Living in rural Michigan, Roseanne Bittner is an historical romance fiction author whose books are generally set in the American West of the 1800's and feature historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Roseanne Bittner is the recipient of multiple Romantic Times awards and the recent winner of the 2011 Mid-Michigan RWA Angel Award, "for devoted service and inspiration to other writers!" voted on and presented by her fellow MMRWA members.
The author has also received the Distinguished Woman Award presented by the City of Coloma, MI (her hometown) and in 1995 her book Wildest Dreams won the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers for Historical Romance.
Roseanne Bittner on the Republication of Wildest Dreams
Suite101: Wildest Dreams through Sourcebooks Inc. is a reissue of your 1994 novel, how did you go about getting it republished?
Roseanne Bittner: My agent made the necessary contacts for getting Wildest Dreams republished. Sourcebooks is also reissuing my novel, Thunder on the Plains in July. Since I have such a huge back-list, and because very few of them have ever been available as e-books (and have long been out of print), I have many, many stories that can now be offered to new readers via the e-book trade. I've had 57 books published since 1983, so there are lot of younger readers out there just now discovering me.
Suite101: I saw on your website that your agent is in talks with a Hollywood rep about your books being great movie material, if Wildest Dreams gained a movie deal, who would you cast in the character roles?
Roseanne Bittner: I'm not sure who I would want to play the characters in a movie version of my book(s). I only know they would need to represent a spirited, brave woman and a rugged (usually tall, dark and handsome!) hero. It's difficult to give specific names because my readers will picture my characters in their own individual ways. I would be so thrilled to end up with a book being sold for movie rights that I'd gladly trust the producer to pick the right actors to play the roll of hero and heroine!
Roseanne Bittner on Writing
Suite101: How much research do you pour into your books?
Roseanne Bittner: I have poured over 30 years of research into my novels. I have a passion for America's Old West and its rich history - and I love the western landscape. I have hundreds of books in my own personal library as well as drawers full of notes and magazine articles. Most of my research books came from the libraries of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Nebraska. And, of course, now we writers have the privilege of searching the internet for information. My husband and I have traveled the west for about 25 years now and have visited nearly every location I have ever written into my stories. They are all based on real history and I often use real historical characters in short segments to bring even more reality to my tales. I have very often been referred to as a great story-teller.
Suite101: When writing, do you have a sort of outline you stick with or do you generally tend to go with the flow?
Roseanne Bittner: I use a general outline when writing, but for the most part the story just "happens" as I write. I much prefer no outline at all. I love to just have a very general idea of time period and perhaps a particular historical event around which I want to write my story, and then I just start writing and let the characters lead the way!
Suite101: What is the best thing about being a romance writer?
Roseanne Bittner: The best thing about being a romance writer is the fabulous readers we generate. I think romance fans are the most loyal and supportive readers of any genre. Most of my fans have been with me for years and are always after me to write more. And now with e-books, I hope to garner many, many new readers!
Suite101: Can you tell us a little about what you are currently working on?
Roseanne Bittner: Currently I am working on a post civil war love story called Desperate Hearts. I have another brand new book with my agent called Paradise Valley a western romance, that I hope will sell soon!
Suite101: What do you consider the highlight in your writing career?
Roseanne Bittner: I'm not sure what would be the highlight of my career. There are so many ups and downs in this industry. Selling that first book has to be one of the best moments - then selling #2 and #3 and eventually realizing that "somebody out there" likes me enough to keep buying my books. For a few years I was selling 2 - 5 books a year! I was thrilled when my Indian story Song of the Wolf finalled for a Romance Writers of America RITA award in 1993, and even more proud when my Harlequin inspirational story, Where Heaven Begins, took second place in Women Writing the West's prestigious Willa award. That contest is open to writers from all over the world!
Suite101: Who is your all time favorite cowboy hero and why?
Roseanne Bittner: If you visit my blog site, you will see by my posts that I have several favorite cowboy heroes. If you're talking actors, it would have to be John Wayne in "The Shootist" (what a fabulous, realistic, poignant story!) - and Clint Eastwood in "The Guns of Josie Wales." And I can't leave out Tom Sellek in "Quigley Down Under" - and Sam Elliot makes a great, rugged western cowboy in any western. I don't really have a particular hero among the cowboys who really lived. It's the iconic image of the rugged, stalwart, independent western hero that I love, their independence and untamed nature.
Suite101: Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer or tips on the publishing industry? If so, what are they?
Roseanne Bittner: Today it's difficult to give advice on how to get published. Things have changed a lot since my hay-days of the 80's and 90's. The entire industry has been transformed, many publishing houses have folded and even book store chains are closing because of the advent of the e-book. Today just about anyone can publish a book using sources through the internet.
I wouldn't feel legitimately "published" if I just threw stories out there using a self-publishing internet source. I prefer keeping my agent and letting her market my books to publishers and sell them through contracts.
The best advice today is - whether through a publishing contract or by self publishing – write the best story you can write- and write from the heart! You have to love your subject matter, do your research, and sit down on your fanny and write every day. If you are born to write and are a good story-teller, and if you do your research and turn in a well-written book, you will eventually sell something and get it published. Perseverance and determination help, too.
I wrote 9 books and had close to 100 rejections before I sold something in 1982 - and what I sold was that 9th book! I was learning as I wrote. I would finish one story and go right on to another, figuring that if this one doesn't sell, maybe the next one will - and that's exactly what happened! I wrote through many personal hardships and "created" time to write - and with a full time job and two active little boys back then - I didn't sleep much!
Suite101: What do you want readers to take away from your stories?
Roseanne Bittner: I want my readers to take away a real appreciation for America's rich history when they finish my books. I want them to respect and admire the pioneers who settled this country, to understand the impact America's growth had on its Native Americans, to think about the freedom for which our ancestors fought and the independent spirit they instilled in the hearts of Americans that remains to this day. I also want to write characters that are so real that my readers can't forget them - and will want to re-read my books because it was such a good story.
I had a major character in my novel In the Shadow of the Mountains, who was a (fictitious) founding father of Denver. Toward the end of the book the heroine (the character was her father) had a monument built near Denver in this man's memory. I made him so real that I had fans write me wanting to know where they can find that monument if they visit Denver! I had to tell them it doesn't exist!
Suite101: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like your readers to know about you or the books you write?
Roseanne Bittner: I think I've said just about everything I'd want my readers to know about my writing - mainly that I have a deep love for the subject of America's Old West - and a very strong desire to tell the truth about our Native Americans and their own rich history. I think all of this comes through in my stories. I would advise anyone who wants to know the "real story" about our Native Americans to read Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown.
And anything by Allan Eckert is fabulous reading for learning about America's early years of settlement in the East, the Eastern Indians and the Revolutionary War. All his books are historical fact, but written like novels. You can't put them down, and when you realize this is "real" history, his books leave you in awe of the courage and determination our forefathers must have had in order to face the challenges of settling a wild, untamed country. It shows you how far men will go to preserve their freedom.
More Information about Roseanne Bittner
Wildest Dreams (first published by Bantam Books) is available from Sourcebooks Inc. February 7, 2012. The author will be attending the Romantic Times writers conference in Chicago 11 - 15 April 2012, conducting a workshop called The Power of Passion and will take part in their author signing. For more information about Roseanne Bittner; her life, advice for writers and a look at all the books she's written, readers can go to her website.
Jessica Hastings - Jessica Hastings is a published author/poet, professional reviewer, and avid reader. Schooled in journalism and creative writing, she ...
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