Meet Rose Gorham

Today, my guest is Rose Gorham. She writes romantic fiction for the Wild Rose Press, my publisher.

Welcome, Rose. Tell us about yourself.

I worked as a librarian for sixteen years in a small town in Missouri where I live with my husband Larry. Our children are all grown and married and live only a short drive away making it easy for us to visit the grandkids. As far back as I can remember I’ve always enjoyed people watching and would make up little scenarios about them in my head. What I hadn’t realized was that those mind exercises were my prelude into writing. My favorite hobbies; taking walks with my husband and snapping pictures of animals and nature help to clear my head when I’m having a problem with a plot or when one of my characters gets snippy and decides to rewrite the story. 

When did you first realize you wanted to write?

I was on the edge of thirty, after I had my third child. By that time I was hooked on romance. There were times when I would put down a book and think; I can writer better than that. Other times I’d think, damn, that was a good book. I wish I could write like that. Then one day I was at the mall people watching and a young woman walked by trying to balance her packages while holding onto her two little charges. She said something to them that made them laugh and all of a sudden a story began to form in my head. That night I borrowed one of my daughter’s notebooks and I started writing. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 

I’m open to about anything when I’m not writing. I like to read and meet friends for lunch. I like to bake, especially when the grandkids are around, and have all the family over for dinner. My husband and I go for walks, and I love sitting in the mall or on a park bench and people watch.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite.

I have six complete novels, three in the holding stage and the one I’m working on now. Only two of them are published. From Within is my favorite. It was published in 2012. It was so easy to write. My heroine, Maggie wasn’t looking for love when she moved to Mill Creek, Missouri, but the hero, Sheriff Logan McBride soon changed her mind. I love all my characters but the book wouldn’t be complete without the Peel twins. They are in their seventies. Miss Helen is straight laced, and always trying to get her spirited sister, Miss Emily to toe the line. They along with Maggie’s crew, seven teenagers, add a little humor to this Romantic Suspense read. 

What authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?

I really enjoy Christina Skye and Julie Garwood. Years ago Julie made the transition from historical to contemporary romantic seem effortlessly. I just found Carolyn Marsi, Kathleen Brooks, and Melody Anne. There are a host of other great authors out there that I can’t wait to read. 

What advice would you could give the younger version of yourself?

Don’t give up on yourself. When you get a rejection, cry, throw things, but then pick yourself up and get your butt back in that chair and show them what you’re made of!

What did you learn from writing your first book?

Patience, determination, and that I had it in me to complete a novel.

How long does it take your to write a book?

Each book has its own time frame. From Within took a little over a year. My novella, It’s You and Me, Baby, out now on Amazon took four months. 

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your book?

After the last page is read I would want them to sit back and think, damn, that was a good book!

What does your family think of your writing?

They think it’s awesome. Larry and the kids encourage me when I’m down and praise me when I accomplish my objective. My family has always been self-sufficient. If dinner wasn’t on the table, they made do or fixed it themselves. When my first book came out and I told Larry that it would take time to build a following and begin to see a profit, he asked me if I still enjoyed writing. When I told him more than ever, he said that’s all that mattered. How can you not love a guy like that? 

Tell us about your latest book.

Janet and Brad’s story is all about letting go of the past and second chances at love. 

BLURB:

What Janet Sanderson didn't need besides being stalked was Brad Temple on her doorstep with the news that his brother Martin is dead. Six years ago Janet had thought it was Brad's lie that had torn her world apart. But putting the pieces together, she and Brad realize they both had been duped by Martin just so he could get rid of Janet and his unborn child. Confronted with the truth, can Janet set the past aside to help Brad decipher Martin's cryptic notes that may point to his murderer? Will Janet's stalker thwart Brad's second chance with the woman he loves?

It's You & Me, Baby is available at Amazon:  http://amzn.com/B00FDUJ5T4

One last question, Rose. Where can readers find you?

They can visit my website, rosegorham.com. Also I’m on goodreads.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com; oh, and you can catch me on twitter and facebook.   

It's been great meeting you, Rose. Best wishes on your writing career.

Insecure Writers Support Group

Why does it feel as if I just wrote last month's post for IWSG? Time keeps flying by. When I was young, I felt as if time just slogged along--unless I was doing something I really liked, of course. These days, it seems as if there's never enough time to do all that I want. I have so many ideas for new books plus several novels that were finished, submitted, and rejected that I like enough to want to do over.

We never know how much time we have. Does that sound morbid? Probably. Last night, I lost another uncle. My dad's generation is quickly passing on. Considering my uncle's age (94), he lived a long life and, until recently, an active life.

About the only thing I can do about my projects is keep writing. Finish a novel, get it published, and move on to the next. This month, many writers are participating in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The goal is to complete 50,000 in 30 days. I give the people who joined (over a quarter million) a lot of credit for attempting such a project.  Although I've never tried it (and maybe I should so I can be sure what I'm talking about), I don't think NaNo and I are a good fit. I am so OCD that I can't go forward unless I fix something I previously wrote. 

I'll keep plugging along, writing at my own pace, and try not to feel like a slacker as my friends write a full novel.

If you want to see what other writers are insecure about, click on the link below for their links: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

 

Goal Setting

November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and over a quarter million writers participate in this annual project to write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days. As I understand the objective, writers are to write forward, no looking back, no using the backspace or delete keys, just keep writing. At the end of the month, they’ll have a rough draft that they can flesh out, edit, etc. into a full-length book.

I was tempted to try it this year. I am 25,000 words short of finishing The Chameleon (the second book in the Outer Rim series). I want to finish this book for two reasons. I want to release another book in December and if I complete the book by November 30^th, I’ll qualify for the I Will Write a Book challenge by my local RWA chapter (Mid-Michigan RWA). It’s a goal setting exercise where we announce in June that we’ll complete a book by the end of November. I’ve never had difficulty finishing a book in the allotted time. This year, I had an event that took precedence—moving to a new house.

In my current rush to finish the book, I’ve let some things slide. Boxes still line the walls in some rooms—okay, make that most rooms—and laundry piles up. But my book hasn’t completely taken over my life. On beautiful sunny days, when Hub says “let’s go for a drive” I go willingly as we explore a new area. Or we go furniture shopping. After forty-one years, we decided to retire our bedroom set. That and the uncomfortable (for tall people) couch will find new homes via the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Eventually, we need to replace them.

One of the best deterrents to unpacking boxes or writing my novel is a visit from the grandkiddies. While their mother graded her students’ portfolios last Saturday, the kiddies spent all day at Nana and Papa’s. That’s the main reason we moved. To be close enough for visits.

While NaNoWriMo works for many people, I knew it wouldn’t work for me. I would never be able to keep my fingers off the delete and backspace keys. I’m too OCD to let typos stay. I have to tweak as I go. But the main reason is I let life interfere. If you can’t enjoy life, what’s the purpose? I admire people who hold down full-time jobs, have the responsibilities of a young family, and produce five to six books a year. That’s just not me.

However, goal setting does give a sense of purpose. Thanks to a fellow writer, I found a great program that many NaNoWriMo writers use. It tracks the number of words I write per day, including a graph with my goal and my expected and actual progress toward that goal. For those who are interested, the program is Write Track. http://writetrack.davidsgale.com/

Tracking my progress toward a goal gives me a sense of accomplishment. Instead of looking at how far I have to go (or how many boxes I need to unpack), I see how much I’ve done. On this blog, I’ve mentioned that I’m a list maker and a list crosser-offer (is that a word???). Again, it’s a sense of accomplishment to see how many items on my to-do list that I’ve done.

I salute those who entered NaNoWriMo this year and wish them well. As for me, I’ll unpack a box at a time, aim for finishing The Chameleon by the end of November, play with my grandkids, and try not to neglect my sweet husband.

How do you stay on track toward your goals?

Saturday Sampler - Primani by Laurie Olerich

Primani by Laurie Olerich

Blurb for Primani:

Better close your eyes. She can read your soul. You won’t see it coming.

Mica Thomas doesn’t care about rules. Rules are made to be broken. After the year she’s had, she just wants to feel alive again. But she’s not free to do as she wants. Someone is watching her, setting her course. She’s got a role to play. She’s not ready and the countdown has begun.

Sean O’Cahan is the best Primani there is. His job is to stay in the shadows and steer Mica’s destiny. It should be a routine mission. But she can’t stay out of trouble and he finds himself drawn to her in a way that breaks all the rules. A highly-trained and lethal operative, he’s supposed to protect her, but will his actions change the course of her destiny once again?

The clock is ticking. Time is running out.

She has to be ready.

Excerpt from Primani:

     Awkward doesn’t begin to describe the atmosphere in the foyer. We’d gotten dressed for the mission and were in the foyer getting ready to leave. Sean was adjusting my body armor for the second time when Dec came in. Regardless of what he did or didn’t know, I turned purple with embarrassment. Dec didn’t say anything to me but I saw the questions in his eyes. He looked from me to Sean and back again. He knew something was different but didn’t ask. His eyes settled on my mouth. My lips were puffy and slightly red from Sean’s kisses. He knew! I stared at the floor in embarrassment. Sean ignored him while he adjusted my mic with a professional attitude. When he accidently grazed my neck with his knuckles, I felt the effects of it down to my toes and Dec snorted with amusement.

     “What?” I whispered to Sean.

     He looked down at me and shook his head with some humor. Dec snorted again just as Killian walked into the room. His expression was colder than I had seen it in years. His disapproval cut like a knife.

     He looked from me to Sean and asked, “Why is she glowing? What did you do to her?”

     I nearly burst into flames right then and there. Mortified, I turned my back on them and buried my face in my hands. This time, I intentionally sent a plea to him. Please, Killian, don’t be disappointed in us. There’s no more time! Please…don’t cut me out! My emotions were already on edge and I caught a sob before it formed.

     And this is what you want from Sean? Killian asked me silently.

     No, I want everything from him. But this is a start.

     Still playing with fire? His tone was softer now.

     Sean put an arm around me and turned me around again.

     He whispered to me, “It’ll be okay. Trust me.”

     He faced the others and made an unequivocal statement.

Purchase Links: KINDLE   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EWTQIX8

PRINT  http://www.amazon.com/Primani-1-Laurie-Olerich/dp/1492124842/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380070485&sr=1-1&keywords=primani

Author Bio: Laurie Olerich is the author of the new Primani series. Part urban fantasy, part romance, part paranormal...Three things she can’t live without! Laurie spent most of her life in the Northeastern United States and in Western Europe. She now lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her son and Dalmatian duo, Domino and Rambo.  Desperate to escape the heat, she lives vicariously through Mica and her Primani by setting their adventures in the mountain coolness of New England and the rainy days of London. Before throwing caution to the wind and diving into a writing career, Laurie dedicated 20 years to her country by serving in the United States Air Force. Much of her time was spent around men with guns and cool toys...this explains her obsession with both.

Please contact me at these sites. 

http://www.laurieolerich.com

https://twitter.com/LaurieOlerich

https://www.facebook.com/LaurieOlerichAuthor

http://www.laurieolerich.com/blog