IN ONE OF my first writers groups I met Angela K. Roe. Angie was not only a good writer; she was an excellent editor and made numerous suggestions to my early manuscripts which contributed greatly to their success. She is a romance novelist, freelance writer, and a freelance photographer. She has a variety of published Ebooks and online articles based on topics as diverse as home improvement, ballroom dancing, fitness, marketing and research, computer programs and business associations. She also provides SEO copy to industry-leading Web content providers and is happily married to her best friend. She and her husband share five children, nine grandchildren, a dog and a fish and what she terms “a crazy rollercoaster of a life and we depend on each other to make through the laughter and the tears.”
Mike: Welcome to my blog and thanks for joining us today. First, can you tell me a little bit about your novels This Montana Man, and It was Snowing?
Angela: This Montana Man is a romance novel about a writer who rents a rundown house on the land of Jamie Overton so she can hide from a crazed stalker while she writes her next book. The romance doesn’t stay on the pages of her book, though and the stalker finds her in a small Montana town. See how the town rallies around her to keep her and her handsome landlord, Jamie, safe. It Was Snowing is a short story that shines a light on a marriage, during one of the most stressful times a marriage, can endure the loss of twins through miscarriage. This one is a personal story as it's a true recounting of what my husband and I went through in March of 1999.
M: And your other books: The Creeps, The Journey, and Carried Away?
A: The Creeps is a collection of short stories, all with a twist. There are 4 short stories that range from the murder of a pediatric nurse to a Halloween story about a bookstore that's a neighborhood favorite. The Journey is a single short story about what happens after you die, or at least my hope of what happens after you die. This is another one that's near my heart as I wrote it as a way to say goodbye when my grandmother passed away. Carried Away is a collection of short stories about the passengers on a cross-country train. When I see trains, I always wonder who is on them and why, what their stories are and where they're going so I wrote about them. It's an on-going series with another set to come out at the end of October.
I have another book under contract with Echelon Press entitled Stormy Encounters that's set to come out sometime in mid-2012. I'm thrilled to be under contract with it and I'm working with a terrific group of people.
M: How did you get published? In other words, what was your road to getting your books before the public?
A: I've listened to other authors whose experiences with traditional publishing were not positive or sometimes, even ethical. That combined with the lengthy time between acceptance and publication, led my husband and I to look into self-publishing. I'm fortunate to have a husband in the computer industry so he's very analytical and well-versed in formatting and other computer-speak processes. With a bit of time, he published my books.
M: What started you writing?
A: I've always been a writer. According to my mom, I wrote before I knew how to write and would tell stories to anyone who would listen. When I'd get upset as a child, I'd rewrite the reality of the situation to change the outcome. It was a pretty handy way to deal with two older brothers.
M: What are your writing habits? In other words, do you write each day, morning, evening, etc.?
A: For me personally, if I don't write every day, I lose interest in the story. Plus, I get distracted by day to day life and before I realize it, two years has passed and I'm still on page six. That being said, I'm also a deadline-driven person so being in a writer's group is a requirement. If I'm not held accountable by the expectation of presenting to a writer's group, I'm far more likely to get distracted.
M: Anything upcoming?
A: As I mentioned, Volume 2 of Carried Away is coming up at the end of this month and Stormy Encounters is due out mid-2012. I've got some collaborations planned with Stephen L. Brayton in the works and I'm also outlining the second in the Walkers Ridge series. This Montana Man is the first in that series.
M: Any hobbies, etc. for spare time?
A: We're very active in church and in the neighborhood so there isn't much spare time in our lives. My husband sings in just about every choir in the church and I am active in a couple of the women's groups. We love to spend time with the kids and the grandkids and of course, the entire house is filled with books. I can always find time to read a good book!
M: How can readers contact you?
A: Feel free to visit my website at www.angelakroe.com, my blog site, www.angelaroe.blogspot.com or they can email me at angela@angelakroe.com
My books are currently only available in ebook form so those who only buy ebooks are in good shape. Purchase my books on Smashwords, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
M: Thank you for your time.
A: Thank you.
Very good interview. Yeah for you!
ReplyDeleteStephen Brayton
Sorry to be weighing in late. You hit on something that I see in my own writing. The process of writing can be very therapeutic. I see you've worked through some of your own life experiences with your stories.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview.
Marja McGraw