Roseanna M White Author Spotlight

It is my pleasure to do an author spotlight with one of my VERY favorite authors. I hope to share with everyone why you need to check out her books, all of them! There isn’t one of them I haven’t loved. The cover picture shows the new covers on her first published book and it’s sequel. Aren’t they beautiful? A Stray Drop of Blood is a PERFECT book to read during the Easter season because part of it takes place DURING the FIRST “Easter” long ago. It is powerful and will touch your heart, as it did mine.

Let me introduce you to Roseanna!

Roseanna, thank you so much for taking the time to share more about you with our readers. I love books so much and when I find an author that touches my heart the way your writing does, I just want to share it with the world.

I so appreciate you, Terri!

We’ve been friends for over a decade (maybe more!) so I personally know quite a bit about how you got started writing. Can you share a bit about that for those who don’t know?

Where have those years gone?? Yeah, so I started writing when I in first grade, and I haven’t stopped since. =) I finished my first novel at age 13 (the book that eventually became The Lost Heiress, my Christy Award nominee). I wrote all through high school and college and published my first book with the company my husband launched, WhiteFire Publishing. Since then, I’ve worked with publishers like Guideposts, Harvest House, and Bethany House, as well as more titles with WhiteFire as we built that company too.

The Lost Heiress is ONE of my favorites! I could NOT put that down when I started reading it. I am so glad you finally got it where you were ready to share it with the world. A Stray Drop of Blood was your FIRST book published and is being re-published with a bit of a change. I’m looking forward to getting my copy because the original captured my heart all those years ago. It was the first book of yours I ever read and I was hooked from that moment on! Can you tell us what has changed from the first publication to this one?

Sure! The story is the same as it was in 2009 (though that version, which is the one you read, was a re-write of our first 2005 hardback version). All that’s changed is typo-correction (LOL) and the addition of some Bonus Content at the back. Specifically, I’ve added a Companion Guide with information on the history, the books I reference, the languages, and other historical or writing-related tidbits that readers have found interesting over the years.

OH, I’m so glad you added the bonus content! I loved all the extra information you provided on your website for that one AND for Jewel of Persia! I love to find out the background and research info that you gather, especially in the biblical fiction you write. It is amazing how you weave facts throughout your books.

You do so much more than JUST write books, although, I would never REALLY mean that word “just” because your books are at the top of my list of favorites in my library. But what I find fascinating is how they ALL fit into the world of reading. Can you share those and tell us why you enjoy it?

Absolutely! The book industry is very much my life. I do homeschool my kids—using a literature-based curriculum, of course—which takes up a lot of my time (just realized I’m halfway through my homeschooling career though!). I’m an editor for WhiteFire Publishing (that company my hubby started) and also handle a lot of the title setup and promotion for our books, which now number over 100. And my other job (because 3 isn’t enough??) is book cover designer. I design all of WhiteFire’s covers and also do freelance work for other authors.

I, too, homeschool (my youngest graduates in seven weeks but I now teach my grandchildren) and use literature-based curriculum. It has made all the difference in how my kids learn. I’ve also learned more teaching them this way than I ever learned in school growing up. I think that is why I love historical fiction so much. I actually learn history when the author takes the time to get the facts correct on the things that are important, like you.

You live in a part of the US with great beauty and history. You’ve actually used it in some of your books, haven’t you?

A little bit, yes! I do live within easy reach of a lot of American history sites on the East Coast. My American-set books have been in New York, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Virginia—all places I can get to easily; I attended college in Annapolis, so the book set there was a bit like coming home. In one of my Culper Ring Series books, Circle of Spies, I even brought the action up the railroad to my hometown, which was super fun! Most of my books, however, are set in England.

I learned so much about history that I didn’t know from your Culper Ring Series! So fun!

Which genre do you enjoy writing most, era?

Definitely historical fiction, and I love a strong romance or love story. But I have a hard time picking an era—I just adore history!! I’m quite content to stick with my Edwardian/WWI era books for a while though. It’s nice to already have the foundation of knowledge and just add bits and pieces to it for each book, instead of diving into a whole new decade or century every time.

Historical fiction is my favorite to read. But I do enjoy the many different kinds. Are you planning on doing any more biblical fiction? I loved Jewel of Persia and how you wove actual historical fact into your story.

Oh yes! I have a whole list of ideas of biblical stories! So many, in fact, that I have no idea which I’ll work on next, when I have the time. A sequel to Jewel of Persia? Another Visibullis book? Or that one about Melchizedek that I’ve had swimming around in my head for years? Who knows, LOL.

I can’t wait!!! What book series do you have coming out next? And when?

Next up is The Codebreakers, about the intelligence gatherers of World War I in England, which begins in June with The Number of Love. So excited for this book! The heroine is a mathematician and codebreaker, with SUCH a unique voice! And the hero is field agent—action to her deliberation. Love how it turned out!

I’m looking forward to that! It sounds really fun and lots of action to keep us on our toes. Here’s a big one…WHY do you write? And WHY do you write Christian fiction? I think this is important for readers to know.

I’ve long said that words are the air I breathe. I have to write—that’s non-negotiable. As for why I write what I do… Well, to be honest, I tried my hand at some mainstream books when I was in college, and I love what I learned through writing them. But when it came down the whether I would submit them anywhere, I didn’t feel I could. I want my work not just to glorify God, but to point to Him. I want my books to minister to hearts and souls. For me, writing isn’t just a job or even a love—it’s a calling and a ministry. So I’ve focused all my efforts since then on writing the books that God gives me that will bring Him glory and help to show small bits of His Truth to this hurting world. Most of my books are aimed at Christian readers, with the hope that they will help them see God amidst their trials, deepen their faith, and relish—as I do—the beauty of the words He gives us to communicate.

Your love for the Lord and for your books shines through in your writing. Your characters feel alive to me and it is very hard to put the book down for wondering what is going on in their lives next. I know I tell you ALL the time but…never stop writing! Keep them coming because they are my favorites!

Awww, thanks so much, Terri! And no worries—as long as God keeps giving me stories and the capacity to put them on the page, I’m going to keep churning them out!

Roseanna, thank you so much for taking the time to tell us a little more about yourself and your writing. I hope this helps others find your books so they can love them as much as I do.

**If you are interested in finding out MORE about Roseanna, you can check out her website here. There is a BOOKS tab where you can see all of the books she has written. You can also check out her blog here.

WhiteFire Publishing and WhiteSpark are their publishing companies. WhiteSpark is the young reader division of Whitefire Publishing.