Roxanne Rustand ~ Author Interview

Plug time. What new book or project do you have coming out?

The Snow Canyon Ranch trilogy for Love Inspired Suspense starts out with HARD EVIDENCE in early December, followed by VENDETTA in March and WILDFIRE in February. These books are all part of the Snow Canyon Ranch trilogy. Set in the Wyoming Rockies, the books follow the three daughters of a tough, no-nonsense Wyoming ranch widow, who each return to the Rockies to begin a new life...only all of them face unexpected challenges and danger.

There's actually a free, online serialized story running right now at http://www.eharlequin.com/articlelist.html . There are twenty very short chapters that introduce this mountain town and some of the residents, including a sheriff long-past the need for retirement. The sheriff will soon leave town, making way for the hero of HARD EVIDENCE.

How did you come up with this story? Was there a specific 'what if' moment?

I love the Wyoming Rockies. To me, the Tetons are the most beautiful place on earth! I've long wanted to set some books there, so I started to think about what could bring a trio of heroines to this area--and what sort of trouble I could stir up for them when they arrived.

Tell us about your publishing journey. How long had you been writing before you got a contract? How did you find out and what went through your mind?

I read just nonfiction for years....then one day, my friend Judy gave me a Judith McNaught historical novel, smiled, and dared me to put it down once I started it. I did--at four o'clock the next morning. It totally swept me away, with its emotion and characterization. After that, I started reading everything I could find in the genre--I would bring grocery sacks of books home from the store. That same friend later invited me to write some human interest articles for her regional horse magazine and gave me an older computer to do so. The wonders of writing on a computer swept me away, too! It was such fun, I just kept going...and eventually started trying to write a story. Judy had a small critique group, I joined them, and found a whole new world in writing fiction. I began writing in late 1992. I puttered around with my first 127 pp for two whole years, trying to perfect each word, but learned this was the wrong approach when I took a University of Iowa Summer Writer's Festival two week class given by Leigh Michaels. The class members critiqued each other, and every one of them (AND Leigh) said my first seventy pages had to go! Ouch! They were right...but was it ever hard to do. That fall, I entered the Golden Heart. I didn't tell my critique friends because I knew they would think I was crazy to enter with so little of the book done. I wrote night and day, literally, to finish the book in time...and by some incredible miracle, the entry won the RWA Golden Heart that year. That book didn't sell. The next time I entered the Golden Heart, I finaled (but didn't win) and a final round judge (Paula Eykelhoff, a wonderful editor) said she remembered my winning entry from before. She said this new project showed growth--and she bought the manuscript plus another project that was just a proposal. So my first sale was a two book, thanks to the GH! I was thrilled beyond measure. I've now sold twenty books since late 1998 and am now working on three more proposals...so hopefully, it will be up to twenty-three in the near future.

Do you ever struggle with writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it?

After writing fifteen family drama type stories with mystery or suspense, plus light humor, I just hit a wall. I floundered for months, unable to get myself going again, but then dove into online classes and books on writing. I had to really analyze what I had been doing, and how I needed to change that process in order to get myself back on track.

What is the most difficult part of writing for you (or was when you first started on your writing journey), i.e. plot, POV, characterization, etc?

My most difficult challenge is time management and steady page production. I was a "last minute gal" at writing papers and cramming for tests throughout college, and until deadline adrenaline kicks in, it can be hard to make good, steady progress on a daily basis. But--I'm getting better!

Where do you write? Do you have a dedicated office or a corner or nook in a room?

I have a home office dedicated to writing only.

Do you have a word or page goal you set for each day?

Before deadlines loom, ten would be nice on the days that I can be home to write. As the pressure mounts, I may do twenty or more.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I work twenty hours a week as a dietitian, which leave me two and a half days at home. The earlier I get up, the better, as that's my most creative writing time.

Take us through your process of writing a novel briefly—from conception to revision.

After figuring out a setting, main characters, main external plot, and a list of possible subplots, I spend a lot of time brainstorming long lists of things that can happen, for each major and minor subplot. Once those lists are each organized in chronological order, I have lots of material to work with. I may never use half of the items on those lists. I may veer off completely. But it helps a lot to have a lot of ideas and imagination starters posted next to my computer!

What are some of your favorite books (not written by you)?

Paradise, by Judith McNaught (and also her old historicals), some of LaVyrle Spencer's earlier books. Everything by Jane Austin, Lee Child, and my friends Cindy Gerard, Kylie Brant, Lyn Cote. I'm really enjoying reading all of the authors for Love Inspired Suspense. What great books!

What’s the best writing advice you’ve heard?

FINISH THE BOOK! Then go back and start polishing and revising. Read all of your dialogue (preferably your entire manuscript) aloud--you'll catch awkward, stilted phrasing so much better that way!

How much marketing do you do? What have you found that particularly works well for you?

I often advertise in Romance Sells when I have a book coming out. I've advertised many times in RT and the RWR. I do promotion mailings to bookstores, conferences, and readers groups across the country, and participate in various blogs. I just revamped my website at www.roxannerustand.com . And now that I am writing inspirational novels, I have become active at www.shoutlife.com/roxannerustand and have a wonderful time interacting with the people there. Whether or not it all helps, I don't know!

Do you have any parting words of advice?

To everyone who is writing with hopes of being published, follow your dreams and don't give up!

To read a review of Roxanne's book, click HERE.