Author Q&A: Stephanie Rowe
Author: Trish Milburn
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: February 2004

Q. Tell us about your writing journey.

A. I wrote my first novel when I was 10 years old, but it took me many years until I decided to invest in writing as a career. I started writing seriously about five years ago. Originally, I started writing romantic suspense. At the time, I recall thinking that it would be impossible to write a book if you didn’t have a mystery because what would you write about? That was before I learned how to create characters! Thank heavens for Deb Dixon’s GMC or I’d still be a lost soul. I finally began getting the occasional contest finalist when I started writing romantic comedy instead of romantic suspense, so obviously it behooved me to learn how to develop characters, eh? 

Anyway, it took me 18 complete manuscripts and well over 100 rejections before I finally got THE CALL (which, by the way, is the most amazing moment EVER!). It had gotten to the point at which I could tell people were starting to think “Take the hint and give up!” when I told them how many unsold manuscripts and rejections I had. I knew I was getting better with every manuscript, and I knew I’d never give up. And I’m happy to say I proved all those nay sayers wrong! Since I sold my first book on June 30, 2003, I’ve sold seven more. So if anyone tells you to give up because you would have sold by now if you were going to sell, IGNORE THEM.

Every writer’s journey is different, and just because someone you know sold her first manuscript and you’re on number five doesn’t mean you aren’t as good or that you won’t go on to an incredible career.

Q. What do you feel your strong point as a writer is?

A. I think my strong point as a writer is my voice. Ironically enough, my voice is what took the longest for me to find. I could plot a great story and I could create deep characters (after a while — LOL), but it was stale and ordinary. I still remember the day I realized what my voice was. I was reading a Duets by Cathy Linz and I was rolling on the floor laughing. I spent the afternoon analyzing what she was doing, and a huge light bulb finally went off over my head: I had to let my personality come through. The way I told a story to my friends, or wrote a recap of a tennis match for my team — that was my voice, and that needed to be allowed to emerge in my writing. 

The moment I found my voice is when I finaled in my first contest. It took another eight manuscripts to refine it, but once I hit my voice, I could tell I was on the right path. I was finaling in more contests, getting better responses from agents and editors. I think voice is the most important element for a writer, yet it’s so hard to find and define. Today, that’s what my editors and agents continue to respond to: my voice. Of course, I still have a long way to go and I strive to improve with every book, but I always try to keep my voice at the forefront of my mind as I write.

Q. What do you feel unpublished writers focus too much on? Not enough?

A. I think unpublished authors focus too much on following the rules. In my past life, I was a lawyer and I had a ton of writing instruction all the way through high school and college. I was used to writing formally and correctly, and that’s what made my writing stale. Let all the rules vanish from your brain and write with the passion with which you live your life. You can always go back and tighten it up if you’re making gross grammatical errors, but you have to let your soul and your personality emerge in your writing (yes, it’s that voice thing again). 

I also think many unpublished authors or even published authors need to work harder to relish criticism and never take it personally. Learn how to sift through the valuable feedback and dismiss that which isn’t valuable, but somehow find a way never to let it get personal. In this world of writing, there are no teachers to tell us “the right way.” We have to go find critiques where we can, through contests and critique partners and rejections, and then we have to interpret, apply it and grow from it. When you sell and your books go on the shelves, there are more criticisms, and some that are mean and harsh. Some authors have become paralyzed by bad reviews. The only way to survive and improve in this business is to be able to step back from your work and treat it impersonally in terms of assessing its merits and applying others’ critiques to it.

Q. What aspect of craft have you struggled with the most?

A. I have struggled with character and voice. I always had the technical writing skills, but I had trouble imbuing my stories with a passion that sucked people in and never let them go. I was too plot driven, not understanding that the plot is only as powerful as the reader’s commitment to your characters. I still struggle with characters. Often I have to stop after a few chapters and go back and flesh out my characters more. Voice is something I also have to focus on. Sometimes I find myself falling back into “proper” writing, so I have to keep the words alive in my head while I’m writing, so I can hear what they sound like and assess whether they sound like I would sound if I was talking. I would like to go back and write romantic suspense again, but so far I have trouble keeping my voice when I start to write about murder and mayhem. So, there’s a long term goal for me.

Q. Who are some of the writers you most admire? Why?

A. I admire every writer, both published and published, who has hit snags and is still out there fighting. The is a tough business, and we take a lot of knocks along the way. Everyone who sends out another query after receiving a rejection, or who enters another contest after being knocked around by a judge. These people are impressive and amazing and they’re the future of our industry. I also admire writers who take the time to share their knowledge and support and caring with other writers who are struggling. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the mountain of obligations we’re facing, yet somehow, there are those writers who are always there to give hugs and congrats and advice when needed. I’ve been under a rock for the last few months between health issues and work obligations, but I am determined to emerge and emulate those giving writers who have helped so many.

Q. Tell us about the books you’ve sold and what is coming out this year.

A. I have sold four teen romances to SMOOCH. I have also sold one Flipside, a chick lit and I am doing an anthology for Dorchester trade to promote my chick lit. I was also asked to do an online read for eharlequin.com in March to promote my Flipside. The online read has to be partially from a pet’s POV and I had the best time writing it! My releases for this year are as follows: Putting Boys on the Ledge, February, Dorchester SMOOCH, w/a Stephie Davis; Girl’s Best Friend, March, eharlequin.com online read; Stress and the City, April, Harlequin Flipside; Studying Boys, August, Dorchester SMOOCH w/a Stephie Davis; Christmas Cards from the Edge (working title), October anthology from Love Spell; Unbecoming Behavior, October, Dorchester Trade. (All dates in 2004.)

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