Interview with Rosey Lee and a $15 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! This week, I am so happy to introduce you to Rosey Lee. Rosey has two books that contain flash fiction – and I have to say that super impresses me. I’ve written flash fiction for a magazine and it was HARD to tell an entire story with characters in under 1000 words. To do it enough for two books is incredible. Rosey is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card. Read on to see how you can enter to win!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, and thank you for hosting me on your blog. I’m from the Westbank of New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s a suburban area on the west bank of the Mississippi River. I grew up with one side of my family very close by, the other side just a few hours away, and a very supportive church family. Family is very important to me, so my stories involve all sorts of families — the ones people are born into as well as the ones they create. I like writing stories with relatable issues, but I also aim for them to be encouraging. My author’s tagline is “Uplifting stories with a little bit of hope, faith, and love”. I enjoy cooking, flower arranging, listening to live music, and occasional bursts of fanatical bargain shopping.

Tell us about your current release. I wrote a series of flash fiction stories called Beautiful, Complicated Family. Flash fiction is a type of short story. It appeals to avid readers as well as those with busy schedules who only have small amounts of free time for reading. Each story in the collection is 1000 words or less, so most people can read each of them in about 5 minutes.

The stories in the collection capture struggles that are common in today’s families — secrets, mother-daughter conflicts, coping with aging family members, and a more subtle question of what makes a family. The issues will seem familiar to readers, but there are unexpected twists when you least expect them. There are also laughs and sometimes tears along the way. The collection has two volumes, each with five stories. Beautiful, Complicated Family: Volume 1 is FREE in the US on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, and Kobo (prices may vary outside the US), and readers can subscribe to my website to get Beautiful, Complicated Family: Volume 2 for FREE.

If you knew ahead of time your book would benefit only one person on their spiritual journey, would you still write it? I absolutely would! My writing is part of my service to God. If it was His will for my stories to benefit only one person’s spiritual journey, I have every confidence that they would be used in a powerful way in that person’s life. That makes it worth it. I trust that my work would play into God’s bigger plan.

With all those characters in your head screaming to get out how do you write fast enough to get it all down? Great question! I’ve built a “character hotel” for them. I write notes as soon as I get an idea about a character, and sometimes I look for an inspiration image on Pinterest to go with it. Then the characters live in the theoretical hotel until I’m ready for them. Sometimes I group them with other characters for a story that’s already percolating in my head. Other times, I sort through my files and choose characters when I decide to come up with a new story.

How did you determine whether to self-publish or seek a traditional publisher? I planned this flash fiction collection as a way for readers to get to know me and my work, so I always intended to self-publish it.

Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever had a great writing idea? I’m working on a novel, and I got the idea for it while walking around Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. I had just walked onto the property when the idea popped in my head, so I don’t think the location had anything to do with it. I feel like God just dropped the idea into my head. I really can’t take any credit for it. It was a divinely ordered light bulb moment.

Which of your characters most reflects your personality? There’s a little bit of me in every character. It’s funny that my family and friends read my stories and say, “This is so you!” Someone says that for every story, which really tickles me.

Here is where you can find Rosey online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Rosey is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card (Amazon or book vendor of winner’s choice) to a reader! See below how to enter to win:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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41 comments

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    • Deanna Jennings on March 4, 2020 at 14:04
    • Reply

    You’re books so very sweet

    1. Thank you! I REALLY appreciate that! 🙂

    • Phronsie Howell on March 4, 2020 at 14:22
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    Flash fiction sounds like a really good way to write! Especially if you’re just getting started. It reminds me of older writers who would do serial stories (is that what they’re called?) published in weekly magazines or newspapers. Are any of your stories connected, or are they standalone?

      • Rosey Lee on March 4, 2020 at 16:52
      • Reply

      Yes, serial stories. That’s right!
      I enjoy writing flash fiction. It’s been a great way to ease me into writing. Most of my stories are standalone, but there’s a story in volume 1 that’s connected to a story in volume 2. The story in volume 2 is really fun.

  1. This was a great interview with great questions. I love the concept of the character hotel. I would love to be a fly on the way when all of the characters begin talking to each other. I am looking forward to more flash stories. Nothing like family!

      • Rosey Lee on March 4, 2020 at 18:18
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      Thank you! Oh, the conversations in the character hotel are definitely entertaining! 🙂

    • Jean Volk on March 4, 2020 at 16:17
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    You’re still a new author for me Rosey but I have been following you on FB and twitter. I really loved this interview, I got to know more about you.

      • Rosey Lee on March 4, 2020 at 19:21
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      Yes! Hi Jean! I appreciate your support. And thanks for the feedback on the interview too!

    • Trudy on March 4, 2020 at 16:43
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    I’ve never heard of Flash Fiction! The books sound good, though!

      • Rosey Lee on March 4, 2020 at 19:24
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      Thank you! I hope the interview has piqued your interest and you’ll give flash fiction a try. 🙂

    • Rosey Lee on March 4, 2020 at 16:50
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    Yes, serial stories. That’s right!
    I enjoy writing flash fiction. It’s been a great way to ease me into writing. Most of my stories are standalone, but there’s a story in volume 1 that’s connected to a story in volume 2. The story in volume 2 is really fun.

    • Lisa Stillman on March 4, 2020 at 17:10
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    Do any of your characters try to jump into a story that you hadn’t planned for them to be in?

      • Rosey Lee on March 4, 2020 at 18:22
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      What a good question! So far, that hasn’t happened in any of my flash fiction stories, but it’s happened in the novel I’m writing. I do a brief outline of the novel before I start writing, so I have an idea of what should happen in the scene. But there have been a couple instances in which a character ends up in the scene but I hadn’t planned it that way. I’ve loved the end result, so I just go with it.

    • bn100 on March 4, 2020 at 23:33
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    interesting writing info

      • Rosey Lee on March 5, 2020 at 18:36
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      Thank you for sharing! 🙂

    • Nerlande on March 4, 2020 at 23:45
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    I have never heard of flash fiction before but this book sounds interesting

      • Rosey Lee on March 5, 2020 at 18:37
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      Thank you! I hope you’ll give it a try. 🙂

    • Calvin on March 5, 2020 at 01:47
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    Neat book, first time learning about this. Great interview!

      • Rosey Lee on March 5, 2020 at 18:39
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      Thanks a bunch! It’s always fun to introduce readers to flash fiction.

  2. I LOVE that “Uplifting stories with a little bit of hope, faith, and love” We all need a little more of that in our lives! Day to day, trying to find a positive thought from negative situations becomes more difficult every day!

    I love these small interviews that allow us to get to know the authors a little better!

      • Rosey Lee on March 5, 2020 at 18:41
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      Thank you! Yes, I feel the same. That’s exactly why I chose the writing focus and slogan. We all need help with focusing on the positive. 🙂

      1. I’m at a place in my life where I try a little harder each day to turn negative stuff into positive solutions. Not always an easy task. Thank you for the Gift card!!

          • Rosey Lee on March 17, 2020 at 16:15
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          You’re right. It’s not easy, but those are words to live by. You’re welcome! Enjoy! 🙂

    • Paula Marie on March 5, 2020 at 13:32
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    This sounds so interesting!

      • Rosey Lee on March 5, 2020 at 18:41
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      Thank you! 🙂

    • Caryl Kane on March 5, 2020 at 20:44
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    Hey Rosey! It’s a pleasure “meeting” you! Do you see yourself venturing outside flash fiction in the future or do you feel that its’s your niche?

      • Rosey Lee on March 5, 2020 at 23:06
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      Hi Caryl! It’s a pleasure “meeting” you too! 🙂
      Great question! I’ve always planned to write novels but fell in love with flash along the way. I’m working on my first novel now. It’s been quite an undertaking, but I feel very blessed to finally see it start to come together.

    • Sonnetta Jones on March 5, 2020 at 22:08
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    Rose it is nice to meet you. Isn’t God great directing you where He wants you to go.

      • Rosey Lee on March 5, 2020 at 23:08
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      Yes! He really is. It’s so amazing to see His plans come together.
      And it’s nice to meet you too, Sonnetta. 🙂

    • Ann on March 5, 2020 at 23:05
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    “Fanatical bargain shopping”– I love it! 🙂 …I think it’s fantastic that this is a collection of flash fiction. I wish that more people knew about this type of writing, and that more writers would explore or try their hand at it!

      • Rosey Lee on March 6, 2020 at 11:56
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      Thank you! I’m trying to spread the word about flash fiction.

      And I LOVE bargain shopping! Sometimes I buy things for myself. Sometimes it’s a gift, but I also buy things throughout the year for donations (like Angel Tree or other Christmastime donations). That way I get my shopping fun without the guilt. 🙂

  3. Terrific interview. Sounds like a good read. Thanks for the chance.
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      • Rosey Lee on March 8, 2020 at 15:15
      • Reply

      Thank you! 🙂

  4. I love flash fiction. It gives me something to read without sucking me into a book for hours, and with how busy life can be, it’s nice to have a little something here and there to read that isn’t a whole book.
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      • Rosey Lee on March 11, 2020 at 15:41
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      Agreed! 🙂

    • Celeste Herrin on March 10, 2020 at 16:19
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    I didn’t know about flash fiction until now! Where have I been? Maybe I can finally enjoy reading again! This is ideal for busy Moms that can’t find time to devote to an entire book, but still love to read. I can’t wait to start with yours first!

      • Rosey Lee on March 11, 2020 at 15:43
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      Thanks so much for your comment. It highlights one of my favorite things about flash! And thanks for your interest in my book. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

    • Tricia on March 10, 2020 at 19:25
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    This is the first time I have heard of you as an author. I love to read though and I am excited to read my first book of yours.

      • Rosey Lee on March 11, 2020 at 15:44
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      Thank you! I’m always excited to to connect with new readers. I hope you enjoy my book! 🙂

    • Mya Murphy on March 10, 2020 at 20:41
    • Reply

    I loved learning about you and about flash fiction.. I am super stoked on reading this!

      • Rosey Lee on March 11, 2020 at 15:44
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      Thanks a bunch, Mya! I hope you enjoy my stories. 🙂

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