Hello to all who visit
Bitten By Love! I’m Rosanne Bittner and
I have been writing American historical romance for over 30 years, with 59
titles published and #60 coming next July!
My favorite genre is America’s Old West, Native American romance, cowboy
romance, and anything to do with settling this great country – pioneers, the
railroad, the Oregon Trail, the gold discoveries, the Mexican War, the
stagecoach trails, the farmers, ranchers, lawmen and outlaws. Food for stories is endless in this genre,
let alone America’s magnificent western landscape. I think my love for the genre and for the
American West shows through vividly in my stories, as I get endless comments
about how real my characters are to my readers, and how the Old West comes
alive in my stories. I love the western
hero, who can be tough on the outside but soft on the inside, especially toward
his woman.
My newest book is out this month – DESPERATE HEARTS –
about a Montana Vigilante who falls in love with a mysterious young woman who
is obviously a “city girl” come to the little gold town of Alder, Montana with
no good explanation as to why she is there all alone. Little does our hero know that this woman is
wanted back in New York City and is fleeing a man who wants to get her jailed
or hanged. It’s a “wild west” love story
you will really enjoy!
INTERVIEW WITH ROSANNE BITTNER
1. What
is one of your favorite Myths/legends to write about?
Well, I’m not good at myths and legends. I love reality – real history – hot love
stories about two people whose love holds them together through the dangers and
challenges of settling America. I’ve
written about the French and Indian wars, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War
and numerous American historical adventures.
But if I were to write about a myth/legend, it would probably be
futuristic – as - what if this country were destroyed by nuclear weapons but
someone survived? What would life be
like for them, and what secrets would the elders of his or her world hold? I don’t want to say who; because this is an
idea I’ve had for a long time and I don’t want to give it away!
2. If
you could live back in time, what time period would you choose and why?
Well, that’s pretty obvious from what I already do write
– America’s Old West.
3. Have
you ever come across a song that might fit the theme of one of your books?
I’ve had a song for just about every book I’ve
written. One overall song that fits most
of my stories is the soundtrack from the movie THE BIG COUNTRY. It’s fantastic music that carries you right
out onto the wide open plains and prairies and the magnificent Rockies. The American West truly is “big
country.” My husband and I have traveled
all over the West and I have visited just about every place I’ve written about
in my books.
4. Do
you remember what you felt when you had your first kiss?
Oh, my gosh, you asked about my first kiss! It was over 51 years ago!!! It wasn’t my “first” kiss, but it was the
first time I kissed the boy who would become my husband. I was dating someone else and prom night we
went to the beach. When we got down
there, I kissed a “friend” with whom I’d joked earlier that he owed me a kiss
that night. Well, that friend was Larry
Bittner, and boy, he’s a great kisser! I
never forgot that kiss. A year later I
broke up with the long-time boyfriend and I literally hunted down Larry and
arranged it so I needed a ride home. Ten
months later we were married!! That kiss
got him in a lot of trouble!
5. What
was the most creative pick up line you've ever used on someone or someone used
on you?
I don’t use “pick up” lines and never dated around enough
to have them used on me. I guess the
closest I came was when I arranged that ride home with the man who would become
my husband. That was quite a “pick up!”
6. When
writing do you have a playlist of music you like to listen to? What are a couple
songs on it?
My playlist of songs is on my blog at www.rosannebittner.blogspot.com. Mostly I
listen to a two-cd set called “Way Out West,” which is a collection of
soundtracks from famous western movies.
I also love Celine Dion love songs and I listen to Bon Jovi a LOT.
7. What
do you do when you think nobody is watching?
Not telling!!
8. What
was your favorite childhood book?
My favorite childhood book was THE LITTLE RED HEN. But when I was in my teens, the book that I
absolutely loved and made me want to write about pioneer women was A LANTERN IN
HER HAND by Bess Streeter Aldrich. To
this day I cry when I talk about that book, and that was 55 years ago! It’s a wonderful story about a woman who
gives up her dreams to go west to settle in Nebraska with her new husband, and
her loneliness is just heartbreaking.
It’s such a “real” story – a beautiful story.
9. What
is your favorite addition to chocolate?
Almonds!
10. What
does your husband/significant other say about your writing erotic stories? What
about your family and/or do they read your books?
Well, I don’t write true erotica, but I do have some very
hot and heavy love scenes – 99% of them between two people very much in love,
which for me makes them even more erotic.
There is no more satisfying lovemaking than that between two people
crazy about each other and completely devoted to each other. It’s almost worshipful. And it can still be very “hot!” My husband doesn’t mind. After all, I have to “practice” with someone,
right? And yes, we still “do it.” We’re still in love. The rest of the family doesn’t mind. My grandsons probably think I just think
about love scenes but don’t do that anymore.
Hahahaha! Little do they know!
11. Besides
your own, what is one of your favorite series to keep up with?
My favorite series to keep up with is not in books. I’m crazy about HELL ON WHEELS, the fabulous
western on AMC about the building of the Union Pacific. I am totally in love with the hero, Cullen
Bohannon.
12. What
do you think you would be doing if you weren't writing?
I can’t even go there.
13. Do
you have any hobbies or activities you enjoy doing?
I do love gardening.
Recently I turned my back yard into a rose garden. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also my little
retreat where I can sit and just look at flowers and watch the birds and think
about my next book.
14. What
is something you do to de-stress?
I listen to my favorite music, take walks, and sit in my
garden.
15. We
all know about muses...what do you think inspires you to allow your creative
juices flowing?
It doesn’t take much because I absolutely love my
genre. Reading for research helps
because for everything I read for the book I am working on, the research opens
up more ideas for other books. Again, my
music helps – and I keep pictures plastered all over my office of hunky men who
inspire me for heroes, especial Native American men and pictures of Cullen
Bohannon (Anson Mount) from HELL ON WHEELS.
10 Fun Facts:
Oh, gosh – at my age I’m not sure how many I can come up
with. I’m not some young chick dating
around, but I do “feel” about 40 and I do love abs and muscles on men. One would be I have always loved my husband’s
arms. He always had great, muscly arms
(hate skinny arms on a guy). My husband
never lost at arm wrestling and was known for it when we were younger.
Another fun fact might be that I am a “bling” girl – Love
it. I wear bling all the time, including
bling on my Rock Revival jeans and glittery western belts.
I love doing things with my grandsons – now 11, 12 and
almost 14 – a really fun age. I’m not a
grandma who sits home knitting or who goes to the senior center every day. No way!!!
I love life and only sleep about 6 hours a night if I’m lucky.
Another fun fact might be that I love Las Vegas. My husband and I have a condo there and we
spend time there in the winter, getting away from the snow and cold of
Michigan, where we live.
Thanks so much for inviting me to visit your blog! Be sure to look me up on my web site at www.rosannebittner.com and my blog at www.rosannebittner.blogspot.com. I am also
on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Pinterest, and I have author sites on Google
and Amazon. Happy reading!
BLURB:
She’s a woman with a secret
Elizabeth Wainwright is on
the run. Accused of a murder she didn’t commit, she has no choice but to cut
ties with her old life and flee West. The last thing she wants is attention,
but when her stagecoach is attacked, she suddenly finds herself under the
fierce protection of one of Montana’s famed vigilantes…whether she likes it or
not.
He’s a man with a code
Lawman Mitch Brady is
sworn to uphold justice. He’s never met a man he’s feared, and he’s never met a
woman more desperately in need of his help. Something’s shaken the secretive
Elizabeth, but as he gets to know the beautiful city belle, he finds the only
thing he wants more than her safety…is her trust. Elizabeth longs to give
herself to Mitch, but when her past finally catches up with her, can she truly
trust her life to the vigilante who’s stolen her heart?
AUTHOR'S BIO:
Rosanne Bittner is an
award-winning novelist who is highly acclaimed for her thrilling love stories
and historical authenticity. Her epic romances span the West—from Canada to
Mexico, Missouri to California—and are often based on personal visits to each
setting. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two sons. You can find her
at www.rosannebittner.com.
I can't wait to read this, I love her books,
ReplyDeletePenney