Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Ana E Ross, and I’ve been reading romances since I was about thirteen years old, and consequently got hooked on the Happily Ever After theory. I always knew that I was born to be a writer, but after years of trying to break into traditional publishing, I set that dream aside to teach Writing and Literature in Middle and High school.
Thank goodness for self-publishing which finally gave me the opportunity for my voice to be heard and my stories to reach millions of women across the globe. I self-published my first short story in December, 2011, and two more in early 2012.
It wasn’t until May 2012 when I released The Doctor’s Secret Bride – Book One, in my Billionaire Brides of Granite Falls series, that my writing career took off. I resigned from teaching in 2013 and have since self-published the other three book in that series: The Mogul’s Reluctant Bride – Book Two, The Playboy’s Fugitive Bride – Book Three, and The Tycoon’s Temporary Bride – Book Four.
The Mogul’s Reluctant Bride was one of four books in Loving the CEO, which was a bundle with four other authors in 2013. We made the USA Today Bestsellers list for six consecutive weeks and The New York Times Bestsellers List for three consecutive weeks. We’re hoping to do that again.
I was born and raised on the small Caribbean island of Nevis, but now reside in the north east. I have one child: a beautiful daughter who’s on her own and making her own place in the world. She has been my inspiration for pushing forward and reaching for my goals.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Tycoon’s Temporary Bride is the latest book I’ve released. It is the last in the Billionaire Brides Series. The heroine, Tashi, escaped the clutches of a human-trafficking kingpin who’d sold her to an Arabian prince. I wanted to bring awareness, even if only in a very small way to this atrocious problem that spans the globe. Even though Tashi escaped before she was smuggled out of the country, she still had emotional scars from the mishap. I can only imagine the life for those who did not escape such a horrifying fate.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I’m not a plotter and have no idea what will happen from scene to scene. When it’s time to write a story, I know three things: how it begins; the black moment; how it ends. My characters tell me their story and I write it. However, if other things are happening around me, they don’t talk to me. I have to be balanced and peaceful. That is why it takes me so long to write a 300 + page story. When life happens, my characters take a vacation until they have my undivided attention again. So when I’m deep in storyland, I don’t answer the phone and I tell my daughter to only call me if it’s a life and death situation.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Brenda Jackson, the pioneer of black/multicultural romance, has been my greatest inspiration. She was the first author to write and publish black romance. I grew up reading Harlequin and Silhouette romances where all the characters were white, even the secondary ones. I always wondered why there weren’t any romance stories about black people falling in love. Hope was born when I read Brenda Jackson’s One Special Moment. I had the honor of meeting Miss Jackson in New York at the RWA National Conference in July 2011, and it was at that point that I decided self-publishing was the best way for my stories to be read. Now I have my own special moments, writing and publishing romances that women of all cultures can enjoy.
What are you working on now?
I’m presently working on a novella to wrap up my Billionaire Brides series. None of the brides were married on stage in the novels, and many of my fans wanted to see them walk down the isle. In Book Four the brides made their husbands get on their knees and propose, something that none of them had ever done, so the novella will cover the events leading up to, and include the wedding of the decade.
I’m simultaneously working on two spinoffs stories from the series – my fans are demanding these secondary characters’ stories. Gotta give them what they want.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have to say that promoting my books is something I have to work on. I’m very clueless in the marketing department. I think I need to hire a publicist or marketing team. Two of my dedicated fans are helping me spread the word, and doing an excellent job of it. They ask nothing in return, except that I write more books–fast.
I think Facebook and Twitter are great ways to promote. I’ve recently learned–through one of those dedicated fans–that joining Facebook groups is another sure way of gaining readers. That’s next on my list of things to do.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Only one: Never give up on your dreams!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You have to tell the truth.” from Jamaica Kincaid.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading Swan Deception by Glede Browne Kobongo. It’s a mystery thriller and extremely captivating and thrilling. What I love about this is that the main characters are back, as is Glede. There aren’t many, if any, black thriller writers in the industry and it’s nice to see an exceptional author emerge from the shadows — one who can scare us and keep us turning pages as much as any other mystery thriller writer out there.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue writing until the end….
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Thorn Birds – Colleen McCullough
Middle March – George Elliot
Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
Author Websites and Profiles
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