Interview with Bestselling Author Rosalyn McMillan

It's day two of the sisterhood spotlight. We have bestselling author Rosalyn McMillan. Most memorable moment of her at the Sisterhood Showcase was her passionate response about having a career and being a mother at the same time. How she is fortunate she was able to work, have a career and still be a good mom. She didn't hesitate when I asked to take a picture with her. And she had a relaxed, friendly and easy demeanor.


Rosalyn McMillan is the author of six novels, Knowing, One Better, Blue Collar Blues, The Flip Side of Sin, This Side of Eternity and Midnight Pawn. Her latest book, We Ain’t the Brontës, is a fast read about sibling rivalry. Both protagonist and antagonist are published authors. One is successful and the other one isn’t.  Jealousy and envy create eons of tension between the two sisters. It has action, drama, passion, humor and cutting dialogue. The Brontës will have the reader wondering what is fact and what is fiction.

In We Ain't the Brontes, Charity Evans and Lynzee Lavender haven’t always had the best relationship—for the most part thanks to them being writers. But while Lynzee is the wealthy, successful New York Times bestselling author of science fiction books, Charity is just squeaking by. Why is success passing her by? And why is her publisher all of a sudden reluctant to renew her contract? Now Charity suspects the worst: That her own sister has had her blacklisted! With her savings dwindling, Charity struggles to pay her bills, and the pressure is putting an incredible strain on her marriage. The rivalry goes into overdrive when Lynzee reveals that the father of the child she gave up years ago is…Charity’s husband! Charity’s life goes into a tailspin as she struggles to decide if she should tell her husband about the child he never knew he had, or if that would be just the excuse he needs to abandon her for good. She knows she has to do something, but will the path she ultimately decides to take end up destroying them all.
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Interview

How did you began your writing career?

I began my writing career in 1992.  I wanted to tell my story about my medical disorder, alopecia.  There hadn't been any fiction books written about it. 

You have been on hiatus from the book world for ten years, what took you so long to come back?

I was blacklisted in the publishing industry and couldn't get a contract. I didn't stop writing, though. I have eight completed novels that I hope to publish one day.

What do you think about the current ebook trends? Have you embraced it and are you find it more difficult sell books among the masses of ebooks?

I like the idea. I published an ebook this year entitled "Midnight Pawn."  It's a psychological thriller about a female serial killer.  I think marketing and selling ebooks isn't as easy as it sounds.

 

I'm sure you get asked this often, but for my readers interest, can you tell us if your current novel, "We Ain't The Brontes" is based on any personal experiences between you and your sister Terry McMillan?

No, it's not. I think it would be refreshing to write a book about two Black female authors who struggle in their careers, and are oftentimes not very friendly towards each other.

Do you think you and Terry will ever collaborate on any work?

Not a work of fiction.  Our styles are too different. However, Terry and our two other sisters hope to publish a cookbook in the near future. I already have my recipes ready.

How is it different being a seasoned writer as opposed to being a newly published author?

Being seasoned, you know the tricks of the trade and know how important it is to know about the business of publishing and the politics that go along with it. Newly published authors have very high expectations.  They have got a lot to learn.

I asked this question during the panel/forum discussion at the Sisterhood Showcase, can you tell us your thoughts about the segregation of African American books in brick and mortar stores?


I like the idea.  You can find us easily and I'm not ashamed to be Black.  I'm very proud of my heritage.  My only hope is that I'll write quality fiction so that I feel worthy of being represented in the brick and mortar stores.

What are you currently working on? And where do you draw your inspiration from?

I'm currently working on the sequel to "Midnight Pawn." I get my inspiration from the newspaper, my friends, and family members. I'm never short on ideas. 


What would you like readers to know about you that they probably don't know?

That I've been designing and sewing clothes since I was sixteen years old. I can make men's suits and sew draperiers. I'm making draperies for my family room and dining room this fall.

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Rosalyn is the mother of four children and six grandchildren. She lives with her husband of over twenty-six years, J.D., in Memphis, Tennessee. She loves speaking to book clubs and she always puts the Lord first in her life.

You can purchase her books at Amazon or Barnes and Noble or any retail bookstore in your area.

To contact Rosalyn McMillan visit her site: www.rosalynmcmillan.com

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Don't forget to enter for this week's literary giveaway. 8 books in the giveaway this week, two winners, four books each. If you comment on any of the interviews this weeks with Jae Henderson, Rosalyn McMillan or Victoria Christopher Murray and you win the giveaway, you will also win a free beaded book thong.

Literary Book Giveaway