CHRISTMAS WITH… Anna Campbell
CHRISTMAS WITH… Anna Campbell
What are your plans for Christmas 2015?
It’s been a really busy year so I’m looking forward to a bit of break over Christmas. Lots of reading. A lot of pool time. A bit of trashy TV. Catching up with friends. You know the drill!
Tell us about a usual Christmas in your home?
Very quiet and family with something nice for lunch! Phone calls from absent loved ones. Lots of presents!
Any gift in particular that you’d love to see wrapped under the tree?
Hmm, I wonder if someone’s posting me a nice shiny Tom Hiddlestone? Santa, are you listening?
What is a typical Christmas lunch and/or dinner at your house?
We used to do the full traditional Christmas dinner, based on the English model. That involved several sorts of baked meats, turkey and pork and ham, usually; lots of baked veg; cauliflower cheese; green beans; lashings of gravy. Then plum pudding with custard and ice cream. Nom, nom, nom, but not terrifically suitable for the middle of summer in Australia. These days, it’s usually something yummy like seafood or rack of lamb with ice-cream to follow. And champagne. There’s always lashings of champagne.
Tell us, what is the one dish that gets served every single year? Is there a story behind this?
Since we’ve gone non-trad (see above), Christmas dinner can be a complete surprise!
Essentials for an Aussie Christmas…
Family
Swimming
Good books
The Queen’s Christmas Message
Yumbo goodies
Me playing Christmas carols very badly on the piano
Champagne
Your best Silly Season survival tip?
Always have your next good book lined up and your beach towel to hand.
What will you be reading this Christmas?
I’m hoping to dive into P.F. Chisholm’s Sir Robert Carey series – I’ve read the first three and absolutely loved them, but they’re compulsive reading so a few days off is the perfect opportunity to devour the rest. Romance-wise, I love to read a few Christmas stories at this time of year, especially anthologies. This year, I’ve got Christmas Revels 2, a couple of Mary Balogh collections, and Christmas in Duke Street to start my binge.
What have been your big achievements in 2015?
I’ve had my biggest ever publishing year. A Scoundrel by Moonlight came out in April, then I wrote and released three indie novellas, Three Proposals and a Scandal, The Seduction of Lord Stone (the first in my Dashing Widows series), and finally my Christmas novella, A Pirate for Christmas. Last year’s Christmas story, Her Christmas Earl, won the Australian Romantic Novella of the Year award, which was a great thrill.
What are your plans/goals for 2016?
I hope to start a new historical romance series and publish four more novellas, the next two Dashing Widows stories, a standalone called Stranded with the Scottish Earl around May, and then at the end of the year, a boxed set of all my Christmas novellas plus a new story set in Penton Wyck, the village in A Pirate for Christmas. I’m heading to America for the first time since 2010 for the Historical Romance Retreat in Spokane (http://www.historicalromanceretreat.com/). There’s a chance I might be doing some more events when I’m over there, so keep an eye out for announcements.
A Pirate for Christmas
Anna Campbell
Pursued by the pirate…
Bess Farrar might be an innocent village miss, but she knows enough about the world to doubt Lord Channing’s motives when he kisses her the very day they meet. After all, local gossip insists that before this dashing rake became an earl, he sailed the Seven Seas as a ruthless pirate.
Bewitched by the vicar’s daughter…
Until he unexpectedly inherits a title, staunchly honorable Scotsman Rory Beaton has devoted his adventurous life to the Royal Navy. But he sets his course for tempestuous new waters when he meets lovely, sparkling Bess Farrar. Now this daring mariner will do whatever it takes to convince the spirited lassie to launch herself into his arms and set sail into the sunset.
A Christmas marked by mayhem.
Wooing his vivacious lady, the new Earl of Channing finds himself embroiled with matchmaking villagers, an eccentric vicar, mistaken identities, a snowstorm, scandal, and a rascally donkey. Life at sea was never this exciting. The gallant naval captain’s first landlocked Christmas promises hijinks, danger, and passion – and a breathtaking chance to win the love of a lifetime.
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WIN the AusRom Today Christmas Extravaganza: 24 Christmas/Holidays themed novels from some of the best Australian romance writers! To win, leave your name and email address here and head on over to Facebook and share our pinned post (hint: it’s the picture of the prize!).
Anna has kindly offered two ebook copies of A Pirate for Christmas: A Regency Novella for the best answer to the following question… What would you get a pirate for Christmas? Answer in the comments below for your chance to win!
AusRomToday 
A new spyglass so he can always keep a weather eye towards the horizon, a treasure chest that he could fill with his personally coveted booty, a great plumed hat, leather coat, good boots, nice sword, a large case of liquor, may not be rum. He could fancy a nice wine or whisky…The list is endless with possibilities, lol.
Tina, my pirate is most impressed with your list. He says thank you very much and he’s put all of those things on his letter to Santa!
A busty wench delivering him a bottle of rum!
Tina, my pirate is most impressed with your list. He says thank you very much and he’s put all of those things on his letter to Santa!
Lucy, my pirate says, “yes, please!” He’s a very polite pirate. He always says please and thank you.
Carol Williams …Part of the day with my oldest son & family & then finish off Christmas night with my sister & her family. No cooking for me as I’ll will just be out of the hospital after having a shoulder replacement
Merry Christmas & a very Happy 2016!!!
Carol, sounds lovely. I hope the operation goes well. And a very merry Christmas to you too!
Thanks Anna for sharing with us. Yet to read your books. Merry Christmas and very Happy New Year to you and all at AUS ROM.
Jessy, J/aimee does an amazing job of supporting her fellow Aussie romance writers. Wishing you a very merry Christmas too.
Not sure if my first response went up, so trying again!
A busty wench serivng him a bottle of rum!
Lucy, my pirate says thank you this time! Ha.