Yesterday the lovely Unzila at the book blog Gurlwithbooks posted a Q&A session we recently had, talking about everything from whether my intention was to write a trilogy or if I just went with the flow, to authors who has inspired me throughout the writing journey and my best advice to aspiring authors.

The amazing Chresann Dsouza (bookstagram @annes_book_nook) just did a lovely interview with me for her blog. Find out which my favorite excerpts and quotes from First Came Forever are, where I see myself five years from now and if I'm planning to write more books after I've finished the Angelheart Saga trilogy and so much more here: Author Interview Annie Woods

If you are not already following the amazing Reading Anonymous, you should head over there right away to check it out! This blog is one of my absolute favorites! I was therefore so happy and honored that Erin wanted to do an interview with me.

Read the full interview and find out how much of myself and my life that reflects in my novels, what I’ve edited out of my books, how I select the names of my characters and how I determine what the cover of my books should look like: Author Interview with Annie Woods

My publishing firm, Pegasus Publishers, recently did an author interview with me for their blog. Find out what inspired me to write a YA contemporary romance trilogy, if the main character Erica is based on myself and if I can give any hints about what might happen in the third, and last, installment that I'm currently working on and more! ​Read the full interview here: Author Interview Annie Woods

I was tagged by my wonderful friend, book blogger and fellow author Jennifer Leigh (Bound to Writing) for this fun tag. Click here check out her post: The Rising Author Tag - Bound to Writing

I’m going to do this based on my WIP, the third book in the Angelheart Saga trilogy.

Do you write the title before, during, or after the writing process?
When I start to write I have a working title, but then I finally decide on it after the writing process. I also try to ask for advice about the title, since it’s such an important part of the book’s character.

In my Angelheart Saga series, the title for the first book (First Came Forever) was the working title, since I decided already from the start that I wanted to do this as a kind of backward love story, starting with the fairy tale love instead of getting Prince Charming as the end game, but showing how hard it is to get fairy tale love to work in real life.

The title for the second book on the other hand had a completely different working title, but when I asked some close reader friends for their advice, they all choose the same one (Forever Disguised) over the one I had planned. So I decided to trust their advice.

As for the book I’m currently writing, I think I have to choose a title with the word “forever” in it, otherwise it will be too inconsistent… lol. Will be interesting to see if my working title will be the final title this time too!
 
What is your favorite genre to write?
Definitely YA. It’s my favorite genre both to read and to write. I have always loved teenage love stories, with all their intensity and all-consuming feelings; the coming of age and accepting who you are, and the characters you get to know and love and hope for a happy ever after for despite all obstacles in their way. So I’ve always kind of known that I wanted to write in this genre, to tell a story for teenagers as well as for any adult who remembers his or her first crush and the emotions of it all.
 
Is there any other genre you want to try to write?
As it feels right now, I don’t think so. I think I will remain a YA writer!
 
Where is your favorite write spot?
My favorite writing spot is my desk at home, since it’s so comfy and with a beautiful view, but sadly I seldom write there… I’m nowhere near being able to live on my writing, so besides being an author, I also have another full-time job. This means that I have to try and write whenever I can between work and being with my family. I guess that you could call me a “nocturnal commuting writer” as I do most of my writing when the rest of the family is asleep or on my iPhone on the subway or on the flight between Stockholm-New York.
 
Do you handwrite or type your first draft, and why?
No, I always write directly on my iPhone or on my computer. My handwriting is too bad… so it would take too long and be unreadable in the end anyway…
 
Can you tell us about your current WIP?
I’m working on the third book in The Angelheart Saga Trilogy at this very moment and I can tell you that it will be a tough job to wrap everything up…

The Angelheart Saga is a contemporary and romantic YA series following 18-year-old Erica Lindell as an unexpected meeting changes her life forever. It’s a story about friendship, first love and the devastating consequences a mistake can lead to.

When we first get to know Erica, in First Came Forever, she’s backpacking with her friends in Asia, but meeting the mysterious Sasha and falling in love with him sets her life on a new direction. But it’s not a typical love story as it focuses more on the difficulties when reality hits and how Erica struggles to make the right choices and stay true to herself. Shall she give up her own life to be with Sasha or risk losing him forever? Where shall she draw the line for what is worth giving up for love? And, as if that’s not enough, there’s also the mixed feelings for her team mate Tyler that intrudes Erica’s mind.

Then in Forever Disguised, we once again meet Erica as she has to find a way to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart and live with the consequences of her actions. But finding the strength to go on with her life is not all she has to contend with. Soon, Erica finds herself in the midst of the evil feuding behind the attack on Sasha and she has to fight to protect herself and all that is near and dear to her. Amongst all of the confusion, pain and hurt, Tyler proposes a solution that may solve all of her problems. But will Erica go through with Tyler's crazy scheme?
 
What makes you most excited about your current WIP?
To get to know what will happen… lol!

I had an overall plot outlined for all three books from the beginning, and a very strong idea about what would happen in each book. But then when I actually started writing, things kind of changed. Or rather, some persons just worked their magic on me. For example, Tyler was never meant to play such an important role, he just grew on me… So the ending twist as such in First Came Forever was always the plan, but not exactly Tyler’s role in it. Then when I continued with the second book, the story and characters kind of developed even further on their own, with some unexpected twists, and even some new characters introducing themselves, who were never part of the original outline. All this means that my originally planned ending has changed quite a lot along the way… And even though I have a pretty good idea, I don’t have the exact ending all sorted out yet, but am just as excited as the rest of you to find out what will happen…
 
What do you hate (feel unsatisfied) about your current WIP?
When writing a sequel (or a third book in a series as I am right now), it’s so difficult not to think and worry about the readers’ expectations. After all positive responses to the first two books, I can’t help feeling afraid to disappoint my readers and it really makes me struggle with writer’s blocks and anxiety this time. A thing I really hate about writing this book is that I’ll probably have to break a heart or two, and make some of my readers upset when their OTP is not sailing. I’d love for all of the characters in the book to get their happy ever afters, but I’m quite sure I won’t be able to accomplish that…
 
Where’s your favorite place to do research for your WIP?
I don’t have a special place to do research, really. I kind of get my inspiration from just about anything; Reading books and watching movies. Overhearing a conversation on the subway. Remembering something that have happened in my own life. Often the ideas pop up when I’m out running and then I stop to write notes on my iPhone, so I remember the ideas and can write them down in the evening. But mostly it’s the characters themselves that inspires me to write about them. I’ve been living with the characters in the book for years now, so I actually think about them as real-life-persons and in a way they kind of live their own lives, so I need to keep on writing to know what will happen to them…

Also, most of the places described in the books are based on my own experiences and my own visits. So I guess my favorite place to do research would be to visit the actual place... I really love Cambodia and Vietnam, and I’ve done my fair share of backpacking in Asia, which I hope shows in the books.

Tag time!
I'm tagging

M.C. Frank
Joey Paul
Katharine Corr
Pearl Khatri
Haley Rhoades
Kimberly Reich

for the same questions. You don’t have to do this tag, but if you do, I look forward to reading your answers! Just link back to this post so I can see it! This has been a lot of fun! I hope you enjoyed reading my answers to this tag!

One of my favorite blogs, Book In One Hand Coffee In Another, recently did a wonderful author interview as part of the Forever Disguised Blog Tour. ​Read the full post here, with an exclusive excerpt from Forever Disguised: ​Forever Disguised – Blog Tour & Author Interview Annie Woods

The wonderful book blog Jassreads recently did a lovely author interview as part of the Forever Disguised Blog Tour. Find out where my favourite place to write is, how I came up with the idea of the Angelheart Saga, if publishing my first book changed my process of writing and so much more. Read the full interview here: ​Interview with Annie Woods the author of the Angelheart Saga!​

One of my absolute favorite book blogs, Tamya's Reading, recently did a wonderful author interview as part of the Forever Disguised Blog Tour. Find out which authors that inspires me, if I'm thinking about writing another book when I finish The Angelheart Saga, what I want my readers to feel, my favorite character from The Angelheart Saga and more. Read the full post here: Interview with Annie Woods

The supertalented and wonderful book blogger, Danielle, The Introverted Book Nerd, just did this amazing thing, sharing so much love and support in an Author Appreciation post. I cannot find the words to describe how proud and happy I am for this feature, and for having Danielle as my friend.

Some of the wonderful things Danielle said in her post was that

"On top of being an amazing author, Annie is so so so supportive of bloggers! She reads each and every review she receives and also shares them on her social media sites. She is always showing her appreciation for her readers. I love that about her! She shares blog reviews on her Twitter, is super supportive and gives shoutouts over Instagram, and she even has a Blogger Spotlight over on her blog where she recognizes a blogger each week. She truly is a fantastic person."

Check out the full post here: Author Appreciation