World of Writing - Author Interview
We are pleased to introduce you to another author that Lillian met recently and began networking with. You know that we love networking! ;)
Rosemary O'Brien has been writing professionally for over 30 years and was an actress in musical theatre before that. She took a break to enjoy her children when they were young and while she was a military spouse, but now everyone is grown and her hubby is retired. According to Rosemary it was at this point that she was able to get "back to writing full-time. We currently live in Connecticut where I craft paranormal ghost stories and women’s fiction."
She invites our readers to drop by her website: www.authorrosemaryobrien.com
and to check out her growing list of books at: www.amazon.com/author/rosemaryobrien
Q: Why don't we start by having you tell us something about yourself?
A: I am a full-time author who writes in what my family calls my ‘Cave.’ It’s an office set up at the end of a long room. The previous owner used it as a parlour of sorts even though there is a great-room, or living-room, just through a set of French doors to the side of my office. These doors are why I bought this house. My boys were young and my husband was serving in the Navy, so I stayed home. I was able to see them playing if I had to write while they were not in school.
I started as a freelance writer after I graduated with my BA in English and Creative Writing in the ‘90’s and it quickly became apparent it was better to work for myself when the kids came along. They are 19 and 24 now and the best thing I’ve done with my life!
Q: That is so sweet, really. I enjoyed learning about your work space too, it was a nice glimpse into your daily writing life. Did you choose writing as a profession, or did it choose you?
A: That’s complicated. I returned to school at 26 and was going to be an English teacher. At the point I was supposed to go into the classroom, I just could not do it. I wanted to write. My last two years were completed with my Navy fiancé in San Diego. I’ve known him since I was ten, but we got together in our early ‘30’s.
I loved my last school in San Diego! San Diego State University allowed me to flourish as a writer. I wrote my first book the summer after I graduated. I’m reworking it now and am happy to see I wasn’t a bad writer even right out of college!
I’ve written since forever - since I was in elementary school. I must have developed some sort of voice over the years before I put pen to paper for that first book.
Q: Do you use a publisher or are you confident with self-publishing?
A: I am proudly an independent author which means I publish my own work. My first two books were published by very small traditional publishers, but I took my rights back in the early 2000’s.
The internet has been a wonderful boost for self-published authors. With that said, you need to hone your craft first, and then hone your business sense and practices with regard to what sells and how to sell your titles.
A: The winter blues and what’s going on in my life can be obstacles. My husband has multiple myeloma, and we’re blessed to have him doing well 8+ years since his diagnosis. It’s a deadly disease, but he’s great most days with the current treatment. My working day goes sideways if I have to drive him to chemo, for instance, but I try to work around it.
I’ll do research with my iPad, go through printed work with the red pen, or just take a day off and knit before getting into work with a fervour the next day.
Q: That is a great point about taking time to rest and refresh for one's mental health and to aide the intensity of creative work. You spoke earlier about the urge to write even as a child, but when did you first realize you wanted to be a professional writer?
After my husband’s diagnosis, I got my Masters in Investigations. While I pursued my intelligence and investigations career I realized age was my enemy. The two companies I worked for did not seem likely to promote me or move me along in my career. I met people who did not appreciate the value I brought to the table simply by living these many years.
Someone asked me to write for them in one job while I was still in training for that company. The young people working with me were flabbergasted that he asked me while I was still on probation. I was flabbergasted they did not see the value of my having dealt with the written word for over thirty years. Shortly after that, I realized I wanted to make a go of the one thing I had been doing consistently for years: writing.
Q: What do you think about today's wildly evolving publishing industry?
A: The first thing that comes to mind is the use of the Internet. I was thinking yesterday about all of the library time I had to put in to research each book before.
The Internet is a huge timesaver and electronic publishing is here to stay. I also think AI is the future. Yes, one has to check everything after they get their information or answer to their question from AI, but it can save time if you want to use it for benign things such as writing a newsletter, finding certain readers or information about genres or tropes. Yes, it has to be double-checked for accuracy, but it saves time I could be using to write or market.
Q: Oh how interesting! So, going back a bit here to the tip you had about resting the mind before heading back into the office. I'm curious what do you do when you are not writing?
A: I spend time with my family, knit and, of course, read. I am a voracious reader as any author should be. I recent interrogated a group of authors at a conference I attend yearly about their genres.
I decided to read outside my usual genres and have been pleasantly surprised. I’m deep into something called LitRPG written by one of my author friends and absolutely loving it! I think he’s incredibly talented with the world he built and his writing, so I hope my other friends’ works will be as amazing.
Q: I totally agree, it is very important to read and stroke the imagination. I spent so much time as a professional book reviewer that I got burned out and as a writer, too, I began to have difficulty in going into evaluation mode instead of being carried away on the wings of the author's tale. Just recently, however, the reading bug bit - and I've been delving into historical fiction as of late. I, like you, am looking forward to reading more.
One of the things that I am most interested in when it comes to other people is what they are doing to make the world a better place. What difference do you hope to make with the time you are given?
A: I hope to make a positive mark on the world. I have already seen the fruits of my labours regarding my children – they’re wonderful young men! – and now I want to publish at least three books per year and build my readership.
I have a background in theatre, so I love to speak to groups. I hope to reach those who are caregivers to help them get through their days with grace and humour. I wrote my caregiver book after realizing I had a different outlook on life. My outlook is that it can all be good even if not always fun. I try to hold onto that when the ‘blues’ try to take hold of my days. I count my blessings and there are many!
Q: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?
A: Absolutely not. I do as much as I can when I’m in writing mode. I set baby goals that seem achievable around my other responsibilities. If I’m feeling it, I’ll continue on past dinner. If my husband is on a work trip, I try to add more time to my writing schedule, but it’s not imperative. I do my best with what my day provides.
Q: I like that response; I don't set those goals either but I do set a writing schedule and if my creative mind is not working then I'll use that time to network, promote, or do some learning instead. Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
A: I often spend the morning drinking coffee and doing admin work. I generally write from noon until 4:30 or 5pm. Then I start making dinner and hang out the rest of the evening. I’m really a couch potato at heart! I’m knitting a blanket for my new niece who should arrive in March. I love to knit.
Thank you, Rosemary, for dropping in to share some of your writing experiences with us :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me! I hope I can help other indie authors find their own groove.
DeleteThanks for having me!
ReplyDelete