Interview Reneé Russell

by

Jacqueline McGuyer

1) How did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was in junior high school I was a major bookworm--and still am. I loved that reading could take you to different cities, different countries, the past and the future. I wanted to be able to do that too.

2) What has been your biggest struggle as a writer?

Trying to find time to write. I schedule myself for at least one hour each weekday evening and 2-3 hours Saturday and Sunday, but it always seems like something comes up. Getting published is another big struggle since the market it so tight these days. Lots of really good books aren't getting published because the publishers have limited slots available.

3) What are you doing to overcome that struggle?

Each time I have to give up scheduled writing time, I promise myself to make it up--and usually manage to succeed to an extent. With the publishing part, I can only write the best book I'm capable of and hope someone falls in love with it.

4) What inspires you most?

That's hard to say. I suppose it would be the desire to be a published author and bring enjoyment into someone's life like so many authors have brought into mine.

5) What inspired you to write Kate's Pride?

Kate's Pride grew out of some family history research I conducted years ago. With one line of my family I could only get back as far as a Great Great Grandmother. She'd had two illegitimate children and was disowned by her family, so I was stuck. My husband suggested I write a book, but I wasn't sure I could do that. I thought it over for a long while and decided to give it a try. Kate's Pride is not my great-great-grandmother's story because I will never know what that was. The book is the story of a young woman in those circumstances and what I think could have happened in that time and that place to any young woman in those circumstances.

6) Tell us a little about Kate's Pride.

Kate's Pride is a Soutern Gothic historical in the style of William Faulker and Tennessee Williams--although I'm certainly not in the same league as those two giants of literature! The story follows Kate Ransom from the point when she discovers she's going to have a child, but she's not married. You meet Kate's sister, brother and brother-in-law and see their reactions to the situation. You also see how Kate reacts not only to her situation, but to the reactions of her family and community. "Home is where they have to take you in... but sometimes it doesn't happen that way."

7) Are the characters in Kate's Pride based on people you know?

No. I wouldn't say that the story is based on anyone I know, but I suppose there's a little of me in each one of the characters.

8) Are you working on another book now? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

My second book is complete. It a romantic suspense with a little paranormal mixed in. My tag line for it is: "Till Death Do Us Part just got a whole new meaning."

9) Do you have any other works completed?

I'm currently at work on books 3 & 4.

10) Do you have any suggestion for new writers, struggling to be published?

Persistence. That's the biggest part of the industry. Write the absolute best book you can and keep writing more books.

Thank you, Reneé, for taking the time to answer my questions. I know your novel, Kate's Pride will be a huge success.