July 6, 2013

Margaret Tanner

Margaret Tanner Brings
Readers Frontier Australia
 
 Margaret Tanner is a multi-published Australian author. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her historical romance novels, and prides herself on being historically accurate. No book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty, or cemetery too overgrown. Many of her novels have been inspired by true events, with one being written around the hardships and triumphs of her pioneering ancestors in frontier Australia.
As part of her research she has visited the World War 1 battlefields in France and Belgium, a truly poignant experience.
She won the 2007 and 2009 Author of the Year at AussieAuthors.com. A Rose In-No-Man’s Land won an un-published manuscript award. Her novel Frontier Wife won the Best Historical Romance Novel at the 2010 Readers Favorite Award, and another novel, Wild Oats was a 2011 Finalist in the EPIC awards.
In 2012, an unpublished manuscript was short listed in English publisher, ChocLit’s, Find an Australian Star, competition.
Margaret is married with three grown up sons, and two gorgeous little granddaughters.
Outside of her family and friends, writing is her passion.
 
Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?
I live in Australia, and I guess the best way to describe my writing is to call it historical fiction with romantic elements. I am multi-published with three different publishers, The Wild Rose Press, Whiskey Creek Press and Books We Love Ltd.
 
Please tell us your latest news!
My novel, A Rose In No-Man’s Land, which is set against a background of World War I, has recently been released by The Wild Rose Press.
 
Please describe your writing environment.
I write my very first draft in long hand in a notebook, so I can really do it anywhere that I happen to be. The only thing I need is silence. I can’t work with noise. Even soft background music disturbs my flow of words.
 
Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
I never plan anything. I have a vague idea about my characters before I start, but they really evolve as the story progresses.
 
How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?
I do a lot of research for my books, and it helps that I like history. I can’t stand inaccuracies in stories, so I try as hard as I can not to have them in mine.  There is nothing worse, in my humble opinion, than to start reading a story then find some historical aspect is incorrect. If that happens, I don’t finish the book, and I never buy that author’s work again.
 
What main genre do you write in?
Historical Romance, although it would be more accurate to say, Historical Fiction with romantic elements.
 
What are your hobbies?
Writing, reading and researching. Family time.
 
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I can’t remember a time when I haven’t written. At first I used to write these pitiful, sad little ditties, then I graduated to short stories, until I found my true love, writing novels.
 
What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?
I fly by the seat of my pants.
 
What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?
 
What type of book have you always wanted to write?
A best seller.
 
Battlefield nurse, Amy Smithfield, falls in love with Captain Mark Tremayne, but he is bound to his dead wife. He can never marry again or tell Amy the truth, unless he wants to risk the gallows for a murder he did not commit.
 

22 comments:

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Debbie,
Thank you so much for inviting me to Romancing The Hearts.

Regards

Margaret

Judith Ashley said...

Hi Margaret, Waving to you from the Pacific Northwest. I learn so much about Australia and its history from reading your books and your Romancing The Genres blog. Thank you for being so diligent in your research. I know when I read a novel by Margaret Tanner, the historical details are accurate.

Ursula Renee said...

Hi Margaret. I also love research. It's almost at much fun as creating the stories.

Margaret Tanner said...

Thank you for dropping by Judith and for your flattering comments, you are too kind.

Regards

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Ursula,
Yes, I agree, half the fun is the research, that is the reason why I write historicals.

Regards

Margaret

Barbara said...

Margaret, fun to compare our two styles: totally opposite. You write your first draft longhand, fly by the seat of your pants and can't have any noise. The only longhand I do is to plot out my story on notebook paper first. The rest is done on the computer with television in the background. Bottom line: whatever works.

Barbara Barrett

Dani-Lyn Alexander said...

Hi Margaret,
I can't believe you write your books out by hand first. I thought I was the only one who did that. lol.
Dani-Lyn

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Barbara,
Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it.
We certainly are opposites in the way we write, but like you say, whatever works.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Dani-Lyn,
Thanks, nice to mee up with you here. Well, just goes to show there are at least two of us who do our first draft in long hand. I thought I was the only one.

Regards

Margaret

Jerrie Alexander said...

Interesting post, Margaret! That you allow your characters the freedom to develop themselves as the story goes is a great method.

I'm with you on the research, it's vital.

Rolynn Anderson said...

We're sisters...you write the way I write! I never know what I'll end up crafting each morning...which is one of the appeals to our seat of the pants approach. Does this happen to you...when you find you have to do some extra research, the new information compels you to go back and adjust your previous work? Happens to me all the time, but I like that crazy process, too. Rolynn

Barbara Bettis said...

I have to agree with silence as the best 'background' to writing. Although I do admit I occasionally put a CD I'm completely familiar with softly in the background. Otherwise, I get too wrapped up in the music and lose concentration.

Barb Bettis

Paty Jager said...

Margaret, We may be continents apart but we have a lot in common!

Unknown said...

I'm so happy to have you here Margaret! I hope you enjoy the week and please, come back and visit again.

Debbie
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Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Debbie,
Thank you so much, I certainly would love to come back for a return visit.

Cheers

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Paty,
That is so true, our outback and your old West are very similar.


Regards

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Barbara,
Thanks for dropping by. Even a CD doesn't do it for me. Total silence I'm afraid it is for me.

Regards

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Rolynn,
Thanks for dropping by, I am so much like you when it comes to writing I am wondering if we weren't siamese twins in a previous life.

Regards

Margaret

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Jerrie,
Thank you for dropping by. You are so right research, is absolutely vital.

Regards

Margaret

jrlindermuth said...

Wonderful interview, Margaret. I agree--research is half the fun of writing. And I agree--a bestseller is an excellent goal.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi John,
Thank you so much for dropping by I appreciate it.
I guess we would all love a best seller.

Regards

margaret

Sarah Raplee said...

Love your answer to the question about what kind of book you've always wanted to write, Margaret!

I enjoyed the interview.