EQ Welcomes Rosemary Morris
Rosemary: First of all, thank you
for inviting me to be your guest.
EQ: Welcome to EQ!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Rosemary:
I was born in 1940 in Sidcup, Kent, England. As a child, when I was not making
up stories, my head was ‘always in a book.’
While
working in a travel agency, I met my Indian husband. He encouraged me to continue my education at
Westminster College. In 1961 I and my
husband, now a barrister, moved to his birthplace, Kenya, where I lived from
1961 until 1982. After an attempted coup
d’état, I and four of my children lived in an ashram in France.
Back
in England, I wrote historical fiction and after many rejections from agents and
publishers received my first acceptance. I am now proud to say that I am a
member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Historical Novel Society and
Watford Writers.
Apart
from writing, I enjoy classical Indian literature, reading, visiting places of
historical interest, vegetarian cooking, growing organic fruit, herbs and
vegetables and creative crafts.
My
bookshelves are so crammed with historical non-fiction which I use to research
my novels that if I buy a new book I have to consider getting rid of one.
Time
spent with my five children and their families, most of who live near me is
precious.
EQ:Tell us a little
bit about your most recent release.
Rosemary: While reading non-fiction about the Stuart kings and
queens of England, I became interested in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart, daughter
of James II, who was forced into exile, and niece of Charles II.
Few mainstream romantic novels are set in Queen Anne’s period,
during which trade with the east grew, the Act of Union with Scotland was
passed with far reaching consequences
including the present, and the Duke of Marlborough won the war of
Spanish Succession thus altering the history of Europe.
I am delighted because three of my novels set in Queen Anne’s
reign - 1702-1714 have been published. In each one I have recreated the social
customs, food, clothes, houses and much more. As a matter of fact, in the dark
of the night, I can almost hear the shelves of my bookcases groan due to the
weight of non-fiction books I bought for research.
While reading, I came across a belief that triggered the plot
and theme for The Captain and The Countess. Almost immediately, I saw Kate, Countess
of Sinclair and Captain Howard, a naval officer on half-pay, in my mind’s eye.
I then wrote notes which became the blurb on the back cover of the novel:-
“Why does heart-rending pain lurk in the back of the
wealthy Countess of Sinclair’s eyes?
Captain Howard’s life changes forever from the moment he
meets Kate, the intriguing Countess and resolves to banish her pain.
Although the air sizzles when widowed Kate, victim of an
abusive marriage meets Edward Howard, a captain in Queen Anne’s navy, she has
no intention of ever marrying again.
However, when Kate becomes better acquainted with the
Captain she realises he is the only man who understands her grief and can help
her to untangle her past.”
EQ: What made you
want to become a writer?
Rosemary: Ever since I can remember I have been blessed with
an exceptionally vivid imagination and a love of reading and history. The
pictures in my mind’s eye grew stronger and stronger. My world was peopled by
my powers of invention – by the age of seven everything around me became a
fictional character. In my thoughts, the magnificent lime tree at the end of
the road was a prince cursed by a wicked witch. In summer, roses on a
particular bush were a princess and her ladies-in-waiting. Actually, it’s
amazing that I ever reached school on time because there were so many potential
stories everywhere I looked, and to this day, I view the world around me
differently to most people.
My passion for history, historical fiction and tales set in
times past grew. The more I learned and read, the greater my desire to write
became. Unfortunately, I encountered many setbacks until, at long last, my
novel, Sunday’s Child was published.
EQ: Describe how you
create characters.
Rosemary: I have several pages of questions and answers which
define my main protagonists in detail. By the time I have completed them I know
my characters almost as well as members of my family. I know what they look like,
am familiar with their eccentricities, which music and perfume they prefer,
where they went to school, who are their parents, grandparents and siblings,
and what their horoscopes predict. Only a fraction of the information appears
my novels but it helps me to create well-rounded characters with good and bad
qualities. It also ensures they are of their time and not 21st
century people dressed in costume.
For important minor characters I have a single page of questions
and answers which help me to create believable people.
EQ: What is the
biggest risk you have taken in writing?
Rosemary: The choice of a period of history that many readers
are unfamiliar with is the biggest risk I have taken in writing. For example,
when I refer to Queen Anne, it has been assumed I am referring to either Anne
Boleyn or Anne of Cleeves – two of Henry VIII’s wives.
Novels by Rosemary Morris
Sunday’s
Child. A traditional sweet Regency Romance – e book (Amazon.
ASIN:B008B78VXM
False
Pretences A traditional sweet Regency Romance – e book (Amazon. ASIN:B008B78VXM
Tangled
Love set in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart e book (Amazon.ASIN:B007886ZNI
Far
Beyond Rubies set in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart – e book and paperback
(Amazon. B00BXHMHZK)
The
Captain and The Countess set in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart – e book
(Amazon. ASIN: BOOIJH56JQ
Rosemary Morris’s novels are also
available from:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore,
Barnes and Noble – Smashwords – Omnlit – Coffeetime Romance – All Romance and
elsewhere.
At the moment I am writing:-
1 comment:
Oh, Rosemary, I'd love to see those groaning shelves. You've had quite a fascinating life. I'm so happy to know you and to be able to call you a friend.
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