PHOTO: Annette Austin: The Visionary Author Behind The James Saga, Capturing Hearts With Her Compelling Stories And Inspiring Resilience
From Novels To Short Stories: Annette’s Creative Evolution
Annette Austin shares her creative journey, her experience with self-publishing, the evolution of her iconic characters, and her passion for crafting stories that address sensitive themes with authenticity and depth.
Annette Austin stands as a shining example of literary passion and resilience, a writer whose compelling narratives have captured the hearts of readers across genres. With a remarkable repertoire of seven novels, Annette has masterfully traversed the realms of historical romance, crime fiction, and contemporary romance, showcasing her creative versatility and skill in crafting unforgettable stories. Her debut historical romance, The Fall of the House of James, remains a landmark achievement, having not only climbed to the Number 1 spot on Amazon’s History of Antebellum U.S. Chart but also earned a lasting place in the hearts of its readers. This novel, along with the subsequent books in The James Saga, has solidified her reputation as a storyteller who bravely tackles intricate themes of race, love, and humanity with sensitivity and depth.
As a self-published author, Annette’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. From her bold leap into full-time writing following a career in finance to her dedication in meticulously researching and developing her works, she has exemplified perseverance and passion. Her characters—complex, flawed, and deeply human—are brought to life with vivid emotional resonance. Whether it’s the fiery charisma of Lawrence James or the indomitable spirit of Donald Archer, she invites readers to embark on transformative journeys alongside them.
Annette Austin is an exceptional writer whose compelling narratives and dedication to her craft leave an indelible mark on readers.
Annette’s success extends beyond the realm of novels. Her return to short story writing has seen her work embraced by Flame Tree Publishing, with two of her thought-provoking stories appearing in prominent anthologies. This accomplishment, alongside her ongoing efforts in both historical and contemporary romance, speaks to her relentless commitment to creating meaningful and diverse narratives.
It is with great delight that Reader’s House welcomes Annette Austin to this issue, as we delve into her creative processes, the challenges of self-publishing, and her plans for the much-anticipated sixth instalment of The James Saga. Her passion for storytelling and her indomitable spirit promise to inspire writers and readers alike. Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary world of an author whose star continues to rise.
What inspired you to write The James Saga series, and how did you approach the sensitive themes of race and slavery when you created your characters?
In December 2012, I had a dream. After I awoke, I started to write a novel about a Southern family who resided on a plantation in South Carolina in 1860. I wanted to write a novel about slavery as, to my shame, it was a part of history that I knew very little about. Before and during the writing of the first novel in The James Saga, The Fall of the House of James, I did extensive research regarding the subject of slavery. I became aware of the brutal nature and the inhumane treatment metered out by slave owners and chief overseers to slaves. I decided to create the character of Preston Carmichael for The James Saga. He is the chief overseer of the fictional Havers End plantation who doesn’t possess any sort of compassion or redeemable features whatsoever.
I structured the novel so it would not just be about an interracial love story between the plantation owner’s son, Lawrence James, and a slave woman, Jasmine Thomas. Although this would be a strong story on its own, I also wanted the readers to become embroiled in the lives of some of the slaves on the plantation, so they could witness the horrific treatment they were forced to endure every day. I was mindful to be as realistic as possible regarding the welfare of the slaves, interspersing the novels with some facts about slavery. I was acutely aware of how sensitive the subject of slavery and race is which is why I took care with each aspect of the novel. It took until June 2018 for the first novel, The Fall of the House of James, to be published. It was a bestseller and went to Number 1 on Amazon (History of Antebellum U.S. Chart, June 2020.) There have been four more novels and a prequel in The James Saga. They have each garnered an overall rating of four stars and above on Amazon.
How do you balance writing across multiple genres like historical romance, contemporary romance, science fiction, and crime fiction?
It can be difficult. The best way is to just do one at a time. I devote time to writing in the genre I am interested in. When I was writing the thriller, The Devil Within, I attempted to write a romantic novel at the same time but I found I wasn’t writing as much as I would like and the stories were not flowing as I needed to constantly switch from one genre to another. In the end, I decided to focus on writing the thriller and then I wrote the romance novel after. Primarily, I now plan to write in the historical romance and the contemporary romance genres, although I don’t rule out trying other genres in the future.
Can you share more about your process of self-publishing and any challenges you faced along the way?
The process of self-publishing is not without its difficulties. Effectively, I’m my own boss which means I have to write, edit and publish the books. Also, I need to market them. Usually, I write and publish my novels within 11 months. However, the book I’m currently writing has taken much longer. There have been many challenges. The constant pursuit of sales and reviews can be draining. After a while, it affects your motivation and I find it hard to have the enthusiasm I had when I first started my self-publishing journey almost seven years ago. Yet, I still believe in the novels I write and I hope that one day, the books will be adapted by a television or film company and find a wider audience.
What made you return to writing short stories, and how did you feel about having your work published in anthologies by Flame Tree Publishing?
I used to write short stories before I started to write novels and I always enjoyed it. When I found out there was an opportunity for writers to send their short stories to Flame Tree Publishing, I jumped at the chance. There was a lot of competition in terms of the number of entries. Both of my short stories, The Bondage Tribe and The Well of Life, were chosen for Flame Tree Publishing’s Alternate History and Hidden Realms Short Stories Anthologies. This was a huge boost to my confidence.
How do you develop complex characters like Lawrence James and Donald Archer, and what do you hope readers take away from their journeys?
I think that the characters in a series of books are developed over time. The readers will see the development of the characters from the first book to the next until they reach the sixth novel. In the case of Lawrence James, he has a fiery temperament. At times, Lawrence can be charismatic and kind. But he can also be reckless and ruthless. This is revealed during the novels. He does have to deal with obstacles and tragedies in his personal life. It’s when Jasmine comes into his life that Lawrence finds a better way to cope with some of what he’s been through. Donald Archer is a rebellious slave who has faced hardships and mistreatment. When he meets Belvedere Rossiter, Lawrence’s sister, the reader will follow his path as, through her compassion and caring nature for him, Donald lowers his guard and his true character is revealed. The complex relationship between the two men is something which I’ve always enjoyed writing about because they are so different.
What can readers expect from the upcoming sixth installment of The James Saga, A Sweet Taste For Revenge?
They can expect a roller coaster of different storylines and dramatic events. There will be revelations as well as heartfelt moments. The two main storylines are about the ongoing love affair between Lawrence and Jasmine alongside the burgeoning relationship between Andrea Arthurs and Anton Kirby. The main focus of this particular book is about whether either relationship can survive the obstacles that are in their way. I’m hopeful that the next instalment in The James Saga will be published in February.
