Aloha! Monday is one of those days few people appreciate but yesterday, a Monday, my new book, A Place to Rest My Heart went live! I now appreciate Mondays a lot more than I used to!
Introduce yourself, please. Is this a pen or personal name? Why did you make the choice to write under that name?
I write under the pen name Galen Rose. Even in this day of dwindling privacy, I felt it best to keep certain aspect of my life and my family’s life somewhat private. To be honest under my real name, I can be political, quite sarcastic and on occasion, jump up on my soap box. I thought that side of me might be a bit much for folks to take.
Let’s get the details out of the way:
Married?: I have been married for 17 years as of this June. I credit my husband with a huge amount of patience and he has been very supportive of my writing.
Children?: We have a 15 (going on 20) year old son, who is the light of my life. (even if he gives me grey hair! Ask about the two broken arms at the same time!)
Living where?: I was born in West Virginia, lived in Virginia for a few years, then off to California. I have lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains for the past ten years and I love it here among the towering redwoods.
Doing what other than writing?: I have had many jobs over the years, McDonalds, telephone solicitor, bike repairperson in the early years, an engraver for ten years, then on to run my own business selling Celtic Jewelry and gifts on the Internet and at Renaissance & Celtic Faires. I really enjoyed this business but the down turn in the economy was showing itself so I closed the business and then said, “Now what?” That’s when I started writing.
If you didn’t live where you do, where would you live? Why? I’d live in Maui. The moment I step off the plane I relax. I love the ocean and the smell of tropical flowers on the breeze, and snorkeling with sea turtles.
Why do you write romance novels? Because unrequited love pisses me off. It really is as simple as that. I think there has to be a happily ever after.
What did you cut from your book that felt like severing a body part? Actually, the prologue. It was very dark and intense and all the feedback I got said it didn’t work.
The best part about my writing life is: Giving all the voices in my head a place to come out and really be heard. My imagination can be very vivid and I need an outlet for it.
The worst part about my writing life is: Devoting enough time to the next writing project, and the one after that etc… Life has a way of really intruding and managing which ball to stop juggling is hard.
What else do you write? Right now contemporary romance, but I have outlines for a couple of paranormals.
Give us a hint about what the next book’s like. It is set in Maui. The poor heroine gets left at the alter and decides to stay in Maui to continue the ‘honeymoon’ she paid for. Insert some adventure and a hunky hero in there too.
If you want to know more about me or just want to say “Aloha”, stop by:
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Ladies in Red 
Hi, Galen. Nice to learn about you and best of luck with your release. The cover is lovely!
Thank you very much!
Very fun post, Galen! And hurray for perhaps taking on a paranormal…? Set in Maui, oh, the potential! Congratulations and make those keys hum!
Thank you! Actually the Maui story is contemporary but my paranormal (whenever it takes shape) will be here in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Nice to officially meet you, Galen! If you move to Maui, I hope you have a guest room!!
I will let you know. It is really on my bucket list to move there! Congrats on your new release too!
Thanks for the post Galen, I enjoyed hearing about you and your writing.
Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Galen – I love writing my paranormals – gives my characters a chance to have fun with the ‘normal’ world. Good luck with your release!
Thank you!
Nice to meet you, Galen! I sympathize with your view of real life cutting into your writing time. I don’t understand why my family insists on eating a meal every night and why it isn’t okay to leave your house in a shambles every once in a while. And I get the challenges and thrills of having a fifteen year old boy, I’ve got two of them…and a fifteen year old girl. That’s right, triplets with learning permits. No wonder I write to escape! I also have a seventeen year old that will be heading off to…gulp…college in January! Ahhhh!
Good luck with all your writing. Love your cover, by the way!
Triplets and learning permits… wow! I am sure you are one busy mom! I keep trying to convince my husband and son they really can cook! Thanks for stopping by!
Aloha!
It was so wonderful to spend time with you at Nationals!! So much fun!
Hugs!!
Rionna