Writer’s Window: Roseanna M. White
Joining us today for Writer’s Window is biblical-fiction and romance author Roseanna M. White.
One lucky commenter* will win a signed copy of Roseanna’s latest release, Jewel of Persia. Deadline for leaving a comment to enter the drawing is Friday. To enter the drawing, you must answer the question posed by Roseanna at the end of the interview. Only one comment per person will count toward the drawing. Please do not include your e-mail address in the body of your comment—just make sure it’s correct when you sign in to leave your comment. The winning name will be drawn next weekend and announced on the next Writer’s Window post.
- *U.S. residents only, void where prohibited. If you win the drawing, you will be ineligible for the next three drawings, though hopefully you will still come back and join in the discussion.
__________________________________________________________
How can she love the king of kings without forsaking her Lord of lords?
Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with more siblings than luxuries. But when a chance encounter forces her to the palace of Xerxes, she becomes a concubine to the richest man in the world. She alone, of all Xerxes’ wives, loves the man beneath the crown. She alone, of all his wives, holds the heart of the king of kings.
Traveling with Xerxes through Europe as he mounts a war against Greece, Kasia knows enemies surround her, but they’re not the Spartans or Athenians. The threat lies with those close to the king who hate her people. She determines to put her trust in Jehovah–even if it costs her her marriage.
Years of prayers are answered when Kasia’s childhood friend arrives at the palace after the war, but even as she determines to see Esther crowned in place of the bloodthirsty former queen, she knows the true battle is far from over. How far will her enemies go to see her undone?
Combining the biblical account of Esther with Herodotus’s Histories, Jewel of Persia is the story of a love that nearly destroys an empire . . . and the friendship that saves a nation.
Welcome, Roseanna!
What do you like best about being a writer?
- That I have an outlet for all these crazy ideas that swirl around my brain. If I couldn’t write them down . . . well, I guess I’d just be a nut, living in a dream world all day long. 😉
What do you like least about being a writer?
- Hmm . . . it’s hard to find anything to complain about when you’ve been blessed enough to live your dream. But I’d have to say that the thing that caused me the most grumbling over the years was realizing I couldn’t just write what I wanted, how I wanted to—not if I wanted to sell it, anyway. The marketing side was a rude awakening.
Pop, Soda, or Coke? What do you call it, and what’s your favorite variety?
- If we’re talking in general, it’s soda. But my favorite is Coke (the brand). Particularly Vanilla Coke and Cherry Coke. And my all-time favorite is the hand-crafted variety, where you add the flavor to the Coke yourself. Oh, the bliss!
What’s your favorite dessert?
- Pretty much anything in the chocolate category. Preferably dark. Excellent went paired with orange or raspberry.
What’s the most fun/interesting/crazy/scary/unique hands-on research you’ve done for a book?
- Oo, oo, I have the perfect story for this! As I was finishing up Jewel of Persia my mind started going toward cover possibilities. Working with a small press, I have quite a bit of say over things, and if I can provide images to the designer, that saves him work and headache. So I began perusing the internet for images of a bracelet that plays a pivotal role in the book. It took a good bit of digging—go figure, lion-head torcs aren’t the norm.
Finally, I found the perfect piece at www.GreekJewelryShop.com. Of course, that doesn’t mean I can use the picture, so I thought, Eh, I’ll email them. The worst they can say is, ‘Go away, crazy woman.’ In all likelihood, they just won’t email back. So I explained that I’m an author, and that my book revolved around a bracelet just like one on their site, and could I pretty-pretty-please use the image on my book cover?
The next morning I awoke to an email from Aris Vaphiadis of Vaphiadis Jewelers in Athens, Greece. Though surprised by my request, he was thrilled to help, and even offered to send me the bracelet! Can you just say, “Wow!”?? I was floored by the generosity of this stranger.
Over the last couple months, he’s put up a link to me and my stuff on his website, and I’ve provided links and blogged about his truly amazing jewelry and generous spirit. His shop specializes in reproducing archaeological finds and ancient designs, particularly Greek artifacts, so they’re just enthralling for this lover of all things ancient-world.
When the time came for the actual cover design, our designer (www.Tekeme.com) was extremely impressed with the torc (open-ended bracelet), and with the fact that Aris sent us a whole slew of photos to pick and choose from. And when I was emailing Aris about all that, I also learned that the lion-head collection I feature is now being carried by the giftshop of THE LOUVRE!!!! (Sorry, that deserved caps. 😉 )
How cool is that?
What’s your favorite movie from childhood?
- Anything Disney. The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast were my absolute favorites, but I watched them all until I’d memorized them.
If you were to write a novel about what your life would have been like if you’d become what you wanted to be at eight years old, what kind of character would the story be about?
- Eight? Hmm, I think eight was still a teacher. But if we went to age nine or ten, then it would be about an archaeologist. 🙂 (Come to think of it, I have a book written about that—I may have decided not to pursue it as a career, but I still love it! And I’m homeschooling my kids, so I worked that one in there too.)
What makes you happy?
- My Lord, my family, my stories. And chocolate. And coffee.
What makes you nervous?
- Crowds. I can deal when it’s just me (or me and an adult), but I hate having my kids out in huge crowds.
What’s your biggest dream for the future?
- Becoming a best-selling, award-winning author.
Tell us about your newest release and what you’re working on now.
- Jewel of Persia is about Kasia, a poor Jewish girl who ends married to and in love with Xerxes, the king of kings. Of all Xerxes’ wives, she is the only one to see the man beneath the crown—but a true servant of the Lord finds many enemies in the Persian court among those who hate her people, and the intrigue that rises to push her from the king’s favor rivals the war with Greece. Kasia survives only by prayer—and knows that the only hope for her people’s salvation lies in her childhood friend, Esther, earning Xerxes’ favor and being crowned queen.
- For a digital copy, click here to see all the choices of download formats in one handy location. For the paperback (coming in just a few weeks!), click here to preorder, and then shoot me an email at Roseanna at roseannawhite dot com to get it signed! (Or you can order from Amazon, but they can’t give you signed ones. 😉 )
Right now I’ve just finished up a story set in 1783-84 Annapolis, for that brief six months when it was the nation’s capital. It’s Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, and will be coming out this December. The actual plot is about a quiet, not-so-beautiful young woman who breaks her two-year-engagement to the man of her dreams when she realizes marrying him will mean being forever alone by his side. She flees Williamsburg for Annapolis, where she must discover for herself what this liberty is that her brother fought for in the Revolution—and whether she can forgive her former betrothed when he comes after her. Has he really learned that life is about more than duty, or is he once again only saying the right words without the right heart?
Where can people find out more about you/connect with you online?
- http://www.roseannawhite.com/
www.RoseannaMWhite.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/roseanna.white
I’m also the editor of the Christian Review of Books (www.ChristianReviewofBooks.com)
Now it’s your turn to ask the question. What question do you want to ask the commenters to answer?
- If you could get your hands on one OBJECT from a novel or movie, what would it be? Mr. Darcy’s house? Indiana Jones’s hat? The blue diamond necklace from Titanic?
__________________________________________________________
Roseanna M. White, author of A Stray Drop of Blood, makes her home in the mountains of Western Maryland with her husband, two small children, and the colony of dust bunnies living under her couch. After graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD, she and her husband founded the Christian Review of Books, where she is the editor. She is a member of ACFW, HisWriters, Biblical Fiction Writers, and HEWN Marketing.
Comments are closed.
KayeDacus.com 
Huh – that necklace from Titanic would be pretty cool. Could get a riding lawn mower for DH, fund ACFW Conference, and possibly a new vehicle or two. With money left over to pay on the student loans.
Of course, the DeLorean would rock… Or the time traveling phone booth.
This book is on my TBR list once I get a copy [either through a win 😉 or Amazon when the budget allows]. Loving biblical fic these days :).
Carol
LikeLike
I think that necklace could also fund a house, a beach home, a mountain retreat, a little French chalet, a British manor . . . yeah. LOL.
LikeLike
So both of those lists. And the kids’ college education and the new house on acreage near here. And lots of charities. And vacations.
And a bunch of ACFW scholarships.
Of course, the DeLorean could help with some of that too…
LikeLike
Hmmmm…there are many objects that would be fun to get my hands on, but maybe the Book of Presidential secrets that was in National Treasure 2 {I think that’s the one that it was in}. This book is going on my list ~ I love historical fiction and Esther is one of my FAVORITES!!
LikeLike
p.s. the Kindle format price is AMAZING!! Off to order it right now!
LikeLike
I believe the publisher’s theory is, “At $3.99 people will say ‘Why NOT buy it??'” =)
LikeLike
I am LOVING the book!! 🙂 almost missed Bible study this morning ~ I couldn’t put my Kindle down!!
LikeLike
and I would ABSOLUTELY by books in both format if the Kindle price were lower on many.
LikeLike
Not that I ever advocate skipping Bible study (ahem), but YAY! Glad to hear you’re enjoying it so much!! =)
LikeLike
Oh, that is a fabulous answer!! That part of the movie made my fingers itch. I was literally going, “Show me the book. Let me see the book.” And ending it without telling us what’s on that mysterious page the president mentioned?? There had BETTER be another movie coming!
Esther’s always been my favorite Bible story too. =)
LikeLike
I truly am content with such as I have (although a copy of Jewel of Persia would be nice) :-), so what I would want from a movie would be for my hubby. He has a classic car that he has restored, and so I would love a couple of those beautiful classic cars from American Graffiti for him. He watches that movie over and over again just to see the cars in it. I doubt whether he even knows the plot of the movie…probably was none, come to think of it!
LikeLike
LOL on the “probably was none.” =)
LikeLike
Don’t enter me – I already bought the book. Just saying “hi!” and Sigh…feeling old. My kids loved Little Mermaid (and I had boys). I had Jodi send all the VBS kids autographed pictures when I had them in class that year. She’s a sweetheart.
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting, Lisa! And she really MUST be a sweetheart! That’s so cool!
LikeLike
I have it too, so leave me out.
I pick Nancy Drew’s blue roadster. From the books, or the movies from the late 30’s.
LikeLike
OH, I love cars from that era, and pretty much any roadster is awesome!
LikeLike
Since you mentioned Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, now I have that on the brain. I would choose the Beast’s castle (fully restored to it’s grandeur, of course). However, since that place only exists in fairytales, Pemberly would certainly do in a pinch!
Thank you for sharing. Love your interview and I’m definitely going to look up your book!
LikeLike
We can’t count Mr. Darcy as an object? Darn.
Okay, how about his home? That would pretty cool, too. And maybe he’d come visit. 😉
LikeLike
LOL. As tied to their estates as British gentlemen were, I’m sure if you’re in possession of Pemberly, you’re by default in possession of Darcy. 😉 (Even Lizzie knows that alone was worth putting up with him for! Or so she would jest, anyway.)
LikeLike
Wow, it’s so hard to choose … anything from Narnia (a sword, jewelry, gown … ), maybe a lightsaber from “Star Wars” … but I think I’d have to go with Kale Allerion’s moonbeam cloak from “The DragonKeeper Chronicles” –the ability to store items in her cape without bulk or weight (goodbye backpack full of heavy textbooks!) and I wouldn’t have to carry a purse, plus the slight invisibility powers? =D
Great interview (and good questions)! Thank you for the chance to win!
jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu
LikeLike
Yeah, where do I get one of those??
LikeLike
This is a hard question I actually would love to have the magic faraway tree in my back yard so I could climb it and go to different places when I climb it.
LikeLike
Oo! That’s cool. I’d love to find some kind of instant transport . . .
LikeLike
When I was little, I desperately wanted the wardrobe in the spare room in the professor’s house. Then I got a little older and would have liked to have a Plains Indian bow and quiver of arrows. Then it was a magic ring.
My husband says a wand from Ollivander’s. Or else Theoden’s Hall in Rohan (which I think would be way cool as far as a building goes). But I’m going to go with that thing Hermione Granger wore around her neck that allowed her to be in two or three places at once. The Time Turner. http://tinyurl.com/3etdw3c
LikeLike
Good one, Lori!
LikeLike
a great question….the blue diamond necklace would be tempting…but i would sell it and use the money for my family’s needs and my friends wishes 🙂
LikeLike
Very sweet of you, Karen. =)
LikeLike
Wonderful interview! What a cool story about the Greek jewelry.
One object? Lucy’s healing cordial from Chronicles of Narnia.
LikeLike
Narnia has so much cool stuff to choose from–that healing cordial is definitely an awesome pick! (But oh, think of what the pharmaceutical companies would do if they got wind of THAT! LOL)
LikeLike