Is deep sea diving on your adventure bucket list? If yes, then Anne Bennett’s recent adventure story, On Bonaire, is just the pick for you. And if not? Then trust us when we say that this book will make you write it in. The book follows Lyla Cooper and her both adventures and misadventures on both land and sea (very literally).
After the release of her book, On Bonaire; we, at Vowelor, had an interesting conversation with Anne about her writing. But, before we continue with her interview, here’s a little something about her:
About the Author: Anne Bennett
Anne Bennett is an author and master diver from North Carolina who has recently published her novel by the name of On Bonaire. It is an adventure-packed story of finding love on a beautiful island surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful reefs.
The underwater adventure sections of Anne’s book came from her own love for the water which she developed very early in her life. She specializes in night diving, and wreck diving, and has a certification in shark awareness along with other achievements.
Further, Anne shared about her life, her writing journey, her inspirations, and more interesting things about herself. Here are all of her interesting answers:
Where were you born and bought up? Tell us about your parents and family.
I grew up in Syracuse, New York with my parents, two brothers, and a sister.
Which writers inspire you?
My favorite writers are Elin Hilderbrand, Stephen King, and Nicholas Sparks.
Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?
I find relaxation in walking through the neighborhood and reading.
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
I find motivation in the saying, “Dreams don’t work unless You Do”.
What are you reading currently?
I’m currently reading Stephen King’s “On Writing” (It’s never too late to learn).
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
I wish I had authored The Help, hands down my all-time favorite character book. I missed those ladies when I finished the book.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I write each weekend. I have a full-time job during the week.
What is the reason you write; is it for the readers or yourself or it’s something else entirely?
I write in order to introduce people to the wonders in our oceans. I hope to inspire readers to love our oceans and want to protect the creatures that live there.
About the book: On Bonaire
On Bonaire is author Anne Bennett’s latest addition to urban contemporary genre and women’s fiction. It follows Lyle Cooper who embarks on a journey to the beautiful island of Bonaire to sought some peace in the warmth of Carribean waters. But little did she knew that the beautiful island and its surrounding reefs have a lot more for her than she could have imagined.
What genre is your book? What draws you to this genre?
I write women’s fiction, contemporary. This genre has a lot of potential and a lot of possibilities.
Was there something that made you write this book?
I chose to write about Bonaire because it is a place I love. I’ve visited and dived the reefs of Bonaire several times over the years. When I describe Bonaire in the book, it is so beautiful and magical, that there is no need to exaggerate the beauty of the island.
What makes ‘On Bonaire’ stand out in this genre?
I think On Bonaire really stands out because of the setting. I tried to make the island, and the ocean, feel like additional characters in the book.
Why do you think a reader should pick this book over anything else?
People should read On Bonaire to be taken to exotic locations, dive with the characters, and fall into the slightly mysterious love story being told.
The book has aspects like elaborate underwater adventures, passion, friendships, and romance. What were the hardest and the easiest things or ideas to incorporate?
The easiest part of the book to write was the underwater adventures. I’ve experienced these first hand. Keeping the romance new and fresh was most difficult.
Is there any special experience throughout the writing process of ‘On Bonaire’ that you’d like to share?
When first written, On Bonaire had very little romance and character development. I simply wanted to write a book about scuba diving. Friends recommended adding some love interest and more character interaction. In doing so, I created, On Bonaire.
Future Plans
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I’m currently writing Back On Bonaire. Although the ending is satisfactory, I’ve left too many things unresolved in the first book
Are you working on your new project? What will be your next book about?
Success for me is measured by the reactions I’m getting from readers. I’ve had several tell me they couldn’t put the book down and finished it in just one day! Success!
Do you prefer self-publishing or traditional publishing, and why?
I’ve learned so much going through the self-publishing process. It is wonderful to have total control over my story and how I want to present it to my readers.
One lesson that you’d like to pass on to young debut authors.
If you’re a young writer starting out, seek out help and advice from other writers. Have a lot of people read your work and learn to take advice and criticism.
Your opinion on Vowelor.
Vowelor has been so great to work with. They give me my assignments and patiently wait for me to respond. They know I’m busy writing! The ad they produced and the wonderfully detailed Goodreads review they wrote tells me they completely read On Bonaire. I look forward to working with them on my future projects.
Want to know more about Anne Bennett? Connect with the author on Instagram and Facebook.