1. What inspired you to write this book? I love to read. First, I had started to read a book that was so poorly written that I threw it in the trash and said, even I could write a better book. Secondly, my husband and I were struggling financially with a restaurant we had opened and I thought I might be able to aid our income stream with publishing a book. And finally, I think of myself retired and writing.
2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? Tangled Hearts was written for people who love history, mystery and romance. I believe it is the most popular genre in writing. So, I would say romance readers are my target audience. I think of people sitting on the beach or beside a pool getting lost in the story. Tangled Hearts is about the struggle between Anna and Alexander. She is a strong-willed woman determined to be in charge of her own destiny. While Alexander, who struggles with his own demons finds her interfering and headstrong and wants her out of his life. Following the loss of her parents, and not wanting to be the spinster aunt, Ana decided to take her destiny into her own hands. Being the governess to the two grandsons of Lady Catherine Luttrell, as well as her companion, Ana was willing to take the risk at Dunster Castle even with the knowledge that Lord Alexander Luttrell, Duke of Exmoor, had a reputation as a scoundrel and libertine. Anything was better than marrying her cousin, Charles.
However, Charles’ love for Ana had no bounds and now that he was the new baron, he could not stop pursuing her. He was determined to capture her heart and bring her home from Dunster where she belonged, by his side.
Alexander Luttrell had had enough of women. He returned wounded from the wars in India only to discover that his wife had abandoned him and his two young sons. His reputation was ruined and his son’s lives were crushed. He was furious at Lady Catherine’s constant meddling into his household affairs by bringing in a governess. He was determined that his sons would never have to experience such heartbreak again at the hands of a woman. And a governess was too close for comfort. Struggling with his own demons from the war and his reputation already in tatters, his relationship with Riya, his young charge from India, only added to his mystery.
3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope my readers get enjoyment. I think it is a great book for reading while on vacation. And maybe they will want to learn more about history and mental health.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? Actually, my husband came up with the title. He didn’t like my original title and I liked his better. As I was doing research on the book, which was pure fantasy to begin with, I came across a Dunster Castle located in Dunster England, which somehow, I was describing. So, I made changes to the book which included some historical facts about Dunster Castle, the town of Dunster and the Lutrell family. We took a trip to Dunster England and took a picture of the castle from the road. I liked the idea of hearts tangled together with the castle in the background. The art director from my web page designer made the final design.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? It actually took me sixteen years to write Tangled Hearts. So, my advice is to stick with it. Don’t give up your dream of writing and write from your heart. I found that writing it was such fun, the research and getting to know the characters.
6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I find that I have had a lot of clients who enjoy writing and publish in on-line chat groups. I also think that e-books have become popular as also audio books. I also believe that self-publishing is a big thing. In addition, I think AI will also be a big influence on writing. However, with all of this. A book is a book and holding a book and turning pages will remain what most people enjoy best.
7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Yes, there are many. There are a lot of psychological aspects written into this book, grief and loss, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, prejudice and narcissism. So, my profession of being a Licensed Professional Counselor came in handy. In addition, as a history buff and Civil War re-enactor I was able to draw a lot of my personal experience in the book. I believe, too, that the antagonist is taken from the persona of a real person, especially as I describe his looks. I believe that this person will always be the antagonist in anything I write in the future.
8. How would you describe your writing style? I guess I like to be a descriptive as I can. So, I try to picture the scene, the room, the colors, whisps of air - and I also tried to picture my characters faces and emotions and to be as descriptive as I can. I really felt that I was watching the story unfold, almost as if watching a movie. Some who have read it also describe it in this way.
9. Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I am a big fan of the classics, Jane Austin, Bronte Sisters, Louisa May Alcott, etc. So, there is a lot of influence from their books.
10. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? I have had many personal challenges that often interfered with my writing, which someday may also become a book and I don’t think I want to get into here. Plus, my parents were becoming elderly and they needed my care and attention for almost 13 years. And as a counselor with a private practice, I have many clients and a small business to run.
11. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? It is a book with excitement, intrigue, passion and history. It takes you on a journey that is psychological and romantic. It has been described as if watching a movie while reading a book. I have been told that it is a page turner.
About
The Author:
Ruth Altamura-Roll,
MA, NCC, LPC has her Bachelors of Arts from Moravian College in History and
Religion. She received her Masters of Arts from Trenton State College, Trenton,
NJ in Counseling and Personnel Services with a specialized certificate in Alcohol
and Chemical Dependency Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor
through the Department of Community Affairs and a Nationally Certified
Counselor with the National Board of Certified Counselors. She is a member of
Chi Sigma Iota a Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society
International. She held the position of President of the New Jersey Mental
Health Counseling Association and received the national award for Most Consumer
Friendly from the American Mental Health Counselors Association in 2013 for the
creation of the brochure for promoting self-care for counselors. Ms.
Altamura-Roll has been in the counseling field for almost 40 years and private
practice in Flemington NJ since 2000. In addition, Ms. Altamura-Roll was host
of talk radio show, “Counselor’s Chat” at www.hunterdonchamberradio.com for over 10 years. Ms. Altamura-Roll was
the 2016 winner of the “Tell Me More” award for the most informative talk radio
show for the Hunterdon County Chamber Radio. Ruth Altamura-Roll is a new author
with “Tangled Hearts”, her first novel. In addition, she has
published numerous articles in newspapers such as the New Jersey Woman’s
Journal and newsletters such as the New Jersey Counseling Association Newsletter.
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