Interview with Author Rhonda Bowen
Tell us about your current book?
Get You Good is the story of Sydney Isaacs and her rather dysfunctional family. When we meet her she seems like a successful enough woman with a growing business. But the more time we spend with her the more we realize that there is a lot of family dysfunction and resentment in her life that nobody is dealing with. And then Sheree enters the picture. She is Sydney’s new sister-in-law who in a short period of time manages not only to upset the relationships in the family, but also to totally destroy Sydney’s business and her family legacy. When Sydney and her sister Lissandra decide to make things right, they cross over from what is wrong to what is very wrong, and that is where the excitement begins.
What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?
I think the characters came first for this one. From the outset I knew I wanted to write a story about family, particularly about siblings. I was going through some things with my own sibling at the time and writing about that kind of relationship was a bit therapeutic for me. At the time I was also reading the book of Genesis in the Bible and the relationships between Jacob’s children was fascinating for me. I ended up building the story around the idea of a family like theirs.
What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?
How much pressure I feel to write a book that is better than my last one. Before I got published my main goal was to get published. It was clear and simple. But now I worry about whether my next novel will be as good as my last one, whether my readers will like it, whether it will be good for my publisher and whether it will sell more than the last one. I didn’t consider those issues before I got published.
What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?
I love the writing itself, especially when you get to that point in the story where you know where it is going and the lines are coming faster than you can type them. Those are the moments when I feel most like a writer. I think I like least the business side of things, particularly planning and doing promotion. I love talking to readers about my books, but everything in between sometimes stresses me out.
Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer? Do read craft books about writing. No matter how good you think you are, no matter whether you have a contract in the works or not, no matter how many conferences you have been to, it is important to always look for opportunities to improve your writing skills. Craft books like The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman and Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King are priceless.
Don’t ever send your manuscript to a publisher or agent without editing it at least three times or having someone (credible!) edit it for you. You love your story and you think it’s great which means that you will be blind to its flaws. The more you look at it however, the more you will see inconsistencies in your characters, holes in your plot as well as simple grammatical mistakes. It is even better if an outside person takes a look at it, because they will come at it with fresh eyes. The best way to get yourself into the slush pile of an agent or publisher is to have a novel with a weak opening and chocked full of typos and poor sentence construction. Chances are the person you sent it to won’t even read past the first page.
When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I love being outdoors and being active, so in the summer I go hiking, go camping and play netball. In the winter I tend to experiment with indoor activities like yoga, zumba and socacize. Anything to keep moving!
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on my next novel, which is based on several of the characters from GET YOU GOOD. This the story is more about one character’s personal choices and how that affects her future, or what she thinks her future is supposed to be. I am already excited about it!
Where can visitors find you online?Definitely at my website, rhondabowen.com. Readers can also find me on facebook at facebook.com/MsRhondie. But the surest way to reach me is via email at Rhonda.bowen@yahoo.com. I always respond to that.
About the Book
Sydney Isaacs has two priorities: her family, and Decadent, the gourmet pastry business they founded almost three generations ago. But both are in jeopardy when her brother, Dean, announces his sudden marriage to the conniving Sheree Vern. Furthermore Dean’s inheritance of the ownership of Decadent from their father, despite Dean’s lack of interest, leaves Sydney with few options. Now Dean and Sheree are selling the store to finance his music dreams—or so Dean believes… Thanks to Sheree, Dean’s plans, the business, and his marriage, soon implode in ways he never expected—leaving Sydney determined to salvage whatever she can and fix the mess left behind. Her only solace is her romance with Hayden Windsor. But Hayden is Sheree’s half brother and it doesn’t take long for Sydney to wonder: what if Hayden knew about Sheree’s scheming all along? Soon Sydney creates a deception of her own to find out the truth. Her strategy is working, until the consequences threaten to destroy everything she values most—including her faith. Overcome with guilt, can she make things right with her brother, with Hayden, and with God?
About the Author
Rhonda Bowen is a writer and event planner living in Toronto. She enjoys spending time with her family, trying on shoes she can’t afford, and enjoying life’s unexpected twists and turns. You can reach her by dropping a note in the comment box below or emailing her directly at rhonda.bowen@yahoo.com
Purchase the Book Online at:
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
Visit the author online at:
rhonda.bowen@yahoo.com
View the blog tour schedule at:
http://tywebbinvirtualevents.com/xdHYy