Annette Anthony's Blog

Every summer they would secretly meet under the ancient oak, easily becoming the best of friends.  Even though, at first, they didn’t speak the same language, they communicated in their own special way.  As children, they would laugh and play in the vast wilderness, building a forbidden friendship.  As they grow, so does their deep devotion and understanding.  There is no one else meant for them but each other.
Nevertheless, being together is not easy.  They are from different worlds, and a from a time where so many outside forces are determined to tear them apart.
       Do they have the strength to stay together?Can a forbidden love conquer so many obstacles while existing in the cruel and untamed territory of the wild frontier?  Or can Victoria and Henry find that when it comes to matters of the heart, there is no such thing as diversity?
Under the Ancient Oak, is a beautiful, thought provoked love story, filled with romance, loss, murder, treachery, deceit, and devotion.                    
***In honor of Under the Ancient Oak being released tomorrow (7/11/13), Beneath the Aspens (the first book in the series) and Bittersweet(A Historical Romance) will be free to download (7/11-7/13)!  Follow any of my book links here on this blog to get to Amazon.  

         I'm going on vacation! What does this mean to you?  It means that I will be writing my little heart out...that's what it means!  My kids can play with their dad, and grandparent's, on the four wheelers and golf carts till their hearts content, and I can have some peace and quiet to dig deep in to my erratic imagination.
         I can't wait to sit out on the shady porch of my in-laws picturesque cabin, curled up with my laptop named, Steve, and write (Don't tell my husband about Steve, please.  He might get jealous).  I plan on getting lost in this little corner of heaven.  This patch of the amazing Southwest is what inspired the location of my book, Collide.  I love the feel the richness of the culture, and fall off the grid, literally.  I hope and plan on being inspired while working on the second book to Collide, Immix.  Oh, beautiful, red rock mesa's, flowering cacti, and papery juniper trees, I'll see you soon! 

Question: If you were going to be stranded in a remote cabin for the next year what 5 movies would you take with you and why?
After sorting through many, many movies, my answer would have to be, in no particular order...
#1-Pride and Prejudice  It almost feels like I have to pick a favorite child because there are several versions of this timeless story that I find endearing.  Nevertheless, the top two contenders are; the 2005 movie and the 1995 BBC television version.  However, once I weighed it all out, I would have to choose the 2005 movie, staring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyn.  It would pain me to leave the BBC television version with Colin Firth (in whom I adore as Mr. Darcy) behind.  Yet, being the sappy romantic I am, I can’t discredit the beautiful music, cinematography, and tension between Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy that is so brilliantly portrayed in the 2005 movie.  So scrumptious!
 # 2- 1987 Overboard I can’t even count how many times I have quoted, “I just ate a bug!” in Annie Proffit’s snotty voice, and for no particular reason, except that I find the scene where he makes her ride in the back of the pick-up truck strangely hilarious.  I have seen this movie many times, and every time I laugh harder than the last.  This movie has almost everything that I like in it—comedy, deceit, oddballs, rich snotty people, the hardworking underachieved, and, of course, romance.  There are rumors that they are remaking Overboard, casting J-lo as Annie Proffit.  Why?  If they do remake this movie they should cast Kate Hudson…it is only right. Don’t you think?
#3-The Princess Bride

 
Scaling the Cliffs of Insanity, battling rodents of unusual size, facing torture in the Pit of Despair--true love has never been so hard to achieve.  I adore this movie so much that my husband and I have hosted a "Princess Bride Party" where we served anybody want a peanut peanuts, R.O.U.S's ribs, and screaming eel. Aw, good times!  Nerdy, I know, but sharing this movie with my daughters was a bonding experience for me, and watching them be just as enthralled as I was the first time I saw this movie was rather fun.  How many of you have said these hilarious quotes before whenever you feel the need?
“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
“Stop that rhyming I mean it.  Anybody want a peanut?”
“I’m on the brute squad…You are the brute squad!”
“Everybody moooooooove!”
“I’m not a witch I’m your wife, and I don’t know if I wanna be that anymore.”
I could go on and on.  The point is, this movie is a classic for a reason, and would most certainly be one of MY five.  They are supposedly remaking this movie as well, which scares me.  Why mess with something this good?
#4- Lord of the rings   If I couldn’t bring the whole series, and I was forced to pick just one, then it would have to be Fellowship.    Its approach is noticeably different, both storyline and visual.  It is like two movies in one because the first half of Fellowship feels like an entirely different movie to me--it's charming and not really too dark, although I love dark and sinister as well.  However, when Frodo is stabbed, there is a shift, making us understand how real the threat is.  The cinematography and music are brilliant and it pulls me right in.  Besides the mystical draw of other worlds and creatures, there is a hint of romance, which for me must be in any movie or story to get my attention.
   #5-50 first Dates After I finally narrowed all the movies I love down to this one and The Wedding Singer, it was still hard to pick.  Both star Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, both are produced by Adam Sandler, who I love…most of the time.  Both are entertaining, funny, and a love story.  However, after much thought, 50 First Dates won.  It is so sweet how Adam Sandlers character keeps trying and trying to get her to remember, even when it seems hopeless.  But he never gives up.   How cute is that?  Some of you may be asking how I could pick this romantic comedy over all the Nicolas Sparks movies?  Well, first, I am a sucker for a good laugh, and, with the exception of The Lucky one, I hate how all his movies end.  If I am going to take the time to watch a movie it better have a happy ending, and I mean happy.  One where it is tied up with a neat bow and every character I have fallen in love with gets exactly what they want, and every villain gets what they deserve.  Yep, I am that cheesy! 
I would love to know what movies you'd bring and why…maybe you could convince me to bump one of my five movies and add your favorite.  I am that fickle, and there are so many I love!       
 
 
 

The decision has been made.  Here are those actors whom you think look the most like Phaedra and Ebon-- Michael Hudson as Ebon and India Eisley as Phaedra.  I have to agree that both look pretty close to what I imagined in my mind when writing Collide.  Oh well, enough daydreaming, I need to get back to real life.  Thanks for all your input and support. 

 





 

 I have had many friends tell me who they think should play Ebon or Phaedra if Collide was ever made into a movie.  Now I know this is really far fetched but it has made me think of which actors and actresses may possibly look a little like how I picture the characters in Collide.  Here are a few of who I think.  Feel free to comment on my Annette AnthonyFB page of who you think.   FOR EBON... Michael Hudson (Crooked Arrows)  Ryan Cunningham...( Or Gus Carr? (Bring it on, All or Nothing) Michael Hudson is one whom my sister-in-law just  scouted out.  He is totally Ebon to me. Ryan Cunningham has Native American blood in him.  I am thinking you can just dye his hair black and you are good to go.  He's certainly making a face expression that Ebon would make.
Gus Carr is Part Cherokee.  I think he could be Ebon as well.  I know which one I lean towards...I think.  Who do you think? 
  FOR PHAEDRA...  Alexandrea Daddario (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.)   India Eisley (She has been cast in the 2014 Disney film Maleficent as a younger version of the witch Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie).Dominique HinestrosaDominique HinestrosaDominique  Q'Orianka Kilcher (New World)
 Vanessa Hudgens (Can she loose the High School Musical?  I think she can.) Q'Orianka is totally Native American and was in the movie, New World at the age of 15. Vanessa Hudgens also has Native American blood in her.  I like all of them for different reasons.  What is your vote?  Or who else do you think?  Oh, how fun it is to cast my fantasy movie.

Just had to push through and get this novel published before the end of 2012!  Click on the book cover to get you to amazon.  26th & 27th the dowload will be free! Merry Christmas!

If  my poor blog could feel, I think it would say it has felt pretty neglected these past few months, and it would be right.  I have had so much going on that, not because I wanted to, I had to put my love, my passion, my writing aside.  Though I longed to escape and write, I am a mother and wife first.  I had hoped to have two books published by the end of this year, but the year is quickly coming to a close and it doesn't look like that is going to happen.  I thought that my book, Under the Ancient Oak would be ready however it is shaping up to be my paranormal novel, Collide that is taking the forefront.  However, neither book will be published until the beginning of 2013.  I can't wait to let all of you read it.  I love the beautiful, ethereal world that I have created in this Novel, Collide.  I have read through it over a dozen times, and every time I do I love it more and more.  The cover is finally to a point that I really love.  Does it make you wonder? It does me, and I know what the story holds.  I can't stop looking at it!   Soon, so very soon!

If  my poor blog could feel, I think it would say it has felt pretty neglected these past few months, and it would be right.  I have had so much going on that, not because I wanted to, I had to put my love, my passion, my writing aside.  Though I longed to escape and write, I am a mother and wife first.  I had hoped to have two books published by the end of this year, but the year is quickly coming to a close and it doesn't look like that is going to happen.  I thought that my book, Under the Ancient Oak would be ready however it is shaping up to be my paranormal novel, Collide that is taking the forefront.  However, neither book will be published until beginning of 2013.  I can't wait to let all of you read it.  I love the beautiful, ethereal world that I have created in this Novel, Collide.  I have read through it over a dozen times, and every time I do I love it more and more.  The cover is finally to a point that I really love.  Does it make you wonder? It does me, and I know what the story holds.  I can't stop looking at it!   Soon, so very soon!

Stepping into the realm of the paranormal has been consuming for me, and I love it. I have always been a fan of the genre, and when I was encouraged by my 11 year old daughter to, " just go for it, mommy,"  I decided I would.  Why not? The book is finished...or is it? It is already over 350 pages, and has been groomed for several sequels.  Because, of course, I already have more adventures for the characters of this book festering in my ever crazy mind!  Right now the ending is so blunt, so unresolved that I am toying with the idea of making the novel a couple hundred pages longer...or do I just make it into another book?  Every one loves a cliff hanger...right?   I don't.  I am so confused.  Regardless of what I decide to do, I have already been playing around with the cover page. What do you think?  Is it intriguing?  I know that I have to come up with a good synopsis to really pull a reader in.  A rebellious young woman who is confused, who continuously fights her animalistic urges, who was born from a world that is right in front of her, yet she never knew existed...    Of course, I will smooth out her eyelashes, and there are several more things I want to do to it.   But, all in all, I am really loving the direction in which the cover is going.   Now I am torn between historical fiction and paranormal.  I will never pick, for they are like my completely opposite children whom I love and adore equally.

  A couple of weeks ago I was horrified to find out that my book, Beneath the Aspens, had somehow been published showing all the edits and rewrites.  I just want you all to know that, though I am air-headed most of the time, I am not a complete idiot.  When I download my books on Amazon Kindle I can review what others will see.  Never, did I see the strikeouts, underlines, or mark-ups that were shown on the version everyone else downloaded.  I have fixed the problem and made sure it looks good from the customers point of view. 
                I love, love, love to write, though have never claimed to be an experienced writer.  What I am… is an artist, one who loves to create, especially stories—good, clean, fun, love stories!  The whole reason I decided to put my books out there on Amazon was that I had so many ask to read my stories. I figured self publishing was a good way to do it for my friends and family (while having a copyright). If others have found and read my books, and loved them in the process, then I am very happy.  As a pathetic apology to those who downloaded my crappy copy, Beneath the Aspens will be free Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 28thand 29th.  Please...please...PLEASE go and re-download it and then erase your other horrible copy ASAP!  It is still not perfect, but at least you will not have all those annoying distractions!  Even if you don’t have a kindle, you can still download it, you just hit “BUY” and then there are options for a free app to whatever device you might have.  Tell your friends. HAPPY READING!    Just click on this link to take you there.http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB008M27GEQ%23_&h=rAQHH2om2&s=1