An Interview with Ann Clarke

Based mainly in the 1970s, Insatiable Annie speaks of a teenager navigating the free-love era and the unrestrained use of drugs and alcohol. This is a woman’s honest, explicit account of her experiences of abuse in the 1960s as a young child, her free-spirited teen years in the 1970s on to young womanhood in the early 80s.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I always dreamed of writing a book one day. Since I was a teenager, I kept journals. It was my way of coping with day-to-day life. I was “retired” from my job when the pandemic hit. One day I was sorting through my storage closet and I found an old dusty box that contained my decades-old diaries and journals. I began to read through them and found the inspiration to write a memoir based on these journals. I transcribed the journals in chronological order on my laptop. After completing the manuscript, I hired a Canadian publishing company to help me publish it. My book can be purchased from various online bookstores.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title popped into my head one day and I went with it. Not sure if I made the best decision, but there it is!

Describe your dream book cover.

I like the book cover I chose for my memoir. It has a 1970s feel to it.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

1960’s and 1970’s Motown and Soul music (always my favorite). And retro rock ‘n’ roll music, of course.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

I always loved to read. I still enjoy horror and crime novels. Never got into romance novels.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

For many years, I worked in various government offices. In my 50s, I decided to do something else so after completing a fitness course at a local college, I began to provide group fitness classes for seniors at various venues throughout the region. I enjoyed planning the exercises and choosing the music for the classes. I had a lot of fun.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

As I mentioned, I found inspiration in those old diaries and journals. Without them, there would be no book. I am currently working on a fiction novel which may be loosely based on my journals from the 1990s onward.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I have a desk in the bedroom. But sometimes I like to write sitting up on my bed.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. I like listening to my music on Spotify or I keep the TV on for background noise. I hate total silence.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I feel there are many readers my age, specifically women, who may relate to my experiences during those formative years. Younger women may enjoy reading about the 1970s. There has never been, and never will be, another decade like it. I am so thankful to have experienced that decade as a teenager and young woman. I am also thankful that I kept those old journals to remind me of those incredible years.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.