JQ Rose on Tuesday Author Chats

Help me welcome JQ Rose to Tuesday Author Chats. She and I connected through MuseItUp Publishing, but now have both gone on other ways. This year JQ pulled together a really neat writing book, and I was pleased she asked me to be a part of that. Here’s the link for Romance And Mystery Authors on Writing http://amzn.to/1QHRNeK

No more delays let’s hear from JQ to get to know her and her new release, which I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed.

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I’m so happy we connected, Marsha. Thank you for hosting me today on the Deadly Undertaking Book Blog Tour.

Where are you from and did you always want to be a writer? Did you do something else before your writing career?I’m originally from Central Illinois, but now live in Michigan in the summer and Florida in the winter. Yes, I have always wanted to be a writer, but life kind of got in the way of achieving that goal for many years. I began writing stories in second grade because my mother was my classroom teacher. I was a bit of a social butterfly and would often get in trouble talking to everyone. So to keep my mom happy and myself out of trouble, when I finished my assignments I penned stories (“penciled” in second grade) during my free time. I loved escaping into my imaginary world more than talking to my classmates. Now that’s saying something!

I taught third grade when we were first married. I thought I would put a hold on teaching to raise my daughter and then return to teaching. Instead, my husband and I moved our baby girl and our household to Michigan to become owners of a floral shop and greenhouses. I learned floral arranging and floundered around a bit to figure out how to be a good manager for our employees. (I never felt like I achieved the art of being a boss.) After nineteen years, we sold the business and lived full-time in our RV. I began my writing career as a freelance writer at the kitchen table in the RV.

Do you have any special time management tricks for working in writing time and living a “normal” life? At this stage of my life, I don’t hold down a job, so I’m free to schedule my writing time and family time the way that works out best for all of us.

What is the best advice you’ve received about this journey? Keep writing. Even when you don’t feel inspired to write, get something down on the paper/screen. You can’t edit a blank page.

What do you wish you’d known before you began? The real “work” of a writer comes after a book contract is signed—the marketing. Writers love to write and that is truly a joy. Marketing is a job.

What process do you use? Are you more of a plotter or pantser? I’m a plotter. I need to plan from the beginning to the ending or at least think that’s the ending. Things change in the writing. I thought my main character, Lauren, in Deadly Undertaking, was going to fall in love with the gorgeous detective with the cobalt blue eyes. I hope I don’t spoil the story when I reveal she doesn’t.

What sources do you use for inspiration? (Music, movies, people watching, etc.) I get a lot of inspiration from news stories. In Coda to Murder, the minister has to take over the care of a pig and a kangaroo when these pets’ owners lose their camper in an explosion. That’s a true story that was in the news. Deadly Undertaking includes issues in the news today such as the legalization of recreational marijuana.

What’s next for you? After the promotion blog tour for Deadly Undertaking finishes up at the end of the year, I hope to outline a year in my life and write a memoir about that difficult first year of moving to a town of strangers with our baby and learning the flower business. Hoo-boy. That year was the most challenging year of my life. Marketing/promotion of my books is always a constant project.

Now for the fun stuff.

 What do you do when you aren’t writing? Play a board game, Pegs and Jokers, with friends and family, take photos of nature, family, garden, food, camp during the summer with our family, grandparenting (not babysitting because our grandkids are now 6-15 years old), travel to new places and favorite places.

If you could only eat three foods what would they be and why? Only 3? Anything chocolate, pizza, and roast beef with carrots and potatoes (pot roast)

What would you like to do other than writing if talent/skill didn’t matter? Since you added if talent/skill doesn’t matter, I would like to be an entertainer like Carol Burnett. She makes people so happy.

Where is your favorite vacation spot and why? It seems I’m a bit capricious when it comes to choosing a favorite vacation spot. Perhaps it’s because I don’t like to return to the same place every year, but rather experience new areas. I loved our trip to Alaska. This year we went to Nova Scotia and I dearly loved the Cabot trail area, as well as the shoreline of this neat Canadian province. I guess I like the adventure of taking off in a rental car and exploring the area with just my husband and me. My favorite place used to be Mackinac Island in Michigan. We visited there again in summer 2014. It has become commercialized and lost some of its charm. However the nine mile bike ride along the shoreline and the Victorian homes are still magical.

Please share the blurb, an excerpt from your most recent release, book cover, and tell us where we can find you.

Back of the Book:

Lauren Staab knew there would be dead bodies around when she returned home. After all, her family is in the funeral business, Staab and Blood Funeral Home. Still, finding an extra body on the floor of the garage between the hearse and the flower car shocked her. Lauren’s plan to return to her hometown to help care for her mother and keep the books for the funeral home suddenly turns upside down in a struggle to prove she and her family are not guilty of murdering the man. But will the real killer return for her, her dad, her brother? Her mother’s secrets, a killer, a handsome policeman, and a shadow man muddle up her intention to have a simple life.

Welcome home, Lauren!

Amazon http://amzn.to/1Lu6GxI

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1Gz1utF

Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1H72tvV

Books We Love Bookstore http://store.payloadz.com/go/?id=2395820

(Books We Love is having a BOGO sale through the holidays. Buy one book and the second of equal or lower price is FREE. Books run $2.99.)

About J.Q.

After writing feature articles in magazines, newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years, J.Q. Rose entered the world of fiction. Her published mysteries are Sunshine Boulevard, Coda to Murder, and Deadly Undertaking. Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She and her husband, Gardener Ted spend winters in Florida and summers up north camping and hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with her four grandsons and granddaughter.

Connect with J.Q. Rose online at

J.Q. Rose blog http://www.jqrose.com/

Facebook http://facebook.com/jqroseauthor

Google+ google.com/+JQRose

1. Q. Rose Amazon Author Page http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/janetglaser/

Excerpt—Opening Scene: Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose

“Lauren, quick, call 9-1-1, there’s a dead body out here in the garage!”

Dad and his bad jokes. This is a funeral home. Of course there’s a body here.

“Lauren, did you hear me? Call 9-1-1.”

Hearing the urgency in his voice, Lauren grabbed her cell phone from the desk, kicked off her high heels, and ran toward the garage.

Lauren skidded to a stop in the doorway. A man lay sprawled face down in a pool of blood on the garage floor between the black funeral coach and SUV. Her father looked up and shook his head. Bile rose to her throat, and she turned away from the ghastly scene.

Trying to steady her hands long enough to punch in 9-1-1, she breathed deeply and squeezed her eyes shut to block the image from her mind.

“What is your emergency?” a nasal voice on the phone asked.

“There’s a man in our garage. I think he’s dead.” Her voice sounded unusually loud and high pitched.

“What’s your name and location?”

“Lauren Staab, Staab and Blood Funeral Home, 405 East Main Street.”

“Is this a joke? If this is a prank call, there are serious consequences, Ma’am.”

“No, no. It’s true. There’s a dead man on the floor of our garage.” Lauren’s stomach churned. “Hurry, call the police.” She knew she was going to be sick. “Get the police here now!” Clamping her hand over her mouth, she raced for the other side of the funeral coach.

Marsha, thank you so much for hosting me on the Deadly Undertaking Blog Tour. Readers, you’re invited to enter the Rafflecopter drawing for prizes during the tour November 12-25. Find the Rafflecopter and the blog tour schedule at the Contest page on the J.Q. Rose blog. http://www.jqrose.com/p/get-in-on-fun-j.html Good luck!