Interview with Aussie author Rose Dee and book giveaway

Narelle here. I'm delighted to welcome Rose Dee to our blog today. We will be giving away a copy of Rose's debut novel, Back to Resolution, and the giveaway is open to readers anywhere in the world.

Rose Dee was born in Ingham, North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel. Rose, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, decided to try her hand at writing two years ago. The result of that attempt is her first published novel, 'Back to Resolution'. The novel is a culmination of years spent living and loving the tropical paradise in which she lives. Rose is currently finalising work on her latest novel, which is the second in the 'Resolution' series. 'Beyond Resolution' is scheduled for release in April 2012. Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.

Bay Anders is lost. She enjoys every privilege a wealthy upbringing affords, but the void in her soul refuses to be filled. Her mother's dying revelation drives Bay to the brink of self destruction, before a move to Australia changes everything. She embarks upon a search for her father that leads her to his island home, into a hazardous melting pot of hostile locals and a mystery – her father's disappearance. The only person who can help her is a strong, self-assured and intensely magnetic man. Bay must fight an overwhelming attraction to stay focused on her goal.

Flynn McKenna is hiding from the world. A past filled with mistakes drove him to withdraw from society and live in seclusion. But the arrival of a woman he cannot avoid shatters his solitary existence. As the search for Bay's father unites them, can he resist his desire for her?

Narelle: What was your inspiration for writing Back to Resolution?

Rose: I set out to write what I knew. The area in which I grew up, the ocean, islands, fishing; these are topics I know a bit about. As for the characters and themes – well, at the time I started writing, American socialites were highly regarded. It frustrated me that they were glorified as the desirable way to live and act, so I wrote about a character that leaves that life behind and finds her place in a very different world.

Narelle: I loved the beautiful and secluded North Queensland island setting. Please share with us your research tips.

Rose: Tip number 1 – Grow up on the beach.

Tip number 2 – Marry an ex-professional fisherman.

I have basically drawn on my own experience; after that, anything I’m not sure of I ask Terry. He has a wealth of knowledge I tap into. That would be the best advice I could give aspiring authors: Write what you know, and write what you love. I would add to this, write the way it suits you. Trying to write like someone else is like trying to talk with an accent. It will come out sounding fake. Find your own style and you will find your enjoyment and passion.

Narelle:I really liked how there was an obvious growing attraction between Bay and Flynn, and that there was more passion in their relationship than tends to be shown in a typical Christian romance story. What did you find most intriguing about Bay and Flynn, who seemed an unlikely match at the start of the story?

Rose: Let’s face it – in today’s world we are bombarded with sexualisation. These are twenty/thirty something characters, certainly they will have a heightened physical attraction to one another. Rather than try and pretend this sort of passion doesn’t exist, I would rather bring it to the forefront of a story and give some concepts about how to resolve and cope with it God’s way. I think that it can be difficult for young Christians to negotiate through this. The world tells them it is normal to be intimate with the opposite sex. I want to show that God puts two people together in many senses - spiritually, emotionally, and even physically – but all in His time, not ours, or the worlds.

Bay and Flynn are an unlikely pair, but how many times do we see this in real life? They are both trying to find their place, and eventually they do.

Narelle: What do you hope your readers will take away after reading Back to Resolution?

Rose: My hope is that they feel entertained and uplifted. I’m not very good at hidden meanings and analogy. I just love a good story. One that shows who God is rather than telling who He is.

Narelle: How has your faith influenced your writing?

Rose: My faith is why I write. What good is it to have a legacy that doesn’t include faith? I just want to share who I am through what I do.

Narelle: Please share your writing process with us. Are you a plotter or do you write by the ‘seat of your pants’? Do you write every day?

Rose: I am literally ‘all over the shop’ (that’s North Queensland for unstructured). I don’t have set schedules or deadlines (thankfully) I don’t know what I would do if I did. Having said that, when I am writing new material (not editing) it comes very thick and fast. I can have quite large gaps between though, which serves me well creatively. We run our own business, and I am a mum of a six-year-old so sometimes life priorities come first.

So far as plotting goes – I have a very definite story outline but inevitably there are always plots that get left out in favour of better options.

Narelle: Please tell us about your upcoming releases.

Rose: Back to Resolution is available from www.koorong.com.au, www.word.com.au and www.amazon.com

Beyond Resolution is scheduled for release in April 2012. It is the next story in my ‘Resolution’ series. I love all my stories, but this second one is a bit special.

The third story is currently in the editing process.

Rose, thanks for joining us today. By commenting on today’s post you can enter the drawing to win a copy of Back to Resolution. The drawing will take place on Friday, February 10 and the winner announced on Sunday, February 12. Please leave an email address [ ] at [ ] dot [ ] where you can be reached.

"Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws."

To learn more about Rose Dee, please visit her website.

Narelle Atkins writes contemporary inspirational romance. She resides in Canberra, Australia with her husband and children. She can also be found at the Christian Writers Downunder blog. To learn more about Narelle, please visit her website.