Novelist Anna Jacobs is known worldwide for her romance and mystery novels, she’s written over 80, and she’s near the top on the list of most borrowed authors of adult fiction in UK libraries.
I dabbled once with writing romance novels, but found I was totally useless at them. Maybe I’m not romantic enough, and I couldn’t keep any writing pace with heaving bosoms and dark handsome heroes clouding the storyline.
But I admire people who can write a good rollicking romance laced with mystery.
So seeing as Anna’s written a great many books I wondered what she’s like, how does she do it, and what could be gleaned from Anna’s life story as positive take-aways for us mere mortals.
Table of Contents
Anna Jacobs shares her tips for living well.
Well, to start with, she’s bubbly, and funny, and down to earth. But her success in life?
Read on …
Take Away 1: Anna Jacobs says, Live your life with passion and perseverance
What I loved about this 79 year old writer was her passion. She still has it, even after a career that’s spanned so very many tomes, and she still writes 3 books a year..
“I’d write four if I could, but I do need to sleep at night,” Anna Jacobs jokes.
Aha, so there’s another take-away
Take Away 2: Be energetic in your pursuits.
Anna Jacobs is unassuming and witty, although you get the feeling that she and her husband are indeed a small business, because they’re slick and practiced in their speaking, and all due credit to them.
Anna Jacobs writes and her hubby takes care of the business side of things, which these days includes getting her out-of- print-books up on Amazon using ‘create space’.
” It took him two days to figure out how to use the programme, Anna says, “But now he can get a book out in an hour.”
“I think Amazon is going to take over the world, don’t you?” she jokes in her soft Lancashire accent.
So many people say that they have a book in them, not many can say they have 60 or so in them!
And it was Anna’s verve and stoicism in the face of adversity that kept on shining through during her talk.
She’s suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome, had many books rejected, changed publishers, and moved with the times.
Takeaway point 3 : Never give up
“I’m addicted to my computer. In fact I have two. One is my writing computer that nobody can hack into, thank you very much. I have another for my emails and everything else. I can write as fast as I can think, and you can’ do that with a pen and paper,” she says.
Takeaway Point 4 : Adapt to, and learn about, new technology
You’d think at 72 , that a little respite and R and R might be in order, but not for Anna who get ups at 5.20am and goes to her office where she looks at emails that have come in from the UK overnight. “ Then after breakfast at around six I start writing. It’s just me and all these lovely characters with me.”
Takeaway Point 5: If you want to get on, get up … early!
Anna and her husband are clearly a bonded team. They speak fondly of each other all the time. She calls him her”Darling Husband”, he calls her “The Boss”.
“I never want to waste a minute of my life, and that means telling stories. Don’t ask me about ironing. I don’t do it!” She states vehemently. “I brought an iron once and it wasn’t taken out of its box for six years. I come out from my office grudgingly to cook, and we share the cooking, but writing is what I do and love.”
Take away Point 6: Time’s precious: Don’t waste a minute, focus on what’s important
To date Anna has written well over 80 books and she’s still widely read and popular. We can be sure that she realises time is precious and we should focus on what is important.
Want to know more about Anna Jacobs and her books? Visit her website here.
Take away Point 7: Protiring not Retiring
It’s lovely to see two people who would in normal life jobs probably be retired, but they are instead filling their later years with meaning, and passion and continued perseverance to earn a living from writing and publishing books. Protiring rather than retiring.
Pin for your Books Board
What do you hope you’re doing in your later years? Still working? Traveling? Writing? Gardening? Voluntary work? Hiking? Why not tell us in the comments?
Until next time,
Really enjoyed reading this, Jo. A most inspiring lady.
Thanks Denise – glad you enjoyed reading. Yes, Anna’s a dynamo isn’t she!
Thanks for this, Johanna, I’m a huge fan of Anna Jacobs and have been for many years. I just love her writing, so down to earth yet uplifting. Like Anna, I’m a Lancastrian and that, of course, forms a bond though I’ve not been lucky enough to meet her. Her prodigious output leaves me gasping!
Hello Anne from Lancashire, nice to see you hear, and thanks for popping by. I hope you get to meet Anna one day, perhaps at a book signing? Yes her output is truly phenomenal!
Hi, Anne
So glad you’re enjoying my stories. I only write one word at a time, you know!
Happy reading!
I’ve known Anna for a few years online. Great to read her tips even if it does make me feel guilty that as another over 50 writer I can’t keep up the pace she does. Lovely to read about a husband and wife that so clearly enjoy each others company and pursuits too. Thanks Johanna and Anna.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment Dale. Yes, Anna’s prolific output is daunting,but in the end we must keep on doing what we can do and do it well! I hope today you have a productive writerly day 🙂
Great post Jo … I have met Anna Jacobs several times and have her how to write romance book .
She makes writing romance look easy – which you and I both know – it’s not.
And I agree – I think writing is a great way to keep mentally fit
Thanks Ingrid! I’d like to read Anna’s romance book sometime. Even if we aren’t writing romance, there are, I’m sure some great writing tips in there. Yes, we have to keep the grey matter moving, don’t we.
Johanna, you’d be better off with my book ‘Plotting and Editing’ about polishing a manuscript. It’s available as an ebook.
Thanks Anna, I’ll pop over to your website and have a look-see later today 🙂
Thanks Johanna I loved this post, what an inspiring woman Anna is, has reminded me it isn’t to late for me yet. Rae xxx
It’s never too late, Rae. Decide what you want and go for it!
Hello Rae! How lovely that this post inspired you, thank you for your sweet compliment. If Anna ever does a book signing at your local library or elsewhere, do consider attending – I think you’d find her even more inspiring in person. I see she’s kindly popped by in the comments here too (fab!) and to echo her reply, I definitely concur – “it’s never too late!”
An insightful blog about one of the hardest-working writers I know. Weather, illness, travel, family…nothing stops this dynamo! As a writer of similar age, I completely agree that setting goals and keeping up output prevents stale thinking and lazy habits. Go Anna!
Hi Margaret, thank you for popping by and contributing your thoughts here today 🙂 Yes, on first meeting Anna is indeed a dynamo! I was interested to hear what you had to say too, and agree that goal setting and just keeping the momentum going is essential as we get older.
Hi Johanna,
What a lovely post! Anna has been a dear writing friend of mine for many years and I’m impressed by how well you portrayed her and her lovely husband. With Anna, what you see is what you get – a hard working, passionate woman who loves the written word and wants the world to share it with her. She’s a great advocate for books and reading – and for the benefits of remaining focussed on what you love and never letting go of your dreams.
Thank you for sharing – this was a well written and entertaining blog entry and I enjoyed it immensely. Cheers, Kaz Delaney.
Hello Kaz, Thanks for your delightful comments and observations … indeed Anna comes across as a great advocate for the written word and staying true to your dreams. Glad that you thought the post was entertaining and well written – thank you! I strive, I do 😉
Thank you so much for your kind words, Johanna. Your blog made my day. Life definitely does not end at 50. In fact, I got my first novel accepted at 50.
Ohh Thanks for popping by Anna and so glad you liked the post. Amazing to think you didn’t write your first novel until you were 50! And now there’s no stopping you. Please keep on inspiring!
There are some very valuable lessons here for living your life to the fullest. First and foremost I wish to keep active by exercising and following a healthy diet. That will enable me to keep travelling and enjoying the experiences that go with it – such as hiking or skiing the slopes. I also would love to keep writing to keep my mind active, which is just as important as keeping your body active.
You go Kathy! Woah skiing, I’m impressed. Sounds like you’ve got things sussed 🙂 And yes, keeping the old brain cells active is just as important as physical fitness isn’t it.