Learn to Think Critically About Your Writing: Author Interview with Naomi Rawlings

What inspired you to write that first novel? Did that one ever get published?
I had just had a miscarriage and was going through a really rough time. I started reading mainly because I was bored and needed a distraction, within a few months, I had read through all my friends books and had decided that I could write a better book than some of the ones I’d read, so I got out my dusty computer from college, put my not-so-dusty English degree to work, and wrote my first novel.

That novel was horrendous. It had words and chapters, but it wasn’t a novel in the true sense of having a cohesive story structure and character arcs. My second one was a little better, but still not very cohesive. My third novel was the one that ended up getting pulled from the slush pile at a publisher and being published.

What made you choose historical romance as your writing genre? 
I’ve always loved history and historical novels more than contemporary novels. There’s something about making a past era come to life in the minds of both myself and my readers that I just can’t resist.

Did you start with the idea of doing a series? Or did that come later?
The series idea came later. It first I mainly just tried to focus on the story ideas I felt the most passionate about sharing with others.

Your books are independently published. What’s the hardest part for you in publishing and marketing your own books?
I hire others to do the formatting and cover design. I would say the hardest part is knowing which editors to use. I put my novels through several rounds of editing, much like my books would get with a traditional publisher. When editors’ opinions conflict or I feel like an editor didn’t really understand my story or characters, it’s hard to know which direction to go and what changes need to be made to ultimately create the best experience for my readers.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
Starting and ending. It’s always hard to balance the right amount of grounding in detail and backstory with the forward movement of the story. When in doubt, I tend to cut the details and make choices that will hook readers in the story and keep the plot moving, but striking the right balance can be downright agonizing.

The ending is always hard too. Making sure all the story details are wrapped up in a nice pretty bow that leaves readers feeling satisfied is another thing that’s hard to balance. I always feel like it needs to be perfect so my readers will want to go on to the next book.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Though I suppose that’s good advice for live in general, not just writing. 😊

We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it.
I just keep going. There are a lot more options now than there were 15 years ago. Now if a book gets rejected by a publisher, an author can decide to self-publish it or split it up and serialize it for an email list or something else. If one door closes, it’s a lot easier to open another one.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
A lot of things. It’s hard to pick one. I guess I would say I’ve learned to tie in a book’s setting with the characters emotions and feelings. That’s a much more interesting way to pull readers into the setting than just writing straight description.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Find a critique group and join it. You learn so much faster when you are getting regular feedback on your own novels, plus learning to think critically about other people’s writing.

What is the next book coming out or your latest one? Can you give me a short synopsis?
It’s called Tomorrow’s Constant Hope.

The last thing a woman on the run needs is to find herself married to the richest rancher in Texas…
Keely O’Brien has spent the past five months on the run, but no matter what she does, she can’t seem to evade the ring of dangerous criminals that killed her brother in Chicago. When she spots an ad for a wife from the owner of a small ranch on a remote stretch of Texan desert, she knows she’s found the perfect hiding spot. The Wolf Point Ring might be searching far and wide for her, but they wouldn’t think to look in tiny, sun-scorched town of Twin Rivers, Texas. Now if she can just keep her new husband from finding out why she really married him…

Agamemnon “Wes” Westin’s feet might be firmly planted in West Texas soil, but his heart is running… Running from the loss of his first wife and stillborn daughter, and running from the fear of suffering loss again. Unfortunately, he has little choice about needing to marry, but he does have a choice about who he marries. If he has to share his roof with someone, he wants a woman who works hard and doesn’t complain. That’s why he decides to run an ad for a bride, claiming that he owns a small ranch, rather than the sprawling cattle empire he inherited from his father. After all, what woman is going to be upset when she finds out her husband is one of the richest men in Texas?

When Wes discovers Keely is hiding from criminals who want her dead, he can’t help but protect her—even if she’s irate with him for lying about the size of his ranch. When danger arrives in Twin Rivers, both Wes and Keely find themselves facing their deepest fears. Will they let their pain and past losses ruin their dreams? Or will Wes and Keely find a way to forge a new life together?

From jagged mountains and green river valleys, to cattle ranches and vivid sunsets, Tomorrow’s Constant Hope offers a meaningful story about simpler times, sincere faith, and learning to love again after loss.

That's all for today's interview with this powerhouse author. I hope the details of the new book piqued your interest as it did mine. If you'd like to learn more about Naomi's writing, here are some ways to do that.

Website: https://naomirawlingsbookstore.com/

Special bonus: Naomi is currently offering an  awesome 70% off deal on the ebook versions of her bestselling Eagle Harbor Series.  Here's the link for that: https://welcome.naomirawlingsbooks.com/special-offer/