Annie Miles Interview

Good Tuesday morning! This week I welcome Annie Miles, author of Misled.

Tell me about your new book.

Misled is based on a true story and is told through flashbacks, letters, and present-day narration. It spans thirty years of a mother/daughter relationship and competition that lasted a lifetime. It’s about relationships, marriage, caring for an aging parent, and coping through trying times. It’s about deception, betrayal, love, and forgiveness.

Who is the audience for the book?

Anyone from nineteen to ninety. It’s categorized as women’s fiction, but men have read it and told me they enjoyed it. If you’re interested in human psychology and relationships, or if you want a really juicy, shocking story, you’ll probably like this book.

Tell me about the setting of your book—how did you choose it, what kind of research did you have to do, why did you choose it?

Since the book is based on real life, I didn’t choose the setting—it chose me. The setting isn’t a major player in this book—the characters and events are more central to the story.

What was the hardest thing about writing the book?

Reliving a lot of painful moments, both from the past and present. The book dates back to the 70s, but a lot happens in the present day. When I wrote the book, I came home and wrote about things that happened that day, and it was tough to live through it twice. But I also had to reflect on the past and revisit old wounds, which is never easy.

If your book were made into a movie, who would you like to see playing the main characters?

Meryl Streep hands down would make a great Diana—the mother. I think she could even carry off playing her in her 40s all the way to her 70s. You would need two actors each for the Annie and Daniel characters—one for the teenage/young adult years and one for their 40s and 50s. Maybe Kyra Sedgwick for the older Annie, and Emily VanCamp for the younger Annie. Russell Crowe would be a good adult Daniel, and Rupert Grint could be the young Daniel.

Have you written any other books?

I’ve written the first two novels in a mystery series under my real name.

Are you in one or more critique groups or partnerships?

I was when I wrote Misled, and I highly recommend them. I was in an online writers group, and it was enormously helpful.

Do you write every day?

I try to. I’ve just recently moved, so my life is completely upside down right now. I can’t focus on anything but unpacking boxes and finding all the stuff I need but that’s missing! I’m anxious to get back to writing.

When you read a book, what authors do you like best? What genres do you like best?

I like chick lit and mysteries. Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Stephanie Bond, Jennifer Cruise, Suzanne Brockman, Kyra Davis, and Michael Lee West are just off the top of my head. So many to love.

Where would you like to go more than anywhere else on earth?

A private beach with a room that’s all glass and looks out onto the water.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Read, read, read, write, write, write, and always always have beta readers and professional editors and proofreaders.

What is your favorite movie and why?

I love the movie version of Pride & Prejudice because I’m a hopeless romantic.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Trust your gut. It’s seldom wrong.

Describe yourself in three words.

Mother, writer, loner.

Where can readers connect with you?

https://www.facebook.com/anniemilesauthor

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnieMiles

https://twitter.com/AuthorAnnieM

http://anniemiles.us/

Where can readers find your books?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VALUFNU

 

About the book: When Diana, a lonely housewife, falls for Daniel–her daughter Annie’s teenage crush—she will stop at nothing to ensure he stays in her life. In Machiavellian style, Diana betrays her daughter, secretively designing, controlling, and planning Annie’s future. It isn’t until years later, when Annie discovers letters exchanged by her mother and Daniel, that she learns the truth and sees the manipulation and lies that led her to a doomed marriage.

Twenty years later, when Diana is diagnosed with dementia and Annie is forced to be her mother’s caretaker, she must come to terms with her mother’s betrayal, her husband’s deceit, and her own desire for love and happiness, all the while managing to maintain her sanity and sense of humor. Based on a true story, this book will shock, entertain, and astound you.

 About the author: Annie Miles is the pseudonym for the real woman portrayed in Misled. In real life, she writes a mystery series and is the mother of two sons and the legal guardian of her mother, who gives her new material daily. Annie is a firm believer in the saying, “People are put into your life as either a blessing or a lesson.” You will find both in the characters of Misled. It is the lessons that fuel the book and the blessings that fuel Annie. She lives in the South where she enjoys reading, writing, baking, and photography. She welcomes correspondence, particularly from women who are suffering through trying times. You can reach Annie at anniem828@gmail.com or http://authoranniemiles.us.

authoranniemiles@gmail.com

authoranniemiles@yahoo.com

Until next week,

Amy