Release Day! -- Featured Author, Felicia Rogers

Today marks the second week of releases for Astraea Press!  Today we are featuring Felicia Rogers, author of "The Perfect Rose."

Abandoned by his wife and left to raise a child alone, Caleb Reed falls short of the ideal work-from-home dad. He needs a woman to help him, in every sense of the word. At the suggestion of a friend, Caleb agrees to hire Ariel Lauren on a trial basis.

As an orphan, Ariel has more issues than just how to make it on her on. Yes, she needs the money that Caleb offers her, but more than anything she finds she desires his love. One calamity after another befalls her and jeopardizes her new job and her chance at having a family. But through it all, Caleb is by her side, his gruff exterior threatening to melt in the face of their shared attraction. Will they decide to continue life alone or will the magic of Valentine's Day bring them together?

Tell us the "story" of your book and how it came to be.

A friend of mine has a child with medical issues.  One day I had a thought, why not do a story about a single father who needed help with his child.  In the beginning my thoughts were to make the child have major medical concerns but in the end I decided to keep the issues simple.  A thus my story was born.

 

Do you have a writing routine?

I do most of my writing before eight a.m.  I hesitate to say I’m an ‘early bird’, mainly because my husband would argue with me vehemently.  But rather I do my best work in the quiet, darkness of the early morning hours fueled by coffee and a fresh perspective.  And it helps that my children are still in bed! 

 

What inspires you?

Everything!  Nothing proves that more than my first novella.  The Holiday Truce all started because I wanted a story with an outhouse!  My novel, The Key, was inspired by someone I know that wouldn’t date a hot guy because of the vehicle he drove.  So definitely nothing is to small, insignificant or mundane to get my creative juices flowing.

 

What are you working on right now?

Promoting is filling a lot of my time.  But I am squeezing in a few hours on a new Inspirational romance novel with a mysterious twist.

 

Tell us something about yourself that your readers might not expect.

I’m a homeschooling mom of three children.  I’m also a Sunday School teacher, a Drama Team leader, and a volunteer for Girl Scouts of America.

 

Favorite Muppet?

Miss Piggy!  She’s outrageous, funny, gutsy, and won’t take no for an answer.

 

Favorite movie and why?

Star Wars!  Specifically ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (the 6^th movie in the series, sort of).  It has action, adventure, and of course, romance.

 

What are your goals for this year?

Goals for this year?  Hmm, interesting question.  I would love to publish a three part historical series that I’ve been working on.  But I think more than anything I want to see a novel with my name on the cover resting on a shelf in a bookstore.  When you hit a shelf at Wal-Mart you know you’ve hit the big time.  Boy, how times have changed!

 

What do you love most about Astraea?

Do I have to pick one thing?  If I do that poses a dilemma.  For there are many things I like about Astraea.  The people—owners, authors, and support personal—are wonderful!  Stephanie Taylor and her staff are friendly, quick with responses, and constantly in communication.  They are thorough and professional in all areas of the publishing business.  And I know there is not one that will disagree with the statement that Elaina Lee is clearly one of the best cover artists in the publishing world.  But in the end, I think the thing I love most is just being associated with such a family oriented company.  It means a lot to be associated with a publisher who is committed to a moral goal and isn’t afraid to tell everyone about that commitment.