Quick Six with Anna Sugden
Please welcome my wonderful friend, Anna Sugden to the Quick Six. Anna’s an amazingly talented writer who I 
personally adore and am so happy to have visiting with us today! I’ve been pouting copiously since Anna moved back to England, so having her today is almost as much fun as a big girl playdate! So come on, play with us 
1. Ocean or Mountain – definitely ocean. I always feel more at home when I’m by a body of water and especially so when it’s the sea/ocean. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the tranquil, turquoise of the Caribbean or the tumultuous, thunder-grey of the North Sea or the English Channel, water speaks to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love nothing better than to lie on a beach and read a good book. But there is something appealing too about walking along a wind-swept English sea-front in winter, the tang of salt in every breath. No, not just because what follows is usually a fab fish and chips lunch at a pub or afternoon tea in a cozy cafe!
2. Clean or cluttered – Organized clutter! I don’t know what it says about me that I find a totally clear desk scary! It stifles my mind (I suspect inside my head it’s organized clutter too!)! Plus, I can never find anything in a totally tidy office! I can lay my hand on anything at any time in my office, there is method in the seeming madness , but I like to be surrounded by comfortable clutter. One of the joys of having my own office is that I can arrange my clutter to provide a workspace that inspires and encourages me.
3. Scary movies or romantic comedies – romantic comedies! Though, I do enjoy a good thriller, I can’t take horror. Whether it’s classic delights with Cary Grant or modern favourites like How to Lose Your Guy in 10 Days or Sweet Home, Alabama, I’m a sucker for a romantic comedy.
4. Boxers or briefs – boxers. There’s something about briefs that make me think of middle-aged men on a Greek beach or Italian stud-wannabes strutting their stuff . Some might argue that briefs show off the body and physique better, but I can honestly say I think that’s not true. Boxers are the perfect complement for a tight six-pack and a nicely muscled chest, as well as a great showcase for a strong pair of legs (I’m definitely a legs gal!). To me, it’s like the difference between a tart who flaunts everything and girl who dresses to flatter her best features!
5. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or Goofy – none of the above . My favourite Disney cartoon characters are Tramp from Lady and the Tramp and O’Malley, Toulouse and Berlioz from The Aristocats.
6. Wine or beer – depends on the occasion or situation. Beer at a hockey game, wine on a summer’s evening in the garden. Beer with a curry, wine with a nice steak dinner. And, for variation, there’s a mojito!
For my prize, I’ll offer a giant bar of Cadbury’s Chocolate – the real, original thing all the way from England! For a chance to win Anna’s yummy English chocolate, all you have to do is leave a comment!!
A lover of happy endings, two-time Golden Heart finalist Anna Sugden began writing romances after her move to New Jersey from England, when an immigration snafu prevented her from working. Now back home, Anna lives in Cambridge with her very own romance hero, two mischievous black cats and around 450 penguin ornaments. You can find out more about Anna’s heart-warming contemporary romances and heart-pounding romantic suspenses at her website – www.annasugden.com. You can also catch Anna blogging at The Romance Bandits and The Healthy Writer.
Yum, you can definitely count me in for chocolate. I’ve lived in the mountains before but I’ve never lived by an ocean, maybe I need to try that.
450 penguin ornaments? Wow! I sure wouldn’t want to dust them!
Let’s be honest here. I don’t want to dust ANYTHING, let alone 450 of something!
Thanks for the Quick Six interview. I enjoyed reading the questions and the answers.
Hi Linda! Good to see you over here on Tawny’s blog! I think I could probably live in the mountains if I had a nice big lake nearby.
Hi Laney4! Thanks for dropping by today. What is this dusting of which you speak? LOL Actually, many of them are on a ‘plate shelf’ – a high shelf – so no-one can see when they need dusting
That is alot of penguin ornaments! Love black cats…
Enjoyed your answers!!!
Thanks, Colleen. We love black cats too – we make a point of rescuing them because most people won’t (they’re either superstitious or think black cats are witches cats!). I think they’re the most loving.
Here are a few questions for you all:
Milk, White or dark?
Tights/pantyhose or stockings?
Red roses or daisies?
Anna!!! Hi
I’m so glad you’re here today. I LOVED your answers and have to giggle about the high plate shelf of undusted penguins *g*
Milk, neither and red roses, btw
Hey Tawny! I’m glad to be here. Almost as good as getting together in person … almost.
PS You will notice that I only just worked out the reply system – duh!
Ah, I can relate to you missing your friend. My best friend is English. Her family moved to S.C. several years ago for her husband’s job. We lived in the same neighborhood (our boys are the same age) and got to be great friends. I am a former history teacher and I know she grew/grows tired of me asking her about English history, literature, etc. But she humors me. I smiled when I read Anna loves the water. My friend does, too. She says it soothes her soul. Sadly, my husband’s job took us away but we still talk on the phone once a week and text almost every day. Plus, I send her favorite treat (Cadbury buttons) on the holidays. It is nice to have good friends to treasure and I’m happy that the two of you have each other.
Ah Lori, your post made me smile too. We moved to NJ for my husband’s job and were lucky to have 6 fabulous years there. One of the good things about moving home is that Tawny and I can communicate easier because she’s working late when I’m getting up!
Milk: white or dark? White with meals; chocolate for night-time snack (instead of eating food like I’d prefer).
Tights/pantyhose or stockings? Hey! Neither!!! Of course, I rarely wear dresses, so it’s a moot point. When I wear a skort, it’s to play badminton, and I would obviously have bare legs. Back when I had skinny legs, stockings were sexy for my husband.
Red roses or daisies? Any kind of flower is precious, so both (or neither). I prefer carnations because they can last up to a month, whereas these others last a week at most. (I’m cheap that way.)
BTW, I too loved your undusted penguin remarks. You’re my kind of woman, LOL!
My MIL’s favourite flower was a carnation and we make a point of getting them for her grave for her birthday, Mother’s Day and so on. They always make me think of her – such a wonderful woman.
Oops! I commented on the wrong thread. I’ll just re-post here.
Hi Anna! Love your description of that winter’s walk along the English coast. I could almost taste the salt in the air…and the aroma of fish and chips was tickling my taste buds! I was thinking of you the other night as I was reading an ARC of Deirdre Martin’s new contemporary with a yummy hockey hero.
It’s called ICEBREAKER and comes out 1 February.
Love your Quick Six interviews, Tawny!
PJ! Good to see you here – can’t wait to catch up in NY. Oh man I’m so jealous – I LOVE Deirdre Martin – have done ever since her first book Body Check! Can’t wait to read IceBreaker.
Oh, and here are my answers:
Milk, None and Daisies.
Am I the only one who wears stockings?!
>>A wind-swept English sea-front in winter, the tang of salt in every breath. No, not just because what follows is usually a fab fish and chips lunch at a pub><<
I'm all teary! One of the best days EVER, and my first fish n' chips, with YOU!
Loved the interview, Tawny and Anna! I miss you both, and can't wait to see you in New York this summer!
Aww *sniff* It was one of the best days ever – just what I was thinking of when I wrote it too. Can’t wait for NY!
I love organized clutter too. I used to get so mad when my Mom would clean my desk. I cannot find anything on a clean desk but know right where it is when cluttered. I’ve got to have something on my table probably because my husband made such a big deal of not wanting anything on it. He got mad once when just an envelope was on a 9 ft. table.
This is my first time to hear of you. I’m friends with Tawny though.
Hi Jane – any friend of Tawny’s is OK in my book! Great to meet you! My ex-husband was like that – total neatnik! My lovely hubby is a neatnik too, but he puts up with organised clutter *g*. I think that’s why he gave me my own office LOL
Great answers. I have never lived in the moutains or by the ocean always in the country until now. I love the country life. I love both the mountains and the ocean not sure which on I like best.
Country life is great, Quiltlady. My office overlooks fields and hills and I love it. Of course, I’d love it even more if there was water – but I console myself with the river that runs along the bottom of the field (even if I can’t actually see it!)
Loved the boxers or briefs reply. I’m a visual thinker and it gave me cold shivers to imagine.
There is nothing better than UK chocolate — I’m keeping my fingers crossed
Hi Venus! You’re right – there is nothing better than proper English Cadbury’s (definitely not the stuff made by Hershey’s and called Cadbury’s!). Glad you liked my visual
What a fun quick six, you two! Anna, I love to walk along the beach in winter as well, and after reading your lovely description I’m dying for some fish and chips.
To answer your questions: I love both milk and dark, just depends on my mood. I prefer no tights or stockings, but if I have to stockings are sexier. (My hubby agrees! LOL) And I love all flowers, but there’s something so innocent and appealing about daisies.
Hi Gannon! Great to see another fabulous Dishy Dame here! You’re always welcome to come over here and I’ll take you for fish & chips. In the meantime I’ll look forward to catching up with you in NY!
My lovely hubby agrees with yours about the stockings
Real British Cadbury is soooo delicious!
Hi Anna, fun post! I love the ocean too thats a good thing since I live on the Oregon coast and the beach is just a short drive from my house! To answer your quick questions: I love milk chocolate Dark gives me a headache if I eat to much but I always do anyway! I think stockings are sexier but never wear them I prefer to go bare. I have not worn a dress since I got married 10 years ago but I did wear stockings! I love all flowers including red roses but I love daisies I used to have a daisy tattoo but got it covered up cause it was old and did not look good. My favorite flower is a sunflower! I never had real British Cadbury chocolate it sounds good! Thanks for sharing with us today!
Hi Johanna – glad you enjoyed the post! Oh wow – one of the places that’s on my list to still see in the US is the Oregon coast. I’m hoping to use a future trip to visit there.
I’d also really like to get a daisy tattoo – as Tawny knows – but I’m a chicken. A wimp when it comes to pain.
Hey Anna,
I’m with you on the boxers. Maybe one day we can have a beer at a Rangers vs Devils game.
Hi Jane! Hope you’re keeping warm in NY! I’d love to have a beer with you at a Rangers v Devils game! Especially now that my Devils have actually started to win some games this season. I’ve been in the doldrums all season!
Hope you’ll find a way to get to the Literacy signing in NY so we can meet up.
When I saw Cary Grant’s name it made me think about how he was able to add comedy, romance, and suspense into a performance. His movies are high on my list of favorites.
Exactly my thoughts, Leni! All that and a twinkle in his eye that makes me melt!
Hi, Anna!! Great to see you on Tawny’s blog! And mmm… chocolate! Nothing like a good Cadbury’s to really turn a day around!
Hi Fedora – lovely to see you! Is it a coincidence that I’m offering Cadbury’s and here you are?!
Wow, Miss Anna and Miss Tawny, you two gals got a party going on here! By the way, I love that photo. It’s got that real spark of naughtiness in the eyes that you two specialise in! Anna, what an interesting interview. I should have known you’d go for cats in the cartoon characters and I 100% agree with you about the ocean, especially the wild oceans that surround Britain. Love a wild Scottish ocean too when I’m not actually OUT on it (took a ferry ride during a major storm in 2004 and still think I’m recovering from the shock – scary stuff!). But there are things I didn’t know about you – isn’t that the magic of Tawny’s Quick Six? Great stuff!
Oh and I can highly recommend the Cadbury’s!!!
Us? Naughty? Is that not a touch of pot and kettle Ms Campbell *g*. I forgot to mention my other favourite cartoon character – Thumper!
Hey guys! Thank you all for joining in the fun with Tawny and me! I’ve had a blast. Will be back to announce the winners – just have to get the cats to earn their keep by picking a random winner!
Wow, I agree with all your answers except for the briefs/boxers one. Frankly, I don’t like all the baggy pants/shorts popular in menwear now. I miss seeing all those tight buns of NBA players. *sigh*
Hi Infinitieh! The tight shorts seem to be coming back in soccer, if not in the NBA. And they’re very tight in Rugby.
I don’t get the baggy thing with pants either – how is it cool to walk around with your boxers hanging out of your jeans?
Well, the cats have done their thing. It was a close run race as to which slip of paper they chose … but Laney4 won by a whisker! Congratulations!
If you send your snail mail address to me at anna@annasugden.com, I will pop your big bar of Cadbury’s in the post to you!
Thanks again everyone for playing with me … and to our wonderful Tawny for hosting me!
Well bless my soul! This is a LOVELY surprise! I just sent my email off to you and will wait (with baited breath?) for my mail delivery sometime in February. Sure hope my mailman doesn’t eat it (or any pets along the route)! Thanks so much!
Congrats Laney4! Enjoy!