I’ve been so blessed this last year! When I look back, I’m
just astonished. This time last year, I was preparing for the release of my
second small press book and had come to the conclusion that if that’s where the Lord wanted to keep me, I
would make it work to the best of my ability and to His glory. But in the past
twelve months, I’ve been offered contracts on FIVE historicals with two major
publishing houses. To see the first of those come to fruition a mere nine
months after signing the contract is a real dream—and to have to dive
immediately into the next project is so much fun! So there’ll be a lot of hard
work and quite a few books in my immediate future. =)
Tell us a little about your family.
I’ve been married for 10 years to a man so perfectly suited
to me that I absolutely adore. We have to adorable kids—our daughter is 6, and our
son is 3 ½. At the moment we’re homeschooling, though my little girl is a
social butterfly and has been begging to go to a regular school so she can be
with other kids. We’re giving that lots of prayer. I was raised by amazing
Christian parents who are now the pastors at a small church we planted a couple
years ago. My in-laws are awesome and as much family as if I’d been born one of
them. I have a sister who’s one of my dearest friends, a collection of nieces,
and an amazing support system with my grandparents and aunts and uncles and
cousins and . . . you get the idea. ;-)
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
At the moment, it has all but eclipsed my reading habits,
sadly enough. Time has been at such a premium since we started this school year
that I’ve barely done any reading—ever spare moment is spent eking out just a
handful more words . . . but in general, since buckling down to writing, I’ve
been reading a lot less mainstream fiction and a lot more Christian romance,
especially historical. Partly to study the market, but mostly to support my
friends. =)
What are you working on right now?
At the moment I’m a third of the way finished a historical
romance set in Savannah
What outside interests do you have?
I enjoy baking, and also dabble in visual arts from time to
time, sketching my characters and occasionally breaking out the paints to do
something for a family member. I’ve developed a serious liking for digital
design, too. Otherwise, it’s always fun to take some play time with the kids,
go on walks, have movie nights, that sort of thing!
How do you choose your settings for each book?
A lot of times my settings are pre-determined by the history
I’m writing about—other times, I find a setting I love and then research its
history to find the time period I’d like to set a story in. =) That was how I
chose 1783-84 for Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland. I love the city (went to college
there), and thought it would be fun to write about the six months when it was
the nation’s capital.
I visited Annapolis when on a Senior Trip in high school. I didn't realize that is was the country's capital. If you could spend an evening with one historical person,
who would it be and why?
This week’s answer to this question (it changes regularly,
LOL) is Martha Washington. It would be so much fun to get a view of the nation
(and one of its greatest heroes) from one of its founding ladies.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you
started writing novels?
What in the world POV (point of view) rules are! Took me a
good while to figure that one out, LOL.
That I can’t do it all. Thus far in my life I’ve managed to
juggle a lot of different roles, but I’ve finally got too much on my plate and
have had to give it all to the Lord and ask Him to take care of it, and to help
me determine what I can let go of. It’s a task—a lot of these roles I cling to
out of pride, I think . . . but they’re all roles He gave me, so I know I have
to be willing to hand them back to him when the times change.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to
do to be successful?
Connect! There’s nothing like other writer-friends to cheer
you on, help you learn, and walk the path with you.
Never stop learning—and never insist you know what’s right
in an industry ever changing.
But most importantly, walk the path the Lord has put before
YOU—don’t try to have someone else’s career. You don’t have to be Francine
Rivers or Tom Clancy or Jerry Jenkins—you have to be the writer God created you
to be.
Tell us about the featured book?
I’d love to! Since Summerside kept my back cover blurb with
only minor tweaks, I’ll just share that. ;-)
In 1784 peace has been declared, but war still rages in
the heart of Lark Benton.
Never did Lark think she’d want
to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she’s loved all her life. But when he
betrays her, she flees to Annapolis ,
Maryland
Emerson follows, determined to
reclaim his betrothed. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he
realizes that in this new country he has come to call his own, duty is no
longer enough. He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater …
before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Endover Plantation,
outside Williamsburg , Virginia
25 November 1783
Perhaps if Lark recited the pirate’s code it would steal
his attention. She could try standing on her head. Or if those options
failed—as surely they would—she could throw herself to the floor before him.
Except Emerson Fielding was as likely to mistake her for a
rug as to realize he ought to help her up. Lark indulged in a long sigh and
cast her gaze out the window. The plantation lay dormant and brown. Most days
saw Papa and Wiley in Williamsburg
She wished her heart hadn’t fluttered when he entered the
room. Wished the disappointment hadn’t followed so quickly when he barely
glanced her way. Wished she had the courage to command his attention…and he the
sense to give it without her command.
Life would be so much easier if she weren’t in love with
Emerson Fielding. But what young lady wouldn’t be captivated by those dark
eyes, the strong features, the height that left him towering above other men?
Today his hair was unpowdered and gleamed sable. He was in
undress, his coat the common one he wore every day, unlike what he was sure to
don for her birthday dinner that evening. His smile lit up his eyes, his laugh
lit up the room.
Neither one did he direct toward her.
Lark’s gaze flicked down to the emerald on her finger. Two
years. Twenty-four months. Seven hundred thirty interminable days. Not that she
was keeping account.
I can hardly wait to read the book. How can readers find you
on the Internet?
www.Facebook.com/roseanna.white
Thank you, Roseanna, for spending this time with us.
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Love Finds You in Annapolis Maryland
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