UpClose & Personal with Anna Katherine, author of SALT AND SILVER, available now!

Release date: April 28, 2009

Favorite guilty pleasure:

It’s terrible. Watching romantic comedies and mid-90s films for teenagers. (Yes, I almost quoted Empire Records instead of answering this question.) 

Writing crutch?

Pick two out of three: My music, my iced coffee, my cigarettes.

Plotter or Pantser?

True fact: I originally read this question as “Plotter or Panzer,” to which I immediately thought, with great excitement, Tanks! My next book should have a tank in it! And Harrison Ford! Oh, Indy.

Favorite movie snack:

I’m partial to Milk Duds, but I also have an absolutely dreadful addiction to the fake cheese that movie theatres put on nachos.

Personal style:

Ah, style, my nemesis! I tend toward jeans and T-shirts, and super funky shoes. My favorite shoes are white Birkenstock clogs with a design of green leaves over the toes.  I also have an extensive collection of ridiculously high-heeled shoes in garish colors like hot pink, neon orange, and bright yellow.

Favorite brands:

I really need to read more carefully. I read this as “Favorite bands.” And then I started roaming through my music, dancing in my chair, and forgot to fill this one out!  I love clothing from Torrid, Birkenstocks, and everything Newman’s Own.

Favorite time of day to write:

I do a lot of my writing in the evening, with intermittent spot-checks during the day.

Favorite writing spot:

I switch back and forth between my armchair and my bed. It’s all about balancing the laptop, really. Though when I’m outlining or just trying to come up with ideas, I like being stuck somewhere — waiting for a bus, waiting for a movie to start, anything. Somehow that gets the brain moving. 

Favorite writing motivation:

Horribly enough, deadlines. It’s so clichéd, but there you go.

Favorite weekend activity:

I love to sleep! Does that count?  Actually, I love to get pedicures, and on any given Saturday morning you can find me at my local nail shop, clutching a romance novel in one hand and my favorite nail polish (Essie’s Wicked) in the other.

Favorite vacation spot:

I’ve discovered that where I am is never as important as who I am with. That said, some of my best vacations were spent in unexpectedly great spots. I love Ottawa, in Canada, and for several years I vacationed in St. Louis, Missouri.

Favorite writing tip:

Outlining, without a doubt, is a must for novels. I mean, otherwise ninjas get in there, and you have no idea why.

Finish these sentences:

When I was young, I…I was suddenly struck with the meaning of life. And it was the funniest joke I’d ever heard. Moments later it left me again, and all I can remember now is that sperm counts had something to do with it.

When I grow old, I…I want to be old! None of this “60 is the new 40” for me. I live my life as much as I can every single day, and I never want to disregard the importance of the years.

When I first fell in love, I…I was thirteen, and it was a short story. I’ve improved since then.

I love to read because…Because well-done craft, like cabinetry, lace-making, and ice sculptures, should be appreciated—and because there aren’t too many things in life that compare to how wonderful it is to be transported to another place through words.

Web site:The official website is annakatherine.com, but try checking out the blog at annakatherine.com/blog.

Get Salt and Silver at Amazon.