IndieView with Rusty Blackwood, author of Passions in Paris

• Posted on 9th September 2013
• in Interviews
• by admin

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http://www.theindieview.com/2013/09/05/indieview-with-rusty-blackwood-author-of-passions-in-paris/

. But to say that a book would appeal only to a certain age group or gender I feel is an injustice to both the book and the author, and I say this because one hopes, as a writer, that your words will bring enjoyment to anyone who reads them.
Rusty Blackwood – 5 September 2013

The Back Flap
Can love truly stand the test of time? Soul mates, passion, an unbreakable bond. Misunderstanding, deception, persecution. A forgotten diary provides a connection to the past, revealing long kept secrets hidden within. This is what awaits the reader within the pages of Rusty Blackwood’s new romance/drama,Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary.

About the book
What is the book about?

The book centers on an immense love story that happens in Paris at the turn of the twenty-first century between star-crossed soul mates, Canadian author Joy Wychmere, and Irish actor/musician Cullen Malone, and is told through a rediscovered diary that the grown grandchildren of Joy, who have gathered at her home following her death to help plan her memorial, find and decide to read.
The book actually begins and ends in the year 2040, but the story that the diary reveals takes place in 1999 Paris. An extremely depressed Joy Wychmere finds herself in a stagnating marriage. Trying to cheer herself, she turns on the radio to find a contest being aired, the prize of which is an all expense-paid trip to Paris to spend an intimate evening with Irish actor Cullen Malone, who Joy has an unexplained attachment to. She wins, and she and Dean, her husband, who has his own private agenda for going to Paris, take off for the City of Light, and as Joy nervously leaves to meet Cullen, Dean secretly goes off to pursue his own interests, the result of which is not what he expected.
As Cullen and Joy meet, they experience an overwhelming case of déjà vu, but before they can react to what they are experiencing they are swiftly thrown into a circumstance beyond their control. One unforeseen circumstance follows another, and along the way the couple is thrown into a life and death struggle with Philippe Robealard, a crazed, homosexual artist who has delusions about the actor’s close relationship with André Des Jardin, the actor’s assistant who unknowingly is the object of Philippe’s affection. Philippe takes matters into his own hands and devises a frenzied plan to put an end to what he believes is going on, the result of which leave Joy and Cullen, even André to a certain degree, fighting for survival.

When did you start writing the book?
I’d had the idea for quite some time before I actually sat down to write in late December of 2001.

How long did it take you to write it?

It was a long haul, lasting the better part of ten years from actual beginning to finished manuscript.
Where did you get the idea from?
I’ve not always been lucky in the relationship department, and I was going through a rough time in the late nineties which eventually led to a permanent separation from my second husband, but I have always been a romantic at heart who still believes in soul mates and love ever-lasting, and I love to read books that are of this same idea, so when I decided to write this story I was in an excellent frame of mind to express my inner thoughts and feelings. I’ve always pulled from my life experiences when creating a piece and the writing of Passions is a prime example.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I think any writer struggles in certain areas of their work; it’s not a cut and dried situation, especially when you’re creating something that holds a large part of yourself within it. There is one area in the book where Joy must come to terms with the possibility of losing Cullen forever from an unseen circumstance that has befallen him, and in order to come to terms with her expectant loss and ready herself for what she might be required to endure, she once again relives the death of her father in her mind. This was a difficult chapter for me to write, for in order to express it in the way I wanted the reader to grasp it I had to relive my own father’s death which happened a very long time ago. On completion I had to step away from my desk and take some quiet time, but I hope I succeeded in what I set out to do.

What came easily?

The expression of love between Joy and Cullen as well as the explicit need to hold them together through what they must endure.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

They are primarily fictitious, but there again I believe that any writer pulls from their life in this area as well. As the creator you give your characters life, and part of that is pulling from different flavours and textures of people that have influenced or impacted your own life. I love character creation and often wish they existed so I could have them in my life to talk with and spend time with.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I have to ashamedly admit I don’t read as often as I’d like. This isn’t from lack of trying it’s simply a fact of life’s activities and keeping up with them, the years spent raising my family, working, and trying to keep it all together, but I do have a few authors whose ability and work I find phenomenal. A couple of these are primarily known as children’s authors, but I feel they can hold their own with any author who has ever put pencil to paper and they are Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Laura Ingalls-Wilder. They wrote with such amazing expression that their words actually pulled you right to the scene that was unfolding. You became part of it. I love that. I also admire Margret Mitchell, especially for her endurance, and her vision to express her mind through her words. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the great Stephen King, simply because his perception is always on point, as well as his uncanny way to get into the minds of his readers.

Do you have a target reader?

I’m an eclectic writer with regard to genre so I suppose I elicit an eclectic reader, but romance is my first love, so I would have to say that Passions in Pariswould primarily appeal to women who have experienced life to quite a degree, and by this I mean those who have gone through emotional relationships and breakups of such and how they coped with it and the aftermath. But to say that a book would appeal only to a certain age group or gender I feel is an injustice to both the book and the author, and I say this because one hopes, as a writer, that your words will bring enjoyment to anyone who reads them.

About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I became a serious writer in 2001 but I’m not professionally trained with regard to holding a BA in English so I never learned the logistics of the craft, but I have always had the uncanny ability to project and express myself through words, which I love to do and find great satisfaction in it. I don’t have a set process other than knowing what I would like to write about and say throughout the course of the story, but I’m a character writer much more than a plot driven one and love to create my characters first before creating the scenario in which to put them in.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I don’t sit down and block out the course of a book, however I do have an idea what I want to say and where I intend to take a story. I make notes along the way, especially if I’m thinking about something in maybe a different way than I had originally envisioned it, and one never knows from these notes if it might change the present course of the book, or if an entirely new book might spring forth for the next writing venture. I think notes are an important factor and should never be discarded because you just never know.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I often review and revise as I go, but I usually leave the main edit to the completion of the manuscript.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes I did. A good copy-editor is worth their weight in gold. It is always best to have a manuscript read by another pair of eyes, possibly a few, but definitely someone other than yourself for you get used to your own copy, and you tend to over-look the obvious or not see certain things that someone else would, especially a professional editor.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

It greatly depends on my mood and also the mood of the characters and what is happening in the story. I very often find that a serious, poignant moment can better be expressed with a somber piece playing in the background. Music can also affect how well a steamy love scene can be played out, but sometimes total silence works best.

About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?

I have in the past sent queries to agents but I’ve never had much luck with that avenue and after awhile one grows weary of that, not just rejection because one must get used to that and be able to accept it, but because you tend to get comments like ‘interesting story but not for me at this time’ or ‘you might try so and so as I’m not accepting further manuscripts at this time,’ that sort of thing, and while all of this is going on your work sits and collects dust, so I prefer to follow my own path.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

As I answered previously a lot of one’s direction has much to do with an agent’s perception of your work. It’s most understandable that they each have their specific genres and need to feel that they can capitalize on what they are selling, but not every writer is willing to be pigeon-holed or made to bend to someone else’s will. The main reason I chose to use a self-publishing company is the ability to continue to hold the rights to my work as well as the direction of it and not be made to sign it away in order to obtain a contract. The standard houses have changed their way with regard to marketing and now require the author to do the majority of that themselves; some even require a percentage of an advance returned if the title does not sell well enough, so why would an author commit themselves and their work to a path that is just as uncertain as self-publishing can be? If you continue to maintain the rights and direction of your work and acquire the services of a knowledgeable, well established marketing strategist and publicist I feel you are by far further ahead.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I had located this beautiful image on a free image site that captured the very essence of Joy and Cullen, so I decided to use it and submitted it to my marketing and publicist representative who created the finished product.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

For many years I trudged along on my own, but the last two years I have worked with marketing strategist and publicist, Don McCauley, who is the facilitator of the Free Publicity Focus Group, and whose expertise and guidance in the difficult area of marketing is so very important in creating public platforms for my work, and for me as an independent author.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I cannot stress enough the importance of thoroughly researching this path and the countless companies out there willing — sometimes overly so — to publish your work. Don’t be taken in by fast-talking publishing representatives promising you the moon – for a fee. Be sure you know who you are dealing with. There are many good sites and author watchdogs out there whose research and reports on self-publishing companies are stellar. Check them out, and heed their warnings. Trust in your instincts and your abilities, and don’t become discouraged with setbacks and pitfalls because there can be many. Finally, don’t let anyone tell you it cannot be done, because only you know your ability, your strength, and your weakness. And above all, enjoy yourself, after all it’s your talent that brings your stories to life, so take pride in that, and best wishes to you.

About You
Where did you grow up?

I grew up on my paternal grandfather’s farm in rural south-western Ontario, Canada.

Where do you live now?

In the cultural city of St. Catharines, Ontario which is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I am basically a shy person who very much loves children, animals, nature, music, art, and what I do for a living.

What are you working on now?

I presently have another fictional romance/drama underway entitled, Willow’s Walk, which centers around misunderstandings, heartless cruelty, and what happens when situations are pushed to the limit as well as the person being pushed by them, which I hope to finish over the winter months and publish next year.

End of Interview:
For more, visit Rusty’s website, like her page on Facebook, or follow her ontwitter.
Get your copy of Passions in Paris from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).
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