Anne Gracie: Have Faith That the Story Will Work Out

Anne Gracie writes fun, heartwarming regency-era romances for Berkley, USA. She’s a national bestselling author in the USA, a five time RITA finalist and her books have won a number of awards, both in the USA and Australia. Her books have been translated into 17 languages. In the past two years she was voted “Favorite Australian Romance Author” by the Australian Romance Readers Association. Follow her on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

In this interview, Anne discusses how a character from a previous book inspired her new historical romance, The Secret Daughter, her advice for other writers, and more.

Name: Anne Gracie
Literary agent: Nancy Yost
Book title: The Secret Daughter
Publisher: Berkley Historical Romance (regency-era)
Release date: December 24, 2024
Genre/category: Historical Romance (regency-era)
Previous titles: The Scoundrel’s Daughter, The Autumn Bride, The Perfect Rake, Marry in Haste, To Catch a Bride, Wish Upon A Christmas Candle; and more.
Elevator pitch: In the idyllic French countryside Zoë Benoit, traveling under an assumed name, meets a mysterious artist known simply as Reynard (the fox). Back in England, how will they discover each other, and can they move past their initial betrayals, especially Zoë’s deepest secret?

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What prompted you to write this book?

Zoë, the heroine, sprang to life in a previous book (The Heiress’s Daughter) when she was discovered in an orphanage by her half-sister. She was a real pistol, and I knew at once that she had to have her own story. As well, because she was half French, though born and raised in England, I wanted to explore her background a little. It was also something a bit different from the usual Regency story with Almacks and balls, etc.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

It was a long, slow process, hindered by the fact that I was moving house. All my books change in the process—I’m an organic writer, and while I have clear ideas about some of the scenes to come, I don’t write to a strict plan. As well, the more I write, the better I get to know my characters, and they then dictate a lot of what happens in the book.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

Yes, Zoë’s mother was a French aristocrat who had escaped the terror of the French Revolution at the age of 11 and had to make her way in the U.K. alone and unsupported. So, I did a lot of research into that background. As usual with research, most of it didn’t make it into the book, but informed the setting and Zoë’s understanding of her mother, who died when she was a child.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

Yes, my hero, Reynard, wouldn’t behave himself—he’s quite a flippant fellow—and several times he took the story in a different direction. But I liked him—he’s a charmer—and I think readers will too.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I hope they’ll enjoy it, and those who’ve read the previous books in the series will enjoy catching up with those characters, particularly with what happens at the end with their most irritating neighbor (whose mother is second cousin to a duke, you know.)

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Dream deep about your story and your characters, and have faith that the story will work out. Most of us write with doubt hanging over us. I write down those doubts in a notebook as they occur, and then answer them in writing, which helps to make it clear whether that doubt is general anxiety or something real in the story. If it’s real, you can fix it. If it’s general anxiety, writing it down helps allay it.