Monday, June 13, 2011

" A Stray Drop of Blood" by Roseanna White

Clash of The Titles
Guest post by April W. Gardner

Meet recent Clash of the Titles Champion, Roseanna White. She is the author of A Stray Drop of Blood, which by the way has one of my all time favorite tag lines: Beautiful is a dangerous thing to be when one is unprotected





ABOUT THE BOOK:
For seven years, Abigail has been a slave in the Visibullis house. With a Hebrew mistress and a Roman master, she has always been more family than servant . . . until their son returns to Jerusalem after his years in Rome. Within a few months Jason has taken her to his bed and turned her world upside down. Maybe, given time, she can come to love him as he says he loves her. But how does she open her heart to the man who ruined her?

Israel's unrest finds a home in her bosom, but their rebellion tears apart her world. Death descends with Barabbas's sword, and Abigail is determined to be there when the criminal is punished. But when she ventures to the trail, Barabbas is not the one the crowd calls to crucify. Instead, it is the teacher her master and Jason had begun to follow, the man from Nazareth that some call the Son of God . . .






ABOUT ROSEANNA:
Roseanna M. White is the editor of Christian Review of Books. She makes her home in the mountains of Western Maryland with her husband, two small children, and the colony of dust bunnies living under her couch.



Welcome, Roseanna! Have you learned anything new about God's character through this book?
Oh my, yes. As I rewrote this book a couple years ago for its paperback release, I realized that one of the most beautiful aspects of God’s nature that the story highlights is how He surprises us by meeting us in unexpected places. In Stray Drop, Abigail goes to Jesus’ trial hungry for revenge, and instead runs smack into the Lord’s forgiveness. She’s never the same, and I wasn’t the same after writing it.

What does your process look like? Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?
Both. ;-) When I’ve got an idea for a book, it’s usually about 70% complete within 24 hours. I’ll write the first three chapters, then a synopsis. I’ll pants my way through the first half of the book, sticking to my loose outline (mostly) but with plenty of freedom. By the second half of the book, though, I’ll have already figured out what scenes need to finish it out, so I’ll jot down a more detailed outline so I don’t forget them and can pinpoint any holes that need filled in before I hit my climax.

Of course, Stray Drop was so long that I went through this process twice—the crucifixion scene being my first “climax,” then the actual ending my second one. Beginning the second half of the book was like starting a sequel in a lot of ways, though I couldn’t conceive of actually ending it after that first “climax.” (Quotes on purpose, since it’s not the real climax, LOL.)

When's your favorite time to write?
It used to be early morning, but that was before my kids started waking up at 6 rather than 8. (boy do I hear ya) Most of my writing time ends up being during my son’s naptime, but my favorite times are still those times of quiet and semi-darkness, when I can sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, some treasured silence, and no interruptions—early morning or after the kids are in bed, when hubby’s occupied with a hockey game. ;-)

Thanks, Roseanna!

--April W. Gardner is the Sr. Editor at the literary site, Clash of the Titles
She is also the author of the best-selling novel, Wounded Spirits.

21 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great read--I love when God uses for good what we maybe didn't intend to be for good. Enjoyed the interview portion, too.

    miks@shentel.net

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  2. I've only heard excellent things about her books and I do follow her blog. Sounds intense and powerful! :O)

    estrella8888 at roadrunner dot com

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  3. Love the interview, and can't wait to read and pass along this book! What a wonderful way to get people to really understand the depth of the Bible in real terms. CheriHorgan@hotmail.com

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  4. Sounds like a really good read would love to get my hands on it to read it and then pass it on and share it with others !! Was a great interview really has me wanting to read the book have a great blessed day godlovinmomandwife@yahoo.com

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  5. This sounds really interesting. Please enter me!

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladij40(at)aol(dot)com

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  6. This book sounds wonderful. I am hooked already!

    srstormo at yahoo dot com

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  7. thank you for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  8. Just wanted to comment that this is an excellent read. Roseanna is a intelligent story teller with many hooks to keep you reading. I have it in ebook form on my Kindle and would love to own a physical copy of the book to lend to others. I hope that is considered fair. Thanks for this great giveaway and the chance to win.

    A Christian Sister,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  9. Ohhh - sounds neato :)

    jcorkill (at) sgcmd (dot) org

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  10. Thank you for the interview. This one is definitely going on my wish list. I love reading books by a "new" (to me) author.
    Linda Stokdyk

    Oldwomansshoe@gmail.com

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  11. Thanks for the insight into your writing process. I currently write memoir but am also chasing a fiction idea in my brain. I like the idea of writing the first 3 chapters then the synopsis. Gives your creative juices headed in the right direction. Thanks for the opportunity to win your book.

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  12. Sounds really interesting. I definitely want to read this.

    sheiladeeth at hotmail dot com

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  13. Reading what this book is about took my breath away. I look forward to reading it from start to finish.
    cepjwms at wb4me dot com
    Pam Williams

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  14. I love that Roseanna is both a plotter and a pantser. I think that being a blend of both makes it interesting because then there is a little freedom there to let those creative juices flow. Thanks.
    ihhcheryl(at)comcast(dot)net

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  15. A Stray Drop of Blood sound wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.Thanks for the opportunity to win your book.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.

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  16. I hope it is not too late to try to win this book!
    Thanks for the opportunity!

    Many Blessings and Smiles:)
    Charlotte Kay
    charlovesmark at gmail dot com

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  17. This sounds like a really good book. Hopefully I am not too late to enter.

    christianworship[at]live[dot]com

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  18. Meeting God at unexpected places. I love that phrase.

    sequoiajoy@gmail.com

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  19. A Stray Drop of Blood sounds like an intriguing book. I'll have to check it out.

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  20. I enjoy reading historical fiction and think I would also like to read this book.
    Kaye Whitney
    kayewhiotney@bellsouth.net

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  21. would love to win
    Nakiassgeorge@yahoo.com

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