Author Interview: E.B. Roshan

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Hey E.B.! I’m so grateful you are here to hang out with me today. I’ll start with a few easy questions.

When you are writing, what are you drinking? Generally a mug of green tea with milk…kept at a safe distance from the computer, of course.

Do you have any pets? Several years ago I had a purple-dyed, one-eyed finch named Tambal. Now I don’t have any pets. Instead, I have two little boys.

Beach or mountains? I prefer the mountains, because I was born and raised in the mountains, and until I moved to Missouri, which has the dubious distinction of being the flattest place I’ve ever lived, I’ve always lived in mountainous regions.

PC or Mac? PC, I suppose, because that’s what my husband bought for me. I don’t really have a strong preference one way or the other.

What was the last book you read? The Apostle: A Life of Paul by John Pollock and Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver (actually I am still reading that one.) It’s a hard question because I am usually reading more than one book at a time.

Now, let’s get into some more detail!

What author(s) has/have really influenced you? My own favorite books to read are the classics, from Homer to Dickens and everybody in between. And of course the Holy Bible. Certainly reading the best of the best has influenced my own writing and given me a high standard of what I enjoy.

When did you start writing? I have been writing nearly all my life, but was only relatively recently that I decided to become a published author. Without the advice and encouragement of the folks at ChristianWriters.com, I never would have done it.

    I write nearly every day, but the amount I write varies. I’m primarily doing it for enjoyment, so I don’t have a lot of pressure. Also, I am determined to turn out high-quality work, and that takes time. Caring for an active young family takes time too.

    When my husband used to work at a job that took him away on multiple-day trips, I’d write at night (sometimes very late at night—I couldn’t sleep well with him away.) Now that he’s got a regular nine-to-five, I write whenever I find the time.

Why do you write? I write because I enjoy it; I find the creative process relaxing. Also, I believe writing/storytelling is a talent God has given me and I want to use it well.

What does your family think of your writing? Almost everyone in my family is a voracious reader, and several of my family members enjoy writing as well. It’s kind of a family thing. We have our own family writing club that we submit short stories to each month. Some months we get a lot of submissions, some months we might get only one or two, but it’s fun and it keeps us writing.

How did you come up with the title for your book? I am not good with titles…in fact, I ended up changing the title on both of my books at the last minute. “Wrong Place, Right Time” was originally “Oxsana’s Cafe” and “Final Chance” was originally “Means of Grace.” I think my problem is making titles that are kind of obscure.

Share an excerpt from one of your stories (make sure to tell us which one and include a buy link).

Here’s the opening scene from Chapter Two of Wrong Place, Right Time, my short Christian Romance:

    When Anna got home, Mama was in the scuffed leather armchair by the sitting-room window, knitting a jacket for her newest granddaughter.
    “How was work? Did you break your speed sewing record?”  Mama asked. She almost seemed herself this evening.
    “I wish.” Anna laughed. She dropped onto the sofa and put her feet up.
“Darko called,” Mama added.  “He was wondering if you’d be free this weekend.”
    “Darko?”
“You know! Darko Leva, from church.”
    “Oh, yes. Darko. I suppose I’m free.”
“That’s good. Your father will call him back.”
    “I don’t really want to go out with him.”
Mama sighed. “You should give him a chance, Anna.”
    “Do you think you’ll have that ready for the baptism?” Anna pointed at the tiny white jacket.
    “Probably. Only the ribbing on the bottom to go.”  She held it up for Anna to see.
“It looks beautiful.” Anna shifted on the couch and put her hands behind her head.
    “Remember my friend Seeli, the Tur girl? They let her go. The Job Protection Act means they had to let all the Tur workers at the factory go.”
    “Mmm.” Mama’s lips tightened, but her eyes didn’t leave her work.
Anna sighed. I wish you could tell me why you’re still afraid after all these years. Better to talk about something else. “I met this young man today.”
    Mama’s eyes brightened with interest. “Really? What’s his name? Do we know him?”
    Anna hid a smile. Mama’s favorite topic never failed. “Not really. His family owns Oxsana’s, that little cafe on Bladik.”
    “Well, what’s his name?”
    “Boris Merkovich.”
    “Why haven’t we heard about this Boris Merkovich before?”
Anna sighed. “Mama, I just told you I met him today. For the first time. I mean, I’ve seen him before, but we never talked.”
    “But today you did?”
    “Yes.”
    “What was he like? Was he nice? Does he go to church?”
“I don’t know. If he hadn’t spilled tea all over me, we wouldn’t have had a conversation at all.”
    Anna’s mother was staring at her work, silently counting stitches, but her eyes were smiling. “Will you be seeing him again?”
    “Probably. I stop at Oxsana’s all the time.”
    “Oh, Anna, what am I ever going to do with you? You know what I meant.”
    “Well, Mama, it wasn’t that kind of…I mean, I’m not…oh, I don’t know. It just wasn’t like that.”  Anna sighed.  “Anyway, I’ll read to you for a bit. Then I’m going to bed.”
    Twenty-three was too old to be unmarried, to not even have a boyfriend. Mama had never said so aloud, but Anna knew she thought it. She herself didn’t understand the rush.
    She took the Bible from the side table drawer, opened it at her bookmark, and began reading aloud.

If you’re interested in reading more, follow this link to get Wrong Place, Right Time at your preferred online bookstore: https://books2read.com/u/m2VkJr

To celebrate the release of my next novel, Wrong Place, Right Time is on sale for .99 cents from now until July 30, 2020.

How does your faith influence your writing? I can’t write without faith, just like I cannot live without faith. Because I see myself as a storyteller/entertainer rather than an evangelist or apologist, my stories are intended for a primarily Christian audience. But I’d like to think if someone who wasn’t a believer read one of my stories, he or she would be drawn to the hope in them.

What do you hope readers gain from your stories? I hope to create characters that young Christian people can identify with, and in some cases even admire and want to imitate. At the very least, I want to give them a wholesome, enjoyable reading experience.  I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of many romance stories, though that’s not the fault of the genre—or the romance. But the story lines often seem formulaic, and the characters are either idealized out of reality or so tormented it’s doubtful they’ll ever be happy, even after they’ve found the Perfect One. 

    When I wrote “Wrong Place, Right Time,” I tried to create a love story that felt genuine, with characters who are appealing and relatable, who choose to work towards mutual happiness despite their own flaws. I wrote the kind of love story I’d want to read. Boris is angry and Anna is anxious, but they don’t give up on themselves or each other. Though at the end of the book they are still facing difficult circumstances–separation from family, job loss, and war, (not to mention a risky ride home,) they’ve found they are stronger and better off together. 

And I save the best two for last:

What is your dream writing space and do you have it already? My little old computer died, and after a couple of years I convinced my husband to fork out for a new one. It’s my dream writing space.

Where would you go, for how long, and what would you work on if you received an all-expenses-paid writer’s retreat? Honestly, that idea never even occurred to me. I’m not sure I could write properly without someone screaming in the background.

Blurb for the book you want to highlight today:

My second novel, Final Chance, comes out tomorrow, Tuesday, July 7th, 2020. I’m excited about that! Here’s the official blurb:

“Three months have passed since Preen learned that her husband, Rama, was captured and killed by a rival militia. Now the pieces of her shattered life are falling back into place.
It’s getting easier to breathe again. Preen finds herself smiling over her daughter’s antics. She’s engaged to her wealthy, handsome cousin, who loved her long before Rama stole her heart.
Then, late one night, Rama calls. He asks Preen to come back to the dangerous city of Dor, back to the life she thought she’d left behind forever…”

Bio:

E.B. Roshan has enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle for several years, spending time in the Middle East and Asia. Now she is temporarily settled in Missouri with her husband and two sons, where she serves the local refugee community. When she’s not cooking, cleaning, or chasing the boys, she’s working on Shards of Sevia, an ongoing Christian romantic suspense series.

Where can we find you online?

I’m a Goodreads author, so you can check out my profile here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20265632.E_B_Roshan
And my personal website is: https://shardsofsevia.wordpress.com

Thank you for spending time with me today! It’s been a pleasure having you on the blog and getting this interview with you. Do you have any final words for our readers?

Thank you, too, and thanks for reading!