Interview Anne Carter (Pam Ripling)

by

Debbie Hull

How did you go about choosing the name Anne Carter--is it your middle and maiden name, the name of someone special to you, or something you made up?

I wanted to separate my author names according to genre in which I'm writing. My young adult titles bear my "real" name and my romances are written under my middle/maiden names. I have a third pseudonym for my spicier work, in case I ever get around to writing it, LOL.

What would you like your readers to know about you?

That I am always anxious to hear from them. I'm not just talking about accolades, rather, serious discussion about their likes and dislikes as they relate to whatever work (of mine) they've read. Also, their expectations and suggestions for my characters, since I am a big fan of sequels and series books.

To prospective readers, I'd mention that the soap opera crowd would love my books.

I'm planning to attend the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention this October in my hometown of Kansas City, MO.

We know you have children, and that in itself is a full time job, but do you also have another "day" job, besides the work you do for wings?

Actually, I have one grown son, one nearly grown son and a delightful little 7 year old daughter. And yes, they are full time kids. My workday persona owns a small bookkeeping firm--the perfect balance to the literary world. Ultimately, my husband and I hope to open a bed & breakfast one day, which will be a wonderful compliment to my writing. I love talking to people and hearing all their stories.

I know you're an artist too, so do you consider writing or art your first love? Do they go hand in hand, or is there some other "secret" passion you have?

I've been writing since junior high school and drawing about that long, too. I've recently enjoyed learning about graphic arts and just what a computer can do to create or enhance artwork. It's been a blast, but my first passion is fiction writing. I also write reviews and newsletter articles, and my first publishing credits were for poetry and short stories.

What do you like to read, and who are some of your favorite authors?

I've always enjoyed a good suspense and have read nearly all of Sidney Sheldon. Also Stephen King. While I write romance, I don't read a lot of it. (I started off with Johanna Lindsey, btw.) I've recently started working my way through Wings books and have to count many of their authors among my favorites. Plus, it's forcing me to read genres I don't usually read and I've found I really do enjoy historicals, time-travels, etc.

You write young adult stories, along with romance, poetry, women's fiction and mysteries--and I understand you're interested in writing a screen play-- is there any writing field you've not conquered yet? What's next for you?

What's left? Seriously, I would like to write a non-fiction book, about which I don't yet have a clue. I've already written an original romantic comedy screenplay and a teleplay but would like to try adapting a novel for screen. That would be a real challenge. My friends have suggested the wildly popular "romantica" genre but I'm just not there. While I certainly appreciate its appeal and fun, I don't read it myself and find it difficult to write.

We all know writing can sometimes be a lonely job. Do you have a support group or network you can call on when needed?

I wish. I do have a few on-line friends with whom I trade manuscripts, problems and commiseration. It helps. I once belonged to a great RWA chapter, but it eventually folded. I belong to ROAR (ROmance Authors and Readers) but they are more about reading than writing. My sister Tina is my best support; she reads, corrects and critiques everything I write.

Is there an author or other famous person you'd like to meet? And why?

Famous people. Hmmm. I would have liked to have met Margaret Mitchell. GONE WITH THE WIND is the grandmama of all romance novels, and I'd love to discuss it with her (especially since my first big romance, STARCROSSED HEARTS, has been likened to her fabulous novel.) I've always wanted to meet Steve Martin, who, in the past few years, has become an author. Anne Lindburgh is someone else I admire (GIFTS FROM THE SEA) and for those who don't know it, she was aviator Charles Lindburgh's wife. I could go on and on about who I'd meet. Jane Seymour is a favorite, too. (See dedication inside A HERO'S PROMISE for the men I lust after.)

What's your favorite food, snack, or sinful treat?

Starts with "C" and ends with "hocolate." I'm addicted and must keep my hands off! Any kind of pasta. Ice cream. No surprises here.

What are you currently working on?

A HERO'S PROMISE (Wings ePress, April, 2003) is the sequel to STARCROSSED HEARTS and takes place approximately 4 years later. My WIP advances another 12 years and is not technically a sequel, but involves the grown children of the H/H in PROMISE. Titled THE GYPSY IN ME, I'm hoping to release this book in early 2004.

My romantic comedy, MAKE ME TELL LIES, is the story of a woman who vows to stop lying after years of twisting the truth. When she meets the man she cannot let get away, she finds herself forced to lie again in order to keep him. What she doesn't know is that he is lying too. This book is waiting patiently to be written.

I also have two or three more Y/A titles in mind, but there's only so much time in a day!

Debbie’s note--Anne (Pam) helped me with the cover of my book, and she was absolutely wonderful to work with!!

Thanks Pam, and good luck to you.