Hazel: Tell us about yourself!
Anna: I’m Anna Rose, and I write historical middle grade novels in the vein of Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. My first book, The Star That Always Stays, was a Christy Amplify Award Winner and a Michigan Notable Book, and my second novel, The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry, was also a Michigan Notable Book and received three starred reviews. My third book, The Blossoming Summer, just released on July 29th and was a Shelf Awareness pick!
H: How do you do your historical research?
A: I do a lot of researching in old newspapers and magazines and on genealogical websites! I find that newspapers in particular are a treasure trove of not only current events in the time period I’m writing about, but also for looking up specific words and phrases to make sure that they’re accurate to the time.
H: Who was your favorite character to write?
I loved writing the characters of Norvia, Dicta, and Vernon in TSTAS, Lucy and Forrest in LUCY, and Rosemary and Grandmother in TBS. 😊
H: How do you effectively weave Christian themes into your books?
A: I often choose specific Scripture verses that guide the character arcs in my books, because it keeps me on track as I write. I like to showcase Christian themes through conversations between my characters, and I try to keep the characters’ struggles and solutions realistic. I also try to provide uplifting messages at the end of each book. 😊
H: What was a scene that you wrote that surprised you / you weren’t planning on?
A: I have definitely written a lot of scenes in my book that I wasn’t originally planning! One scene that sort of came out of nowhere was the scene in TSTAS when Norvia, Dicta, and Vernon play a little acting/storytelling game together. I don’t remember how it came to me, and it was actually the first scene I wrote of the book!
H: What did you focus on when trying to make your books sound like Classics? (Anne Of Green Gables etc..)
A: I read so much vintage kidlit that I think the older style of language has really become embedded in my own writing style. I try to pay attention to how those books are written, and I try to bring that style of sentence structure and vocabulary to my stories!
H: What author (dead or alive) do you look up to / admire the most?
A: I love the writings of L.M. Montgomery, Maud Hart Lovelace, Elizabeth Enright, and Noel Streatfeild—they are probably my very favorite authors!
H: What message / theme do you want your readers to get from your story?
A: I am often asked about the theme of LUCY LANDRY, and I would say it’s that we have a lot of courage inside of us, and it’s there when we need it, even if we don’t think it is. I hope readers find that very inspiring!
H: What is your current favorite book?
A: I’m always returning to Jane of Lantern Hill, Little Women, and Emily of Deep Valley!
And now for some questions from my subscribers:
H: How do you create good conflicts/ enough tension in character driven stories, such as The Star that Always Stays, to keep the reader interested? - Holland
A: When I write quiet, character-driven stories, I always try to focus on things that seem small at first—until you understand why they’re so important to the characters. And one of the best ways to ensure that your readers are fully invested in your characters is to make them sympathetic and relatable!
H: I would like to ask Anna Rose Johnson if she enjoyed writing about Michigan, because I live near where The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry was set and had so much fun recognizing a bunch of the places!! - J.
A: Yes, I love writing about Michigan! A strong sense of place is so important to me as I write. I have to be able to picture what I’m writing about, and to know the setting so I can capture it in my descriptions. I’m from Wisconsin but I have deep family roots in Michigan and lots of family there. I’ve been fascinated by Michigan history for some time now, and I’ve done so much research on the area, which I’ve tried to make come alive in my manuscripts. Researching lighthouse life for LUCY LANDRY was one of the most delightful parts of the entire writing process. As I explained in the author’s note, it was a joy to watch videos of lighthouse tours and then create Harmony Lighthouse from those descriptions. But it was even more fun to be able to visit the Ontonagon Lighthouse in Upper Peninsula, and I was able to insert a few cool details from that lighthouse. I ended up visiting it on a cold, rainy day, which was such an amazing experience because the waves were a bit wild!
H: How do you discover your career's genre (historical, fantasy, ect.) as a young writer who wants to try every genre? - Ali
I would experiment! Write lots of genres, and have fun with it. You never know what might be your favorite until you try! I wrote mainly contemporary middle grade when I was younger, but after writing a historical novel, I realized that it was my ultimate favorite. 😊
