Spotlight on Changeling Press: Anne Kane

Changeling Press turns 20 in 2024. To celebrate, we’re featuring Changeling Press authors all month at TRS.

Meet Anne Kane

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after.

She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing, and of course, reading.

An Interview with Holly Hewson at TRS

HH: What inspired you to start writing and how did your journey with Changeling Press begin?

Anne: I’m not sure any one thing inspired me to start writing – I’ve always loved to tell stories. I got serious about it when my kids both left home the same year and I found myself with an empty nest. I had actual time on my hands to do something just for me.

I found Changeling Press because one of my favourite authors, Angela Knight, wrote for them. At that time, I had recently discovered her and was devouring everything she wrote. I was in a creative writing class and my teacher mentioned Changeling as a place I could submit to. I was in awe when they accepted my submission. I swear I walked on air for days! That was in 2008, and I still love this publisher.

HH: Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you go from an initial idea to a finished manuscript?

Anne: That’s a tough question. Sometimes ideas bounce around in my head for days, weeks, or even months before I act on them. Other times I just jump on them and race through until I type “The End”. Recently I took a plotting course so I’m working from an actual outline on my current project. I’m pleased with how that’s going. I’ve completed the first draft and just started going back to fill in missing details.

HH: How do you develop your characters? Do you draw inspiration from real-life experiences or pure imagination?

Anne: Sometimes I draw on real life experiences for attitude and such like but most of my characters are pure imagination. If it’s the hero of a romance novel, it’s probably based on what I’d like a guy to do, and how I’d like him to treat me. Physical characteristics depend on what is needed by the plotline, but I have to admit I don’t know a lot of six foot ten guys with solid abs who are very well endowed. Most of that could be defined as wishful thinking!

HH: Of all the books you’ve written for Changeling Press, which one is your favorite and why?

Anne:  Gosh, I’m not sure I have a favourite. I love all my books, but if I have to pick one, I think it would be Shifting Priorities. The idea of Imperial Were-Panthers came via a few too many glasses of wine. It started out as a joke and turned into an awesome concept with some very feisty heroines. All in all, I have a soft spot for those Alpha felines and what I put them through.

HH: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your writing career and how did you overcome them?

Anne: Marketing was a huge challenge, but very necessary. I am not a social butterfly by nature, so I’ve always struggled with marketing and actually connecting with readers. I find having a separate social media presence for my writer persona helps a lot with that. If I say or do something silly, it’s not me. It’s that darn author! I guess I’ve developed a split personality which has helped with social situations, at least online ones.

HH: Changeling Press is known for its diverse genres. Is there a genre you haven’t written in yet but are curious to explore?

Anne: There’s a ton of options, and I’ve considered writing explicit erotica, but I’d probably use a different name. Readers expect a certain type of book from an author and jumping into something entirely different would be an issue, I think. If I did write erotica under a different name I would likely acknowledge it under my current name, but warn people it’s not going to be quite what they expect. And that could be alright. I read a wide variety of genres, and I assume others do as well.

HH: Do you have any unique writing rituals or habits that help you stay focused and creative?

Anne: I’ve started doing writing sprints and I find they really help me bolster my word count. I did the first one grudgingly on a dare, and was surprised at how well it went. Now I’m committed to doing them on a weekly basis.

HH: What advice would you give to aspiring authors who dream of being published by Changeling Press?

Anne: Read the genre you’re hoping to write, put your heart and soul into the manuscript, and make sure it’s as clean as you can get it before submitting. By clean, I mean grammar and punctuation. Not sex! Changeling likes sex. Lots of sex. Inventive sex even. Make sure you have some sex in there but have relatable characters and a plot as well. Changeling is super supportive of its writers, so it’s a great place to start your publishing career.

HH: How do you see the future of digital publishing evolving, and what role do you think Changeling Press will play in it?

Anne: Changeling has hung in there when a lot of other e-publishers have folded. Changeling has managed to hang in there while many other e-publishers have folded, which I think is a testament to their strong position in the industry and their ability to thrive. I don’t really know how digital publishing is changing. It’s been a crazy industry from the start. I see Audio books gaining popularity but I’m not sure if that’s a phase or maybe a new direction. Time will tell!

A special Changeling Press Memory

Anne used to write a favorite article in the Changeling Press Ezine called Ramblings of a Jack Russell Terrier

Ramblings of a Jack Russell Terrier – June 2009

*yawn* *blink, blink*

Good morning, everyone. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Sassi, a female Jack Russell Terrier, and I own one of the Changeling Authors, Anne Kane. I found her at the local animal shelter a few years ago, and while we had a few issues at first, her training is coming along nicely.

Up until now, she’s kept me a secret from all of her readers, so I think it’s about time people realize how important I am. Her muse wouldn’t even show up some days if I didn’t let it play fetch with my tennis ball. And let me tell you, not everyone gets to play with my ball. I’m a very fussy when it comes to my toys.

Living with an author has its challenges. For one thing, she keeps asking my opinions on her plot lines. Like I’d care whether those space pirates came from behind an asteroid or just popped into existence from another dimension. While she’s a good author, she seems to have trouble making those kinds of decisions without first discussing them with me. So I had to tell her, like, of course they were hiding in the asteroid field. If they were in another dimension, they would have just attacked someone over there. Pirates are lazy, otherwise they’d go get a job and then they wouldn’t be pirates, would they?

Right now, she’s working on the third book in the Stargazer Series and frankly, if she changes the hero’s name one more time, I’m going to hide her mouse. Right now, he’s named Ryland, but last week he was Grunnar, and the week before that he was Tayler.

I like Ryland. It has a nice ring to it. I could see me liking a guy named Ryland. I could order him around. “Ryland – go get my dinner.” “Ryland – get me a milk bone.” “Ryland – time for my walk.” Yes, it’s definitely a good name. Maybe I’ll go get my tennis all and let her throw it for a bit so she forgets about changing his name.