What inspired you to write your memoir?
I raised four sons, and I’m proud of every one of them. But it wasn’t always easy. I included them as much as possible in the extra-curricular activities I sponsored as a high school English teacher. My evenings were often spent juggling dinner and grading papers. And though we were struggling to get by from paycheck to paycheck, we did our best to make them feel that they had everything they needed and most of what they wanted. I entertained my classes with funny stories about my boys, and in brainstorming for my next topic, i just started writing stories about them. I laughed and cried through much of this process, and when I finished this book, my boys, now in their 20’s and 30;’s, were my first customers. I realized that working moms everywhere have to juggle nurturing with their careers, and I thought I had some good stuff to share. That’s how I came up with Raising the Roses, titled, of course, after our family name.
About your Book:
Raising a family is often challenging and exasperating, especially if you’re raising four boys. The ups and downs of marriage and family life are explored on the crazy roller coaster of parenthood, riding on a constant balance between getting everybody where they need to be and managing a budget and career. From “Superwoman Is a Myth” to “The Shelf Life of Girlfriends,” you will laugh out loud at the Rose family’s challenges of raising kids in a modern world as you empathize with your own family relationships and the sound parenting advice the book offers. It’s a “must-read” for mothers who are overwhelmed with micro-managing children, households, money, and too little time. Raising the Roses is a delightful memoir of the trials and tribulations of raising four boys with sanity and a sense of humor.
How did you decide how to publish your book and where is it published through:
I struggled with various publishing platforms like Smashwords and Mobi,and when I discovered KDP Select and Createspace, that was my answer to publishing. I’d just retired, and paying a vanity publisher was out of the question. I purchased and studied several Kindle programs, and as I struggled with formatting and publishing, I got frustrated and just went on to the next book. I figured it all out after I finished the third book, and put them all on Kindle within a week. Of course I’d like to land a publisher someday, but the competition is stiff and it’s hard to sell books unless you’re already famous.
How do you see writing a Memoir as different from writing other genres of books?
I love telling a good story. My first book, 7 Tips for a Successful Marriage even when Opposites Attract, was my first venture into becoming an author. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would because it was too much like doing a research paper. When I got into Raising the Roses, then writing became the joyous work that I’d anticipated. I love a good story, and this book allowed me to tell my own in the way I best remembered it. I loved reaching into the past and recalling so many memories that I’d forgotten, or hadn’t even thought about in years. My last book, Tales from the Family Tree, is a short story collection, some based on my family and others just made up. I love making choices about characters and plot,and deciding how the story should go, even if it’s based on real-life events. There’s a lot more freedom, of course, in writing fiction.
Author Bio:
Ernestine Rose grew up on the west side of Chicago during the turbulent 50’s and 60’s. Adopted by an older couple,she spent a great deal of time as a child reading and participating in dance and drama club activities in school. Bradley University and the University of Dallas prepared her for a successful career as a teacher of English, speech and theater in Peoria and Fort Worth, where she earned numerous educator awards. As a retired public school teacher and mother of four sons,she is making her debut as a writer with the publication of three books: 7 Tips for A Successful Marriage, Raising the Roses, and Tales from the Family Tree. She currently works with DVA Productions, a local theater company in Fort Worth, teaching acting classes and directing plays. Inspired by Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, her focus in both writing and theater is on the power of language,love, and family.
Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Book On Amazon
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