Her first novel, Knowing, debuted as a highly successful initial achievement. Knowing sold over 70,000 hardcover copies and over 400,000 paperbacks. It was a national best-seller and charted admirably on many book lists.
Rosalyn then followed the success of her first book with One Better, then Blue Collar Blues, The Flip Side of Sin. This Side of Eternity was Rosalyn’s fifth novel; the plot centered around the sanitation workers strike in 1968.
Rosalyn remains a loyal student of her profession by reading two to three hundred books a year. She feels that it’s imperative for an author to keep abreast of the New York Times best-sellers as well as fresh voices of fiction.
Currently, she lives in Memphis, TN, with her husband, John, where they relax fishing in their stocked pond.
Some of her favorite authors are John Sanford, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, John Grisham, Toni Morrison, Eric Jerome Dickey, Kimberla Lawson-Roby and Terry McMillan.
Charity Lavender Evans is a national best-selling author. She has not achieved the success of her sister, Lynzee Lavender, who is a New York Times best-selling science fiction author.
No matter how hard Charity tries, she is unable to get her contract renewed. It’s been seven years.
Lynzee drops a bomb on Charity, and tells her that her husband, Jett, is the father of the daughter she bore thirty-three years ago and gave up for adoption. Charity doesn’t believe her. She hires a private detective.
Charity finds out from her friend, Herman, that Lynzee had her blacklisted. Charity is appalled. Charity contacts Lynzee who denies it. Lynzee is still putting pressure on Charity to tell Jett the truth about his daughter. Charity is in total denial.
Without a contract renewal, Charity and Jett are forced to sell their dream home. Jett secures a job as an automobile salesman. Shortly thereafter, Charity gets a job as a car salesman, too, but still continues to write novels.
Charity’s hard work pays off and she gets a new contract. Eventually the book, “Revelations,” becomes a New York Times best seller. Revelations also exposes a part of Lynzee’s past that she’s embarrassed about. She files a five million dollar civil suit against Charity. Lynzee’s career and book sales plummet.
Jett eventually finds out about his daughter. He is furious at Charity for lying to him. Jett files for a divorce. Trying to define her life, as a wife, mother, sister, and writer, will cause Charity to make some drastic changes that will eventually make her a stronger woman. But Charity’s problems are not over. Someone is playing nasty tricks on her. She fears for her life. Jett and Charity debate if it’s his ex-lover or April who is trying to hurt her. Everyone is shocked to find out who it truly is.
How did you start out your writing career?
In 1992, on a dare from a co-worker. It was after the success of Terry's book Waiting to Exhale. I went home in January and started writing that night.
What did you learn while writing this book?
That a sister's love is unconditional.
What did you hope to accomplish with this book?
To show reader how deep sibling rivalry can reach.
Which character did you have the most fun writing about?
Lynzee. I love writing about villians.
How do you keep motivated to write?
I have a passion for writing. I have so many stories that I want to tell, it's not hard.
What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?
I love the plotting. I hate the editing process. It seems to take forever.
What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?
1. I wish I knew more about the business. 2. I wish I knew more about having a senior editor edit my books. 3. I wish I had known more about marketing my books from the beginning.
Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?
Do find an agent who believes in you and your work. Don't get your advance and not pay your income taxes. It will come back to haunt you.
What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?
How hard it is to write a good book. You need more than a good story. You need to know the mechanics of writing a book.
If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?
Scarlett, in Gone With the Wind.
When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to read four to five books a week.
What do you do to interact with your readers?
Speak to bookclubs on the telephone or on sykpe.
Our theme this month is Family Literacy. Do you do anything to promote family literacy?
I was just involved in a family literary fundraiser with the Memphis Grizzlies Coach Lionel Hollins.
Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?
I know that I'm a good mother and also a good writer.
Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?
My next book is a psychological thriller about a female serial killer.
How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)
They can e-mail me from my website: http://www.rosalynmcmillan.com/ at rosalynmcmillan@gmail.com
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1 comment:
Rosayln,
Thank you for being our featured author today. I'm looking forward to reading your book.
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