Welcome, Rose. I love having Aussie Christian authors on my blog. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.
I think there is a little bit of me in every one of my characters.
It’s hard to avoid this. If you want to get into the character’s head, you have
to know them inside out. Having said that; I avoid applying the characteristics
of anyone I know to a character. I find the familiarity gets in the way of my
storytelling. So I guess there a little bit of me, and not a lot of anyone
else.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Where do I start? I am the queen of quirk. I’m Australian –
a country Aussie at that. I put my characters through a lot of my own experiences;
like falling down in mangrove mud, or having to swim ashore from a tinny
(dingy) whilst negotiating large waves. Being chased by a bush turkey is
another one. But all the crocodile scenarios – well – I’ve seen a lot of them
from a boat, but never from in the water.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
When I decided to write something. I had been wrestling with
the meaning of my life, and praying for my purpose. One day it fell upon my
heart to try my hand at writing. That very first attempt produced Back
to Resolution. If I look back now I can see that I always had this
passion. It just took my request for direction to embark upon the right path.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love historic romance, contemporary romance, non-fiction
with romance (see the emerging pattern?). Yes- I am a romantic. I can even get
into sci-fi if it has a romance element (which many do these days). But my all
time favorite books would have to be Jane
Eye and Pride and Prejudice. But
you would have probably guessed that without my telling you.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
When I get really stressed out I take to the sea. My escape
could consist of a walk on the beach, a spin on the ocean in a boat, or a
weekend away to one of the incredible islands at my doorstep. There’s something
raw and honest about a salty breeze. It’s revitalizing, purifying, and reminds
me of who God is and what He can do. It’s a great way to keep your sanity.
I wish I lived close
enough to the ocean to do that. How do you choose your characters’ names?
Some of them just come to me. They almost name themselves.
Others, I have great trouble with. I’ve become so desperate for a name that
fits I’ve even scanned baby naming websites (I know – bad right?). On the odd
occasion a friend will suggest a name, and I don’t always apply it immediately,
but sometimes it will fit for a later character – that has been helpful.
Regardless of how I find names I never use the name of someone I know. The
association gets in the way of my character development.
I have also unconsciously used the same name twice for
completely different characters. That was an interesting idiosyncrasy.
Many authors use baby
name sites, so that’s okay. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud
of?
Being a wife and mother. You never quite understand just how
hard a job it is, until you are living these two roles. It’s exhausting and
rewarding in equal measure. Being committed to someone else’s happiness is a
lifetime endeavor. Of all the things I value – this would have to be top of the
list.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I would be my dog, Noodle. He’s awesome. He sits around all
day, never has to worry about where his next meal is coming from, and has devotion
and love at his paw-tips. I am sure he is close to being human. He never seems
to lack communication skills. We always know what Noodle wants and what he is
thinking.
What is your favorite
food?
Every kind of pasta and antipasta. I grew up in a large
Italian community and, although I don’t share the cultural heritage in a
biological sense, I certainly have adopted it by nurture.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My greatest roadblock thus far would have to be self doubt.
I still have times when I am worried that I lack qualification to be an author.
But then I remember that so long as I am in the Lord’s plan, he will give me
all that I need. That includes the lessons to make up for what I lack, as well
as developing what I’ve got.
Tell us about the
featured book.
When I sat down to write something the only advice I could
recall about writing was: Write what you know – and - write what you love. I
have done this in Back to Resolution. The story is about Bay, who was born in Australia , but
grew up in Los Angles. After the death of her mother she embarks upon a mission
to find her father “down under.”
The story showcases the region in which I live, the rugged tropical
islands, ocean, and coastline. But also the Aussie larrikin personalities you
will find here in North Queensland . Each
colorful character brings life to the story. There are lots of twists and
turns; romantic entanglements; and a mystery. My greatest hope is that the
reader ends the story feeling entertained and uplifted.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Visit
Rose at: www.rosedee.com Thank you, Rose, for spending this time with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Back to Resolution
- Amazon paperbackBack to Resolution
- Kindlehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/back-to-resolution-rose-dee/1106820731?ean=9781921633607&itm=2&usri=rose+dee - Barnes & Noble
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