The Bookish Hour

Interview with Author: Ann Einerson

• Jor & Fab • Season 1 • Episode 45

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Weaving Holiday Magic into Light and Fluffy Romance with Ann Einerson!!

Ann was kind enough to let me interview her and since she is the queen of light and fluffy holiday romance, this episode is perfect for Christmas Eve Eve.

She is the beloved author known for her heartwarming romances, takes us on an incredible journey from her marketing career to the bestselling bookshelves. She shares her passion for storytelling and how devouring 700 romance novels honed her craft. With charming anecdotes and genuine insights, Ann discusses the intricate dance of transforming first drafts into polished stories, collaborating with editors and readers along the way. Her candid discussion about handling the emotional impact of negative reviews offers comfort and practical advice for both aspiring and seasoned authors.

Grab a cozy drink of choice and come listen to Ann and I talk books!

Follow Ann Einerson
IG: @authoranneinerson
www.anneinerson.com

Cover Art by: Fabienne and Jordan
Contact email: thebookishhourpod@gmail.com
Intro/Outro music: Season Two: Ramaramaray by Aiyo via Epidemic Sound Season One: Sweet Psycho via TikTok’s Offical Sound Studio on Capcut
Follow Us:
Podcast: @thebookishhourpod
Fabienne: @oxonheart
Jordan: @sipsoffiction

Jordan:

Welcome to the bookish hour with just Jor, the queen of light and fluffy romances she stole so many hearts with. If you give a grump a holiday wish list, if If you haven't read it yet, seriously, what are you waiting for? Everyone needs to experience the magic of Aspen Grove and trust you won't regret it. My personal favorite when you give a lawyer a kiss, because Dawson Tate, he can get it. And don't get me started on her new holiday romance, the Holiday Clause. It's the perfect mix of cute and spicy with a capital S. Welcome to the podcast, An Einerson. Hi, anne, I really hope I said your name right. I'm so sorry if I didn't.

Ann Einerson:

It's Einerson or Einerson, so that's perfect, okay, okay.

Jordan:

Okay, I meant to ask you before I invited Craig and. I'm so sorry. Well, thank you so much for coming on.

Ann Einerson:

Thanks so much for having me. I really appreciate it.

Jordan:

Oh, okay, so we can dive right in. Yeah, great, I do. Before we get into the questions, I usually like to start every episode with something that's good, that's happened. It could be anything, something that somebody did for you, something you're proud of. I don't know if you have anything to.

Ann Einerson:

Yeah, no, I'm just really grateful for everybody. It was a great release for the Holiday Clause on Friday and I'm just so grateful for everybody that read it and posted it. So it's so nice and I'm really glad everyone liked it.

Jordan:

Yes.

Ann Einerson:

It was such a cute, cute story. It's hot. You know, novellas are always nerve-wracking because it's hard to get it right, so I really am glad that everybody will. It was well received so oh, yes, yes, um.

Jordan:

And then, of course, my good week is interviewing you.

Ann Einerson:

I'm so excited, I'm kind of nervous, so I'm so sorry yes, please don't, I'm I'm the most chill person, so we're just friends talking, so it's good.

Jordan:

Yeah, I can keep saying that, but it's not working. Okay, so I have a list of questions and they're broken up into three parts. I have like being an author, and then I have reading and then I have personal. So we'll start in the writing. Author when and how did you know that you wanted to be an author? Did you always want to be an author or at some point did you want to do something else?

Ann Einerson:

Yeah, so I've always loved to write. My mom found a book I called it Mom's Secret Remedies and it was like things like don't feed wild animals after dark, drink orange juice really slow, I don't know. So I'll have to make it like a real book for her someday because she like loves it. But I've always known I wanted to write. I took a couple of writing classes. Anytime, like in school, they'd give you like extra credit if you like wrote an extra story.

Ann Einerson:

I was like, yes, I'm in um, but I didn't know until about four years ago. So I got my degree in marketing um, worked in the marketing industry for about 10 years and then, um, it was like three or four years ago that I kind of knew that I wanted to write and I started reading a lot of romance novels and I was like, okay, like this is what I want to do, and so it kind of just gradually like took shape from there, spent a year and a half reading. I think I wrote about 700 romance books because I wanted to get a really good idea of like what was out there and like um, and I just loved it. So that was fun. I don't get to read as much anymore. So I'm glad I did at that point.

Jordan:

So oh yeah, that's a, that's a, that's a lot, that's a lot.

Ann Einerson:

I didn't realize until I went back and looked at all of like the stats in KDP and I was like, oh, okay, cool, but it really did help, I think, like just to have a better idea of like how to tell a story. There's just so many like great authors out there, so I'm really glad that I was able to do that research, I guess. So we'll call it.

Jordan:

It's so very important it is. What have you found to be the most rewarding and challenging being an author?

Ann Einerson:

So I think it's the same for me is taking like your first draft and making it into like the final. So I do a lot of stages. So I have a dev editor line, edit three alpha readers and then two rounds of beta, just because I feel like it's just interesting where, like, you'll get length and it's back and you're like, okay, this is like we're good. And then you get beta feedback and it's like, oh, okay, hold on, I need another day or two to like make changes. But it's really rewarding at the end.

Ann Einerson:

But I think it's very challenging because at times you're like it's like a never-ending process. It's like you finish one thing like okay, I'm good, and then you get the other feedback. But I do think it's like you finish one thing like okay, I'm good, and then you get the other feedback. But I do think it's really important to be able to like accept the feedback because I think, especially people who've um, like the alpha readers and beta readers, they're doing this all the time so they kind of know, you know what's vibing and what's not, and so it's just like I'm really glad I have that.

Jordan:

But for alpha and beta readers. I'm not really sure the difference between the two.

Ann Einerson:

So for me, because every author is different, because I've talked to my alpha readers and everybody's different, but I do dev and alpha around the same time so I send it to the dev editor and the alpha readers. The alpha readers are more focused at least mine do more on the chemistry, the tension, just to make sure that that's all there. Where the dev edit, they're just more focused on like the actual, like setting and the structure, um and making sure that things you know actually make sense, like is this part, you know, is this part of the story actually like flow? I I don't know if that's um helpful, but so alpha is more just making sure that like the chemistry is there for the couple and like the tension and like the physical scenes and stuff. Really we add that, we, we add the extra. Yeah.

Ann Einerson:

So like I'll try to do my rough draft and I'll be like OK, tell me what we need to add here. Or like so, like for a single dad, if you give a sorry, if you give a single dad a nanny with, there's a paint scene in that one they really were instrumental in making sure that, like it was, there's actually tension in there and it like it really flowed. So it was probably half that size when I wrote it and they kind of gave me like here's what we should like add. And then I would add, and so I really it's not just. You know, yes, I write the book, but I think having that feedback makes it what it is.

Jordan:

So yeah, because you wouldn't? I feel like to, in the sense of I mean, I'm not a writer, no, I'm not a writer, I am just a reader. But I feel like when you think of something that you write, you almost know where it's supposed to go. So an outside person doesn't necessarily they don't have that. So I feel like having that outside perspective almost gives you the chance to bring it to life, even though you think you have it in there. Yeah, I don't know if that makes sense.

Ann Einerson:

Yeah, I look at it like it's like two dimensional and they just make it that third dimension Because I think you know you have it in mind but sometimes it's never like the story that I have in mind say from the first draft, like I'll do an outline. It is like completely different at the end, but it's a good thing. Um, sorry, I don't know why there's a beeping.

Jordan:

I don't know what that is oh, you can hear it sorry.

Ann Einerson:

No, it's okay anyways. So I think it's just. I just I love having that feedback because it's just nice to be able to see at the end. But it is a challenge.

Jordan:

That was a long one, but no, no, that like that's good, because I I feel like you don't really like I wouldn't think of that. I never realized how many stops like a book will have and not everybody will have that many.

Ann Einerson:

I just am like a perfectionist and I just like to make sure it's like right there. Um, and I think the second round of beta for me is because the first round you always get those be little things like here or there. So the of beta for me is because the first round you always get those little things like here or there. So the final round for me is just a confirmation before it goes to our readers, that like OK, I'm in a good spot, you guys like it, we're good to go. Like this is not like extra, but I know there are some that will just do say a line edit and maybe like a couple of betas and that's it and that's great. Like, if you can do it that way, that's fantastic. I just think it depends on the person.

Jordan:

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Ann Einerson:

So kind of thinking back off the last one, but I think kind of two things. So I think, being able to accept feedback I think that's really hard sometimes because, like I said, you have an idea in your mind and you're very passionate about these characters because, like they are real to you, because you write them and create them but I think, being able to just sit back and say, okay, like, here's all the feedback obviously you don't have to make all the changes, but just to be able to say, okay, does this actually make sense of why they're having this problem with the book and being able to like adapt. And I think, also being able to adapt in regard to like, for my first two, first two books, they were very emotional and very like angsty and it just didn't resonate with a lot of readers, especially with who I was reaching out to and stuff, which is totally fine. And so by the third book, I was like, okay, I have to adapt, because if I don't, I probably won't get any readers. I'll just keep writing the same thing and I'm probably not going to get a lot of readers.

Ann Einerson:

And so, as long as you're like passionate about what you're writing, being able to adapt even just slightly or just trying new things. Cause I think it does get discouraging, especially for, like new authors, if your first, second, third book doesn't say do well, just being able to kind of take a step back and say, okay, what's like one thing I can do differently for this book, just to see if it resonates better, because it's not usually your book, it's just either you're not reaching the right people or even the cover or whatever it is, so just to never give up, I guess, because sometimes it does feel like okay, and that could be, that could be hard, because especially too for new authors, I totally I again I'm not an author but I can see that being like a challenge to you see your books like just not not like reaching the right audience.

Ann Einerson:

But you just you put the same amount of time into a book, regardless if it does well or not, right? So I think that's that's also hard. It's really like, well, I poured, say I don't, I don't know how many hours, but 100 hours into this and you know it didn't do anything. But I think everything builds is kind of how I look at it.

Jordan:

So how do you process slash deal with negative book reviews?

Ann Einerson:

So this is always a tough one. But so, first thing, when I have a release, I don't go on Goodreads or Amazon at all, even like at all. So my team, if I need anything, I'll just have my PA or my author manager just go on for me. I just, I think, even just seeing, like cause, especially with novellas, they do star lower just because people want more, you know, and it's just, I get that. And so, like with last year's, I did look and it was really devastating. I was like, oh my gosh, below a four star on Goodreads, but that doesn't mean that people didn't like it, it's just that happens a lot. And so I just avoid that for the first two or three weeks, just altogether. And then I never, ever, ever look at the reviews on there.

Ann Einerson:

So like, even if, like a new author doesn't have a PA, you can always reach out to like a beta or another influencer who really liked your books. And if you need them to pull like quotes for positive reviews, have someone else do it, or even someone in your family. I would just like never, ever, ever look at reviews because on those sites and then with Instagram on occasion, you're going to have one If you feel the need to block them, great, or just I will just remove myself from the post and that's fine. But I think most people don't mean it, mean right, they just want to like share their opinion. So I think any book, even like the really popular ones, not everyone's gonna like it and that's okay. I think it's having that mindset of like just find your audience and the people that like like your books and really just hone in on building relationships with those people and that's really all you can do.

Jordan:

So I like that advice. I know, I feel like it's one of those things that I feel, at least on Instagram. I'm not really on TikTok, I just kind of reshare things from Instagram and on TikTok. So I don't really know how TikTok is, but I know. For Instagram it's like I feel like everybody can say it until they're blue in the face. Like don't tag authors in negative book reviews. But there's always people tagging authors in negative book reviews and I just I don't understand it, because it's like, no matter how many times people say it, there's always someone out there that doesn't and I just I don't get it. I don't, I really do not get it.

Ann Einerson:

And usually for me, on occasion it'll be a one star, but usually it's three stars, but it's like they liked the book. So I think in their mind it's like, well, I liked it, so I, and that's so I, those ones I'm very like. I had someone the other day that I think it was like a 3.75 and I was like she loved it and I was like, okay, I get it, it's a novella. You know, I don't ever like, let it bother me. Um, my favorites are like the 4.9 or 4.75. I would just love to know the one thing I'm like. Really I almost messaged somebody the other day. I'm like what's the one thing? I'm just curious? Not that I care, but it's just like what's the one thing that bothered you that wasn't a?

Ann Einerson:

five star, just the one thing, just that, one like tiny, was it like a weird nickname? Because it's just always, it's just interesting to just you. You know cause everybody, I had one person that I think it was last year's holiday book, it was the nickname that bothered them. I was like, okay, I get that. Um, so I'm I'm very more like conscientious of nicknames, cause it was a little bit I think it was a little Vixen and it was a little different, but, um, so now I kind of stick to like the more as long. So I will.

Ann Einerson:

I will kind of test those with the beta readers because they will tell me if they don't like a nickname or not. Um, because I know with Dawson, with Dawson's book, um, and I just um, I was having a hard time with the nickname in that one. So we had like five different ones. You're testing to see what like flowed best. Um, I think the one with red, right, yeah, oh, okay, I know my red I have. So I get them all confused and it's okay. Um, I think in the holiday book I had Brooks. No, in the bonus scene I'm doing, I had Brooks and Everly, which are not from the same book. Um, and it's fine. I just um, it's hard when you start. I can't imagine the authors that have like 30 books and I'm like, how do you keep track of everybody? Like they've got to have a spreadsheet or something.

Ann Einerson:

Yeah, I just know like I love Dawson Tate and I just nope, you're good, it's Reese, it's Reese, it's Reese. My brain, yeah, it's Reese. There we go. Oh, that's like it's so bad of me. I'm so sorry. No, dawson's the no. I'm glad that he would, and I think every book too, like you, focus on one character that you're like, as long as everybody loves this person, um, I'm good, like with the new book. You know, everyone likes Winston and I'm like is that bad? I never was like. No, no, it's okay, it's good that they have a cute pet.

Jordan:

I'm like, I know, but it's just because, like, I put a lot of like energy into him, which is just funny because, like, I just love dogs he was, oh no, and he was like it's his own person, like I know you love dog, but I also loved Kay, like I was here for the grandma, like I was totally here for her.

Ann Einerson:

Well, everyone loved the meddling grandma in Aspen no, the mom in Aspen Grove. So I was like, okay, we need a meddling grandma, we need somebody meddling because just people just love that and I don't know. I just I like writing it because it's super funny and she's super sassy.

Jordan:

So I was like we'll go with it yeah, no, no, but for I have a question for Dawson Tate. Did you always know you wanted? Sorry, this is like not on the question, you're good but did you always know you wanted to write his story, or did it kind of just like everybody fell in love with him and well.

Ann Einerson:

So usually how I I mean with his character. When I was finishing cashes, I was like I didn't have time to do a full, like a full full length, because we were gonna, we were hoping to do Harrison's book this year and it just didn't work out. I was like I want to do something, but I want it connected enough that like we can still lead into Harrison's. So I kind of just added I actually had the lawyer in there and I was like oh my gosh, like this. And I already had a description. And I was like I don't know, because everyone had already said they loved how he sounded. So I was like, okay, let's just do that.

Ann Einerson:

And then I remember I was driving, we were in because I live in Japan not right now, but I'm not there right now but anyways, we were driving one day and I was like oh my gosh, like what if he was like a lawyer? It just like came to me. I was like what if he's like a lawyer during the day and a tattoo artist at night? And my husband's like what are you talking about? Like no, I promise I pitched it to everybody the next day. Sometimes I just have to write it, because if I, if I pitch something, it just sounds weird out loud. But if I like write it, they're like oh okay, we're good Like, so I can see go slow, but I just oh for promise for everyone.

Jordan:

I'm aware, no, no, it's okay, because I definitely do too. So, like that is great. Well, and then I love because like not that this is giving any way any spoilers away, but I don't, well, I don't think so, I hope I hope not, but I can cut it out if you think so. Um, but I love that you related the holiday clause like like or had like, fallon in it, so it's like almost giving like you kind of got a bit more of like Harrison in Tate's Dawson's book and then you get more Fallon in the holiday clause with like books and Lila, and I love that. I love that so much.

Ann Einerson:

Well, and I think, for aspiring authors too. Sorry I keep going back to that, but I think it. I never thought of that until it was Morgan. Elizabeth told me that she did that a lot and I was like, oh, that's kind of cool, that like they're all connected. And so, and I noticed like people were more invested.

Ann Einerson:

Um, and I had someone tell me like, with Harrison, everyone wants his story best, I mean the most, so make them wait till the end. And I was like, oh, and everyone wants his story best, I mean the most, so make them wait till the end. And I was like, oh, they're gonna hate me. But so I was like, so we just started like edging everybody every book and it just so I'll probably do that from now on because it just helps.

Ann Einerson:

You get like the people from the base for basman grove, right, but then you get the new people and so they don't feel like it's. You still feel like it's a standalone, but you're not. You kind of have that connection. Um, yeah, yeah. And I didn't really know I was going to do that until last minute with Fallon, but I started like doing the text messages and I was like, oh, my gosh, like she just like grew, because I didn't know what her character was going to be like and like, honestly, I had no idea and so I just started writing and I was like, okay, we got her, like this is great. So sometimes I know and sometimes I don't.

Jordan:

So oh well, because, like I love too what you did at the end of if you give a grandpa holiday wish list in like with the spin at the end of the book was something. I won't say it, but I love that you did that and I remember like finishing it and like screaming because I was like, oh my god, that's so cool. But it's like something that like if someone were to just read it they wouldn't know and it would be fine and that's it, but like if you know, you know and that's what's so cool.

Jordan:

So it kind of gives you the task.

Ann Einerson:

Because I think I've had some people say there are some books where you know they'll do the next book, but you're not as invested in those characters because they weren't really a part of it. So I'm always scrambling, like, okay, with that last scene I'm like okay, uh, we don't have a book yet for the next one, but let's just make something up and let it take over. Um, because a billionaire, I won't give it away. But with that scene I didn't really know we hadn't, we had, we didn't have the outline yet for that book. So we just made it up and I was like, okay, and it kind of just it, just it just comes with it. So at least in Harrison and Fallon's we have like more of a structure because we built them first, like for books.

Jordan:

So did you know that people were gonna like Harrison the most, so you made him last um, no, because we had to be this.

Ann Einerson:

I did not commit to doing a series until after that book came out. So that's why because that book didn't come out I think that came out December 7th last year, I think, or 6th we didn't release the next one until March, because I didn't know that we were going to do a series, because I wanted to wait, because I really wasn't sure if I was going to keep writing, because I was discouraged. The first two didn't do well and my friend was like, just just do a Hail Mary, let's just try a short, like holiday book. We didn't even know it was going to be sweet and fluffy until I wrote it and it just came out that way. Um, I know. So that was kind of fun.

Ann Einerson:

But and that's kind of the same with this next one, everyone's like it's a holiday, cause getting. I'm like, let's just, I'm gonna wait and see how it goes and I will tell you I just I have a hard time committing to a series just because the first two books. If I had done that, like with the spotlight, I would love to go back, but I just, you know, I would have been stuck somewhere. That would have been hard for me for three books. So I'm kind of just a little more hesitant now.

Jordan:

But fair, but I'm really hoping I know brothers get- books.

Ann Einerson:

Now I try to figure out how to do it. But yes, I do want to continue. Or even if we market it as a standalone, some I'll figure it out. But yes, I really want to do um. Now I forgot his name, um, jameson. Oh no, for the holiday book. Yeah, I was talking about the spotlight too, sorry, I can't remember, oh oh. Oh, yeah, I wrote his reddit. That's what I'm talking about, um. But yes, I, I do want to do jameson's book and I didn't even know.

Ann Einerson:

So I didn't know the tropes for the next book. If we do a holiday, like for the holiday clause, the next one, um, but I was like I wrote Penny in the character. I just wrote her sitting on Santa's lap and then I was like, oh my gosh. Like after I finished it I was like, wait, this would be so cool if, like, she was the little girl, because I knew I wanted to do a single mom. So I was like, let's just add that in. So that happens a lot and I'm sure that happens with everybody. But it's like you don't really realize you've got something until you've written it and then you go, oh, this could totally be something else.

Jordan:

So oh, that's cool, that is cool.

Ann Einerson:

OK then I guess too, you kind of answered this question, but I'm going to ask it again anyways. So you are the queen of like to get locked into like one trope that I had to write all the time. So I was like I wanted to look more broad. So when I did the first emotional romance and then the rock star one and I was like, okay, so we did the um sorry I'm rambling, but we did um the holiday book, and then I was like, well, he's a billionaire, people like that, people love a small town, and then people like the fluff, you know, if they're at breakups, so let's just keep. Those are broad enough that we can still do whatever we want. Um, so that was kind of like how it started was. I just knew that I didn't want to get locked in to say one trope specifically, just because that's not, for I know there's some authors are amazing and they love that, which is great, but for me I was like I just need to have a little bit more autonomy. But then I was also like I don't really want to do their breakups anymore because they're just so it's so hard to navigate and some people can do it great, but I'm like I just don't want to have to worry about it. So it kind of evolved. So no, I didn't know I was going to do swoony fluffy, but we're here and we'll stay there.

Ann Einerson:

I mean, I'm sure, like Harrison's book, will probably be a slightly, a little bit pranksy, but you're still going to have the banter and the rom-com vibe. So I'm here for the banter, I am. So no banter, I like added in the prank. This is really giving anything away, but I added in the prank stuff for the holiday cause and I was like now to come up with pranks. Now I have to like, actually like, do all of like that side of it. But I think it'll be fun. I think, like I said, it's the most anticipated. So I want to make sure it's done well, but I also I think it'll be good. But it's hard because everyone expects, everyone has different expectations of it and I don't know what those expectations are because no one's told me.

Jordan:

they just want it and I'm like, okay, well, how did you come up with the idea for Aspen Grove? Like I guess I know like the I have like series here, but like, maybe just like in the idea of like, how did you come up with Aspen Grove? Did you ever imagine the series would be what it is today versus when you released?

Ann Einerson:

if you give a grump a holiday wish list, oh no, um, like, yeah, I had no idea, like I said I wanted, I knew I wanted to do small town combined billionaire, which is tricky sometimes, um, and so we kind of and I wanted to do workplace romance. So we kind of started with that um, and I work with Becca from Fairy Plot Mother, she's amazing, um. And so we kind of went through and said, okay, like let's plan out the siblings, just in case we want to do a series. So we have it, but it's not like we don't have to, um. And then, as I was writing, I didn't have, because there are pranks in a few of the books, um, and we didn't, we hadn't planned that. But I just felt like something was lacking and I was like, okay, well, I know my dad, my dad has two brothers and a sister, and the sister's younger, and I didn't like think of that until after, but I was like they always would prank each other. So like, okay, like there is that, like I'll just take that like little thing I didn't use like their specific pranks.

Ann Einerson:

But then I just um, and one of my author readers is really good at like coming up with ideas, um, and so like I think she came up with something about the tree farm and I was like what if they arrest him? It just kind of like spiraled. So like I think she came up with something about the tree farm and I was like what if they arrest him? It just kind of like spiraled. So, like I said, I usually most of the good ideas are like last minute or by talking to someone else and saying, okay, I'm stuck, how do we like pivot out of this?

Ann Einerson:

But I really didn't have like a full inspiration. It just kind of just step by step, of like here's the tropes. I like I usually will start with tropes because I kind of like those, that's what sells. Since I say, okay, what am I, what like, what tropes? And then what am I passionate about? And do those align? And then, yes, then I can kind of move forward and build like that world, um, and then it just kind of ask and grow, grew from there.

Ann Einerson:

So oh that's really cool. It's probably not like the norm. I'm not sure what other authors do, but I'm sure it's a little haphazard but I go with it.

Jordan:

So if it works for you, right? Um, how do you come up with your characters? Do you draw inspiration from other characters in books or tv, or from other people in your life, or from yourself?

Ann Einerson:

um, so most of the time they just just come from my head, which is, but like I will take like maybe, like if I see somebody doing something like, say, a quirk or or a job, and I'm like, oh hey, that would be kind of cool to like incorporate here. So like I won't say, like you know, like for Lawyer Kiss, like there was a TV show that say like very loosely like inspired, and then I was like okay, and then I, you know, I just kind of pull things, but mostly it just comes from my head of like it'd be really cool if this character did this. I know it's people are like are you, is that real?

Jordan:

but, um, wait, is the lawyer from something like is that like?

Ann Einerson:

no, I like when I started writing him I was like, oh my gosh, this reminds me of um, what's his name from? Suits, Wait, Harvey, yeah, but it was after I started writing it and I was like, oh, hey, like, so, like it was kind of just fun to see that correlation. So I don't know if it was like, but like I didn't copy your obviously anything, no, I mean, I couldn't even correlate the two. I couldn't even correlate the two. Most of the time it starts out with like in my head of like here's what I want, and then you use like the loosely based, you know inspiration from here and there, and so yeah, oh, I love suits and I love Harvey.

Ann Einerson:

I do.

Jordan:

So that's awesome and I love Donna.

Ann Einerson:

I just feel like you know same vibes, so yes, it worked out.

Jordan:

Oh, yes, I love his book. Okay, sorry, okay. So you have Harrison and Fallon's stories releasing, story releasing next, which I I mean I guess everybody is, but I am so excited for Harrison's story, um, can you give us any hints? Yeah, so it's coming out in March. I'm going to announce it this week.

Ann Einerson:

We're pushing it back just a little bit. Um, I just yeah, so it's coming out in March. I'm going to announce it this week. We're pushing it back just a little bit. I just want to make sure it's done right, cause again, it's everybody's. I know if I don't do like a certain word count, everyone's going to be like excuse me, it's not long enough, cause even my flow links are like, I think, a little bit I'm so excited, but there won't be any miscommunication.

Ann Einerson:

We're trying really hard to make sure it's not like a miscommunication thing, because I just don't. There are authors that can do it well, but I just don't. I just for this story I'm like it doesn't vibe. Um, obviously not the wreck breakup billionaire. You'll have a lot of the aspen grow. We'll really lean into that for this one. So bring it home, um, and obviously like pranks galore, um, and then you'll just I will try to do cameos of mostly everybody and then of course we'll whatever my plan is to do a couple standalones next just to see what like lands with everybody. So obviously, whatever book is next, you'll have that person in this book, of course.

Jordan:

So yeah, um, I know I I was kind of curious because in for my like self, like thinking of like, as I read the books, I kind of I guess my thought I just assumed Jameson's story would have been next after Harrison's, just because of like the.

Ann Einerson:

but that's just me thinking, so the thought yeah, oh, sorry, no, the thought for that one is to do three holidays, so it would be every holiday. There's a couple other authors that do that and at first I was like is this, does it work? And it does it works. It doesn't work to wait a year, but it does so. That was the plan with that one. So I'm sure people are like wait a minute, because that's not what I did last time. So if we do a series, that would be the plan, is it would be next, like probably December.

Jordan:

But no, and that makes sense, because I actually really like what you did with If you Give a Grump a Holiday Wishlist, like having that be the holiday book, and then I like that. If you give it a single Nant, oh my gosh, your titles.

Ann Einerson:

They're so hard to like if you go single dad and nanny and to type them oh my gosh. That's why I just say single dad, nanny is like I just have, like it's lame.

Jordan:

And that's the thing is. I love the titles but they just like come bobble in my brain. But I like that Nanny nanny, thank nanny, nanny billionaire I was gonna say cash, but then I didn't say and I was just um confusing myself. But I like that they're not holiday books. And then I'm assuming harrison's won't be a holiday book.

Ann Einerson:

No, I mean we'll probably have to touch on like briefly like, because it's a little bit tricky with the timeline but I'm sure we'll touch briefly on like the time that they're apart, because in this holiday but we kind of talk about like her point, her first prank when he's gone and stuff like that. So I'm sure we'll get like, but it probably won't be like talking about the holidays, it'll just be like december or like january, but so it's more wintery, um, and the cover will be blue. I will just say um, so it kind of fits in with the winter, but I'm excited, oh. Last thing I can say about it is he did play professional hockey and he does co-own a hockey team. So that's all I can say. I don't know how much I'm going to be involved, but and there might be hockey on the cover. So yeah, I know it's gonna be great.

Jordan:

I'm so, I'm so excited. I can't wait. I can't wait. Okay, so we will dive into reading. So what is your favorite book and or series? A book you would recommend to anyone and everyone?

Ann Einerson:

I know it's so generic. I don't like to name a lot of the indie authors because I love everyone. So this is like I know everyone's like. But I love Colleen Hoover's Ugly Love. I just like. That was my first like romance book. I don't know if you've read that one. I just I just love it's so good. I just love just the character and like the connection and it's like cause there is a sad part of it. I won't say anything, but just like they're she just did such a good job with their personalities and like it just made me fall in love with like romance. I was like I just love this. So I know some people like have different opinions, but I just I love Colleen Hoover.

Jordan:

So I just I her books are sad and like yeah, well, that that one is that one does have a really sad part.

Ann Einerson:

I I I remember I think I was like I went running that day, I read half of it and I came home I was like I just couldn't move like off the bed. I was just so excited. But it's just, she does such a good job like. I think that's why some people have a hard time because you're in, like she makes you feel like you're in it, like she makes like it happened. You know what I mean. It's like, oh my god, like, but it does end really cute.

Ann Einerson:

But I just loved the girl's a nurse. I think sorry, yeah, she's a nurse. She like moves to live with her brother who's a pilot, and then the guy across the hall is another pilot who she pulls him up with. Um, so it just, it just. It's a really cool story and I she's really good at like the easter eggs because, like you know, you think you know what's going on the first half and then you kind of just like build and it's like, oh, this is not where we're going, but it's wonderful. So that's again. I know it's kind of cliche, but I love that one.

Jordan:

So oh, okay, okay, um. What is one line of writing, poetry or quote that lives in your head?

Ann Einerson:

rent free okay, I wrote it down this. I didn't say it wrong, but I love From Pride and Prejudice. Again, I know that's like everyone's, but my courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me. Oh, I like that. Yeah, it's a fun one.

Jordan:

Okay, okay. And then this one, I guess you could say is kind of similar to the two ago. But what is a book that had the most significant impact on your life and why? Either recently or not?

Ann Einerson:

This is again, it's like the most cliche, but like I just I would say either Oliver Twist or Pride and Prejudice I just love like. I just I mean they like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens are like I mean they're the original like I mean to be able to just come up with those ideas and write it down from scratch, like not having a computer or like a dictionary or like you know, and using like like real life things that happen not just to them but like around them to create those stories is just like so incredible. So it's just yeah, yeah, I love Oliver Twist, that's like one of my favorites.

Jordan:

But I haven't read that one, but I have read Pride and Prejudice and I I mean Jane Austen was like ahead of her time with that book, like, oh, I know well with all of her books, like just to be able to create.

Ann Einerson:

It's just incredible. So I know it's like a cliche, but I'm like you know what. I'm good with it because everyone has the same. No, it works, it works yeah, and I get it.

Jordan:

I do. I've only read Pride and Prejudice, but I really. I've heard Emma's really good so I really want to read.

Ann Einerson:

Emma but I just haven't yet well, they are not hard to read. Like I, I love historical romance, but like it depends on like and that one's not historical romance, but that's like I mean, she wrote it that time, so it's like. That's what's hard about it is like it's just the language is hard for me to like. Yeah, to follow.

Jordan:

I'm like I wish I was smarter, but like me too.

Ann Einerson:

It took me so long to read pride, and like digest it is what takes like so long but I have one more and I don't know if you've read, and now I think it's sylvia. Is it sylvia day? Have you read the bear to me series? I think that's what it's called. Oh, yes, yes, okay, good, and so I. It was like that that I just like I'm never gonna write, probably more like the erotica side, but like, oh my gosh, it just like changed. I was like this is like the best. I just I read, I'll read it like every year or so it oh yes.

Jordan:

I read it a like a long time ago, like when I was like back at like in college. I read it and then not all the books were out yet. And then recently not okay, not recently, like still like a few years ago, like before I joined bookstagram I read it again and I read all the books and it's just like I don't. It's it like that series. It's just so good. I love that series. It's so good. Oh, I get it. I feel like now I need to reread it again.

Ann Einerson:

I know I'm like, oh wait, I want to read it again. Um, sorry, there's the last one. I will say um, and I always say the series wrong. So if you know, abby Glynes has the um, oh gosh, I know I can't say uh, mary, is it Rosemary? Uh, it's Rose.

Jordan:

You know I'm talking about and I it Rosemary Rosemary Hill, I think, is this the one.

Ann Einerson:

It's a hill, no, it's the, it's a beach, it's the, because it's like the country club. Yeah, the country club and they like is this um, are you?

Jordan:

uh? Is this um? The second book is?

Ann Einerson:

because of rosemary beach.

Jordan:

I think it's rosemary beach. Huh is the second book because of low and like the first. Is that, um, maybe that's not the right one I'm thinking of? I feel like um.

Ann Einerson:

Let's see, fallen too far. I can't remember which one's the first one, but it's fallen too far, never too far, rushed too far um. Is that the?

Jordan:

one where the first book is like her step step brother. Is that that yeah?

Ann Einerson:

uh-huh, okay, yes, I read that every year too. I have those two series and I like love them.

Jordan:

So I know that I said no.

Ann Einerson:

The name of it, but yeah, no, it's so good granted, I don't.

Jordan:

I don't know the name of it Rosemary Heath. Rosemary Heath Fallen.

Ann Einerson:

So Far is the first one um, okay, I've definitely read that one and there's several like there's I think it's three for the first couple and I think she has a fourth with his point of view, and then you get like the different couples. So every couple has two books after that and it's so good Like I read like the 10 of them like multiple times.

Jordan:

But I, I, just I remember reading the first one, like so long ago I, I think I don't think there were. When I read it, I don't think there was more of them.

Ann Einerson:

So I only had that one, which was so sad.

Jordan:

They're really good, I got, I have to, but oh my god, yes, because I remember this cover, yeah.

Ann Einerson:

I it's so good, it will always feel good, it's so.

Jordan:

I agree, it's so good. Um, okay. So if you could have a literary dinner party with three authors, living or dead, who would you invite and why?

Ann Einerson:

Okay so going back to that, well, I kind of already explained why, but, like with the Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, I know I just think it'd be so cool to like talk to, like just again, people that were ahead of their time and just be able to like understand what's going on in their head and like how they created such like great like characters and stories. It's just incredible.

Jordan:

I mean to be able to pick their brain.

Ann Einerson:

I, I totally agree to the t-shirt square and like how and like again, like to be able to write something like how do you even edit, or how do you even like make changes to, like, when you're writing like that and it could sound like a pen, you have the quilt, I mean, so it's just, it'd be really interesting. I, that's true, I didn't even think of that. Yeah and like, and you didn't have really electricity, right, because I'm like, yeah and so it's like had, like you like by candlelight, I, I don't know, I can't. I mean, it's just incredible.

Jordan:

So honestly, it really is um okay. So then that's the last in reading so personal um looking back on your life. What is one valuable lesson you've learned?

Ann Einerson:

I would say to never give up and just trust your gut. So I think again, like with the book stuff, just to kind of trust like your instinct of like where you're, like where I've been going, um, and to just keep trying. When things don't work out and I think that's with any, that's with any industry or anything that you're doing it's just never like allow, you can get discouraged, but to never give up and say okay, like today wasn't a great day but tomorrow could be the best day, and so just to kind of keep moving forward.

Jordan:

I like that because I just think about like, if you did give up, we wouldn't have like this amazing, like Aspen Grove series that I'm obsessed with.

Ann Einerson:

It would be like oh no, well, we do, so that's good, yes.

Jordan:

Yes, it did OK. So the last question what is one future goal that you would like to achieve?

Ann Einerson:

either long term, short term in writing or books or personal or anything. Yeah, so I think for definitely hitting the top 100 on Amazon someday. It's not like I don't have, that's not like I must, but that's what. I just kind of keep it a little bit smaller because I'm like you know, a New York Times bestseller is a little that. That depends on if you're actually being traditionally published or not and things like that. So for me, the top 100 just something. It doesn't have to be recent.

Ann Einerson:

I have I'm not going to share them, but I do have, like on a post-it note, every year I'll have like, say, six to seven goals related to books. So, like this last year I was able to like complete all of them, I think, except one, but there was a reason, um. So I think, just like I have, like just for next year, like I'm like, okay, here's what I want to like do and how do I get to those goals and align. So I think I think that's really important to be able to track. Like what's the? There's a phrase about um, what is it like? The mind over matter? Like if you keep saying it will become true? I know there's a quote, but I can't remember. Um. So that's kind of just use that mentality of like okay, I just see that post you know every day and my brain's like, okay, you have this goal. It's March right now. How do we get there to December?

Jordan:

so oh, I like that well, and also like talking about like being traditionally published. Is that like a goal at yours? Like would you ever want to be traditionally published with something that you've already written or with a new book?

Ann Einerson:

yeah, there's no plans right now. I really like it is different with indie. Like you don't have the autonomy to have betas and alpha readers and like that. Like it's just not, it's, it's just different, and so I really don't want to give that up because I feel like that keeps my books at the level that I want them to be. Um, so as of right now, no, I really like the indie space and I just think that you know the support is so great with those like um readers, and then I just want to keep that relationship really close because it does change if you, you know, become traditionally published. So for now we'll just stick where we are and I'm good with it okay, okay, um, I like it.

Jordan:

Uh, is there anything you wanted to say? You can have floor. I don't know if you want to plug yourself or what.

Ann Einerson:

Well, the holiday clause is out. If you guys want to read it. It's a short novella so it's a little risk to pick it up. And then obviously, harrison and Fallon's book comes out in March and the plan is to have um three more books plus the holiday book next year. Um, so I probably will announce as they come um, but we will probably start with like two standalones and then kind of decide how we want to like move forward from there.

Jordan:

So okay, okay, I'm so excited, um, and then, like you, uh, people can follow you. Are you at ann enerson it's author, ann enerson, and okay, enerson author and okay, I believe so yeah just wanted to make sure I should know.

Ann Einerson:

and then all my websites, annenersoncom, so everything is on there too, so okay perfect, perfect.

Jordan:

Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast.

Ann Einerson:

Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it. It was so much fun.

Jordan:

I had so much fun, so thank you so much. Thank you so much for listening. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Please feel free to rate and review us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, and if there's any interviews or conversations you would like me to have with someone specific, please reach out either email or through our Instagram, available in the show notes and happy reading.