Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf: Interview & Giveaway with Rose Rodriguez, Author of Grace (YA Paranormal Romance)

1. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself.

I live in Puerto Rico with my husband and two kids. I’m a mother, educator, wife, and author. My mind wanders with curiosity. My loyalties lie with a time when my life was "so called", I was full of "Teen Spirit", and the best love in the world came from a "Champion Lover". I'm obsessed with the minds of men and women who have made a major difference for humanity. From Jesus to Jared Leto. :) Words are my playground. In them lies my passion.

2. When did you know that you wanted to write professionally and how did you take the leap to get into the business?

I’ve always wanted to be an author. I’ve had a love affair with books since the age of nine. Shortly after that, I began to write stories. During my teenage years, I wrote in notebooks. I haven’t stopped writing since. After having a freelance writing business for two years, I decided to pursue creative writing, which is my true passion.

I tried the traditional way first. I made the decision to self publish my book after trying to get published through a traditional publishing house. Although I did find an agent and my manuscript actually got positive feedback from editors, the powers that be didn’t think it was for them at the time. That whole process took about over a year and I noticed that the publishing world was changing. All that matters to me is to get my message out there, so I researched and got it done on my own. I would try traditional publishing again so that I could have help with the whole process and have more time for my actual writing.

3. Can you tell me a little bit about your book and what inspired it?

Grace is a paranormal romance with an important message for young women. I came up with the concept for the series first. Every book in this series has a female protagonist that tackles a central theme. I wanted to name the books after the protagonist. Then I thought of the central theme of the book and the name had to fit that. After high school and during the college years, women are faced with different dilemmas that can affect the rest of their lives for better or for worse. My concern for this audience sparked my ideas. I didn’t want the books to be so serious so I combined my message with my love of paranormal romances, to create a book with a message in a paranormal romance setting. Grace tackles the themes of suicide, abuse, and self empowerment. She is a young woman who has always wanted to commit suicide. She almost achieves it, but is saved unexpectedly. Death has already noticed her, though and doesn’t let go. The book details her efforts at self development, her setbacks because of bad decisions, and the power, only she has, to change her destiny. This series is not a saga or a trilogy.

4. What do you hope that readers take way with them after reading your book?

I hope to touch as many lives with my writing as I can. Since my target audience with my first series is young women who enjoy paranormal romances and face life dilemmas, I hope to build a network of young women in search of empowerment.

5. I find it interesting to know what environment authors find most productive… Do you use a pen and paper or laptop? Quiet room at home or bustling café? Basically, what gets your creative juices flowing?

I am career woman, as well as a writer so I schedule in two hours to write every day. Some people have asked me if I have a writing ritual. I don’t. I do have some preferences, though. I prefer writing in a quiet room or place. I especially like writing while I look at nature. I like writing by hand first, on a legal pad and then on my laptop. I also listen to my iPod during the whole creative process. I can write various chapters by listening to just one song over and over again. There are certain songs that inspire me during the creation of certain parts of the story. Stories come to me everywhere so I walk around with post its or I record my ideas on my cell phone if I don’t have paper and pen handy.

6. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I’ve been blessed with good reviews up to now. I only received one bad review that stated that my book was a Twilight rip off, which I don’t understand because my book has nothing to do with Twilight. I guess that’s what that reader was expecting. I have to say it devastated me, though. The best compliment has been from a reader who said that my book was brilliant.

7. What book is currently on your nightstand? And who are some of your favorite authors?

Right now I’m reading a book my mother in law brought back from India. It’s Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I am an avid reader so I have many favorite books. I would say that I have favorite books for every one of my life stages so far. As a kid, it was the Ramona Quimby Series, anything by Judy Blume, and V.C Andrews. As a teenager, my favorite books were The Catcher in the Rye and The Outsiders. As an adult, I enjoy many genres. My favorite books include Memoirs of a Geisha, Anna Karenina, The House of Spirits, The Twilight Series, and especially Paulo Coelho’s books.

8. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Reading, of course! I have a pretty busy schedule as a career woman, but when I do have some down time, I like to read, travel, cook, and sightsee. I also go to the beach quite often since I live in a tropical island.

9. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

This is a tough business, but being able to do what you love and putting your message out there is really rewarding. The best advice I can give an aspiring author is to be persistent. Giving up is not an option in this business. Fortunately, with the appearance of eReaders we have more options to become published so traditional publishing is not the only venue available.

10. What can we expect from you next?

The second book in the Eternal Beloved Series, Chastity, was published on July 20th, 2012. In Chastity, the themes of promiscuity, neglect, and the pain caused by tragic death are explored.

11. Do any animals share your life? Please tell us about them.

Yes! My dog’s name is Cody. He was supposed to be Chihuahua, but turned out to be a mixed breed. We love him so much, of course, that we wouldn’t dream of giving him back or getting a refund. LOL. We actually know when he was born so we celebrate his birthday every year. He’s a lovable pet who completes our lives.

And now for a little bit of fun:) This or That?

Coffee or Tea? Coffee

Sweet or Salty? Sweet

Beach or Lake? Beach

Winter or Summer? Summer

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

Zombies or Vampires? Vampires

Country or City? City

Shower or Bath? Shower

Morning or Evening? Evening

M&Ms or Skittles? M&Ms

Trains or Planes? Planes

Comedy or Drama? Drama

Title: Grace
Series: An Eternal Beloved Novel #1

Author: Rose Rodriguez
Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Size: 290 pages

Release Date: October 22nd 2011

Publisher: Lulu Press

Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Grace Elizabeth Coventry has wanted to die since puberty. Since then, she carries out elaborate plans to end her life. She almost succeeds on her eighteenth birthday, but when an outside force emerges to carry out the deed, an inexplicable survival instinct awakens in her. It’s too late, though. Death has already noticed her. As she hangs on for dear life from the ledge of the Skyway Bridge in Chicago, about to give up to her fate, an unexpected stranger appears to save her, only to be challenged by the ultimate threat. In the end, only she has the power to save herself.

My mind wanders with curiosity. My loyalties lie with a better past when my life was “So Called”, I was full of “Teen Spirit”, and the world’s greatest lover was a “Champion”. I’m obsessed with the great minds of men and women who have made a difference for humanity. From Jesus to Jared Leto. Words are my playground. In them lies my passion.

Grace is the first novel in Eternal Beloved Novel Series. Chastity, the second novel in the series was released on July 20, 2012. Both books are available in eBook format on smashwords.com and amazon.com, and print format at lulu.com. My other works in progress are Destiny- The Third Eternal Beloved Novel, Serenity- The Fourth Eternal Beloved Novel, and a children’s book, Renaissance Quest. I work full time as an English teacher in Puerto Rico where I live with my husband and two children.

Connect with the Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter