My Writing Corner : Characters Lead the Way

We're in the heart of the summer and it is time to relax and enjoy a few good books by the beach or in some secluded mountain cabin. Today's guest in My Writing Corner has an offering that sounds like perfect vacation reading material. My guest is author Joy Ross, and her new book is The Secret of the Ugly Brooch.

Joy M. Ross was raised in Missouri, and she says the 'Show Me philosophy' is still part of her roots when things sound doubtful. However, she has also lived in Oklahoma long enough to consider herself an "OKie". She says she stretches her gardening skills on a small acre outside Tulsa, which she shares with two rescue terriers, and a large, determined chocolate Labrador. One tuxedo cat rounds out the household. Sounds like a really full house!

Joy says she keeps busy with the pets, church activities, traveling when possible (Her family is not close so that always involves travel) and a part time cashier job."It is amazing some of the things people will tell you if you're willing to listen!" she says. Well let's listen while we find out more about Joy and her writing.

What do you enjoy about being an author?

Several things - I love immersing myself in the story, guiding my characters (or sometimes, having them guide me) and having conversations (I really like writing dialogue), and developing their personalities. I like the freedom of planning my day around my writing. What I don't like is having to stop when I'm not ready because there are other things in life that demand my attention. And one thing I like, that I didn't anticipate, is that I can hold up a copy of my book and say, "I did this! I am officially an author!"

What is the most challenging part of being an author?

I don't know if it's finding the time to write or getting it all down on paper fast enough. Sometimes technology also throws me a curve. I heard all the theories dealing with discipline, brain fog, creativity, writer's block, etc, and they are all valid and I've tried most of them. And the majority of the time, if I sit and start writing, it will come. But there are times it comes better, and faster than others. So you deal with it one day at a time. I do well with deadlines, so sometimes I set my own, ahead of schedule.

How do you develop characters and/or plots?

I am not a true "pantser" or a "plotter". I call myself a "planser". My stories are character driven, and I put that character in a situation, and I know what I want the outcome to be, so I put stumbling blocks along the way. I have an idea of what, and who will help, or hinder, progress, and so I have to pantser things along until I get where I want to be. Then I devise a further plot to get there. Sometimes an idea will come along the way, and it's a light bulb moment - change it up!

Tell us about your road to publication.

My road to publication, like so many authors, is somewhat rocky, but it involved a lot of simply, not knowing what I was doing. Submitting a rough draft that was too rough, sending to the wrong places, a query letter that wasn't exceptional. I did not feel 'good enough' to try for an agent, so I did it all on my own. My changing point was when I decided to go to a critique group. I didn't realize I could just go, without something to read, so I brought my first chapter, prepared to crawl away with my tail between my legs. I already had a bit of a shell, due to rejections, but it was not as bad as I expected. Was it bad? Oh, yeah. But it was also constructive, and gave me the kick in the butt I needed. I kept going.

Chapter by chapter, the critique group heard my novel, and I made changes. Two chapters became a half chapter, descriptions were added, deleted. After I made it through the entire novel, I decided to submit it again. This time I knew more about submitting, publishing houses, hybrid publishing, self-publishing, etc. I had attended more conferences, won some short story contests, talked to other authors. I knew I didn't want to self-publish. I wanted someone to pay me, not the other way around. I applied to small publishing houses. The first response was an acceptance for hybrid publishing, where they would publish, but I had to bear a good amount of the expense. I rejected their offer and moved on to the next publisher of MY choice, The Wild Rose Press. I knew another author who used them, and she had good things to say about them, and she wrote books similar to mine. They accepted my manuscript and offered a contract. I reviewed it, had an attorney review it, and the rest is history. I'm very happy with them.

What is your book that you will feature today and how did you come up with the idea to write it?

My book is titled "The Secret of the Ugly Brooch". The original title was 'Lucky Day', then I discovered other books with similar titles (one in particular, by Mary Higgins-Clark, one of my favorite authors), so I decided to look elsewhere for a better title. Since I noticed the description of the brooch kept coming up as 'ugly' and that seemed unique, the title got changed.

The idea for the story came to me after a favorite aunt passed away. "What if" is an idea creator for me. So, what if someone were to attend a funeral, and the will stipulated that whoever came to the deceased's funeral inherited everything? That is what happened to Emma and the story took off from there.

Let's get a blurb:

After Emma witnesses a theft and murder, she hides from the killer, but circumstances cause her to be thrown into a life of luxury and secrets.

She feels safe, hidden away in her secluded estate. Detective Mike Wells keeps tabs on her and soon discovers that she is not only in danger but is about to be the center of attention. Interesting and enjoyable characters surround Emma and Mike, and while their attraction grows, so does the tension as the evil comes closer to home.

What’s your next project or what are you working on now?

The book I am working on is the 2nd in what I hope is a trilogy. I'm calling it "The Legacy of the Ugly Brooch". The final book, which is rattling around in my head, will have a slight supernatural aspect.

I may write more than a trilogy regarding the Ugly Brooch and the Grand Lake Stone Lion Inn. After all, it is an inn, and any number of interesting characters may stay there.

What advice do I have for beginning writers?

Believe in yourself, and learn the craft. Acknowledge where you need to improve, and do it. And if you do this, never, EVER give up.

Here are the buy Links for Joy's book and her social contact information:

Amazon: The Secret of the Ugly Brooch

Barnes and Noble: The Secret of the Ugly Brooch

Google Books: The Secret of the Ugly Brooch

Social Contact information:

I write under : Joy M. Ross

FB: joy m ross (author page) Regular FB page Joyce Ross

@joyrosswrites

Email: writerjoymross@gmail.com

website: joymross.com'