Leave a comment and your e-mail address for your chance to win a PDF copy of The CEO Gets Her Man - or, if you've already read CEO, you can choose one of Anne's backlist stories.
Anne Ashby grew up in a very small coastal town in Southland, New Zealand. An eagerness to travel, fostered by her mother, led her to join the Royal NZ Navy where she enjoyed a very satisfying career. She has travelled extensively and lived in Singapore and Maryland USA. Her stories are either set in NZ or have NZ characters. It is her dream to bring something of her beautiful country to romance readers everywhere. Anne has a keen interest in genealogy, an obsession for rugby and a definite dislike of housework. Anne has recently begun speaking and teaching about the skills required for romance writing. When not reading or writing, Anne finds plenty to occupy her time with her family commitments. She lives in Auckland with her husband and the youngest of their four children.Anne Tells Us How The CEO Gets Her Man Was Born -Hi, thanks for having me visit with you today. I thought I would tell you a little about the 'birth' of my latest book The CEO Gets Her Man.
A few years ago my older sister took me to task (as older siblings are prone to do) about the settings for my stories. She pointed out that while I have based most of them in New Zealand, I had never set a story in Southland where I grew up and my extended family live. It took me some time to come up with the idea, but The CEO is primarily set around my childhood home. I changed the name of the town from Riverton to Riversleigh so I couldn't be 'caught out' by possible changes since I left the area to join the Navy, and to disguise the most certain fact that this quiet backwater of a town would never be the location of a 5 star resort hotel despite its beautiful coastline. But as writers we're allowed a little poetic licence and I used this to the max.
The title is pretty cheesy, isn't it? I admit I'm not good at coming up with titles, but this one sort of struck me right away. I figure it tells a reader up front quite a bit about the story. My heroine is a CEO, so we can assume she's hard-nosed, focused, confident and not one to suffer fools gladly. That's Debra! Or at least the persona she projects to the world. Badly duped by a relationship in the past, she's determined no-one will ever take advantage of her again. Learning someone is skimming money from one of her hotels is enough to send her into attack mode. No one cheats Debra Laurie!
Since reading some of the reviews of The CEO, I admit there are a couple of things I could have done differently. But I don't regret the abrupt change of location two thirds the way through the story. Once Debra unearths the culprits, her job at Riversleigh is done. It would have been totally out of character for her to stay even a moment longer. By transferring the story to Wellington, and her home ground, she regroups and returns to the cold, hard businesswoman that had been showing signs of crumbling under Jase's influence and in the friendliness of Southland. I believe presenting a new situation in Wellington where Jase gets the upper hand allows for the continuing thaw in her character which eventually leaves them together. Having that change occur completely in Riversleigh would have had me as a reader asking "what about when she goes back home?" The CEO isn't a 'holiday' romance where you're left pondering that question. You find out what happens when Debra's life returns to 'normal'.
NB: CEO is a sweet romance, but it is a modern contemporary - there is the inference of sex (outside of marriage) behind closed doors
NB: CEO is a sweet romance, but it is a modern contemporary - there is the inference of sex (outside of marriage) behind closed doors
Leave a comment and your e-mail address for your chance to win a PDF copy of The CEO Gets Her Man - or, if you've already read CEO, you can choose one of my backlist stories.
What The CEO Gets Her Man is about -
Ensuring her company's success is Debra Laurie’s life. But when she goes undercover to investigate a failing hotel in southern New Zealand, she finds her confidence crumbling. Masquerading as a waitress is a disaster—especially when the hotel’s assistant manager is a former rugby star she once had a crush on.
Jase McEwan is struggling to keep the hotel afloat. An unpredictable manager, ridiculous demands from the head office, and employee unrest are problems enough. Now a haughty new waitress is causing mayhem in the restaurant—and in his heart.
Determined to be impartial, Debra sets out to discover if Jase is responsible for the hotel’s drastic situation. But the more she investigates, the more she likes his work—and the more their attraction sizzles. Before long, Jase has turned Debra’s world upside-down. But what happens when he learns the new waitress is really his CEO?
Buy link:
Currently part of the Amazon KDP programme this story is only available through Amazon until 15 April 2013 when it will be released in both print and digital format by The Wild Rose Press. Until it's full release it's on sale!
Get your copy here for half price! http://www.amazon.com/The-CEO-Gets-Her-ebook/dp/B00AU50QHW
Find Anne Here:
Website - www.anneashby.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneAshby
Twitter - www.twitter.com/AuthorAnneAshby
Website - www.anneashby.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneAshby
Twitter - www.twitter.com/AuthorAnneAshby
Remember to comment with your e-mail address for a chance to get a free copy of The CEO Gets Her Man, a sweet, discreet book, with some sensuality.
Hi Anne,
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow downunder author (Aussie), I had to leave a comment. I have visited your lovley country twice, before the earthquakes. We so saddedned to hear how Christchurch was devastated, it was such a pretty place when we visited.
I like the sounds of the CEO Gets Her Man, and I think the NZ background will prove a great asset. I have put it on my TBR list.
Cheers
Margaret
Hi Margaret, I'm so thankful someone commented from "our" time zones, now anyone visiting will know I am around, just might be asleep later. Yes, Christchurch was such a beautiful city. I have a writer friend living there, I don't know how she can stand it, apparently they still get numerous shakes every day. Would drive me crazy, I'm sure. Your name is the first one into the hat, I will draw a winner next Monday
DeleteHI Anne great post good luck with the book. I have a copy already just wanted to stop by and say hello. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks so much. I appreciate you taking the time. If you're the winner I'll be sure to remember you need another title lol thanks for already getting a copy of CEO
DeleteHi Anne - I have a copy of The CEO Gets her Man. I disagree, the title is not cheesy. It says what it's meant to say. I also like the cover art.
ReplyDeleteRiverton! Really. You escaped - then went back to write about it. :)
I haven't read a story set in these locations since Essie Summers and she tended to stick to farmers on horseback roaming the high country runs.
Hey, snap. I have a son who is a Lt Commander in the Royal NZ Navy. Like you, he's sailed his ship into many ports worldwide.
All the best with your current publication and future releases.
Hi Amy,
DeleteWell I'm not sure if I can exactly say I 'went back' to Riverton to write about it. I tend to visit Colac Bay (real home town - 6km further around the coast - for those not aware of the area) whenever I'm down visiting family in Winton, so I guess I do breeze through Riverton. Some was memory, and a huge dose of poetic licence thrown in. Essie Summers! I've said it before and I'll say it again, my all time favourite writer! Grew up on her stories.
thanks for stopping by
Anne
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post.
I always love to read how a book is conceived and nutured to full growth.
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the CEO Gets her man. It would rank as one of the best books I've read this year so far.
What a sweetheart you are, Shirley. Your amazing review sits at the beginning of all others on Amazon, and I know helped me get heaps of downloads during my "free" period. Thanks for taking the time to stop by
DeleteI love the title - it sounds fun! Best of luck with it!
ReplyDeleteHi Bronwen, I do figure it does its job, telling potential readers what the book is about, I guess if I say its a bit cheesy, then its okay for others to think so too lol. Thanks for posting
DeleteI am so glad this book is so successful, Anne. It strikes a blow for those of us who prefer our sex behind closed doors. It's so refreshing to be able to read a book knowing you are not suddenly going to offended by an explicit scene.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to New Zealand - although it's on my list - but I used to work with a couple of Kiwis and one brought back a calendar. What a beautiful country!
Thank you Jenny, I'm partial to knowing what to expect in a story too. I don't believe we needs heaps of intimate details, we're women in a modern world, we can probably guess what's going on behind those doors lol. Do keep NZ on your bucket list, you'll love it when you get to visit, I'm sure
DeleteLovely post, Anne. Truly wishing you the very best. You deserve it!
ReplyDelete-R.T. Wolfe
Hey RT, thanks for stopping by and leaving such an encouraging comment. I appreciate you taking the time
DeleteAnne
ReplyDeleteI'm halfway through and loving your book. And sigh...Essie Summers...I cut my romance teeth reading Essie Summers and it was a love of her books that lead me to Southland a few years back. It was everything I expected and more!
Loving the characterization in the book. Will try to finish it tonight and post a review.
A lovely read.
The computer just ate my first attempt at replying to you, Annie. Thanks in anticipation for the offer of a review, much appreciated. Yes, Essie Summers was a legend, wasn't she? And if she could write about places in the world some people had never heard of, why can't I? I freely admit I'm more than a little biased about Southland, I haven't lived there for 40 years but it still pulls me home
DeleteAnne - Your comment about doing things differently because of reviews was thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteI think what I've learned about reviews is sometimes the reader and I see life differently. When they complain about my hero's actions, I wonder what sparked that feeling.
I don't think I could have, or would have written this specific hero differently.
Great post.
Hi Lynn, great to see you here. My characters tend to write themselves, I guess that's cos I'm not a planner. How they turn out is their idea, not mine.
DeleteSince my "free" time on Amazon I've had a few reviews and found some comments really helpful. Whether I can incorporate these thoughts into another story may or may not be possible but I do welcome those constructive ideas.
I loved mom in this story, Anne. My folks visited your area several years ago, and I kept reliving their pictures and stories of trip to NZ.
ReplyDeleteHey Lisa, I hope you're considering following your parents example and visiting us sometime. NZ is a little slice of Heaven - of course that is a completely unbiased remark lol. I'm glad you enjoyed the story, I'm going to be incorporating a little more detail of NZ in future stories as so many readers are commenting on their enjoyment of their 'visit' while reading one of my books
DeleteHi Anne,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Sweet Not Spicy. I love the title, I love the cover and I love the book! I've already read it and did a very favorable review!
Morgan Mandel
http://www.chicklitfaves.com
Hi Morgan, thanks so much for inviting me, its great to meet up with another sweet writer. Sometimes I feel like we're a dying breed, then I met you and realised we're not dead at all, just quietly plugging away at what we do best, write stories which rely on well developed characters and interesting plots to drive them rather than pages and pages of described bodily functions. What a great review, thanks a million
DeleteHi Morgan, my replies to you keep getting swallowed up and disappearing somewhere. Thanks so much for having me visit, its lovely to be here. How great it is to meet up with other sweet writers. I sometimes feel we are a dying breed but then I met you and I know we're doing what we do best, writing stories which rely on well developed characters and interesting plots to drive them rather than pages and pages of detailed intimacy. You did a great review for me, thanks so much for taking the time
DeleteI really like the title as well. I think your book sounds fabulous! Wishing you many sales.
ReplyDeletetiffanykay2000@yahoo.com
Hi Tiffany, My daughter reckoned the title is cheesy, so I figure if I keep saying so, then others are not going to use it as a point against the story. I'll have great delight in telling her not everyone dislikes it lol. Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment
DeleteYour new book sounds gteat, Anne. I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm not likely to get to NZ now, so I can enjoy a taster of it in your stories!
ReplyDeleteHey Paula, What's this? not getting to NZ? Of course you might. There's plenty of time. We took our mother to UK when she was 83, she loved it, although I admit the flight took heaps out of her. We tried to talk her into going to Shetland Islands with us for the Hamefarin when she was 92 but she refused. If only someone would invent a transporter so we didn't have those long flights.
DeleteThanks for suggesting you get a taste of NZ from my stories, I try!
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI like the title. I don't need to read the blurb to know from the title, I'd like to read the book.
It's facinating how the www. brings folks closer together with a single click.
Best Wishes,
Linda Joyce
Hi Linda, thanks for stopping by and for your comments. I love this, too. The world is getting so much smaller and this technology (I'm an admitted technophobic - although I can turn on my cellphone, doing anything more technical required a child to help me lol) is allowing us to make friendships all over. I love that I can talk to people on the other side of the world so easily.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone, I have just had my son choose a winner for the PDF copy of CEO so I wouldn't be swayed by all the lovely comments that have been left here. I'll be in touch with Tiffany forthwith to confirm which of my books she'd like. Thank you so much for having me visit Morgan, and to everyone who stopped by to say hi
ReplyDeleteAnne
Congratulations to Tiffany!
ReplyDeleteAnd, Anne, it was wonderful to have you here as my guest!
Morgan Mandel