The accolades are flowing as freely as the words for Anna Rains after her long-awaited debut as a published author.
Now 82, the East Cheshire Hospice stalwart has written three books this year, all available on Amazon.
There is even talk that her most recent work, her first novel A Senator’s Mistress, may be turned into a film.
The story, inspired by her fascinating life in California in the late 60s, has led to an interview request from American TV network ABC.
A big chapter of her life, though, is devoted to the Hospice where she is part of an Angel donor group.
Anna at the Art Fair she helped set up.
The charity owes a great debt to the grandmother who has lived around Macclesfield since 1983.
In 1998, Anna was chair of the Hospice’s 10th anniversary fundraising appeal to build the Sunflower Centre.
Her team raised £300,000 and held an Art Exhibition which she helped run for many years.
Anna dictates manuscripts onto her laptop.
She said: “I can happily sit there and write 1,000 words in barely an hour. It pours out.
“I do it for the love of writing and the power of words.
“My mother was a writer and loved poetry. She only wrote one book which was turned into a five-part children’s TV series.
“I still think she helps me out from the other side if I’m stuck for words.”
Anna Rains with her novel A Senator’s Mistress.
Anna’s literary journey took off after The Quirky Clan, a story about her eccentric family history, was published in April.
Publishers wanted more, leading to Ghostly Tales And Curious Stories from England, a collection of short stories released in June.
A Senator’s Mistress followed in October. Anna said: “I sent the opening chapters to the publisher who said he stopped everything and cancelled meetings to read it.
“The publisher is working on worldwide markets and a film. Notes I’ve scribbled over 20 years are used in my stories. I never throw anything away.”
Another book The Curse of the Black Lake is underway.
Anna said: “I still go to writing class weekly. It doesn’t matter what the teacher throws at me, by the time I leave the room I’ve got another story in my head.”
Anna gives talks about the Hospice, helps at Mottram bowling club, is a member of the WI and makes quilts.
She said: “I don’t sit around very much.”
Unless, of course, she is composing her next novel.
