Author Interview – Rachel Rossano @RachelRossano

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Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Growing up, I loved to read, but I frequently didn’t like the endings to the stories. So, I began rewriting the endings in my head. Then I began taking characters and settings I liked and making up my own stories. Eventually I began writing the stories down so my friends could enjoy them too. Before I knew it I had fallen in love with the writing process and began dreaming of writing books.

When and why did you begin writing?

I wrote my first novella in high school. It was terrible, but it was a beginning.

What inspires you to write and why?

I love the excitement of developing a story, getting to know new characters, forming new adventures, and the shine of a well edited story.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

I am most comfortable writing non-magical fantasy that feels like medieval history. However, I have tried my hand at science fiction and speculative fiction. Someday I hope to write a historical fiction novel.

Who or what influenced your writing once you began?

Other authors taught me. As I read, I learned better ways to express myself and about the greater world around me. My parents encouraged my reading. My mother introduced me to many genres, and my father instilled in me a great appreciation and love of history. I hope to hand down both of these things to my own children whether or not they become writers themselves.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first novella was written for school when I was teenager. I began my second writing project because I had new ideas I wanted to try out and I thought I could do a better job on the next book. Thus began my journey.

What made you want to be a writer?

I became addicted to writing. The creating of worlds and peopling them with only words still thrills me.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?

Keeping the magic infatuation with the story fresh while writing the first draft is sometimes difficult, but enduring the editing process that must come before publishing is even harder.

How did you develop your plot and characters?

I tend to discover my characters like one learns about a new friend. At first I name them, develop a sketch of their history, and work out a vague idea of some their character traits. Then we begin our journey on the page. With each new challenge, plot twist, and conversation, I grow to know them better. By the end of the story, we are best of friends and I am hesitant to part from them.

The plots tend to develop similarly. In the beginning, I don’t have a clear vision of where exactly we are going to go, except for a few events or ideas. About a third of the way through, I start hammering out more definite points ahead of time. By the halfway mark, I am plotting the climax. Then, by the beginning of the last quarter, I know what I want to accomplish before the end of the book and what sequence I plan on using.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I hope to have all of my back list of old finished manuscripts published. I also hope to have five new novels written and published as well as a number of short stories.