Author Spotlight: Roseann Brooks Has a New Novel & a Fun Giveaway!

Roseann’s winner is Doris Lankford! Congrats, Doris, Roseann will be in touch. Thanks to everyone who stopped by! We do love talking to our readers! 

Roseann McGrath Brooks loves writing romance but always wants her heroines and heroes to get together more quickly. She’s lived with her relatively romantic husband of more than 40 years in and around Philadelphia and currently resides across the street from a cookie bakery (whoo hoo!). Roseann writes a monthly blog focused (mostly) on grammar. Book 4 in her Vacation Friends Romance series launched in December.

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Happy Day-Before Valentine’s Day, and thanks to Nan and Nan’s readers for indulging me.

With A New Heart, in my Vacation Friends Romance series, I’m reminded of how in awe I am of those who engage in any artistic pursuit: writing, painting, singing, baking, and the like. When I’m on the receiving end—the reader, the viewer, the listener, and the eater—I wonder how they do it. When I’m on the doing end—the writer—I still wonder how it’s done!

The Vacation Friends Romance series covers the romantic lives of each of several childhood friends whose families vacationed together when they were young. The first book, All for Good, tells the story of two of those friends who reconnect as adults and fall in love (inspired by a true story). Wonderfully Made (for football lovers, Go, Eagles!) and Midnight Clear at Christmas dive into the romances of two other friends, respectively.

A New Heart features Nathan (a vacation friend) and Sofia. But their story was more difficult to write than usual. First, although I’ve always used reviewers, I joined a critique group at the start of writing. Positive feedback was great: “likeable characters, including friends”; “unlikable creepy boss”; “believable banter”; and so on. However, several in the group don’t regularly read romance, which was refreshing but challenging. Their questions made me examine which parts of the story were genre appropriate and which just weren’t working.

Some comments helped give the story its realism. For example, Sofia’s boss is a harasser. Right away, my critique partners said, “Sofia’s a strong woman; she should just quit.” I had to make it hard for her to leave. (Sorry, Sofia.)

Moreover, Nathan is a recovering addict, and I wanted to treat him fairly. One reviewer, himself in recovery, said, “I’m way more confident and more myself now that I’m clean.” I could hear Nathan reminding me of that in every chapter.

We writers don’t know what we don’t know. Sofia’s mother is from Puerto Rico. Originally, in the manuscript, the mother referred to her daughter as “mija” (my daughter), which I’ve heard in nearly every film with a Spanish-speaking daughter. My Puerto Rican reviewer said, “My mother more often called my sister and me ‘nina’ (little girl) both when she was being sweet and when we were in big trouble!”

Finally, Nathan is a paralegal, and Sofia’s boss is getting sued. I had no idea how complicated the legal guidelines are for conflict of interest, franchise responsibility, and definitions of harassment. My lawyer reviewer was indispensable.

I prayed a lot throughout the writing process, and I’m proud of the result. But the next time you’re looking at, listening to, or eating a creation someone produced, remember to say a private thank you to all those outside the process who helped make it work.

Giveaway!

Roseann is giving away a digital copy of A New Heart and a $10 Amazon card to a lucky commenter. Tell her about something you’ve worked on recently that was hard but rewarding.

A New Heart

Nathan has always tried to be the good guy. And although the intriguing manager at his new gym seems to eye him with suspicion, his goal is to win her over. To Sofia, protecting her heart is paramount, and that includes avoiding Nathan’s charm. But when everything that matters to her is on the line and Nathan graciously agrees to a fake-dating ruse, Sofia starts to rethink things. Is Nathan playing games or truly making himself vulnerable? Can Sofia risk her heart as well?

Amazon