Author spotlight: Charlotte Anne

In the lead-up to ARR2021 in December we will be spotlighting the authors who will be signing. In the spotlight today we have Charlotte Anne.

Who was the first romance author to catch your interest?

That would have to be Nalini Singh. I was given a copy of Visions of Heat by ARRA back in 2015, the day before the Canberra convention was due to start. I read the whole book that night and fell in love. I’d been given a ticket to attend the convention as a birthday gift, even though I’d never actually read a romance at that point—ironic, yes, but obviously the universe knew what was best for me, because here I am all these years later reading almost nothing but romance!

What do you write?

Regency romance: there’s just something so intriguing about the incredible contrast between the ballrooms of the wealthy and the political unrest of the poor. Throw all these elements together and you get a bubbling pot of contrasts just about to boil over.

Which usually comes to you first—characters or plot (or something else)?

I’m pretty sure I envision my characters first. Out of seemingly nowhere, some quirky aspect of a character’s personality will come to me. For The Unworthy Duke I saw this woman breaking into a house by climbing in through a window during the middle of a storm and coming face to face with an incredibly grumpy and heartbroken (and somewhat drunk) recluse—a duke, of course.

Choose one of your books to turn into a movie—who would you cast in the lead roles?

Haha! That would have to be my one and only book—The Unworthy Duke.

For Ellen, I’d love none other than Claudia Jessie, who plays Eloise in Bridgerton. As for Calum: a young Gerard Butler with his absolutely perfect Scottish accent. He’ll have to bring his best angry sulking face to the performance!

Finally, for Calum’s very active and overdramatic grandmother, I think Dame Judi Dench would be heaven—combining the chaotic energy of Jean Hardcastle from As Time Goes By mixed with her regal portrayal of Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice.

Tell us about your latest release in 100 words or less:

The Unworthy Duke. Ellen Burney doesn’t have a penny to her name. Determined to escape scandal, she flees to London and becomes Miss Smith: spinster and lady’s companion. London offers security in anonymity. Calum Callaghan spent ten years in the Royal Navy fighting Napoleon and has the scars to prove it. Now he’s a duke, but all of London thinks he murdered his brother. Heartbroken and battle weary, he’s locked himself away for four long years, a prisoner in his own townhouse. That is, until Cal’s grandmother comes to stay with him for the London Season, her new lady’s companion in tow.

What else are you working on in 2021?

At the moment, I’m working on the sequel to The Unworthy Duke, which features Calum’s cousin, the very dapper Mr Owen Tattershall, and the apple of his eye, Miss Sophy Calder, who has hair so startlingly and unfashionably red Owen can’t help but be entranced by her.

Charlotte’s latest release:

You can find more information on Charlotte on her website.

If you haven’t booked your ticket for ARR2021 yet, you can buy one HERE.

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