Anne started her blog as a creative outlet during her time in the legal field, realizing she enjoyed writing more than her legal work. She wanted a space to connect with others over shared love for books, which became a great conversation starter.
The name is a nod to Jane Austen's character Elizabeth Bennet, who marries Mr. Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice'. It reflects Anne's love for Jane Austen and serves as a conversation starter about books and reading.
Anne's blog grew into a community of readers who shared their love for books. This led to the creation of the 'What Should I Read Next' podcast, where she discusses readers' preferences and recommends books. Her platform also attracted publishers, leading to the publication of three books.
'Don't Overthink It' addresses the challenges of decision-making and overthinking. It offers strategies to interrupt negative thought patterns, create positive habits, and make better decisions in life.
Anne suggests making small, intentional decisions to free up mental energy for more important tasks. For example, deciding to buy flowers without overthinking it allows her to focus on writing instead of wasting energy on trivial choices.
Anne loves fiction that captures complex human experiences, making her feel understood or helping her explore emotions she can't articulate. She values books that resonate deeply, offering insights into life's challenges and joys.
Anne notes that the book marketing landscape is saturated with recommendations on platforms like Instagram and BookTok. She aims to cut through the noise by offering thoughtful, personalized recommendations that resonate with her audience's needs.
Anne is drawn to stories about family trauma and secrets, where unspoken or unresolved issues continue to influence characters, even if they are unaware of the underlying causes.
Anne is driven by the belief that hard writing leads to easy reading, meaning that the effort authors put into their work allows readers to engage deeply and grow from the experience. She also values the community and connection that writing fosters.
When Anne was invited to speak at WriterFest, a creative gathering for aspiring writers, published authors, screenwriters, poets, and songwriters in Nashville, we couldn't wait to share that conversation with all of you.
Today we're sharing Anne's conversation with WriterFest co-founder Ami McConnell. From books and reading to the common themes they've heard people are experiencing in their creative lives right now, it's a conversation to spark your own creative spirit.
Thank you again to WriterFest co-founders Ami McConnell and Sara Wigal and to their their amazing teams and volunteers who made this event happen.
Let us know if you have a book or a creative moment you'd like to share by leaving a comment on our show notes page, where you'll also find the list of titles mentioned today. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/458).
We're so looking forward to sharing our annual Team's Best Books of the year! This has become a tradition, and this year, we'll be gathering for this live party on December 19th. Members of our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and our Patreon Community are invited: this fun event is just one of many ways we say thank you for your financial support. Find out more and become a member at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)