Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Author Marsha R. West Interviews J.Q. Rose, Deadly Undertaking for 99 cents

Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog.

I love to visit my friend's blogs and to be their guest. I was delighted to be interviewed on talented author Marsha R. West's blog. We have become good cyber friends since we met a few years ago as fellow witers with the same publisher. She writes mysteries and so do I, so that may be one reason why we click so well. 

I'm sharing the questions Marsha asked during my virtual book tour for Deadly Undertaking last fall. (BTW, Shameless promotion alert! Deadly Undertaking is now on sale for 99 cents through July 6! Look for details below.)I must admit I revealed quite a bit about myself thanks to her questions. I hope you enjoy the interview. Click here to check out Marsha's website.

Thanks, Marsha for allowing me to re-blog this post!
# # #
Beautiful Michigan
Photo by J.Q. Rose
Where are you from and did you always want to be a writer? Did you do something else before your writing career? I’m originally from Central Illinois, but now live in Michigan in the summer and Florida in the winter. Yes, I have always wanted to be a writer, but life kind of got in the way of achieving that goal for many years. I began writing stories in second grade because my mother was my classroom teacher. I was a bit of a social butterfly and would often get in trouble talking to everyone. So to keep my mom happy and myself out of trouble, when I finished my assignments I penned stories (“penciled” in second grade) during my free time. I loved escaping into my imaginary world more than talking to my classmates. Now that’s saying something!
I taught third grade when we were first married. I thought I would put a hold on teaching to raise my daughter and then return to teaching. Instead, my husband and I moved our baby girl and our household to Michigan to become owners of a floral shop and greenhouses.  I learned floral arranging and floundered around a bit to figure out how to be a good manager for our employees. (I never felt like I achieved the art of being a boss.) After nineteen years, we sold the business and lived full-time in our RV. I began my writing career as a freelance writer at the kitchen table in the RV.
Writing with a pen on paper
What is the best advice you’ve received about this journey? Keep writing. Even when you don’t feel inspired to write, get something down on the paper/screen. You can’t edit a blank page.

What do you wish you’d known before you began? The real “work” of a writer comes after a book contract is signed—the marketing. Writers love to write and that is truly a joy. Marketing is a job.

What process do you use? Are you more of a plotter or pantser? I’m a plotter. I need to plan from the beginning to the ending or at least think that’s the ending. Things change in the writing. I thought my main character, Lauren, in Deadly Undertaking, was going to fall in love with the gorgeous detective with the cobalt blue eyes. I hope I don’t spoil the story when I reveal she doesn’t.

What sources do you use for inspiration? (Music, movies, people watching, etc.) I get a lot of inspiration from news stories. In Coda to Murder, the minister has to take over the care of a pig and a kangaroo when these pets’ owners lose their camper in an explosion. That’s a true story that was in the news. Deadly Undertaking includes issues in the news today such as the legalization of recreational marijuana.

What’s next for you?
After the promotion blog tour for Deadly Undertaking finishes up at the end of the year, I hope to outline a year in my life and write a memoir about that difficult first year of moving to a town of strangers with our baby and learning the flower business. Hoo-boy. That year was the most challenging year of my life. Marketing/promotion of my books is always a constant project.
Lake Michigan--over the dunes to the beach
Photo by J.Q. Rose
Now for the fun stuff.
What do you do when you aren’t writing?
Play a board game, Pegs and Jokers, with friends and family, take photos of nature, family, garden, food, camp during the summer with our family, grandparenting (not babysitting because our grandkids are now 6-15 years old), travel to new places and favorite places.

If you could only eat three foods what would they be and why?
Only 3? Anything chocolate, pizza, and roast beef with carrots and potatoes (pot roast)

What would you like to do other than writing if talent/skill didn’t matter?
Since you added if talent/skill doesn’t matter, I would like to be an entertainer like Carol Burnett. She makes people so happy.

BIG NEWS!

Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose
Romantic suspense
A handsome detective, a shadow man, and a murder victim kill Lauren's plan for a simple life.
Deadly Undertaking is on the Kindle Countdown Sale for 99 cents! 
Yes, that's right, but only from
Wednesday June 29- Wednesday July 6th
My publisher, Books We Love, is offering this mystery romance paranormal e-book for only 99 cents. Don't wait. Price goes up after July 6th to $2.99.


Back of the Book: Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose

Lauren Staab knew there would be dead bodies around when she returned home. After all, her family is in the funeral business, Staab and Blood Funeral Home. Still, finding an extra body on the floor of the garage between the hearse and the flower car shocked her. Lauren’s plan to return to her hometown to help care for her mother and keep the books for the funeral home suddenly turns upside down in a struggle to prove she and her family are not guilty of murdering the man. But will the real killer return for her, her dad, her brother? Her mother’s secrets, a killer, a handsome policeman, and a shadow man muddle up her intention to have a simple life. Welcome home, Lauren!

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was great finding out more about you from Marsha's lovely blog. She asks some great questions. I love your photo of Michigan. It's how I imagine it. Would love to visit some day. It looks so different from my part of the world.

Marsha said...

Love that you re-posted this, JQ. It was a fun interview. YOu had great answers and like Helena, I love the pics of Michigan. We plan to visit sometime. Especially want to see the UP and stay at the Grand Hotel. We have a postcard from when Bob's aunt visited there probably 40 or 50 years ago. The closest we've come is Wisconsin when we were visiting Laura in a show. It was something like Rockford, right north of Chicago. Lakes every few miles. And giant trees. Love giant trees. Enjoy your Southwest vacation. Hope you're not broiling.We're hitting a spate of over 100 temps. Glad my AC is working. :) I'll share.

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi Helena, Marsha thought up great questions to ask me. That's why I re posted it! Glad you enjoyed it. Talk about different from my part of the US, we are out West, the Southwest. I have never seen such vast lands and mountains and desert in my life. Amazing landscapes here. A far cry from Michigan and England, I'm sure. Thanks for stopping.

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi Marsha. Thanks for asking such great questions! I am having a bit of culture shock out here in the Southwest. Not only the heat, but the awesome landscapes. Such wild country. Enjoying a break from the heat in Utah after a nice rain. Stay in the AC for sure!

Susan Bernhardt said...

This was a wonderful interview, J.Q. and Marsha. Marsha is a gracious host and does ask excellent questions.

I enjoy your mysteries very much. How interesting about your upcoming memoir.

And I love your photo of Lake Michigan. I love Lake Michigan. It's still my favorite body of water. We will be having a two night stay on the lake later in the summer.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thank you Susan. I bet you'll be on the Wis. side of the lake. Have a great time!

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