Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Rossi.
Hi Carla, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Like most writers, I’ve written my whole life. From poems in grade school for a poetry contest to angsty teen essays. In 2004, as my children got older, I got back into reading fiction, and that led me to writing again. I always thought of myself as a short story or essay writer. I couldn’t imagine the mechanics of putting together three hundred-plus pages that would make a whole book – and make sense. But I joined some professional author groups and found my people, and learned the craft of writing and storytelling. Many plot and structure workshops later, I have published more than twenty books and/or novellas. I have also studied editing and have become a writing teacher and coach, a mentor, and a developmental editor. Currently, I write sweet romance and inspirational fiction as Carla Rossi, and I have a three-book young adult supernatural Christian fantasy series under the pen name of Carla Thorne.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s always hard for creatives in any media to find their audience and make money from their work. It can be an uphill battle to get the attention of the publishing world and equally, if not even harder, to go it alone in the world of independent publishing. I feel I surrounded myself with the right people in the right organizations to help me learn the writing craft and the process to get books out there. I developed a thick skin and took all the constructive criticism, and tried to get better. It’s a lot of work to study the market and the commercial fiction genre formulas and to continue to get better craft-wise every day. And while taking care of the marketing and development of your writing platform and career, you have to have time to write good books. I feel like I’ve found a balance, but the work never ends. Through it all, I still love writing and helping others reach their writing goals.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I write sweet romance and inspirational fiction. I am known for the ‘witty banter’ in my books and for the romantic comedy aspect in my stories. I only know how to write funny most of the time. Yes, there are deeper plot points and reflective and layered characters, but I do write happily-ever-afters with no sexual contact on the page, and it usually turns out to have many comical moments. In addition, I am in the process of completing a non-fiction, devotional-type project that is faith-based.
On the mentoring and editing side, I love to work with writers who are just getting started or have hit the wall on a story. My superpower is story/character development and structure. It’s a fun puzzle to me to figure out what went wrong in a story. Weak hero, not enough conflict, too long, started in the wrong place… There are a million reasons why a book isn’t working or hasn’t sold to a publisher or isn’t selling well. Most issues can be resolved, especially if the story is at least a little bit planned out before the writer puts a word on the page. Often writers come with an idea, and it looks different after we’ve brainstormed the story elements and structure and put a plan in motion.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am a coal miner’s daughter, and I was once snowbound for thirteen days. Those things are foreign to people in Texas, where I live. I am also a published songwriter and musician.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carlarossi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlarossibooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cardinalpointromance/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarlaRossiWrite
