Interview With Author Anne Social
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Anne Social is actually a pen name for three sisters who write together. Writing books with three authors is kind of a nightmare, especially when you share a bedroom in a house with no insulation and funky air conditioning. Our lives had hit rock bottom—chronic and mental illness up the wazoo. We needed a form of escape that wasn’t constantly buffering dank memes or workaholism. Writing was just that.
After a long day of picking rocks or sniffing moldy antique books to sell on our eBay store, we’d get on our computers and write like nothing was wrong. We were (are) a bit perfectionistic, though. We wouldn’t even look at our keyboards until we’d studied story structure and character development. This was an instant head start in our writing career. The three of us instantly fell in love with each other’s books, a thriller, a sci-fi, and a fantasy.
We’d lay in our bunk beds and talk about writing past midnight. We’d eat lunch, debate, and theorize over our methods. We’d find each other grinning stupidly as we thought up a scene or joke that wouldn’t be revealed until the book was finished.
Together we realized that if we couldn’t write for a living, we’d die. Writing outshone every other hobby and interest we had. It saved our existence and then we existed for it.
Now our goal is to write books that make people want to stay alive. We write hopeful stories that don’t ignore the dark side of life. Stories that meet the reader where he stands.
Collectively, we’ve written over thirteen books, but now we’re working on publishing our third, fourth, and fifth together.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Hijinks” is our latest book inspired by a creepy pizza place in a small town in Missouri. We used to drive past it and speculate why it was never open. Were they hiding a body in there? Was it a pit stop for human traffickers? Were they keeping Bigfoot in a cage in the attic? Our top theory was that it was secretly a drug front. That’s always our top theory.
“Hijinks” centers around the relationship of four teens who end up working together to solve the mystery of a cryptic pizza place.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Definitely, one of us writes her books completely out of order. One of us rewards herself with a can of Dr. Pepper for every five thousand words. One of us wrote half a novel while sitting on a broken toilet disguised to look like a desk. (That’s horrible for your posture—would not recommend.)
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gary D. Schmidt and S.E. Hinton. The music of Twenty-One Pilots.
What are you working on now?
We are currently working on a new series about two boys experiencing an abusive relationship with their father. It’s a psychological horror with hopeful undertones and a focus on character development. We hope to publish the first book in early September.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Having an engaged newsletter is the best method for promoting our books. You can join our newsletter on our website if you want updates on our future books, but also if you just want to be entertained by our monthly emails.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn story structure and character development. This is hands down one of the most important things you can do to quickly improve your writing. The University of YouTube surpasses any course or class.
And anyone who uses always and never in their teaching should be ignored. You need to follow the method that works for you. Writing books together taught us that. In other words, learn what doesn’t work and don’t do that. Learn what works and do more of that.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let the characters speak for themselves. Or, let the book you’re writing teach you. If you try to manhandle the plot or force your beliefs down the reader’s throat, the story will come out like starched pants—ugly, uncomfortable, and stiff.
What are you reading now?
Too many books to list. The War of The Worlds by H. G. Wells, Any Sign of Life by Ray Carson, and The Lord of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The three of us are all working on our own pen names and projects as we work on Anne Social. Someday, we’d like to have our own publishing company. In the short term, our next YA series is our big project.
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?
One from each of us, then. The Princess Bride, Orbiting Jupiter, and it looks like I have to be the responsible one and bring The Bible.
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