With the blog tour
of my third novel, ‘A New Resolution’ currently being conducted, I decided that
I would use this post to share something about myself, as well as a few interesting facts about my ‘Resolution Series’.
As a writer I would
normally write about the writing process, but as a reader I often yearn to know
more about authors, and how their work came to be. So, here it is – A few things
you didn't know about me – Rose Dee; and also, a few things you didn't know about my
series.
About Me:
1. I’m
incredibly patriotic. Australia is the most amazing country. I grew up on the
beach, but there are still days living in North Queensland that take my breath
away. Such is the beauty of this place I live in.
I
also love America. I think this is born from my father. During the battle of
the Coral Sea (4–8
May 1942),
my father (who was 12 at the time) was taken by his family into the bush to
live. They were prepared to fight the Japanese if they invaded. Invasion was a
very real threat to North Queensland. My grandfather told my father to never
forget the American sacrifice for us in that battle. It was a turning point in
the war. My father never forgot, and he passed on that respect and reverence to
his children.
2. I talk
waaaaaaaaaaay too much. I struggle with listening. It’s my day to day
challenge.
3. I love my Dad, and
miss him every single day. My Dad left this world three years ago. In his time
here, he never knew of my writing. He would have been so into it. The good news
is I’ll see him again. Can’t wait to have that reunion. I suspect he would say
one of his personal challenges in life was that he talked waaaaaaaaaay too
much. Between us we may need a few days in Heaven to catch up.
About my work:
1. My husband, Terry,
is a very handy sounding board. Some of the great names he has come up with
are:
Kiisay Point – actually pronounced Kiss-eye. It has a few meanings in Thursday Islander language. One meaning is ‘moon'.
Kiisay Point – actually pronounced Kiss-eye. It has a few meanings in Thursday Islander language. One meaning is ‘moon'.
Amos – Terry had a mate by
this name many years ago.
Resolution – Yes he named the Island!
2. Two of my main
characters, Samara and Nate, had different names. I had to change both names in
editing. I still slip up sometimes and call them their original names.
3. Apart from the odd
accidental typo and misspelling, each book in the series has a deliberate
‘mistake’ in it. It’s my little odd eccentricity coming out. One day I’ll have
a competition to see who can find them. If you do find them please let me know,
but they have yet to be discovered. I think my publisher thought I was a little
‘nuts’ to put a deliberate mistake in my work, but we all know it’s the imperfections
that keep us humble.
I hope you have enjoyed
discovering a few new and hopefully, interesting things about me and my work.
A big thank you to
everyone who has contributed to the blog tour for ‘A New Resolution’.
ACRBA blog tour giveaway:
First prize is an ebook reader and the giveaway closes on Thursday 12th December. The list of 10 participating blogs can be found in the comments on the post below. If you post a comment on all 10 blogs (including the ACW blog tour post on 5th December) you will receive the maximum number of 10 entries in the drawing.
http://acrba.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/acrba-tour-new-resolution-by-rose-dee.html
ACRBA blog tour giveaway:
First prize is an ebook reader and the giveaway closes on Thursday 12th December. The list of 10 participating blogs can be found in the comments on the post below. If you post a comment on all 10 blogs (including the ACW blog tour post on 5th December) you will receive the maximum number of 10 entries in the drawing.
http://acrba.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/acrba-tour-new-resolution-by-rose-dee.html
Find out more about Rose Dee at:
Really interesting to hear a little more about your background, Rose, and also some extra info about your books. Thanks for sharing. I'm a Queenslander from way back but I remember I had a friend from Mackay years ago who, when asked if she was a Queenslander, would say 'No, a NORTH Queenslander!' It's a great place.
ReplyDeleteI had a giggle at this, Jo-Anne. I often say I am from North Queensland. It is a great place to live.
DeleteIt was fun learning a little bit more about you Rose. Resolution Island is a great name - sounds like it could have been given by Captain Cook - like so many features on the eastern coast of Australia (Mount Warning, Glass House Mountains, Magnetic Island etc). I've changed names of some of my characters too (to avoid confusion when too similar to other names) so I know what you mean about getting confused on occasion. I've read all three of the Resolution series and loved them. Next time I read them I'll have to keep a radar out for those deliberate mistakes (a bit like a handmade Persian carpet which also have deliberate mistakes to show their authenticity :) )
ReplyDeleteohhh - I like your bit about the Persian Carpets, Jeanette. I didn't know that. :-)
DeleteI spent so much time stressing about the books having no mistakes that adding a deliberate one was a good way to for me to stay humble. Nothing is every perfect, is it!
Rose, it was great to learn more about you and the background behind your Resolution series. Okay, I'll admit that the perfectionist in me is horrified at the thought of making a deliberate mistake in a book. On the other hand, if I love a book and become absorbed in the storyworld I don't see the mistakes, even the obvious ones that friends have noticed. But if I don't like the book, every little mistake is like a red flashing neon sign that throws me out of the story.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Narelle. I will often skim over a mistake in a book when I am absorbed in the story. Like most first editions, my books all have a few 'silly' mistakes or typos that were not picked up by the editors and proof readers. I guess I should be happy in a way, that even after many different proof readers, these little mistakes were not picked up - they must have been into the story.
DeleteBut these little 'deliberate' mistakes are not serious. They really are a bit of fun. If I told you what they were you would laugh.
Hi Rose,
ReplyDeleteSo your books are like Persian carpets which have to have a flaw (as well as a floor)? I think I know the one in Book 1, because you showed me once, but I'd have to search carefully through Books 2 and 3. If anybody tells us about any mistakes in The Greenfield Legacy, we'll have to say, "That's Rose's thing." :)
I agree with Jenny about the aptness of the name Resolution. It's good that you can draw on Terry for title and name inspiration, because it's a different aspect than writing the story.
I really like the thought of my book being like a Persian Carpet. That is very cool.
DeleteI didn't do the quirky mistake in TGL. But then again, TGL is a bit more of a serious book - so probably wouldn't have worked as well as in the 'Resolution' books.
You would have been one of the only people I showed that mistake to, Paula. The first one was actually Rochelle's fault. She was horrified by it - and then horrified again that I thought it was very cool and wanted to do another one in book 2. LOL.
At the time I was naming the island there were a lot of things in my life coming to resolution, so Terry suggested this name because it was so appropriate for my life, and also very much suited the lives of my characters. Maybe it takes someone who is outside your work, but inside your life to see what you don't!
Thanks Rose! I talk too much too he he.
ReplyDeleteI want to re-read your books now to find the mistakes!
Good to know I'm not the only one, Catherine. :-)
DeleteOh, you're kidding me! A deliberate mistake in each one? I remember seeing one or two mistakes in each book but decided not to mention them. You mean I'll have to reread them to find them again? That might be a tough task! Not!
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased to hear that a re-read wouldn't be a horrible prospect, Annie. But, although I call them 'mistakes' they are actually more like 'cosmetic quirks'. They are not actually in the body of the text. I am always mortified when something in the text gets missed, but I am a horrible proof reader, and it doesn't seem to matter how many eyes I have on my manuscript, something in there always gets missed. :-(.
DeleteLovely to learn a bit more about you Rose. And fascinating idea about the mistakes in your books. I haven't noticed them, but as others have said, when you are reading and absorbed in a story you rarely notice them. I know I found mistakes in my early books after they were published and I was horrified. I was really glad to be abe to correct those with the re-release of Suzannah's Gold and Rebecca's Dream. But I'll be very surprised if there are not still small errors, because no matter how much we edit, they seem to escape us and others before publishing. I love your idea of incorporating them in some way, and even enticing readers with the challenge of finding them. You may have started a trend.
ReplyDeleteWow - a trend of deliberate mistakes! You never know!. These deliberate ones in my books are kind of fun - one is quite funny. They are in the 'cosmetic' parts of my books though, not in the text.
DeleteI have to admit that it would be a great relief to fix the non-deliberate ones in the body of text. There are quite a few in my books that were missed in editing and proofing.
Hi Rose, so good to get to know you better.
ReplyDeleteI have an authentic Amish quilt, also stitched with a 'deliberate mistake' because the Amish rightly believe only God is perfect.
I have to admit, as a cross stitcher and author, I'd rather remember God is perfect another way. I guess we're all different in how we approach our work. :)
I didn't know that about the Amish quilts. It's so interesting that both the Amish quilters and the Persian craftsmen have the same flawed inclusion in their work.
DeleteI think part of the reason I wanted these 'mistakes' was so that I could put my own little eccentric stamp on the finished product. I guess it's my little way of saying 'Rose was here'. ;-)
Loved getting to know you more Rose! Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI found your last point interesting and cool!! I'll be on the lookout next time, however probably won't find it because i'll be too engrossed in the story :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's cool that your husband, Terry, helps you with your books. It must be very encouraging.
It is very encouraging. My husband is a wealth of information. In his life he has been a young rascal, a professional fisherman, a miner (in his own mine), and had many other jobs -all long before I met him. It is uncanny how much he knows!. I tap into his knowledge all the time.
DeleteI think I need to tell everyone that the 'mistakes' are not actually in the body of the text. As an author I wouldn't deliberately do anything that breaks the flow of the story, or pulls up a reader unnecessarily. So any little errors you find in the text are not the 'deliberate' ones.
ReplyDeleteI guess you could call these mistakes more of a quirk in the cosmetic side of the book. I hope I haven't given it away now! - When you find them, I think they will make you laugh - especially the one in 'A New Resolution'. :-).
Rose, I know what the mistake is!! You're right, it is funny :) I'll message you now with the answer, lol.
DeletePlease do, Narelle. Was it the 'A New Resolution' one that you found?
DeleteATTENTION EVERYONE. I must let you know that these quirky little additions only appear in the HARD COPY'S of the 'Resolution' series. They DO NOT appear in electronic copies (e-book and Kindle versions). I would hate to think someone is pouring over an electronic copy and they are not there. If I do a competition one day, I will ensure there is a lot more information about it. I had no idea it would be such an interesting topic. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh Rose, you r so much fun! I'm going to get the books out later today to check them out! :) xx
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you find them, Michelle.
Delete