Pick on me Tuesday Anna

Welcome to the cyber Ranch blog of Spiltmilk and another Pick On Me Tuesday.  Today I have a guest from up north. Now Mouse was up there doing some important work when he came across her. He invited her to come for a visit.  She is here and she is a published author and outdoorswoman. Her neighbors are moose and bears. She lives next door to the bearded one, Chris. She has agreed to an interview, so please welcome Anna of Alaska, better known as Anna L Walls. I prefer Anna of Alaska. So say Howdy to Anna of Alaska.

Anna, would you say a few words and tell us about Anna?

Hello Roy, thanks for having me here. I’m a rancher’s daughter born and raised on my father’s ranch until I ventured out into the big bad world when I went to college. When all that didn’t work out the way I wanted, I joined the Army where I met my husband who brought me to Alaska. Well actually the Army did that but it was my husband who kept us here and I certainly didn’t object.

Now you write fantasy stories of magic and unknown worlds how did you get there?

It certainly wasn’t planned. Never, until long after I had lived out here in the middle of nowhere, did I ever think I would become a writer, let alone get something turned into a real book. My son, one day gave me this little, rather old laptop computer – only the second such machine I’d ever worked with and the first one was one of the really old, boot up by floppy disk, kinda Apple computer. We even still have the dinosaur upstairs haha, but I digress.

I took typing in high school, like most kids my age, and I’ve had my own typewriter or two over the years (I still have those too), so what the heck, I thought I’d see if I remembered how to type, but what to type; that was the question. By coincidence I had been writing a story in a loose-leaf notebook. I’d done one before, and it was fun, but that one had gotten lost amongst all the moves we made out here before settling where we live now. So, long story short, I started copying what I’d written into my new toy. Now THAT was cool!!! That was, oh wow, maybe 20 years ago now. My how time flies when you’re having fun.

Do you write in other genre?

My favorite genre is sword and sorcery, but I also write some science fiction (without much science). I’m trying to get one such book, The Speed of Dreams, published as an eBook. No takers yet though.

I have read some of your blog novel http://thefortunesofmagic.blogspot.com/and it is a fun and exciting read. Do you have a hidden desire to be in your story or are you a character in your stories?

I think most writers pour a little of themselves into their stories or their characters. I know I do. Male or female, I make the decisions for my characters as ‘what would I do if’. After all, it’s my way of living the ultimate fantasy.

Your book “King by Right of Blood and Might” what is your favorite part of the story? Could you read us that paragraph?

Men and birthing babies has always been humorous to me – I’ve heard a few funny stories in my life and one of them in included in the book not far from here. However, I love this scene. Harris is the young king who only recently regained a partial grip on his throne and half of his country before winter set in. As you might guess, his mother has just gone into labor and he was summoned.

When Daniella arrived with her mother, bearing more water and rags, Harris complained.  “Why did you come get me if I have to stay out here?”

Daniella smiled her sympathy but her mother had an answer.  “You men have to share some of the pain.  Having children can’t be all fun.”

“But it’s not my baby!  It’s my mother’s!”

“Consider yourself lucky.  You get to practice.”  Then they were gone behind the closed door too.

Do you have any more books that are to be published and when will they be out?

I have a whole line-up of books I would love to get published one day. I’m trying to get accepted by Whisky Creek Press for The Speed of Dreams. It’s my hope that they will be interested in some of my other stuff. Bucks Country Publishing will publish my trilogy a book a year, and I’m pretty sure they do eBooks too. With luck, he will continue to want my work. I am currently trying to clean up my account with Lebrary.com so I can post my published book there as an eBook. I had trouble converting my book to the required pdf because my computer split the sections into separate pdf – I’ve recently learned how to rectify that. It will be for sale there for $4 I think.

I understand you write some poetry could you give us a sample?

My one and only poem – written for my current work in progress, though only the first stanza was used; the rest came to me in a dream. I love my dreams; they tell me such awesome stories.

Life is a Circle

In the newness of our time, we swim

In the first quarter of our time, we crawl

In the fullness of our time, we walk

In the last quarter of our time, we rest

Life is a circle

We rest, that we might remember how to swim

Death walks at our shoulder

He reaches for some of us sooner than others

The touch of Death can be a quick slap

The touch of Death can be a slow caress

Life is a circle

Rest, ye weary soldiers that you might remember how to swim

God is our Lord

His plans for us are a complicated weave

In His wisdom, he plucks one from here that he may place one there

Sometimes the thread of our life needs must be short and sometimes long

Life is a circle

Swim with long strokes that your next thread will hold God’s weave

In the dawn of our time, we curl in the security of our womb

In the morning of our time, we learn to laugh and cry at our world

In the noon of our time, we learn to rile and rage at our life

In the evening of our time, our touch has been felt

Life is a circle

It is time for us to teach the young to laugh

It is time to shed a tear for all those we have lost

We shed a tear so that we may remember how to swim

For without tears, there is no swimming

That was good. You should write more poems.

If a person wanted to buy a copy of your book where could they get one?

My book, King by Right of Blood and Might, is available on Amazon for a great price here Amazon . You should give it a try. Or, if you want a signed copy, you can buy it from me. Unfortunately, I don’t have a way to mail anything right now so other arrangements can be made for those who are interested in that avenue. You can read a sample on any of my blogs, my website and even on my fan page on Facebook.

We have a sample copy here on the right hand side bar and you can click and browse and  can go to amazon to get one. 
 Due to some logistics problems we not able have Anna sign your copy at this time. Anna is a hundred mile from the nearest town and uses her own gas powered generator and satellite dish to be here. It will be three mouths before she goes to town for supply's.  

What advise can you give us on self-publishing?

To be very, very careful if you are venturing in that direction. There are lots and lots of publishing companies out there who are only interested in what you can pay them; they could care less how well your book does once it’s published. And all too many of those are merely interested in nursing off your wallet and not even producing a finished product. In truth, the publishing industry is really rather cut-throat; after all, there are absolutely billions of books out there all seeking to be noticed. There are some self-publishing companies out there, who are relatively cost-free, but you must consider, you get what you pay for, and if you go the totally free route, you risk putting out a poor quality book and no one wants that.

Now you write three blogs and Anna’s Obsession is about writing, what do you find as the easiest part of writing? What is the most difficult?

For me, the easiest part is telling the story. The hardest part has got to be the mechanics of doing so well – getting all the punctuation right, putting the paragraphs where they need to be, keeping the order of events, descriptions or perceptions in the proper order. The tiny details may not be noticed by the average reader, but they do make a difference.

Here is the big tough question; what question would you like to have people to ask you, and the one you won’t answer? 

Questions; I’m very good with questions – ask me anything. I’ll answer any but the most personal questions as honestly as I can.

There you have it folks; she will answer your questions. So ask away in the comment section and Anna will answer the same. There is one thing more Anna L Walls I would like to present you this milk bucket.

 It’s an award for Blogging Excellence for your Anna of Alaska . Congratulations can we have a speech?

Aw that’s so sweet, and it’s cute too. Thanks Roy. All I need to do is wring out the tablecloth so I can have me a nice fresh-from-the-cow glass of milk. Ha, ha, ha.

Speeches have never been my strong point. I’m okay with carrying on a conversation but not with starting one. Even writing my blogs is rather hard for me because I never know what to talk about. So, cheers to all with my glass of reclaimed milk. Waste not, want not.

Give Anna a big cheers and drink up Anna. 

Anna and will answer your question now in the comments. Thank you for coming and please let us have your questions. May god bless.