Today, guest author Shona Rusk is with us. Her new book, Ruby’s Ghost by Samhain Publishing, releases tomorrow, May 14. It is a Paranormal Romance, the kind I love!
Shona, tell us a little about Ruby’s Ghost.
Ruby’s Ghost came out of a conversation I had
about my little niece who was convinced the ghost of a motorcyclist was
visiting her bedroom. Being a romance writer I thought he’d make an interesting
hero…especially if he weren’t totally dead just dislocated from his body. It’s
a story about choices, right from the start when Tate is looking at his life
and girlfriend and realizing he’s moved on while she hasn’t. Of course he
doesn’t realize then just how hard Ruby will try to keep him.
about my little niece who was convinced the ghost of a motorcyclist was
visiting her bedroom. Being a romance writer I thought he’d make an interesting
hero…especially if he weren’t totally dead just dislocated from his body. It’s
a story about choices, right from the start when Tate is looking at his life
and girlfriend and realizing he’s moved on while she hasn’t. Of course he
doesn’t realize then just how hard Ruby will try to keep him.
I have a few questions that Shona has graciously agreed to answer.
1. How long did it take you to write Ruby’s Ghost?
I’d
actually written it a while ago and had left it sitting because I didn’t have
time to go back and clean it up. When I went to the US last year I decided that
since I wasn’t going to be doing any actual writing while on holiday I’d take
it with me to revise and polish, so when I was on long car trips or on planes I
was working on Ruby’s Ghost. Time wise it feels like it took me a very long
time to pull it together but I think that’s just because it was so spread out.
I’d
actually written it a while ago and had left it sitting because I didn’t have
time to go back and clean it up. When I went to the US last year I decided that
since I wasn’t going to be doing any actual writing while on holiday I’d take
it with me to revise and polish, so when I was on long car trips or on planes I
was working on Ruby’s Ghost. Time wise it feels like it took me a very long
time to pull it together but I think that’s just because it was so spread out.
2. Why did you decide to write paranormal romance?
I
actually grew up reading fantasy and discovered paranormal romance in my
mid-twenties. Paranormal romance seems the perfect blend between fantasy and
reality with a HEA as an added bonus. Do you know how many romances fail in
traditional fantasy novels? In discovering paranormal romance I was able to
have all the fun of new worlds plus romance. Writing it and making up my own
worlds is even more fun J
I
actually grew up reading fantasy and discovered paranormal romance in my
mid-twenties. Paranormal romance seems the perfect blend between fantasy and
reality with a HEA as an added bonus. Do you know how many romances fail in
traditional fantasy novels? In discovering paranormal romance I was able to
have all the fun of new worlds plus romance. Writing it and making up my own
worlds is even more fun J
3. Do you write multiple drafts or barely need revisions
when typing, The End?
Multiple
drafts. I plot, then I write out what I call a scene guide, so 1 paragraph per
scene. At this stage I’m busy moving bits around, and making sure the story
works. Then I start writing. It gets read by my crit partners, I edit. I edit
once more and then I hit send.
when typing, The End?
Multiple
drafts. I plot, then I write out what I call a scene guide, so 1 paragraph per
scene. At this stage I’m busy moving bits around, and making sure the story
works. Then I start writing. It gets read by my crit partners, I edit. I edit
once more and then I hit send.
4. What advice do you have for other writers?
Read
lots, and read widely.
Read
lots, and read widely.
5. What was the most exciting thing that happened to you
after you signed your contract – besides receiving your first check as a
published author?
Being
at events like RT and ARRC in Australia and having people say how much they
love my books. On the inside I’m always ‘OMG they’ve read my book!’
after you signed your contract – besides receiving your first check as a
published author?
Being
at events like RT and ARRC in Australia and having people say how much they
love my books. On the inside I’m always ‘OMG they’ve read my book!’
6. What was the defining moment that you considered yourself
an author?
I was made redundant during the GFC and in the time I was unemployed I started
really working on my writing and treating like a job, I then started selling. I
think that first sale cemented in my mind that I could do this.
an author?
I was made redundant during the GFC and in the time I was unemployed I started
really working on my writing and treating like a job, I then started selling. I
think that first sale cemented in my mind that I could do this.
7. With so many changes in publishing over the past year,
where do you see the future of publishing going?
I
don’t know where it’s going, but as long as readers keep wanting books to read
then there will still be a publishing industry.
where do you see the future of publishing going?
I
don’t know where it’s going, but as long as readers keep wanting books to read
then there will still be a publishing industry.
8. What makes a man attractive to you?
Nice
smile and eyes, honesty, good attitude.
Nice
smile and eyes, honesty, good attitude.
Ruby’s Ghost — Breaking up is hard to survive.
One moment, Tate Cooper is giving his ex-girlfriend a lift home on his
motorcycle. The next, his soul is suspended between life and death, wandering
in confusion between the accident scene and the house he grew up in.
motorcycle. The next, his soul is suspended between life and death, wandering
in confusion between the accident scene and the house he grew up in.
Except it’s not his home anymore. In his old bedroom sleeps a beautiful
young woman, the only person who can see him. And the only person who can keep
him from succumbing to the temptation to escape the horrific pain awaiting him
in his mortal body.
young woman, the only person who can see him. And the only person who can keep
him from succumbing to the temptation to escape the horrific pain awaiting him
in his mortal body.
Eloise Jones should be studying for her college exams, but it’s tough to
stay focused when a lost soul keeps appearing in her room. She figures it must
have something to do with sirens she heard screaming in the night, but she’s
helpless to assist—and helpless to resist.
stay focused when a lost soul keeps appearing in her room. She figures it must
have something to do with sirens she heard screaming in the night, but she’s
helpless to assist—and helpless to resist.
As Eloise tries to help Tate unravel the tangled facts surrounding the accident,
longing and desire grow into an almost tangible bond between them. But then a
second spirit appears, one with a darker intent that could separate them before
love draws its first breath…
longing and desire grow into an almost tangible bond between them. But then a
second spirit appears, one with a darker intent that could separate them before
love draws its first breath…
Warning: Contains a vengeful ex and a romance that crosses the boundary
between life and death.
between life and death.
Shona’s
Bio:
Bio:
Three time ARRA finalist Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the
Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood
making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked
back. Drawing on history and myth, she weaves new worlds and writes heroes who
aren’t afraid to get hurt while falling in love.
Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood
making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked
back. Drawing on history and myth, she weaves new worlds and writes heroes who
aren’t afraid to get hurt while falling in love.
With stories ranging
from sensual to scorching, she is published with Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave,
Samhain Publishing and Sourcebooks. You can find out more at www.shonahusk.com
from sensual to scorching, she is published with Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave,
Samhain Publishing and Sourcebooks. You can find out more at www.shonahusk.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/lySiD
Shona loves to hear from
readers so drop her a line at shona@shonahusk.com
readers so drop her a line at shona@shonahusk.com
Thank you hosting me at your blog 🙂