Celebrating a Book Launch: A Chat with Rosemary Kubli

I'm proud to welcome author Rosemary Kubli, whose spectacular romantic suspense Gullible launches this very day. I'm in the middle of reading it -- WOW! The characters leap off the pages! SO GOOD! We will learn more about Gullible, but first let's get to know Rosemary a bit better. By the way, it is Rosemary who chose a lovely green for her responses to my questions. I believe it is indicative of the lady herself. :)

Welcome, Rosemary, and congratulations!
    
Thank you for having me as your guest, Anastasia! I’m honored to appear on your blog.
 
1)What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series?
Wow! You’re making me reach far back into my memory bank! I can’t say I had a favorite book series, but my mother subscribed to the Reader’s Digest, and I always looked forward to reading the periodical’s short stories. I’d also read the novels Mom ordered through her monthly book club subscription. Now that I think about it, I was probably the only student in my middle school who was reading John le Carre and Mario Puzo!
 
2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays?
My favorite stories involve mystery and suspense – murder/crime, cozy mysteries,
legal/psychological thrillers. But thanks to the wonderful ladies in my book club, I’m
reading fiction and non-fiction books that I would never have selected on my own. Good
writing, I’ve come to realize, will hook me on a book more so than the genre.
 
3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books?
I think I wanted to write the moment I finished reading my first book. I wasn’t satisfied to just lose myself in a story invented by someone else’s imagination. I wanted to create my own narrative, to breathe life into my own characters and build a world for them to live in, to tell their story.
 
4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of?
A science fiction short story that I wrote when I was about 12 years old, probably
inspired by my addiction to the original Star Trek TV series. My older sister was in high
school at the time and much more interested in her social life than her academics. She’d
been assigned to write a short story for her English class and I jumped at the chance to
write it for her. So, while she was out partying with her friends, I was at home
sharpening my No. 2 pencil. I wish I could remember what grade the teacher gave her
on that assignment.

Aww, what a great story!
 
5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create?
I think we’re all born with a creative force whether it’s to paint, act, dance, sing, design,
etc. Mine is to write stories. When I observe a situation – say a couple engaged in
intimate conversation at a restaurant – my mind automatically creates a narrative in
which they are the main characters. Who are they and what brought them there? A
blind date? Siblings discussing an elderly parent’s healthcare needs? Lovers plotting to
murder their spouses? You never know when you’ll come across the inspiration for your
next novel.
 
6) What’s your writing space like?
I honestly don’t have one specific place where I write. Depending on my mood, I’ll  
carry my laptop to my dining room table, or the kitchen island, or my sunroom. On a
warm day, I’ll sit outside on the patio. Sometimes I like to get away, so I’ll grab a table
in the back corner of our local coffee shop. I know it’s erratic, but so far, these changes
in scenery have worked for me.
 
7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset?
I’m a morning person, so I try to take advantage of the hours before lunchtime when my brain is fresh. On days that I have a morning appointment or other commitment, I try to devote a few hours in the afternoon to writing. There are some days, however, when I can’t set aside any time to write, and then I get really frustrated. There’s so much I want to accomplish and even one day missed is time I can’t afford to lose. Habits or rituals? To get in the writing groove, I read the passage I most recently committed to the page and that usually gets me into the proper mindset.
 
8) Time to talk about your new release (rubbing hands together)!  But first, how did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us?
Who doesn’t like a good story about false identities and grand larceny? Think Catch Me If You Can, The Sting, Charade, Sneaky Pete, Lupin. Crafty con artists and suspenseful plot twists rarely disappoint! The heroine in my novel, Gullible, is a con artist extraordinaire whose overconfidence in her abilities blinds her to the possibility that she may have become the gullible victim of her own scheme. Oh – did I mention how those irresistible dimples on the handsome, debonair man she’s conning are a major distraction?
 
But honestly, that wasn’t my original concept for the story. Gullible wasn’t even the
original title! Like many authors, as the plot evolved, other ideas kept popping into my
head and, two years after I started the manuscript, I ended up with a story that is much
more interesting than the one I initially set out to write.
 
One tidbit I’d like to share is that the Singing Bird Pistols, which play an integral part in
the con my main character runs in Gullible, are based on an actual pair of extremely
rare and valuable antique trinkets. I recommend watching the 4-minute YouTube video
about the genuine artifacts. It’s fascinating, and will definitely enhance the reader’s
enjoyment of the story!

It's riveting! 

​9) Now let’s hear about –
How grateful I am to The Wild Rose Press for seeing my potential. Most authors will tell
you that it took a lot of passion and persistence to land their first contract, and I’m no
different. Just when I was about to throw in the towel, my wonderful editor at TWRP
responded positively to my query and renewed my belief in my ability and the work I’d
created. I will forever be grateful to her!
 
10) I comprehend that you’ve just published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do
you have anything waiting in the wings?
As a matter of fact, I do! I became so invested in the characters I created for Gullible
that I decided to expand their story. I’m currently working on a sequel titled Vengeful in
which my heroine, Siena Ricci, is just getting her life back on track when an impulsive
act of vengeance she committed several years earlier comes back to haunt her. Rounding
out the trilogy, Reckless will have Siena’s hot-headedness getting her into the most
dangerous, nail-biting situation she’s ever faced.

Yaaay! This is great news!
 
 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Well…On a personal note, my husband of 45 years and I live in a small town in
northeast Ohio. We have two wonderful sons who (sad face) live miles away from us –
one in Wisconsin, the other in California – but that just gives us an excuse to travel out
their way for visits! In addition to traveling on land, my husband and I are seasoned
cruisers, and will soon complete our 21st ocean cruise. Professionally, I’ve worn many
hats from HR and training to payroll and banking. I’m proud to say that, after retiring
from the corporate world, I’m fortunate to have begun my favorite career to date –
writing!

Once again, congratulations on your book launch, Rosemary! Wishing you all the best!
Thank you, Anastasia!! The same to you! And thanks again for having me as a guest on
your blog!

Siena Ricci is shrewd, seductive, and an expert in the art of deception. Masking her identity behind the guise of Marie Lacroix, a specialist in antiques and objets d'art, she swindles her employer's wealthy clients out of their valuable possessions. She hasn't yet met the man she can't manipulate, but then the con she's playing on Jonathan Woodward has only just begun.
 
Jonathan proves to be an easy mark, but he's also enticingly irresistible. As their relationship heats up, her plot to steal his multi-million-dollar antique trinkets begins to unravel. Noticing a subtle change in Jonathan's demeanor, Marie questions whether she's still in control of the con or if she's blindly become the gullible victim of her own scheme.


Excerpt

Marie stared at Jonathan Woodward’s number on her cell phone, hesitant to make the call. She and Jonathan hadn’t spoken with each other in nearly a year, and she worried their rapport, which she’d worked so hard to nurture, might not have withstood the test of time. She berated herself for not considering this possibility before agreeing to Gus’s Somerset Necklace scheme. Well, there’s only one way to find out if Jonathan is still under my spell. She took a deep breath, touched the screen, and listened as the call rang once…twice…

“Marie! What a welcome surprise!” Jonathan sounded happy to hear from her, an encouraging sign. 
    
“Hello, Jonathan,” she said in her sultry voice, the one that usually hooked her unwitting target within seconds.  “Am I catching you at a bad time?”

“No, not at all,” he replied, his tone soft and intimate. She’d successfully set the mood. “We haven’t been in touch for a while. How are you?” 

“I’m well, thank you. I wanted to call you before now, but I hated to intrude on your privacy.”

“I appreciate your consideration. My family has had a rough year, but I think we’re finally on the mend.”

Marie understood loss. The sadness in Jonathan’s voice elicited memories and emotions she preferred to keep buried. When she responded, her empathy was sincere. “It takes a while to recover from such a tragedy.”

“Yes, longer than we imagine, unfortunately.” Jonathan sighed heavily. “So, what prompted this call? Is something interesting going on the auction block?” 
    
Marie giggled coyly. “Oh, I’m sure I can always find some little trinket for you to add to your collection. But this isn’t a work-related call. I just made plans to spend this weekend in Boston. You live near there, don’t you?”

“Yes, in Burgess, just west of the city. Why are you traveling up this way?”

To keep things casual, so she didn’t appear to be aggressively pursuing him, Marie fed Jonathan a tall tale about a weekend reunion. “A couple of friends from college invited me to join them for a girls’ getaway. I’ll be in Boston Friday night through Sunday afternoon.” 

Dead silence. Then, “That’s nice. It’s always fun to get together with old friends.”

The disappointment in Jonathan’s voice came across loud and clear. He’d probably assumed Marie was traveling to Boston to meet him in person as they’d discussed the last time they spoke, then realized she was instead calling to ask for recommendations on restaurants and sightseeing venues. 

“Yes, I’ll be happy to see them. It’s been a long time since we were last together.”

“Well, if you need my input about places to go or things to do, don’t hesitate to call.”

Okay, time to get to the point. “Thank you for the offer. But Jonathan…gosh, I hope I’m not being too forward.” She paused to give the impression she was worried he’d reject her suggestion. “I was hoping we could get together while I’m in town.”

Again, silence. Uh-oh. Had she misread the playful insinuations he’d made during their previous phone conversations? Or perhaps, in the months since they’d last spoken, he’d become involved with someone and was no longer interested in pursuing a relationship with her. At last, he said, “I’ll need to rearrange my schedule. How’s Saturday, mid-afternoon?”

Relieved, she breathed easily again. “Saturday afternoon works for me, but I don’t want to interfere with your commitments. Perhaps I could make a trip to Boston another time.”

“No, no,” he said hastily. “We’ve waited long enough to meet as it is. Text me the name and address of your hotel. I’ll find a café close by where we can spend the afternoon getting better acquainted.”

“That sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to meet you.”

“Same here. I’m afraid I need to go for now, but I’ll call you Saturday morning to finalize the
details. Take care, Marie.”

Marie grinned with satisfaction as she strolled over to her closet to select her wardrobe for the upcoming weekend.  Her plan was moving along perfectly. As a matter of fact, Jonathan was playing right into her hands. 

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About the Author

Rosemary Kubli writes the type of books she loves to read - intrigue and suspense mixed with a pinch of romance and a clever plot twist or two. Her professional experiences run the gamut from Human Resources and training to accounting and banking, with publishing being her most recent endeavor. Aside from the seven years she lived in southern California, she has always called the northeast corner of Ohio her home. Rosemary and her husband of 45 years enjoy traveling - on land to visit family and friends and on sea to any destination a cruise ship will take them. When not working on her next novel, she can be found discussing the latest in literary fare with her book club, playing a rousing game of Bunco with some of her oldest and dearest friends, researching her ancestry, volunteering in her community, burying her nose in a book, or obsessing over the latest binge-worthy TV series. 

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