As a longtime fan of Shey’s blog I was thrilled to be invited for an interview with the notorious Dudes…how could I resist those charming friendly hamsters (see, I’m trying hard to get on their good side!!) These hamsters are like no others and it was with trepidation and excitement that I popped by to say hello and answer some questions. We veered from parachuting hamsters to writing woes, from future dreams to my mother’s famous (within the family) recipe for Pepparkakor (Swedish Cinnamon Biscuits).
Do read the rest of the interview over on Shey’s blog … I promise it is both entertaining and informative. Only then the full truth behind the comment on the picture above will be revealed!
To read the interview please press this link: One event to change a life. Interview with Annika Perry.
Annika Perry 
This was simply a hoot and full of fun, Annika!! 🐹 xo 😘
Absolutely – there will never be another interview to match this one! 😀 Still fond memories of it…Many thanks for reading, Robin. xx❤️
Love the interview, Annika! And what a bunch of crazy hamsters 🙂 Looking forward to reading the anthology, and can’t wait to hear more about Island Girl (reminds me of a Beach Boys song released in the late 80s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqk5BzAkw4c) Have a wonderful weekend!
Julie, I love this video and it’s all so warm, soft and romantic!!
😀😀 Thank you for sending it to me.
Oh I’ve had such a great time meeting the hamsters and being interviewed by them…there is nothing quite like it! Wishing you a lovely weekend with lots of quiet moments for writing. So glad you’re looking forward to reading my anthology…that means a lot to me. 😀🚌
Your interview was fun to read, Annika, and loved the hamsters, too. Can’t wait to have your book in hand. Please let me know when the paperback is available. I’m so happy for you, and wish you much success in all your writing endeavors, which sounds like you’ll be pretty busy this year. 🙂 💕
p.s. I was sorry to hear of your illness when you were in your twenties. That’s scary, and I can relate because my daughter is in a similar boat. But not to end on a sad note, I’m so glad you’re doing great with your publishing, and that we’ve met, too. 🙂
Lauren, this was an interview like no other…crazy fun hamsters but somehow they really got me to open up…not sure how they did that!!😀 The paperback will be out today or tomorrow and I was hoping to put a link in for you – I’m just waiting for the final file to upload. Thank you sooo much for being so patient and keen to read – it means so much to me.
Dearest Lauren, I am so sorry about your daughter but tell her never to give up hope. There were so many horror stories about this illness which I chose to ignore and with the humungous and loving support of my family recovered. warmest hugs to you both and thank you so much for your wonderful comment. xxxxx
Loved your interview Annika and great were those hamsters. 🙂
Once again congrats on your book and all the best wishes for your upcoming books. 🙂
Thank you so much, Norma!! 😀 Oh, those hamsters are a bundle of energy – I don’t know how Shey copes!! Many thanks for the well wishes…I look forward to concentrating on the other books!
All the best wishes Annika. 🙂
Congrats again Annika, for a wonderful interview and for taking on the Dudes. 🙂 xx
Haha!! 😀😀. Debby, I had to smile at your phrasing of ‘taking on the Dudes’!! I had a brilliant time and so happy you enjoyed the interview…many thanks for your comment here too. Xx
🙂 🙂 ❤
What a delightful interview. I did appreciate the creativity of Shehanne and yours as well Annika. Nice to learn more about you too. An ex-journalist? Perhaps that explains why you are such a good interviewee! You know what we need in order to do our job well. Good work. Can’t wait to read more of you and Shehanne and, of course Sarah… She’s the one who first introduced me to you! I owe her one. -Dominique
Dominique, so lovely to see you here and thank you for your wonderful comment. My job definitely gave me experience of interviews and I particularly enjoyed longer ones that gave me an opportunity to explore the human interest side of the people I was talking to (I wonder if this interest has filtered into my stories, thinking about it?!). As for meeting the Dudes one has to enter into the spirit of the interview them otherwise I fear it could fall rather flat…for both sides! Shey is amazingly creative and I am in awe of her ability to sustain this over such a long time and developing the characters further each time! Yeah, we both owe Sarah a hug! Xx
A lovely interview, Annika. You handled the Dudes with great diplomacy 🙂 ❤
Ahh…thank you!! ❤️ Glad the diplomacy worked to an extent… they are very passionate and opinionated hamsters!
They live in the image of their person, Annika; and we love her to pieces ❤
Oh! This is just brilliant and so funny!!! I never knew hamsters are such talented interviewers! 😄 xxx
Exactly!! 😀😀 The secret hidden talents of hamsters…Pertinent questions alongside the fun and merriment – so glad you enjoyed this, Sarah! Xxx
I loved the interview, Annika! You coped marvellously with those Dudes – cool, calm and collected in the face of mayhem!
😀😀 Clare, it’s always mayhem with those Dudes and I was a bit anxious beforehand but once the questions started found my stride!! This is one interview I will always remember!!
Haha! I expect you will! You did marvellously! 😀 😀
She was very cool xxx
What a star she is! xxx
Loved the interview Annika, so much fun. Fancy being interviewed by hamsters, what a hoot! 😁 But on a serious note, huge congratulations to you on your book. It looks and sounds amazing and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Big hugs and warmest wishes to you for a fantastic year ahead. Xo
Miriam, it just shows you never can tell where life will take you! This time last year I couldn’t seriously imagine being interviewed by anyone, no matter slightly looney hamsters!! 😀😀 Thank you so much for your congratulations and so glad you like the look and sound of the book…I think you would enjoy it very much. The paperback should be out in the next few days…sending off final adjustments to paperback proof today and then jus need to upload the file!! Wishing you also an amazing year, my friend, ❤️
Exciting times for you Annika. Here’s to many more interviews for you my friend, by the two legged variety of interviewers as well. Cheers 🥂🙂 xo
The hamsters quite like their interviews, They do have their uses.
I know they do. I had guinea pigs for many years, though I must admit they never got the hang of a microphone. 😏
Oh, Annika! That was a fun read. Aren’t those too cute, and smart too. 😀
Lovely to hear you’re planning to publish more stories. It sounds like you have a busy year ahead, indeed. All the best with your creative pursuits…xx
*Hamsters…oops! I meant as cute and smart.
Khaya, the hamsters are smart and cute, slightly crazy and very strong willed – this was such a fun interview! 😀 So glad you liked it and yes, lots of plans for the year ahead…it’s always a matter of time but I am keen to pursue them all! Wishing you a very creative Year, xxx
Glad you enjoyed the read
I’m going over to read this. It sounds fascinating. I guess I shouldn’t mention my favorite recipe for ‘Hamster Soup’. He might not see the spelling difference!
Jacqui, reckon keeping stumm on the hamster soup might be a good idea! I had to google this and see it actually exists!! Not a hamster in sight on the recipe though…phew! 😀 See you over on Shey’s post.
I don’t know you should mention the soup. Lol xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Great interview – it was so much fun!
Sarah, thank you so much! It was enjoyable to be interviewed by these hamsters!! 😀
Glad you enjoyed the interview.
I will go and read it now!!
That’s great, Lynz…thank you and see you there! 😀
It was nice to see you x
Nice to see you as well x
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That was fun! I left a comment for you on Shey’s blog but just had to say how entertaining your time with the Dudes proved to be!
Thank you so much for your comment, Mae…I must say when I read the completed interview with all the pictures I cracked up – Shey is gifted!😃
Annika was brill with the dudes.
A lovely Fun interview Annika. It was great to learn a little more about your journey to publication.
Brigid, this was an interview like no other…and a joy to do! Yep, the journey to publication is always interesting. Wishing you a lovely day. xxx
Annika was an excellent interviewee. She didn’t hold back.
So much FUN, Annika. I felt like I was in a room with you, and Shey, and the hamsters. The only other thing I needed was some of that Swedish cinnamon biscuit!!! 🙂
That’s just brilliant, Pam and so glad to have you in the room!! It was most convivial interview (in between the slight madness of the Dudes!) How I wish I could offer you some of these biscuits…we still have some left over from Christmas but not a lot…not surprisingly they disappear very fast! Soooo tasty. 😀😃
I’ll get the dudes to get them made. They do nothing else.
🙂
So Loved your interview Annika, and yes often our paths take different roads.. My own was diverted due to illness. And can sympathise with your Fatigue syndrome.. As I had FMS. Fibromyalgia ..
I had a really good time over there reading what those cheeky hamsters were posing as questions, Very clever little dudes..
Hope you are having a wonderful start to your New Year Annika xx ❤
Sue, sorry to hear you had that. I know folks who do and it is awful fro them. Glad you enjoyed the interview x
Thank you, yes it was debilitating at the time, at one point I crawled up my stairs, and I walked with a stick for support.. And the pain, and fatigue reduced me to tears many a day.. But I set about self healing, and did a lot of Affirmations, Louise Hays You can Heal your Life book was my first saviour. Then I got into alternative healing, Qi Gong, Especially Spring Forest Qigong, and slowly working upon myself, my inner self, along with Acupuncture which I still have each month, I am 200 % healthier.. 🙂 It didn’t happen over night, but we can heal from within, when we understand our diseases of our body first start as Did-ease of the mind..
Thank you for having me.. I so enjoyed those Little guys.. ( I happen to feed two of my neighbours guinea pigs on a regular basis when they go on holidays ) So I am very fond of little paws and those which scamper about 🙂 ) Have a great week and Month of January 🙂
Sue, thank you so much for reading and commenting. When young one often believes we’re in control of our paths…that is not always the case and tough when an illness is the cause of a change of direction. All worked out well for me. I am sorry to hear about your FMS – that is a dreadful disease too…are you fully well/symptom free now? I do hope so.
Haha! Those dudes and their questions…far more in-depth than I’d anticipated and made me look closely at certain elements of my life and writing.
Thank you, Sue – I’m having a wonderful start to the New Year – busily check the print proofs of my book which arrived yesterday – I don’t think my feet touched the ground all day!! Hope you’re having a magical start to 2018. hugs xxx❤️
Fabulous to hear your book is moving as it should and all is coming together. I feel 2018 will be a creative year in many respects..
As for FMS.. I left a reply on your friends blog on how I overcame.. and yes.. I watch what I do, know my limits, but enjoy life to the full 😀 .. And as I said there 200% healed.. xxx Much love and Blessings xx ❤
Wonderful interview Shey and luckily your gorgeous but very personable hamsters seemed to buy the story of Annika’s hamster floating down in a pretty parachute. Hmm…
They are like cats quite good at surviving a fall though.
Now Annika, the hamsters did have some very pertinent questions and I loved learning more about your writing, your book or should I say books…..and of curse ,,Pepparkaka,,.
It appears your book is already taking off and soon we should see the paperback. Hurrah!
Miriam
Thrilled you enjoyed the interview. Annika was great to have along and she entered into it fully although she was a bit nervous of the dudes to start with. I can’t think why…..
Miriam, personable hamsters are definitely one way to describe the Dudes – they are the most opinionated beings I have met here on WP!! 😀😃All great fun and yes, their questions were wonderfully pertinent. Not sure they were too convinced by the parachuting hamster…we tried!
Oh yes, the paperback, which I know many are waiting for, will soon be out. I’m going through the proofs as I write…well, once I stop writing!! 😀😃 Thank you for your continued support. xxx
This is so Wonderful and outstanding interview, Annika.
Wow! 😀😀 Thank you so much, Mihrank…it was a hugely enjoyable and I loved the questions.
She did brilliantly.
Wonderful interview, Annika. Enjoyed this hilarious post! 😃 Cool!
Thank you so much, Iris! 😀😀 It was both insightful and a lot of fun…the Dudes have quite a reputation here on WP and I loved being interviewed by them!
The dudes quite took to Annika and they don’t take to everyone. Glad you enjoyed x
That was hysterical. Well done. Gotta love those Dudes.
Diana, I had the best time…an interview like no other!! 😀😀 Those Dudes are wonderfully madcap with such great and varying personalities!!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. So funny and clever. 😀
Glad you enjoyed it. Annika was a great match for the dudes x
Cool interview! Love the pics and captions.
Thank you, Carrie…This is a once in a lifetime interview!! 😀 I’ve had the best time and love the final post! Xxx
Annika thank you for reposting. Glad you enjoyed. you did brilliantly x
Shey, the post is terrific and only so happy to repost…many thanks again for having me over! 😀❤️Xx xx
You were more than welcome x
Those hamsters were quite the challenge, but you were up to it! I too love the possibilities residing in short stories and the potential of crafting them just so.
i think Annika did brilliantly xx
Thank you so much, Atreyee…I came away unscathed!! 😀I had the best time and great questions. 😀 Short stories present their own unique challenges…ones I love addressing and trying to create the perfect story, tightly constructed but not forced or rushed, sketching characters, emotions,situations along the way.
Great interview. I’ve gotta pay more attention to hamsters!
Lol yes…. they are demanding that way
😀😀 Wise move!! 😀 They are quick, witty and feisty…keep your eyes open!
Totally bonkers; and I love it!! Perhaps the rodents are going to take over the world?
They would like to Peter. Silv in the purple hat bangs on about that the entire time.
How did you know?? World domination often comes up! 😀😀 A totally fun time had by all and I love their various personalities!