Author Interview: Bett Rose

I'm pleased to welcome another fab author to the blog today to chat about their journey to publication! 
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The Interview... 

Who are you and what do you write?

I’m a retired nurse and I’m 68yrs old, a wife, mother and grandmother. I was born in Coventry, UK, into a hardworking family, the youngest of six children.
 

Where and how did the writing life begin for you?

My love of reading books and creating stories has always been with me, from a very young age.

During my life I have written for my church group, relaxation scripts for patients, letters to magazines, and after retiring from a long career in nursing, I began writing short stories.
 

How has the journey been to this point? Can you give us a basic rundown?

A story about WW2 Homefront Britain developed into a short romantic fiction called A WEEK IN TIME and I self published on Amazon, November 2017. It was a scary, lonely experience but I believed in my ability and pushed on. The day that I saw my published book ‘out there’ made it all worth while.

My second venture began in November 2017 after a walk through my hometown and being shocked to find so many young men sleeping rough, in full view of shoppers and the public.

I chatted to some of them, started asking questions and KEEP THEM CLOSE was born; a story of family, romance, tragedy and mental health issues.

I decided to try for a publisher and sent out twelve query letters after buying a book from Amazon on how to formulate and present my manuscript. Within three months from sending them out I was accepted without an agent and KEEP THEM CLOSE was published in January 30th 2020. It’s available from online booksellers and in independent, physical book stores, such as Waterstones and Foyles amongst them.

​What’s been the hardest part of your writing/ publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

The hardest part? 
Maybe realising how competitive the industry is and how utterly inexperienced I was. In some ways that was a good thing because maybe I wouldn’t have started if I knew that at the beginning. The story would possibly have remained just that, a story.

Enjoyable?
The writing is always enjoyable, a wonderful escape when I need it, and as I progress I am making useful contacts and meeting other fellow writers, and beginning to put my books out in the public domain more; talks at local libraries and local radio, etc.
 

Would you go back and change anything?

No, nothing at all. It has been, and still is, an adventure.
 

What are your plans for the future?
 
Well I’m 68yrs, and while I am fit and healthy I plan to continue to write, improve and publish. My next book is already in the pipe line. It is fiction, which addresses human trafficking. It’s gritty and doesn’t pull any punches, and I’ll soon be working on my query letters. I’ve called it ALONE, IT'S OKAY. I hope to find a publisher and publish this year, 2020.

 
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new writers just starting out?
 
As an older writer I am not brilliant with the latest technology but my life experience has helped. Whatever your age, don’t let it put you off.

If you enjoy writing, if it’s your passion, then follow your dream.

I’m not a member of any writing group and I chose to write alone. But joining the writing community on Twitter has helped me immensely over the last year.

I also joined the Society Of Authors as an associate member and receive regular bulletins which are useful.

Pick up your pen, or laptop, create an environment that is conducive for writing; in my case joss sticks, a beautiful pen and perfumed hand creams. Finally, read plenty, write as well as you can and always aim to improve.

 
And just for fun... 

Ketchup or Mayo? - Ketchup.
Night or day? - Day.
Inside or Outside? - Outside.
Dogs or cats? - Dogs.
Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter.
e-Book or paperback? - Paperback.
Sun or Rain? - Rain.
Keyboard or Pencil and Notebook? - Pencil and notebook.
Comedy or Drama? - Drama.
Chips or Chocolate? - Chips.