Maggie Blackbird

Today, author Anna Denisch is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release Firsthand Research, an erotic romance. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Anna’s top ten favourite books/authors:
(In no particular order)
Markus Zusak – The Book Thief, The Messenger
Andy Weir – The Martian, Artemis
Claire North – The First 15 Lives of Harry August
Cat Sebastian – The Queer Principles of Kit Webb
Emily Skrutskie – The Abyss Surrounds us
L. A. Meyer – Bloody Jack Series

How long Anna has been writing:
Since I could hold a pencil. But I’ve been telling stories since I could speak semi-coherent sentences.

Anna’s thoughts on the current publishing market:
I think it’s highly saturated and yet unnecessarily gate-kept. There are a lot of writers and fantastic books that should be published but that aren’t because mainstream publishers only want the next hit that will appeal to as many people as possible. And since indie or self-publishing continues to have such a stigma to it, niche topics just aren’t making the market.

Anna’s thoughts on reading:
I used to read a LOT but then I got a degree in fancy reading and decided that I would apparently not read ever again (mostly). When I can be bothered to read, I usually go for SF/Fantasy or, surprising even to myself, non-fiction on the memoir/self-help end of the spectrum.

Anna’s writing process:
If you could see the number of WIPs I have right now….
I usually have a bunch of half-strewn about ideas and pages, but when it comes to actively working on books, I tend to focus on one for a short amount of time and then shift to another. That’s kind of how I ended up with three finished manuscripts all in about a few weeks of each other.

What Anna uses to write:
I am mostly a computer writer because my handwriting is awful, and I think too fast for my wrist to keep up. (My fingers are much better at the pace I set). However, whenever I’m traveling, I love nothing more than having a notebook(must be hardback and spiral bound) and pen ready to go, even if it’s easy enough to use my laptop.

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Title: Firsthand Research
Series: N/A
Author: Anna Denisch
Genre: Erotic Romance

A sweet and sensual friends-to-lovers erotic romance about finding self-love, overcoming childhood traumas, and learning to go after the future you want in this world.

Blurb: They say you should write what you know, but popular romance novelist Alice has never had a problem writing about love when she herself has always been single. Yet her newest writing venture, an erotic romance, is proving to be more challenging than she expected.

Enter Tony, the ‘playboy’ grandson of her publisher. After being kicked out ‘for his own good’, Tony’s looking for a place to stay and a job where he can prove himself. And what better use of his skills is there than helping Alice as her erotica research assistance?

In an exchange that works in both of their favors, Tony agrees to work as Alice’s writing assistant and Alice agrees not to tell his grandmother what he’s up to. But once Tony gets a real job at a rival publishing firm, his grandmother’s response threatens their newfound peace. If they want to preserve their futures, Tony and Alice have to come to terms with their feelings, both for each other and themselves.

A true learning to love yourself story where friends-turned-lovers-turned-romantic partners find their own peace in a world that’s designed to tear them down.

Amazon | Goodreads

Alice smiled and nodded, glancing down at her feet for a brief moment. “You know, it’s a little strange.”

“What is?”

“I’ve done all of these…well these things with you, and I’ve never even…I haven’t…” Alice sighed and hung her head, now staring at her feet.

“Never had sex with anyone,” Tony finished for her. “I know. It’s why I’m here to help.” He smiled, trying to ease the tension returning to her shoulders.

“Never dated anyone,” Alice whispered.

“You’ve never even gone on a date before?” Tony asked. “Like, not even a terribly awkward one when you’re thirteen and your parents sit behind you in the movie theater?”

Alice bit her lip and shook her head. “It gets worse,” she said, a nervous chuckle for added effect.

Tony could do the math. “You’ve never kissed anyone before, have you?”

Alice’s smile melted into a frown, and she shook her head, her eyes starting to water a bit. “I know,” she said. She sniffed. “It’s pathetic.”

“Hey, hey,” Tony put a hand on her back, rubbing it gently. “It’s not pathetic.”

“Sure,” Alice said. She hugged herself tighter.

“Listen, guys are dumb,” Tony told her. “Trust me, I know. I both am one and have dated them. Awful, horrible people.” Alice let out a soft laugh. “I think the problem is you’re just so way out of everyone’s league that they never even think they have a shot. I mean, really, who even comes close?”

Alice gave him a weak smile, one that has heard this sort of pep talk before. “I’m sure that’s it,” she said.

Tony deflated; the fun of the last moment replaced with an ache he hasn’t felt since he was a child. An ache he’s been running from his whole life.

“Listen. You really are an amazing person Alice, inside and out. And there’s not a singular doubt in my mind that you’re going to find someone perfect for you. Someone who’s going to get you, who’s gonna love you, who’s gonna worship the ground you walk on because that’s what you deserve. And good people always get what they deserve.”

Alice nodded, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the ground. “Anthony?” she asked, her voice slow, uncertain.

“Yeah?” Her head turned slowly until their eyes met. “Would you be my first kiss?”

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Anna Denisch was born and raised just outside of Baltimore City, but she has never called it home. When not traveling around the world or daydreaming about dragons, she spends her time looking at books she wants to read without actually touching them.

She received her M.F.A in Creative and Professional Writing from Western Connecticut State University and considers daily if she is just insane enough to take her family’s sometime suggestion of getting a PhD.

Follow Anna: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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Enter for a chance to win:
* Signed Copy of Firsthand Research
* $20 Amazon Gift Card
1 winner each!
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