Roseanna M White ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

**The details for this giveaway are a little different, so please read the directions at the bottom of this post.

Today author Roseanna M White is telling us about her new book, Jewel of Persia (ebook- January 2011, print- June 2011). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Roseanna! Please tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a young mom with two small children, aged 5 and nearly 3, who keep me hopping. We just began homeschooling in August, which is a whole new experience to add to our daily life, too! My family makes our home in the mountains of Western Maryland, where my hubby runs quite a few businesses, including WhiteFire Publishing, where I'm the editor. We also run the Christian Review of Books. And, when possible, I squeeze writing in there. =)

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I grew up in the church from about the time I was 5. It was a way of life for me, one I took seriously. I didn't have any huge experience, but I remember saying the sinner's prayer in Children's Church when I was 6 or 7, along with everyone else. And I meant it. My faith has grown and has had its challenges as time went by, but I never for a moment doubted that those words I muttered under my breath were what made me who I am.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Oh dear. I'd like to be scheduled, but I've discovered that's a tough one with my kiddos. So I've learned to seize whatever moments I can, whenever I can. I never would have thought I could write a book in ten minute increments, but I do much of my word count that way these days!

Stubborn, or compliant?
Both? LOL. I'm compliant more often than not, but that doesn't mean I don't stubbornly cling to the muttered, “But I'm right . . .” on occasion. ;-)

Organized or completely chaotic?
Err, unfortunately I tend toward chaotic. I really wish I didn't. So if anyone wants to volunteer to be my housekeeper, for the starting salary of a lot of smiles and laughter, contact me at . . . ;-)

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Hmm . . . the big things I can usually handle with grace and patience—it's the little things that drive me crazy, LOL. For some reason, the story that leaps to mind first is concerning a lamp. My great-grandfather collected oil lamps, and when he died I asked if I could have one sitting on his desk. It's probably from about the Civil War era, and is sooooo gorgeous, complete with chimney and globe. When my husband and I moved to a townhouse after college, I took special care to pack it and carried it with me in the car, observing how it was probably the most valuable piece we owned. I gave it the position of honor on the mantel in the spare room.

A couple months later a friend came to visit, and his suitcase bumped into the fireplace, jostling the mirror behind the lamp, which fell over and brought the lamp down with it. I knew as soon as I heard the crash what had happened, and hubby and I rushed in. My first reaction was, “Rob, are you okay?” And as he launched into profuse apologies, I kept assuring him that it was just a “thing,” and that as long as he wasn't hurt, it was fine. (As it happens, only the globe part broke, and it wasn't original anyway. The main part of the lamp was fine.) I decided at that point that I was ready to have kids, LOL.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
My best trait is that I'm not a worrier. My sister must have gotten my worry genes, because seriously. I just CAN'T worry about stuff. Of course, that can also translate into my worst trait, because I tend to neglect stuff that ought not be neglected, and I occasionally fear I'll shrug off something that turns out to be crucial.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
From the ages of 20-24, I had hair down to my butt. It's fairly short now, so people are usually shocked to realize that. =) I always said I'd cut it when I got tired of it but not until (other than trims), and that's exactly what I did.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
I'm most often compared (by others—I would never dare make this comparison myself!) to Francine Rivers. Given the nature of my Biblical fiction and my attempt to keep things true to the time and give an accurate view of life for the women I write about, it does sometimes border on edgy. In JEWEL OF PERSIA my heroine is married early in the book, so though I make sure to keep the heat level appropriate for Christian readers, there is certainly kissing, and other, ahem, intimate issues are alluded to without being explicit. Still, given the topics that arise I would rate it between PG and PG-13, with the understanding that it's never explicit, just an issue for my characters to deal with.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
Right now I'm working on a story set in 1784 Annapolis, during that brief span of time when it was the nation's capital. Once I finish that up for the editor who has it penciled into her 2012 schedule (vague because nothing's in writing yet, LOL), I'll probably try to finish up a contemporary romantic suspense I've been working on, or else start on the sequel to JEWEL OF PERSIA that my publisher keeps hinting about.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I absolutely LOVE chatting with readers! I welcome emails at roseanna (at) roseannawhite (dot) com, through the contact page at my website, www.RoseannaMWhite.com, messages on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/roseanna.white), or comments on my blog at http://www.roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/

Book blurb:

How can she love the king of kings without forsaking her Lord of lords?

Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with more siblings than luxuries. But when a chance encounter forces her to the palace of Xerxes, she becomes a concubine to the richest man in the world. She alone, of all Xerxes' wives, loves the man beneath the crown. She alone, of all his wives, holds the heart of the king of kings.

Traveling with Xerxes through Europe as he mounts a war against Greece, Kasia knows enemies surround her, but they’re not the Spartans or Athenians. The threat lies with those close to the king who hate her people. She determines to put her trust in Jehovah—even if it costs her her marriage.

Years of prayers are answered when Kasia's childhood friend arrives at the palace after the war, but even as she determines to see Esther crowned in place of the bloodthirsty former queen, she knows the true battle is far from over. How far will her enemies go to see her undone?

Combining the biblical account of Esther with Herodotus's HISTORIES, JEWEL OF PERSIA is the story of a love that nearly destroys an empire . . . and the friendship that saves a nation.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?

 

When I was searching for actresses to play Kasia, I decided that Moran Atias is the closest—but I have to say that the young woman we found to be the cover model captures her even better. The model, Perla, is the friend of a friend and at first thought said friend was crazy when she asked her if she wanted to be a model for a book cover, LOL. Thankfully, it was fully explained and she agreed. But if we were making a movie, Moran would suffice. ;-)

 

I've yet to find the perfect Xerxes, but Oded Fehr comes close—his face is good, but I think he needs to be taller. (Always the critic, LOL.) And of course, I loved him in the Mummy movies. ;-)

 

For Esther I would pick Emmy Rossum, who has that something-sweet I ascribe to the queen.

 

For Kasia's brother Zechariah, I'd go with Wentworth Miller. Mostly because he's got the build. ;-)

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
http://www.roseannawhite.com/index.php/books/jewel_of_persia/first_chapter/

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I do, as a matter of fact. ;-) Because Ancient Persia is such a rich but foreign society for us, I took the time to put together a Companion Guide to go along with JEWEL OF PERSIA. It not only gives some background about the society and the war that plays a huge role in the story, it has lots of fun pictures and details where fact ends and fiction begins in my version of events. You can find it at http://www.roseannawhite.com/index.php/books/jewel_of_persia/companion_guide/



Okay readers, here is your chance to win a copy of Jewel of Persia! Roseanna has offered this: if you're an e-reader fan, I'll send you a digital, which obviously can't be autographed;-) But if you'd like a paperback, I'll put you on a list to get one the moment my copies arrive (around June), and those will indeed be signed and personalized.

So, for this giveaway, you must specify which version you would like to win. :)


TO ENTER:


*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.


*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.


*Here are the ways to get entries:


(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.


+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.


Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 In Every Heartbeat
+2 Within My Heart


**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**


*The contest will run from today (January 7) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (January 13). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 14th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.


Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, for print version. See below for details**