2025-10-21

From Autobiography to Award-Winning Thrillers

When Anna Rains first walked into a Creative Writing class at the Guild for Lifelong Learning back in 2004, she thought she knew how to write. She quickly realized she didn't—but that didn't stop her.

Fast forward twenty years, and Anna has just completed her sixth book, a psychological thriller called 'The Chateau of Lost Souls.' From detailing her "extraordinary life and that of her very eccentric family" in her memoir, 'From a Bus to a Haunted Farmhouse,' to crafting award-winning thrillers like 'The Senator's Mistress,' Anna's journey is a testament to the power of dedicated learning and inspiring teachers.

In this full article, you'll hear from Anna herself about the "two awesome women" who encouraged her, the real-life ghost stories that inspired her, and the twist-filled premise of her latest novel: a haunted French chateau, eight secret killers, and a host who's setting a "murder mystery in reverse."

Discover how one writing class led to an absorbing new career and why Anna believes you might just have a book in you too.

Read on to learn more about Anna's remarkable journey and her advice for aspiring writers! Click Here