Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog.
I love to visit my friend's blogs and to be their guest. I was delighted to be interviewed on talented author Marsha R. West's blog. We have become good cyber friends since we met a few years ago as fellow witers with the same publisher. She writes mysteries and so do I, so that may be one reason why we click so well.
I'm sharing the questions Marsha asked during my virtual book tour for Deadly Undertaking last fall. (BTW, Shameless promotion alert! Deadly Undertaking is now on sale for 99 cents through July 6! Look for details below.)I must admit I revealed quite a bit about myself thanks to her questions. I hope you enjoy the interview. Click here to check out Marsha's website.
Thanks, Marsha for allowing me to re-blog this post!
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I love to visit my friend's blogs and to be their guest. I was delighted to be interviewed on talented author Marsha R. West's blog. We have become good cyber friends since we met a few years ago as fellow witers with the same publisher. She writes mysteries and so do I, so that may be one reason why we click so well.
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| Beautiful Michigan Photo by J.Q. Rose |
Where
are you from and did you always want to be a writer? Did you do something else
before your writing career? I’m
originally from Central Illinois, but now live in Michigan in the summer and
Florida in the winter. Yes, I have always wanted to be a writer, but life kind
of got in the way of achieving that goal for many years. I began writing
stories in second grade because my mother was my classroom teacher. I was a bit
of a social butterfly and would often get in trouble talking to everyone. So to
keep my mom happy and myself out of trouble, when I finished my assignments I
penned stories (“penciled” in second grade) during my free time. I loved
escaping into my imaginary world more than talking to my classmates. Now that’s
saying something!
I taught third grade when we were
first married. I thought I would put a hold on teaching to raise my daughter
and then return to teaching. Instead, my husband and I moved our baby girl and
our household to Michigan to become owners of a floral shop and greenhouses. I learned floral arranging and floundered
around a bit to figure out how to be a good manager for our employees. (I never
felt like I achieved the art of being a boss.) After nineteen years, we sold
the business and lived full-time in our RV. I began my writing career as a
freelance writer at the kitchen table in the RV.
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| Writing with a pen on paper |
What
is the best advice you’ve received about this journey? Keep writing. Even when you don’t feel inspired to write,
get something down on the paper/screen. You can’t edit a blank page.
What
do you wish you’d known before you began? The
real “work” of a writer comes after a book contract is signed—the marketing.
Writers love to write and that is truly a joy. Marketing is a job.
What process do you use? Are you more of a plotter or
pantser? I’m a plotter. I need to plan from
the beginning to the ending or at least think that’s the ending. Things change
in the writing. I thought my main character, Lauren, in Deadly Undertaking, was going to fall in love with the gorgeous
detective with the cobalt blue eyes. I hope I don’t spoil the story when I
reveal she doesn’t.
What sources do you use for inspiration? (Music, movies,
people watching, etc.) I get a
lot of inspiration from news stories. In Coda
to Murder, the minister has to take over the care of a pig and a kangaroo
when these pets’ owners lose their camper in an explosion. That’s a true story
that was in the news. Deadly Undertaking
includes issues in the news today such as the legalization of recreational marijuana.
What’s next for you?
After the promotion blog tour for Deadly Undertaking finishes up at the
end of the year, I hope to outline a year in my life and write a memoir about
that difficult first year of moving to a town of strangers with our baby and
learning the flower business. Hoo-boy. That year was the most challenging year
of my life. Marketing/promotion of my books is always a constant project.
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| Lake Michigan--over the dunes to the beach Photo by J.Q. Rose |
Now for the fun stuff.
What do you do when you aren’t writing?
Play a board game, Pegs and Jokers,
with friends and family, take photos of nature, family, garden, food, camp
during the summer with our family, grandparenting (not babysitting because our
grandkids are now 6-15 years old), travel to new places and favorite places.
If you could only eat three foods what would they be and why?
Only 3? Anything chocolate, pizza,
and roast beef with carrots and potatoes (pot roast)
What would you like to do other than writing if talent/skill
didn’t matter?
Since you added if talent/skill
doesn’t matter, I would like to be an entertainer like Carol Burnett. She makes
people so happy.
BIG NEWS!
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| Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose Romantic suspense A handsome detective, a shadow man, and a murder victim kill Lauren's plan for a simple life. |
Deadly Undertaking is on the Kindle Countdown Sale for 99 cents!
Yes, that's right, but only from
Wednesday June 29- Wednesday July 6th
My publisher, Books We Love, is offering this mystery romance paranormal e-book for only 99 cents. Don't wait. Price goes up after July 6th to $2.99.
Back
of the Book: Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose
Lauren Staab knew there would be dead
bodies around when she returned home. After all, her family is in the funeral
business, Staab and Blood Funeral Home. Still, finding an extra body on the
floor of the garage between the hearse and the flower car shocked her. Lauren’s
plan to return to her hometown to help care for her mother and keep the books
for the funeral home suddenly turns upside down in a struggle to prove she and
her family are not guilty of murdering the man. But
will the real killer return for her, her dad, her brother? Her mother’s
secrets, a killer, a handsome policeman, and a shadow man muddle up her
intention to have a simple life. Welcome home, Lauren!
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