Shelli Rosewarne

Hi all,

Well, it’s Friday and a day of rather a lot of unrest and upset in the UK. I am feeling very disappointed and worried, but shall perhaps chat more about that later. For now though, I’m cheered by the fact I have the fab Rhiannon Wellman visiting to chat about her latest release, The Lightson Dynasty.

 

Thanks for being here, Rhiannon. So, let’s start with you telling us a bit about yourself.

I find this question the hardest to answer whenever I’m asked. I’m never sure what I should say or what a reader would like to know. I’m 34, and wow that’s the first time I’ve had to write that number because it’s my birthday today. Writing is the third biggest passion in my life, after my husband and son. Writing has always been what I do to relax and de-stress, after all, I’m less likely to get arrested for murder for people who annoy/upset me if I only do it in a book.

Aside from a family and my writing, I have a full time job which I’m lucky enough to love which is always a bonus when you spend 13 hours at any one time there.

Aww, well Happy Birthday! Was there a specific moment where you first knew that you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always made up stories, I used to tell them to my teddies and dolls when I was a little girl. I struggled when I was growing up with dyslexia so reading on my own felt out of reach, so I made up my own. But as I found books that drew me in and didn’t let go until I finished reading no matter how long it took I fell in love with books and the need to create my own was born.

Do you have a particular writing routine, or any special rituals?

I will literally write anywhere. I’ve been known to write in the bath. I have apps on my phone, or I’ll write in an email to send to my laptop. I write in notebooks I have a tablet that I take if I’m doing a night shift to write in my break time. No special ritual or routine just as long as I have a way to do it I will write.

Tell us about the genre you write in, and what drew you to it.

I write over several genres but the common theme is romance. I’m a romantic at heart and love happy endings. Love in whatever form is special and should be celebrated.

Are there any particular authors or books that have really inspired you?

I love to read, and lots of writers have shaped me as a person. ‘The Famous Five’ because that’s what made me read in the first place. ‘The Narnia Chronicles’ because it sparked my imagination in a way other books hadn’t, I’d been on adventures with The Famous Five but always in a setting I could relate to in the sense that they were in the UK doing thing I’d done, go to the beach, picnics or bike riding. Ok not so much catching criminals and saving the day but still. With Narnia, it opened my eyes to other worlds and whole other spheres of possibilities.

As I grew up… ok got older, I discovered Terry Pratchett who taught me so much I wouldn’t have time to tell you all of it if I wrote a thousand words. Things like first thoughts are good but trust your second ones. Make sure you always have a second pair of socks and in the darkest of forests, you should not be afraid because you should be sure that you are the most scary think in it.

Then there’s Harry Potter, seven books with will live in my heart Always.

What five things could you never do without?

My Husband

My Son

My Cats

My books

My writing

In that order

Tell us a bit about your new release.

My newest release is The Lightson Dynasty, I loved writing this book. The first of a trilogy I wanted to talk about it because the second book will be out in the next month with the third coming very soon. Here’s the Blurb

Jo isn’t what he seems. Will his grandmother force him to live a life he doesn’t want, or can he figure a way out?

Jo’s life had never been simple. But since he moved in with his grandmother, things only became worse. First, she assumes that Jo stood for Josephine not Joseph. Then she believes all young women should be suitably married, especially her granddaughter, Jo…

So now Jo’s expected to marry a man he’s never met and whose own grandmother also wants the match. But how can he when he must protect his secret?

Marcus would rather spend time with his books and the gentlemen at his club than women, let alone marry one.

With both their grandmothers working against them, will they be able to find their way out of this potentially scandalous situation? After spending time together, will they want to?

Where did your inspiration for it come from?

That’s something I can’t answer, things pop into my head and make themselves comfortable, refusing to leave until I write them.

What did you find most enjoyable about writing it?

The misdirection, little bits of humor and generally allowing two people who thought they would never be able to have the love or relationships that others took for granted to find each other and fall in love and be happy.

Also interfering grandmothers who are far wiser than the younger people give them credit for.

What was the hardest part about writing it?

The language, because it’s a historical book I had to be careful of how everyone spoke. I couldn’t use contractions. Honestly you don’t realize how often you use them until you can’t any more, Just look I’ve just used five in this paragraph.

Who’s your favorite character in it? (I know, I know, favoritism!)

I think Jo would have to be my favorite because he was shown by his parents that he could be himself no matter that it meant he wore dresses rather than trousers. And he lived that way, he lived the way that made him happy, no matter what the consequences would have been if he’d been caught. Which back then would have been dire. That takes bravery. It’s a very brave person who knows and accepts themselves, we should all be so lucky.

Why should we run out and buy it right now? 

You mean you haven’t been intrigued enough by my little hints yet, hmm well. How about. The second book in the Lightson Dynasty is called The Lightson Child and is written and with my editor. There will be no long wait for part two, no need to wait to find out what happens next in the lives of our two heroes. Yes there is a third book in in the works which will be longer, it is half written though so that will be out by the end of the year.

I invite you to the lives and families of Jo and Marcus. Part of the family of people who live in my head. Come join my family.

If you want to get your hands on a copy the details are here:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lightsondynasty-2024798-160.html

And don’t forget to follow Rhiannon on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/RhiannonWellman/

Take care x