Anna Hub
Featured Book: Beyond the Shadows
Hello readers! I’m a paranormal thriller author from Perth, Western Australia (yes, I have a funny accent) and I’m so excited to be involved in the Dark Legends boxed set. There are so many amazing authors in this project, I can’t wait to unleash it upon the world!
Welcome, Anna! How long have you been a writer and how did you come to writing? When I was a child I wanted to be an author, but as I grew up society somehow managed to convince me it wasn’t a good career choice. So when I left high-school, I studied nursing instead but as soon as I started working in that field, a deep sense of dissatisfaction stirred in me. Something was missing and that sense of being lost led me to my first novel. The more I wrote, the happier I became and I haven’t looked back since. Now my motto is: if you can’t do it with passion, don’t do it at all!
How did you come up with this story line? Shadows are constantly used to represent fear of the unknown in an audience, whether it be via movies, music or performance. I felt drawn to them because they can evoke such powerful emotions. I wanted to work on something dark and mysterious but not just to scare, rather to use as a contrast for the light. I thought, what if there was a good reason to fear your own shadow? What if it was the gateway to a sinister new world? The idea would leave my protagonist completely powerless, because no matter how fast she ran or how hard she tried to escape it, her shadow would always be one step behind her. I wanted to take her to the very edge of her survival ability, then give her the strength to overcome it. Because that’s what we all do in life, we fight to survive the bad things that happen to us.
What are the best and the worst aspects of writing? Writing a book is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and that never seems to change, whether it’s my first or my sixth novel. Because every book is different and they can’t be written the same way. Some days it really does feel as though every minute is just one tiny step in an impossible journey. But although it can be torturous, that is exactly the same thing that makes it so incredibly rewarding! It’s not worth winning if you don’t have to fight for it. All the frustration, long nights and aching neck muscles make the words ‘The End’ feel like such a victory. It’s within the struggle that there’s glory!
What inspires you to write? I’ve always been in love with dark concepts of ghosts, witches, magic and demons. I want to believe the supernatural exists in our world, even though we can’t see it. Writing books is the best way for me to find myself in their world. It truly is like living multiple lives at once. And I find the more I write, the more I learn about myself. It’s a way to digest the things that are happening in my life. Things that make me happy, things that break my heart and things that inspire me to be a better person.
How did you conduct your research for Beyond the Shadows? I had so much fun researching for Beyond the Shadows! I used a combination of Google searches and library books. My favourite was an SAS survival guide. So if the zombie apocalypse comes, you want to be with me. I know all about how to find food in the wilderness!
What is your favourite quote from Beyond the Shadows? “You spend so long fearing it,” his gaze lingered on his shadow, “but everything here is opposite. The very thing that brought you nightmares can be the thing you hope for.”
What would your friends say is your best quality? I’m a good listener and a loyal friend. Once you’ve got me, you’ve got me for life :)
Are reader reviews important to you? Reader reviews are so important to me. When you think about it, creative jobs are one of the few career choices where you don’t have a boss telling you how well you’re performing. I rely on readers to be honest in their feedback because it helps me learn and grow as a writer.
What do you do when you don’t write? I love picnics with my boyfriend, BBQs with friends and we have the most beautiful beaches in Western Australia so I love being there too. I also love love love yoga. It’s been a part of my life for many years now and I find it keeps me balanced both in mind and body. And of course, I love reading in the bath!
Tell us about your other books? Beyond the Shadows is the first book in a four part series, The Shadow Series. I also have a standalone paranormal thriller about ghosts, called The Ninth Hunter. And at the moment, I’m working on a YA novel about grim reapers.
One thing you’re sure to find in all my books is a unique take on mythology or a completely new concept all together. I love to explore uncharted ideas, although it can be torturous to edit, it’s totally worth it. Readers often comment on the depth of imagination that goes into my world building, and it’s so much fun to write!
If you could share one thing about yourself that you would like readers to know what would it be? I already mentioned this in one of my earlier answers but I love to preach passion. I live my life by this concept but I think we should all find something we can fall madly in love with. Whether it be cooking, sport, reading, painting, whatever! Find something that makes your heart sing and give time to it. The riches of happiness are far greater than anything else.
I absolutely love meeting new readers and fans of the fantasy/paranormal genres so we can share book recommendations. So don’t be shy, come and find me through the social media links!
Anna Hub is a paranormal/thriller author from Perth, Western Australia. She qualified as a nurse in her early twenties but in 2007, decided to chase her childhood dream of becoming an author instead. Since then, she has surrendered her heart and soul to writing. Although terrified of horror movies, Anna loves to write on the dark side and explore uncharted mythologies. She believes our imaginations are infinite and inside the pages of a book, there is no limit, no exact destination and our minds are free to exist in many worlds.
I love all things paranormal. It’s nice to get to know new authors.
Mary, it’s great to see you back blogging and visiting.