Thursday, March 20, 2014

Seeds of Inspiration: Author Roseanne Dowell with No Regrets and Giveaway





Welcome multi-genre author Roseanne Dowell to the Seeds of Inspiration Event. Remember to enter to win a copy of Roseanne's e-book, Trouble Comes in Twos, by leaving a comment below. Winner will be chosen after 12:01 Sunday morning.

Now let me tell you a little bit about Roseanne Dowell. She is an avid reader. Roseanne writes various types of romance - paranormal, contemporary, and mystery. She has several books available at Amazon as well as over 40 articles and short stories published in magazines such as Good Old Days, Nostalgia, and Ohio Writer as well as several online publications. Besides teaching writing courses for Long Story School of Writingshe also taught two writing courses for the Encore Program at Cuyahoga Community College.


Roseanne lives in Northeast Ohio where she enjoys life as a wife, mother of six, grandmother of fourteen and great grandmother of two.  When she’s not writing or enjoying her family, Roseanne spends her time with embroidery and quilting, especially combining the two. She also enjoys blogging, tweeting, facebooking and posting on various writers groups. 

Visit Roseanne Dowell at 
her author website  
her blog 
No Regrets by Roseanne Dowell
Like most authors, I always loved to read. From my first book, Dick and Jane to the Golden books, I read every chance I had. I grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries and soon moved on to Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. I was a big fan of Agatha Christie –still love her books, actually.
Ever since I can remember I’ve been writing, even as a teen. I often made up stories and wrote poetry. Of course, I kept a diary/journal. The stationary department of stores always drew me. My favorite places to shop to this day are Office Max and Staples. I have a love affair with paper and pens. I still can’t resist notebooks, especially if they’re on sale. It’s nothing for me to come home with three or four various types of notebooks, file folders, and pens during the school supply sales.

While working as a school secretary, and encouraged by my coworkers, I took a correspondence course -writing for children. It didn’t take long to realize, that even though I had six children, it took someone special to write for them. I also tried my hand at nonfiction, but at the time, didn’t care for it. That’s when I moved on to romance novels and mysteries. Two of my favorite genres. Not that I did anything with those stories. At least not then. They sat in the attic with my poems and journals. Back then we didn’t have computers, let alone the internet. Finding time to write with six children wasn’t easy either and I never submitted anything.

It wasn’t until 2002 while I was at a Book Club meeting, the conversation turned to what we most regretted in our lives. I confessed I hadn’t pursued a career in writing. That’s all it took. My friends convinced me it wasn’t too late. There was only one way to find out, I decided to give it a shot and took another writing course. Part of the course was writing nonfiction, my least favorite genre. Within a couple of months I published my first article in Good Old Days Magazine. I framed a copy of that check. Since then, I’ve had several nonfiction articles published. My first published book in 2006, Satin Sheets, sold over 35,000 copies. Not too bad for a first novel. It’s out of print now and available as an ebook, It’s Only Make Believe

As I said previously, I love mystery and romance and often combine the two. I also love the paranormal (ghosts) and incorporate them in a couple of my books, Time to Love Again and Shadows in the Attic. Entangled Minds is a paranormal about ESP.  A firm believer in love at any age, some of my heroines are older women. Time to Love Again, Geriatric Rebels, and Another Day all feature older heroines. I try to insert a bit of humor in most of my stories also.

My latest book, Trouble Comes in Twos, released with Books We Love Publishing was intended as the third book in a Trilogy.  Circumstances beyond my control made me change it into a single book. My inspiration and idea for the book came from a visit to Locust Grove Cemetery in Twinsburg, Ohio. I have a thing for cemeteries, especially old ones, and visit them every opportunity I get. Fortunately my husband indulges my strange habit.

While we were walking around, reading the headstones –something else that intrigues me-- the story idea began forming. The cemetery is located off a main street and set way back from the street. It’s a very small cemetery, and if you didn’t know it was there, you’d drive right past it. We almost missed it the first time we went there. It’s surrounded by stores two sides and a retirement home on another and slopes down a hill. My imagination immediately reacted. What if someone got killed here? How long would it be before someone found the body? The graves in this cemetery are very old, so I doubt too many people visit them anymore.

By the time we got home, my mind was whirling with ideas for the book and before long the first draft was born. Several months later, I was ready to submit.


Trouble Comes in Twos Back of the Book:
After a five year absence, Kate Wesley returns to Twinsburg Ohio to open a florist shop. She’s content with life until Mark Westfield enters the picture. To make matters worse her ex fiancĂ© is back in town, looking to pick up where they left off, and she’s attracted to both men. As if her life isn’t complicated enough, she finds a dead body in the cemetery, the twin sister of the victim shows up and another body is discovered. Can Kate sort through the confusion her life has become or will she become the next victim?

You can find this book as well as all of Roseanne Dowell's books at Amazon

Please leave a comment to enter the drawing to win Trouble Comes in Twos. We love a wave, a hug, high five, or even a giggle. Thank you.



11 comments:

Miss Mae said...

Hi Ro,

Loved reading about your beginnings, and learned how much we have in common - I think women "our age" grew up in the same decade and we all loved Nancy. :) I was glad to know you've been pubbed in Good Old Days - so have I. :) And your book sold over 35,000 copies!!! Awesome! Congrats on all of your successes. :)

Unknown said...

Great post, Roseanne! I love the title. Despite all the twists and turns that life takes us on, it's important to let go of the bad... no regrets.
For almost 10 years, I lived next door to a small, old, country cemetery. It was a great place to stroll around and ruminate. I think you'd like it!

Roseanne Dowell said...

Thank you, Miss Mae and Heather. I've had a couple stories in Good Old Days, one in Nostalgia also. I've not been to a cemetery in a while, but plan to visit some this summer.

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi MM--As I read through authors' blogs, a lot of them grew up on Nancy. Thanks for stopping in.

J.Q. Rose said...

Heather, I love the title too. I read this engaging book. You'll be amazed how many twos you'll find in this story.

Anonymous said...

Reading and writing definitely go together. It's never too late to pursue your dreams. So glad you had good friends to push you in the right direction.

MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches


gail roughton branan said...

Well, I for one am glad your friends convinced you to go for it! Because I'd never have met you if you hadn't and wouldn't have my best cyber-space bud and brainstorming partner. Hey JQ! Hey Miss Mae!

J.Q. Rose said...

MJ--Lucky is the person who has such "pushy" friends..LOL..Sometimes a nudge doesn't work, so we need them to give us a push. Thanks for stopping by.

J.Q. Rose said...

Hey back at ya' Gail, Roseanne's your brainstormin' partner? Lucky you! She is very special for sure.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

You're an inspiration, Roseanne. Thanks for sharing.

J.Q. Rose said...

Congratulations, Joylene! You are the winner of Roseanne's ebook. Enjoy.

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