and watch them play. Once I feel renewed I spend a day immersed in the scriptures - I can feel creative energy flowing back into me and I can create again. 22. What do you not like about writing? I am not a super happy writer. It is such a battle to envision the scene, figure out how to make it important and significant, add details that will move the characters forward and get it all down on paper, so to speak. It is very hard work, for me anyway. Editing is another story completely. 23. Are you working on anything now? Yes I am, it is a sequel to 'The Throne of David' and is tentatively titled 'Defender of the Throne'. 24. How do you market your work? I am doing some really fun things marketing-wise. My daughter put together a list of bloggers that might be interested in highlighting a 55 year old mother of ten children who managed to write a high concept potential best-seller and I am doing some guest posts for them. I am also speaking to large church groups on the subject of 'A Remarkable Journey Towards Creativity'. Also doing radio shows. This is the fun part! 25. What would you say to readers? You will ultimately decide if it is a story worth sharing, if it is one of those books that takes on a life of its own. David Lord only exists if someone opens the book and reads his story! So, I ask you to give my characters a chance to really live. 26. What would you say to writers aspiring or otherwise? I have written about the creative process in a pamphlet I call ‘A Remarkable Journey Towards Creativity’. I believe many people who read my book might be interested in reading this as well. It is the story of how I came to write, in spite of the time and space challenges inherent in my life. It is said that 80% of us believe we have a book in us! I have written this to try to explain the extraordinary process of creativity. It is on my website - http://annfarnsworth.com/ - and can be downloaded for free with the code ‘free’. My hope is that my story helps to motivate and inspire someone who is now contemplating or struggling with the act of creation. Before I ever attempted writing, I spent a lifetime as a voracious reader. I know the power of words. That power is limitless, endless and an extraordinarily force for good or ill. The Throne of David, this act of creation, has enriched my life and my hope is that it will bless yours as well. And keep in mind, if I can do this, anyone can. We all have dreams and aspirations - obstacles are just a way to prove we are worthy of those dreams. 27. Where can one purchase your book(s)? The best place to purchase the book would be here: http://www.throneaccess.com/ If you would like to read reviews you can go here: http://amzn.to/1RqzwB5 Or you can ask your library to order a copy with this: ISBN 13: 978-1-4621-1714-7 Social Media author website: http://annfarnsworth.com/ Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1Z30Zhu to buy the book: http://www.throneaccess.com/ twitter: @AnnFarnsworth
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