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Author Bio
Author of novels, novellas, and short stories, Rachel
Rossano balances her time between the chaos of raising and homeschooling her
three children and the world of drama and high adventure in her head. With her
faithful husband and chief consulting editor by her side, she dreams of many
more adventures to come in both of her double lives. Check out her work at: http://Rachel-rossano.blogspot.com.
When did you know you wanted to be a
writer?
Stories were my world even as a child. I was
constantly pretending to be a princess in distress, a space ship captain on a
mission, or Robin Hood’s side kick. The stories didn’t make onto the page until
I was in my early teens. Even then, the process took so much work that I tended
to not enjoy writing. It was only when I began my third novella that I realized
I was hooked.
I didn’t seriously consider being a writer as a career
until I was in the midst of college. I promptly rejected the idea of trading my
wise choice (accounting) for something with such low marketability as writing.
After all, I wasn’t interested in journalism, just creative writing.
Years later, looking at the prospect that I might
never realize my dream of being a mother, I decided to pursue another dream,
writing. That was when I began seriously considering writing as a career. Here
I am, mother of three and writing part-time between mothering, keeping house,
and homeschooling.
What were some of your first steps toward
making your dream a reality?
My first experience with publication was
very disappointing. I fell in with a publisher more interested in selling my
book to me than to anyone else. But I wasn’t willing to give up on the dream of
seeing more of my stories in print. So I researched, read, listened, wrote,
edited, and learned. Unable to write anything that fit publishers’ submission
criteria, I discovered Lulu.com and joined the indie revolution by accident.
Now one novel, two novellas, and two short stories later, I think I am
committed.
What 3 adjectives best describe you?
Talkative, busy, happy
Tell us a little bit about your books?
The
Mercenary’s Marriage is a novella
about the relationship between a mercenary warrior and a slave girl who fears
men. He physically represents everything she fears. Can he get her to see past
his career and his exterior and earn her trust?
The Crown of
Anavrea (Book One of The Theodoric Saga)
is novella about a man running from his past. He finds hope in a woman without
a future. While on the run, Labren falls injured. Before his pursuers find him,
he is discovered by a slave woman named Eve. She convinces him to not give up on
life. Together they face difficulties of their pasts.
Exchange is a science fiction short story. Isolated on a
distant planet, she is incarcerated for a crime she doesn't recall. She has no
name, no idea where she came from, or why she is injected with drugs daily to
hold these vital facts from her grasp. Despite small rebellions, she wastes
away, worn and losing hope of ever being whole again. Then he arrives. Claiming
to hold the answers burned daily from her brain, he offers her a way out. But
at what cost?
Word and Deed
is a medieval short story. Death or
an arranged marriage, Verity refuses to accept the choices. Verity Favian's
father dies unexpectedly. Her half-brother, Verdon, lays claim to all their
father left behind: title, castle, and her. Verdon cannot touch the land set
aside for her dowry so he offers her hand for sale to the highest bidder.
Verdon locks her away in a tower. She is not sure if he seeks to prevent her
from fleeing the marriage or spreading the truth only she seems willing to
speak: Verdon killed their father. Either way, her time is running out.
What can we look forward to from you in the
near future?
I have two new releases this year. This February, Duty: a novel of Rhynan debuts. Written
in eight months, the fastest I have ever written a book, it began as the
winning opening line in a contest. “’The red one is mine,’ he said.”
Brielle is a woman familiar with hardship. She has
lost her mother to disease, her father to old age, her title due to lack of a
brother, and her comfort because of a greedy cousin. When she finds out she
lost her freedom thanks to her cousin’s political maneuvering, she figures she
will have to make the best of it. …Except her cousin isn’t done with her or her
new husband.
Sometime around August, I am expecting to be releasing
another novel. Wren (A Romany Epistle
Novel) is part of a unique project. Eight of my friends and I developed an
idea of writing nine novels about nine siblings that began in the same spot and
ended in the same spot. We would each write a sibling’s story and then publish
all the books. Years later, four of the books are written, two will not be
written, and the remaining three might be finished someday. Wren is my contribution.
Wren Romany lives by her skills as a hunter, a bounty
hunter. But, after a year and a half on the road, she wants to settle down for
the winter. Finding a nice quiet valley, she falls in with a band of veterans
from the wrong side of a recent civil war. She quickly realizes that there is
more going on in the valley than what meets the eye. The focus of the turmoil
and tension is the former nobleman and owner of the crumbing castle where she
now resides. Not one to do nothing, Wren sets about trying to improve the
situation.
My writing/editing plate is almost always full. I have
two short stories in the works. One is a mystery/romance about a maid of all
work in a Regency boarding house who gets caught in the secrets swirling around
the two male residents.
The other is a side story related to Duty: a novel of Rhynan. It is not going
to be a happily ever after romance, though. I wanted to explain the
significance of a certain prop to a secondary character in Duty.
Then there is the epic prequel to Exchange I have planned. Romance, interplanetary intrigue, and
politics are on the agenda for that one.
How do your values show up in your writing?
What do you want readers to take from your writing?
I write Clean or Sweet Romance, which means there is
no sex on the page. I believe there are some areas that need to remain intimate
between husband and wife and not on the page for everyone to read. My
characters also watch their language, usually. If they do swear, I don’t write
the words on the page. I want to write books that I can hand to my children
when they are old enough to appreciate them.
I hope my writing reflects my beliefs and values, but
I work hard not to preach at the reader. I also seek to entertain, edify, and
lift up the reader. I want them to walk away from my books feeling encouraged.
What do you look for in a good book?
An interesting premise, quality writing, solid characterization, a plot
that moves the book along, and a satisfying ending make up a combination that
is hard to find. I find I value topics that interest me, writing style, and
characterization highest when evaluating a book, though the other aspects need
to be there in some measure.
What are some of the best social media,
marketing, and publicity tips you’ve come across?
First, have a great product. Edit, take criticism, revise, and learn.
There is no such thing as perfection and writing is a journey.
Second, on your social media accounts, offer similar things or
information that touch on the interests of your audience. For instance, I write
fantasy based heavily on history. So I post on my Facebook page and twitter
account about historical articles that interest me. I am a writer and some
other writers follow my page. Adding articles, pictures, quotes that interest
them draws them to interact on my page and make it something they look for when
they log on to their account. The same goes for reading related quotes and
extras.
I begin promoting a book while I
write it. Offering quotes, new sentences, and other tidbits as I write invites
the followers to invest in the book even before it is finished.
In all areas, I try to be helpful, engaging, and supportive. Going out
of my way, I can make a new friend, someone to share the publishing or reading
journey with me.
Also, once you finish one book, start writing the next. The bigger you
back list the better your income. Keep growing by adding quality new novels,
novellas, and short stories to your list of published work.
Book Plug
Brielle Solarius struggles to keep her village from starvation.
The men rode off to war and never returned. The remaining women and children
face a dire winter if they do not find a solution soon.
Tomas Dyrease, the newly made Earl of Irvaine and the village of
Wisenvale, owes his good fortune to his king. When that same king demands Tomas
marry the impoverished daughter of the late Lord Wisten, he obeys. However, no
one warned him that she wasn’t a typical noblewoman.
Duty: a novel of
Rhynan follows their journey from strangers to friends as they face
complications from their pasts and the shaky politics of a changing regime.
Then Brielle is implicated in her cousin’s treasonous activities. Can a
marriage of duty survive treason?
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