by Roseanna White | Jan 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
Wow, this is exciting! With the dawn of 2011, I also get to celebrate the realization of many months of hard work. Jewel of Persia is available!!!!!
The digital version, technically. đ You can find it at all the major e-book retailers, of course–or will be able to within the next week, but they’re all in process–but we recommend you go straight to our e-book distributor, from whom you can download any format you want. Kindle, Nook, what have you.
Click here to visit my page on eBookIt! It’s priced at a bargain $3.99, so, you know, why not? (And yes, that’s the publisher’s philosopher. “Let’s price it so that people will go, ‘Why not? It’s not even 4 bucks!'”)
For those of us who aren’t so interested in (or don’t have) e-readers, the paperback is also up and available for pre-order at
Amazon or our store,
CrossPurposes. Naturally, I recommend you go to CrossPurposes, so that I can sign it for you. đ
Oh, and the blog tour kicks off today too! Look over at the left margin for each stop along the way–there’s one a week from now until June. (Okay, I don’t have May filled up yet, but I suspect I will by the time it rolls around. And if you’d like to have me on your blog, just let me know!) I’ll be offering giveaways at them all–your choice of digital or print when I get my copies (I’ll be keeping a list of winners, which I will send out the moment my books arrive).
by Roseanna White | Jan 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
I’ve chatted a bit about this subject before, in that I was wondering if I should consider publishing the two romantic comedies I have with WhiteFire eventually. I don’t think I came to any conclusions, and that’s not really my point today. đ
I just finished reading a book by who I would consider a romantic comedy author (you’ll find out who tomorrow, when I review her book). As always, her story was contemporary. I happen to know that she was considering doing a historical at one point a few years ago, which she assured me would still have that bit of humor to it, but alas. So far as I know, that never happened.
Which got me to thinking. I’ve read historical romantic comedy, but only by Mary Connealy. (Her books are amazing, by the way. Laugh-out-loud, romantic, and cowboys. Can’t go wrong.) I can’t think of any others I’ve come across. Oh, there are some funny moments in many historicals, to be sure. Lots of them. But not most of them.
Ever wonder why the lighthearted, hilarious novels are usually modern? Maybe because we understand our own senses of humor better? Maybe because we don’t mind trivializing stuff from our own time? Hmm.
I’m guilty of this myself. When I come up with a funny story idea, it’s modern. When I come up with weighter subjects, they’re generally (not always, but generally) historical. Why? I . . . don’t . . . know.
But I’d love to chat about it! Let’s start the year out with fun. =) And I hope everyone enjoyed a happy and safe New Year’s! I’m looking forward to an amazing 2011.
Oh! And to ring it in right . . . you know what? This deserves its own post. Guess I’ll do two this morning. đ
by Roseanna White | Dec 31, 2010 | Uncategorized
Today we have another book for you lovers of speculative fiction! And if you haven’t already, check out the left margin for the authors coming to Writing Roseanna in 2011. Now let’s give a big welcome to Caprice Hokstad, here to talk about her book Nor Iron Bars a Cage.
Caprice is offering a book to one lucky winner, so as always, leave your comments below with an email address!
~*~
About Nor Iron Bars a Cage
Slavery. Loyalty. Torture. Passion. Betrayal.
All the young outcast wanted was security in a world that destroyed her family and left her despised and ejected. Can the simple farmgirl find a new family through voluntary enslavement to the duke’s household? Not if the prejudiced and conniving duchess has her way!
Crafted in a highly precise writing style so smooth it slips right from the page into your imagination, the fantastical story world of The Duke’s Handmaid examines timeless social issues that inform global justice today.
~*~
About Caprice
Caprice is a stay-at-home-mom from southern California. She currently lives with her husband, three children, a dog, a cat, two rats, a leopard gecko, and a tankful of guppiesâall in a mobile home.
~*~
Thanks for visiting, Caprice! (Love your name, by the way.) What’s your latest book?
Nor Iron Bars a Cage released from Splashdown Books on November 1, 2010.
It sounds great! What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?
Strength isnât always physical. Selflessness and service are admirable qualities.
Something I’ve been contemplating lately too. Now, I just refered to this as “speculative,” because it encompasses it all. But what would you call your genre and subgenre? Are there reasons behind it?
Fantasy is the main genre. Any further classification gets dicey. I call my subgenre âSword Operaâ because itâs not typical fantasy with a quest. Itâs akin to space opera (e.g. Star Wars) where itâs more about episodes or adventures in the lives of characters.
Oh, fun! See, I knew there would be some interesting classification going on. đ What are you reading right nowâand what do you want to read next?
I am currently reading Tales of the Dim Knight by Adam and Andrea Graham and I want to read Undersea Colonies (nonfiction) by Dennis Chamberland next.
Hey, the Grahams will be on here soon too! =) What would your dream office look likeâand what does your REAL writing environment look like?
A dream office would have a door that locked me inside, was soundproof, and came with a babysitter OUTSIDE. A desktop computer and a nice clicky keyboard would be wonderful too. Instead, I have to make-do with a laptop on a TV tray in a very noisy living room, open to constant interruptions.
LOL. I need a twin office to that! Babysitter–that’s a great feature. Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?
I always use a Word Menu, dictionary, and thesaurus. For fantasy, I have books about medieval and Renaissance period so I can look up what they called everyday objects.
Cool to know! What lessons have you learned through the publication process that you wouldn’t have guessed as a pre-published writer?
That storytelling is a LOT more important than writing skill. People will overlook all kinds of mechanical flaws if they love the story. Unfortunately, I started with a lot more writing skill than storytelling skill.
Then we just have to work at getting both, eh? LOL. How have you dealt with rejection in the past?
Lots of crying and depression, thanks for asking! You just have to accept that as part of the deal. After I collected rejections for several years, I was faced with either throwing the manuscript in a drawer to rot, or self-publishing. Iâm not especially proud that I self-published, but if I hadnât got it out there somehow, I never would have found an independent publisher.
Funny how that works sometimes, isn’t it? Career choices like that are hard, but we have to remember that the Lord has a path for each of us. It might not be what we wish for, but He’s full of surprises! So what’s your advice to aspiring authors?
Keep your day job. Try to think of writing as a hobby if you possibly can. Itâs a lot more fun and less frustrating that way.
Aside from writing, what takes up most of your time?
Raising children.
And boy is THAT a job! đ Something you reckon not many people know about you?
I can recite âHow the Grinch Stole Christmasâ by Dr. Seuss, from memory.
My favorite line from that “in their homes where the Whos lay asnooze in their beds.” Love the mid-line rhyming! Well, and the line about stuffing himself up the chimbly, to rhyme with nimbly. =) Next! If someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving or gifts to charities allowed!)
A cruise in the South Pacific. I try not to think about it because I know it isnât going to happen.
What are you writing right now?
Fanfiction for the old TV show, SeaQuest DSV
SeaQuest!! I haven’t seen that in forever. Any upcoming releases we should keep our eye out for?
If Nor Iron Bars a Cage does well with readers, then I will be writing the third book of the trilogy in the very near future.
~*~
Thanks for visiting, Caprice! Readers, you can check out her website at http://www.Latoph.com. Look for her book at Splashdown Books–or get signed copies from CrossPurposes!
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning depends on number of entries. Contest ends 1/6/11. Winner will have two weeks to claim prize.
by Roseanna White | Dec 30, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Once upon a time, I was a New Year’s Resolution girl, back in the day when I had nothing but time in which to contemplate this stuff, and diaries to write it in. My first real set was when I was 13–I resolved to finish the novel I was working on, and I did.
So along with writing new resolutions on Jan 1, I would take Dec 31 to look back at my past resolutions and examine how I did, to look over the year as a whole. This was even more fun than coming up with new resolutions.
I didn’t write any resolutions down last year (or for countless years before that), but I still like to look back over the past year as it comes to an end. This last one was rather interesting. Speaking professionally, I experienced some unexpected shifts. I was encouraged to write a second Biblical fiction, which I hadn’t planned on doing back in January. Follow-ups with editors at major houses led to a lot of proposal requests. I went from not knowing what project to work on, what was next for me, to having a release scheduled for Jan 3, 2011, and another in the works for 2012. Plus with WhiteFire expanding, that’s a whole new level of, er, newness as we find other authors to work with.
Speaking personally, it was also a year of change. I took the plunge into homeschooling, and discovered how rewarding (and occasionally frustrating, LOL) it can be to share that with Xoe. We watched Rowyn grow from toddler interested only in Mickey Mouse to a little boy wild over anything with wheels. This has also been a year when I realized my sanity is a lot more secure with regular, if brief, breaks from my precious little kiddos. đ Special thanks to the grandmothers for watching them now and then and giving me the time I need to recharge–by writing, LOL.
I’m still probably not going to write down resolutions, but I’ve already started some of the things I want to improve on this year. I’ve started exercising again (ugh), and have started prayer journaling. I’ve toyed with it throughout the year (both, LOL, but primarily the journaling), but never kept it up for various reasons. Both my mom and grandmother got me beautiful journals for Christmas though, and nothing inspires me like a beautiful journal. So since Christmas, I’ve been starting each morning by reading a bit in my Bible and then journaling.
Here’s why I like it. With two small kids and no guaranteed quiet time, having a time for praying just doesn’t always happen. I try. I do. But it often sounds something like, “Dear Lord, thank you for–“
“Mommy! I need you!”
“Just a minute, please. Lord, I thank you for my beautiful family and–“
“Mommy, he’s hitting me!”
“Mommy, Xoe take my toy!”
“Dear Lord . . . what was I saying?”
Focusing was always a challenge, and half the time I forgot what in the world I was trying to pray about. With journaling, I’m writing it all down, so when I lose focus, I can get it back very easily by rereading my last sentence. Ah, writing. (Which is, of course, its own reason for me to do it this way.)
Another thing I love about it is that it’s a record, so you can go back days, weeks, months, even years later and see how the Lord has answered your prayers. When I’ve done journaling in the past, that was what I loved most about it. In looking back, I would discover things I’d prayed about that I’d totally spaced after a while, but which I could then see that God had faithfully answered. Pretty cool!
Oh, another quick, cool idea someone on one of my writing loops mentioned a couple years ago. Rather than making resolutions, they ask the Lord for a word each year, one word that they are to live up to, strive to achieve, or which will be important that year. I’m asking the Lord for a word for 2012 too. =)
So while I may not be making traditional resolutions, I’ve already seized the spirit of the thing. How about you? Do you write resolutions, or maybe set goals? What’s the one thing you want to work on this year? Or the one word the Lord has given you?
by Roseanna White | Dec 29, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
I just got to a crucial part of my Annapolis book–George Washington just resigned his commission before congress and declared that he would be a private citizen from here on out. The date was 23 December 1783, and no one knew at the time that a few short years later, he would be the first President of the United States. At that time, on that day, they saw only that the most influential man in the nation was handing over the key to total power and opting for private life. They saw only that a man so deserving was also so humble as to refuse what was offered him.
Because the speech is simply amazing, I’m going to post it, along with the response from the president of Congress.
“Mr. President,
“The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my country.
“Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which, however, was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union and the patronage of Heaven.
“The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence and the assistance I have received from my countrymen increases with every review of the momentous contest.
“While I repeat my obligations to the army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge in this place the peculiar services and distinguished merits of the gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the war. It was impossible the choice of confidential officers to compose my family should have been more fotunate. Permit, me, Sir, to recommend in particular those who have continued in the service to the present moment as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress.
“I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them to His holy keeping.
âHaving now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.â
General Mifflin, the president of Congress, replied in a speech thought to be penned by Thomas Jefferson,
“The United States in Congress assembled receive, with emotions too affecting for utterance, the solemn resignation of the authorities under which you have led their troops with success through a perilous and doubtful war.”
A woman of
Annapolis wrote, “I think the world never produced a greater man and very few so good.” I can’t help by agree with her.
(The painting is the famed General George Washington Resigning His Commission by Trumbull. He painted it years after the fact and inserted a few historic figures that weren’t there, basing his design upon other paintings he had done of said figures. In itself a subject worthy of a post, but you know. I won’t bore you.)
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, sheâs homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her booksâŚto offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.