Sit-Down Saturday with Carol Ross

Thrilled to sit-down this lovely Saturday morning and answer some questions about my latest book, If Not for a Bee.

In looking at the cover, if you could add a caption or captions, what would they say? 

If not for a bee...

I think the title of the book is a perfect caption, "if not for a bee." Because literally, if not for a bee, hero Aidan Hollings wouldn’t be in Alaska. If not for a bee, he and Janie would never have their very first encounter in front of the Donut Den in downtown Rankins, Aidan would never enlist the help of Janie’s older boys in his lab, Janie would never have to interview him for the Rankins Press, and...on it goes. And all because of a bee.

What is your favorite scene? 

This is a tough one. I like so many scenes in this book it’s difficult to choose. I think this is because I love Aidan and Janie so much. These two are both dealing with some complex issues. But they both want to do the right thing, especially when it comes to Janie’s boys. As we all know, sometimes no matter how much we analyze and agonize about an important decision, ultimately it still might not turn out to be the best one.

I love the scene where Janie discovers that Aidan is teaching her older two boys a skill that he feels is valuable; something that he is convinced will help them solve a problem. He’s also aware of the fact that Janie may not agree with this approach, so he acts on the age-old theory that sometimes it’s easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission. Of course, he gets caught. Janie’s mom claws come out in full force as she battles with whether or not this is the right thing for her children. A conversation ensues where Janie has a bit of a revelation about her parenting style.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I adore Janie. She’s loosely based on my oldest sister, Shelly. Like my sister, Janie’s devotion to the people she loves trumps everything else in her life. She is kind and sweet and generally easygoing, but mess with her children, her family, or friends? Watch out. You’ll see a side to her you never even knew existed. 

If you could pick an actor or actress to play the hero and heroine, who would they be? 

I’m not one to picture famous people when I write my stories. I know authors who create collages or Pinterest boards around their Hollywood-featured hero and heroine. I can see how this would be helpful, but I always feel like I should be writing instead. Not that I am writing necessarily, just that I feel like I should be.  But Aidan, the hero from If Not for a Bee is an easy one. He’s Matthew McConaughey. Matthew is a bit older than Aidan (who is in his early thirties in the book) but he could pull it off. Imagine Matthew in the films Sahara or Fools Gold. Even his personality reminds me a bit of Aidan.  For Janie, I would go with Amy Adams. In fact, the more I think about it, the more perfect she seems.

Here they are. My Janie and Aidan.

Tell us one thing you learned during research. 

Only one? I've become a little passionate about these little critters. I've learned so much about bees I could write an entire blog post (book) about them. Oh, wait…I've already done that. Twice. 

Although, since you asked...

One fascinating fact that I don’t think I’ve posted previously (although it is mentioned in the book) is how active some species of bumblebees are in Alaska. With its shockingly cold temperatures, I wondered how early do bumblebees come out in the spring?  Arctic bumblebees are blessed with this super-hero-like ability called thermoregulation, which allows them to raise their internal body temperature to somewhere around 100° F. The tundra can be half-frozen in the spring, but the Arctic bumblebee will be out there visiting the very first blooms of the season and doing his pollinating thing.

Isn't it cute? Love these tiny, fuzzy super-heroes! (photo by Silvio Sorcini.)

This is your third book.  Exactly what does that mean to you? 

 I’m starting to believe that I really can do this writing thing. My anxiety level has gone down so much since my first book came out. I was nearly frozen with fear that a horrible mistake had been made - my editor hadn’t really read it, my reviews would all be one-star or less, I’d embarrass my family, etc. Book two was better as I held on to the fact that I’d truly given it my all and that’s what really matters. But with this one, I’ve firmly grasped the fact that I can only control the things I can control. (I say the serenity prayer on a daily basis.) Not that I don’t still have “book” worries. They just don’t consume me anymore. I’m really enjoying the entire process now. And that makes me happy.

What do you plan to work on next? 

Just finished revisions for book four. This one is called A Family Like Hannah’s and is also set in Rankins. I’m excited about it because it’s a little different than the previous three Seasons of Alaska books in some subtle, but important ways. Ways that I feel I’ve grown and improved as a writer. Such a great feeling. 

I am currently working on another proposal for Heartwarming. I’m going to step away from Rankins for a book or two and then hopefully revisit it again for a couple more books. Looking forward to creating a new world, but not quite ready to say goodbye to Rankins forever.

What are you reading for pleasure right now? 

I recently finished reading fellow Heartwarming author Amy Vastine’s The Hardest Fight. I loved it. I’ve loved all of her books, but I think this one is my favorite so far. Next up is Kristan Higgins’ latest, If You Only Knew.

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me ramble about my latest release. For more information about me or my books stop by my new website: carolrossauthor.com Or just stop by and take a look because it’s so pretty! You can sign up for my newsletter, too. (It’s my first website ever. I’m a teensy bit excited about it in case that it isn't coming through on the page.)

        Available at the following:        

 Harlequin 

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Thank you for stopping by to chat with me this morning!