When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, Annabeth Albert is a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Her popular LGBTQ+ romances include several fan-favorite and critically acclaimed series. She lives with her spouse and two children in Oregon. Her newest novel is Conventionally Yours and she recently agreed to talk about it with Daryl Maxwell for the LAPL Blog.
What was your inspiration for Conventionally Yours?
I am a huge gamer geek myself, and I knew that I wanted to do gamers who played tabletop games like me, not simply video gamers (I’ve also done that kind of gamer in past books too). So starting from the idea of tabletop gamers, I made a list of all my favorite things to have in books and all my favorite things about the games I love. My list had things like road trips, close proximity, rivals, competition, vlogs, cons, and more. And from there, the plot started to take hold as the idea of rivals on a road trip to a big con just would not leave my brain alone!
Are Alden, Conrad or any of the other characters in the novel inspired by or based on specific individuals?
As with all my books, Alden and Conrad are 100% the product of my imagination. That said, though, I did look at tons of pictures of guys in the right age bracket to help inspire their looks. As far as personality, I knew that I wanted them to be opposites, and that influenced some of their individual characteristics as they took shape.
How did the novel evolve and change as you wrote and revised it? Are there any characters or scenes that were lost in the process that you wish had made it to the published version?
I’m a plotter—I had the book plotted out scene by scene before I even started drafting. I then sent my editor a detailed synopsis, which we discussed. Some minor changes ended up happening at that stage, the addition of a few scenes and clarifying the character arc, and the ending. Then I started the draft. Some scenes evolved as I went—like I wasn’t originally going to have them stop at the Indy 500 museum, but it ended up fitting the scene super well. And some of the pacing/timing of scenes evolved as the draft took shape. Then we went into edits, and several scenes expanded as a result of my awesome editor’s astute feedback. For instance, their time in Colorado expanded a little during edits and there were some other tweaks to that section. I didn’t cut any full scenes, but I do wish we’d been able to spend more time with Jasper and some of the other secondary characters. And of course, more time with Gamer Grandpa! But good news! A Jasper book is coming!
Do you play card games like Odyssey? If so, which ones?
Yes! I play all sorts of board games. Most notably, I play a number of different formats of Magic the Gathering and also Net Runner, a cyberpunk hacker card game. I have kids, so I also know how to play Pokemon!
Have you ever been to a large convention like Massive Odyssey Con West or Comic-Con for gaming or other fandoms? Smaller regional conventions?
Yes! Here in the Northwest, we are fortunate to have a lot of great regional cons. I’ve been to cons in Portland including Rose City Comic-Con, a Lego Con, an arcade con, and more. On a national level, I’ve been to several huge book conventions including Book Lover’s Con. I’ve never been to San Diego Comic-Con or South by Southwest, but part of my research involved talking to a lot of people who have been to the larger comic cons as well as players, both professional and amateur, who have been to some of the bigger competitions.
When I read about Zombie Dogz in Dayton, OH, I checked and found that it’s a real place. Have you ever been? What was it like?
All hail online reviews! I did a ton of research along the way about game stores and different towns and places they might stop and eat at. Some of the places are more fictionalized, but when I saw the Zombie themed hot dog place, I knew it had to go in the book. I’ve never actually been to Ohio other than passing through, but I looked at tons of reviews, pictures, and firsthand accounts of the various stops.
What’s currently on your nightstand?
Right now, I am reading an ARC of If We Were Us by KL Walther. I just finished Lisa Henry’s Two Man Station, and I have another two ARCs on deck, from Erin McLellan, and Riley Hart. The ARC fairy loves me lately.
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Anne of Green Gables. The fact that I shipped Diana + Anne should have been a big clue for me about the eventual direction of my sexuality.
Was there a book you felt you needed to hide from your parents?
I was banned from reading VC Andrews, Anne Rice, and Bertrice Small. Of course, I snuck all three!
Can you name your top five favorite or most influential authors?
Only five!!! So many authors have influenced me both as a reader and writer over the years. I owe a ton to early influences like Suzanne Brockmann. Five authors I’m loving right now though include: Adriana Herrera, Jackie Lau, Jay Northcote,Lisa Henry, and Suzanne Park.
What is a book you've faked reading?
Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath and Wilkie Collins’s Woman in White were both school-assigned reading. And I might have skimmed.
Can you name a book you've bought for the cover?
Many! This week alone I bought Joanna Shupe’s Prince of Broadway for the gorgeous cover, and I love her writing too! I also one-clicked the upcoming KJ Charles as soon as I saw the cover too.
Is there a book that changed your life?
I wouldn’t be the writer I am now without a bunch of books but three that I really owe a ton too are Suzanne Brockmann’s Unsung Hero (the whole troubleshooters series really), Marie Sexton’s Promises, and AM Arthur’s Cost of Repairs.
Can you name a book for which you are an evangelist (and you think everyone should read)?
Too many to count—I’m always trying to foist books on friends, and I do try to tailor recs to the reader. But lately, I’ve been telling everyone to read Adrianna Herrera’s Dreamers Series because it’s so good and so needed. I also try to get as many fans for CB Lee’s awesome YA, Not Your Sidekick as I can—I think everyone who likes superheroes should be reading that series.
Is there a book you would most want to read again for the first time?
I love watching my daughter discover books that I loved for the first time. Watching her read classics like The Babysitter’s Club and Anne of Green Gables makes me wish I could go back and be a tween/teen reader again!
What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?
Honestly, I get to live a lot of my perfect days—lots of coffee, writing time, family, and time to read books and maybe a long shower and a nice walk somewhere pretty. I do like having those sorts of days in unusual locations, and I wouldn’t mind a writing/reading/family day back at Crater Lake in Oregon. I wish those sorts of days could be longer than 24 hours though!
What is the question that you’re always hoping you’ll be asked, but never have been? What is your answer?
I get asked so many awesome questions, like with this great interview! One question that I’ve been asking a ton of my fellow writers when they visit my reader group on Facebook is which of their characters they most want to be quarantined with. No one’s asked me yet though! I love so many of my characters for various reasons, but I would love to spend more time with Alden and Conrad. Alden would have all the plans to keep us from going stir crazy and Conrad would add a sense of fun!
What are you working on now?
The book that will follow Conventionally Yours! Title to be announced, but it stars Jasper from Conventionally Yours! He gets paired with a former friend-turned-enemy from his past in a cosplay caper that has lots of costumes and heart. And of course, more card playing!
