1. Tell me about your latest release or the book you wish to
feature? Genre? This month we are
celebrating Arranging a Dream: A Memoir’s first birthday. This
“feel-good” book was released on January 1, 2021, by BWL Publishing. The story
was a “heart work” for me, recording the first year we were in the flower and
greenhouse business in Fremont, Michigan.
2. Where did the idea arise? I have taught life storytelling classes
for many years. I am a life storytelling evangelist! I encourage everyone to
record their life stories via writing or making a video. Leaving a legacy for
your family is the best gift you can give them. I decided since I had
“preached” about it, I’d better follow my advice and use those lessons and the
stories I had penned during those workshops to write my memoir. A memoir is
different from a biography. An autobiography includes all the life experiences
from birth to the present. If your life is like a delicious cherry pie, then a
memoir is just a slice of the pie dealing with just one theme such as your
travel, careers, hobbies, etc. The slice of my life covers the first year we
were in the flower business—December 1975-December 1976.
3. How much research was involved? Did you stay on point or
be distracted by wanting to look at just one more thing? Researching to write a
memoir or life story can be a delightful trip back in time. I had to look up
what was happening in the news in 1975-76, talk with friends and family about
what they remembered of our move to Fremont, Michigan, and their visits during
that year, and travel to places I was writing about. I even called the weather
person at the TV station to ask about the weather during Easter 1976!
4. How long did you take to write the book? Officially I
have a file dated 2016. But I had started collecting stories years before that
date. When I became serious about writing it for our daughters, I started submitting
chapters to my critique group in 2018. With their support and encouragement, I decided
to publish it for the world to read. The original release date for the book was
June 1, 2020. But when Covid hit, my publisher realized how difficult it was to
write, so she offered to all of their authors to put off the release date until
later. I’m glad she did because when COVID hit, I could not focus on writing.
5. Now a bit about you. How long have you been writing? I
have been writing since second grade. I used to have a bump on the middle
finger of my right hand from handwriting so many stories! I continued writing
poems all through college and as a young mom. But, as there are seasons in the
year, I believe there are seasons for writing. I didn’t take up writing as a
“career” until after we sold the flower shop. That was my season to dream and
write because I had no responsibilities at work and my daughters were grown. What
is your Sun Sign? Gemini, the twins.
6. Do you write in several genres or stick to one? I began
freelance writing for newspapers and magazines and loved it because I interviewed
so many wonderful people. But I turned from non-fiction writing eventually in
favor of a new challenge, writing fiction. I loved mysteries by Sue McGrath and
Janet Evanovich, so I decided to write mysteries with humor. I liked making up
characters and worlds, so I placed the strong women protagonists in novels of
romantic suspense and delved into the paranormal. I can tell you it is much
more fun making up the stories than recording my memoir. A memoir has to be
true, which means no making up places or fictional characters.
7. Where on the internet can you be found? J.Q. Rose blog http://www.jqrose.com/
Facebook http://facebook.com/jqroseauthor
J. Q. Rose Amazon
Author Page http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/jqrose
BWL http://bookswelove.com/rose-j-q/
