Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me.
I am a native Austrian living near Salzburg. I grew up multilingual in an international environment and have lived, studied, and worked in the United States, Serbia, Russia, France and Germany. I only recently returned to Austria to live and work here as a small scale entrepreneur.
My books are cosy crime novels situated in Salzburg, Austria.
So far, four German and two English crime novels have been published.
You can find more information on my website.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
So far, four German and two English crime novels have been published.
My books are cosy crime novels situated in Salzburg, Austria. The “native Salzburgers” have a reputation for being reserved, cold tempered, aloof, and sometimes arrogant. Malicious tongues even claim this could be due to the weather since it rains so often. Well, sometimes even I think there might be something to it.
My protagonists are the exact opposite of the described “native Salzburgers”. They are warm-hearted, help each other, and above all, they have a sense of humour. Although they have rough edges and flaws, they are all likeable and empathetic people with whom you would like to be friends.
The idea for my first book DEATH BY TRUFFLES came from a classical concert that unfortunately didn’t touch me at all. During the interval, among other delicacies, chocolates were offered and to cheer myself up, I treated myself to one.
During a somewhat lengthy lecture at a seminar, a participant was actually knitting socks, and when I asked her about it, she said she could concentrate better that way. I thought that was great, and that’s how I got the idea for the crime novel “THE FINNISH SOCK”.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I never outline my novels. You see, writing is similar to painting. You start off, and then it develops as you go. Nothing happens on command. Sometimes whole chapters flow in no time, and sometimes I get up after half a page and call it a day. There is no set time to finish a novel, but as a rule, I take time every day, preferably at night when everyone is asleep, to write something down – even if it is just some notes. When everyone is asleep, I’m at the peak of my creativity. Writing is hard work, and if you don’t keep a certain discipline and rhythm, you will never finish a novel. Of course my laptop, scribbles and pocketbooks are my constant companions.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is a difficult question to answer. Every writer has their own style and voice. There are so many wonderful writers. Each of them has touched readers and set milestones in their own distinctive way. I read a lot, and of course, I too have my favourites. In my childhood they were Astrid Lindgren, Erich Kästner and Enyd Blyton. Later, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, L.N. Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, Agatha Christie, Albert Camus and many more.
What are you working on now?
The fifth German crime novel is on the way. The third English Neuner is being translated, and I am writing a family saga.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In my opinion there is no “best” method. It isn’t easy to build an author platform from scratch. Finding your target audience is one thing, but getting potential readers to see and buy your book is another.
However, once you are established, it gets a lot easier.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to other writers is never to give up. You will always face some difficulties. Learn from them, grow, and continue. When I face rejection, I take it very seriously and closely look at what went wrong. I take it as a challenge, learn from it and try to improve it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take rejection as a challenge, learn from it, try to improve and make it better.
What are you reading now?
All Those Things We Never Said from Marc Levy (the French edition)
What’s next for you as a writer?
Neuner three and four shall be published in English by the end of 2022.
A fifth Neuner is expected to be published in spring/summer 2022 in German and
I am writing a family saga which should be out by the end of the year.
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?
How to Thrive on a Tropical Deserted Island: A Primer For the Shipwrecked Sailor by Mike Riley
The collection of all of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple stories (thickest book ever ; ) )
A la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust
Author Websites and Profiles
Marie Anders Website
Marie Anders Amazon Profile
Marie Anders’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account