Anabelle Bryant

Anabelle Bryant

Anabelle Bryant began reading at age three and never stopped.  Her passion for reading soon turned into a passion for writing and an author was born. A Paul Collins interview.

Tell us about your background. Who you are, where you are from?

I’m an elementary teacher by vocation and author by avocation. Born and raised in New Jersey, I’ve always loved reading, writing, photography, and travel. I write historical romance for Harlequin Carina and have released my first two novels this year. My debut novel has been very well received and became an Amazon bestseller in Historical Romance the same month it released.

Is there a particular feeling or experience that you hope to evoke in the reader?

I write character-driven romance, so the emotional journey of the hero and heroine are the primary focus of my stories. My first novel, To Love A Wicked Scoundrel, touched on traumatic internal struggles for both primary characters.

Duke of Darkness, released June 9th, is a more playful romance, although the hero struggles with inner secrets from a dark, mysterious past.

Regardless, both novels are romantic reads and include, of course, a happily-ever-after ending. I strive for humor with my secondary characters and have been told my imagery causes a reader to feel as though they are living the scene instead of reading it. I hope my readers feel satisfied at the end of my novel, content with the love story, and glad they chose my book.

Were you influenced by a certain person, artist, or genre?

I have many favorite authors and my love of literature has vast inclusion from children’s poetry to Shakespeare, yet I’ve always loved a well-written romance. After reading for years, I became frustrated with the lack of fresh themes and character depiction, so I decided to try my hand at writing the novel I wanted to read. My goal is to write quality romance, where the hero and heroine are strong individuals with flaws and characteristics found in everyday life. I’m not a fan of contrived storylines or visits from the “coincidence fairy” during the plot.

If you could compare your book to any other existing works, which ones would it be and why?

That’s a difficult question because the authors whom I admire are very accomplished and established, but I do strive to write as well as Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, and Loretta Chase.

Tell us about your latest work and what inspired you.

Duke of Darkness released on June 9th. It is set in London, 1817. The hero, Devlin Ravensdale, has left society, ignoring his duties as the Duke of Wharncliffe. He has a tormented family history and would rather live in seclusion than face rumors of insanity.

He is hardly prepared to accept the responsibility of a ward, and he soon discovers Alexandra’s wit and intelligence will destroy his stronghold on seclusion if he allows her to remain. But Alexandra is hiding a secret of her own. She shuns marriage, in the same manner, he ignores social obligation. Still, an undeniable force pulls them together in a tumultuous confrontation of past and future.

I’ve written the novel to include dark and light symbolism as well as good vs. evil. I can’t pinpoint a specific inspiration, but once I started writing, Duke of Darkness poured out of me with ease.

How can your readers contact you? Or buy your books? Or where can they sign up for a newsletter?

I’m always happy to hear from readers! My novels are available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and other eBook platforms. I can be reached at AnabelleBryant.com where readers can sign up for my mailing list, and also on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for taking the time for this interview.