Title:  Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary

Synopsis: A forgotten diary, lost for forty years, reveals the story of a rediscovered love nearly lost in 1999 Paris. An unforgettable romance filled with danger, intrigue, and a love without boundaries, Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary tells the story of forbidden love, salacious adultery, cunning jealousy, and unrequited passion. This complex and stirring story, revolving around star-crossed soul mates, Canadian author Joy Wychmere, and Irish actor Cullen Malone, tells how their immeasurable love is put to the test by three vindictive people, the worst, namely Philippe Robealard, a delusional, misguided homosexual artist who is determined to make the unsuspecting actor suffer for stealing the man he loves, until he has paid in full with his life. Joy and Cully battle through a series of misunderstandings, embarrassment, torture, and injury until Joy is left fighting to survive a direct gunshot, while Cullen is given the choice of consuming a bottle of barbiturates—certain to take his life—or lose Joy forever, if he does not. If this is not enough, the trapped couple’s fate grows direr when fire is discovered raging toward them. Endurance and determination is stretched to the limit, asking if love truly can survive all odds, and time.

Author: Rusty Blackwood

I invited today’s Guest Author, Rusty Blackwood, to my Blog to answer a few questions about her writing and her latest book. 

CH: Please tell us in 20 words or less, why we should read your book.

RB: If you enjoy a poignant romance with intrigue and suspense at every corner then you will definitely enjoy this read.

CH: Was it hard creating believable situations and issues or did you take them from real life?

RB: I think all authors, to a certain extent at least, draw from their own life experiences when creating a vehicle and the same could apply to me with Passions in Paris, but the general story is totally fictitious. I’m a hopeless romantic who believes in the existence of soul mates and love everlasting, so for me there was no difficulty in the least creating this story.

CH: Are any of the characters similar to you?

RB: I suppose there are a few that I have given a bit of myself to, possibly their outlook, their ideas, but I would have to say that the main heroine of the story, Joy Wychmere, is very much like me. Her features, her personality, and her blatant determination to stand by the ones she loves at all costs, and also her beliefs regardless of what may come her way. I would hope that if I were ever to encounter what Joy does, I would handle it with as much grace and finesse as she does.

 CH: Did you have to do any special research for this book?

RB: Oh yes. I have a great affinity and adoration for Paris though I have never been there—at least in this life—but I do hope to one day make it. To do so for the promotion of this novel would be a fantastic adventure to say the least, but regardless, I hope to one day get there. Through all of the research I did for Paris, I believe, if I ever do get the chance, I will be able to find my way around quite easily. And because there are a lot of medical aspects throughout the story, especially the latter half, I had to be sure of proper protocol and technique, so as to be politically correct in my own terminology, as well as that spoken by the doctors and nurses who are prevalent throughout the novel.

CH: Where are you from? Does your background have any influence on this book?

RB: Though I’ve always loved to write and have done so since elementary school, writing was not what I had intended to do with my life; therefore, I was never professionally trained in the field. I actually became a serious writer by accident, and also at an age that would be considered late in life, having become one at the age of fifty-one. I was born on October 5, 1949 in the small city of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, but grew up on my paternal grandfather’s farm in rural south-western Ontario. I don’t think I’ve had that much different of life than millions of others; however, I do believe that experience in life, especially in the department of romance with its often unsettling trials and tribulations, certainly contributes to the creation of an in-depth novel such as this one. So in that respect, I believe that what I have both encountered and endured throughout my life thus far, qualifies me to speak from a very good perspective.

CH: What kind of feedback are you getting from readers of the book?

RB: Well, those who have written to me after having read it, have had some very nice things to say.  I also have people that have purchased a book at one of the numerous signings I’ve done show up at another to tell me how much they have enjoyed it, and were glad they took the journey. I find the majority of people have become entangled in not only the immense love shared by Joy and Cully, but the incredible journey they find themselves immersed within. I would hope that everyone who has read it, enjoyed it, and would recommend it to their family and friends.

CH: How long does it take you to write one of your books?

RB: That is a somewhat difficult question to answer simply because it very much depends on the book itself. Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary is a total revamp of the original two-part Passion in Paris, which was released in 2010 and 2011, respectively. I had been composing poetry for years, but the original Passion in Paris story was my very first attempt at not only writing a book, but also writing a romance novel. I began writing it in 2001 and it took the better part of ten years to complete. This, of course, is from first conception to final completion and publication. I was never satisfied with the story being done in two parts, which was something that was initiated by the publisher I used, but I found it totally confusing for the reader; not at all what I had hoped, which was what enticed me to totally revise it into one novel, which became Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary. It was the way I had intended it to be in the first place, and I am most proud of what it has become. The total revamp took about one year for the interior and copy edit, and an additional few months for completion of cover design. At the time that I wrote the two-part series I was employed in a different vocation, so my creative time was very limited. Had it not been that way, I would think the story would have taken half the time to write. I often have a couple of projects on the go at any one time, and depending on which book and its page count, have written one within the time frame of a year.

CH: Take us through your writing process. When you get an idea, do you map out the book beforehand, or do you allow the characters to write their own story?

RB: I am a character writer as opposed to a plot driven one. I first like to create my characters and then create the scenario I wish to place them in. I very much agree with the adage that characters often write their own story, for they very often have a way of taking over and projecting their views and personality into the flow of the story; and directing it where they wish it to go. However, I do think about the story I’d like to write, what I’d like to say, and how I’d like to project it, but without my characters I find that method difficult. So, I create my characters first, and then the story.

CH: Are there any books that influence you as an author?

RB: I love descriptive writing, but I pretty much walk to my own drummer when it comes to writing. I have a few whose work I greatly admire, I believe all writers do, but I can only create a piece based on the way in which I perceive it within my mind, and projected through my own feelings. I feel everyone is unique, regardless of their chosen field or the way they choose to project. I think everyone must find what best works for them.

CH: When did you realize that you were meant to be a writer? 

RB: I would have to say around the year 2000. As I stated above, I have always loved to write, but because of a different direction throughout my life I was never afforded the opportunity to do it in the way I might have liked. Around the year 2000, my life took a turn, which allowed me to follow the path which I took. Learning this trade has been fulfilling in many ways, and I continue to enjoy it immensely.

CH: What’s next on the agenda in your writing career?

RB: I am presently working on my next romance drama entitled, Willow’s Walk. Though a beguiling romance drama, it greatly differs from Passions by way of story, but the strength of the heroine could be greatly compared to that of Joy Wychmere and the way her determined character stumbles through life.

CH: Do you have a website?

RB: You may visit my official website at https://rusty-blackwood.com. From there you may take links to my Facebook and Twitter pages.

CH: Where is your book sold?

RB: It is sold on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle – in fact all Amazons worldwide; Barnes & Noble in paperback and Nook; CreateSpace in paperback; and for all e-pub formats at Smashwords.

CH: Any closing remarks?

RB: I would very much like to take this opportunity to thank you, Cheryl Holloway, for having me on your Blog, and for showing interest and support to both me and my work. And to tell your readers that the road of the Indie author is not an easy one to maintain, but through supportive efforts and the attention given us by Ms. Holloway, and others like her, the road is becoming a much easier one to navigate.

CH: Rusty, thank you for sharing your writing journey and your book with my audience.  

On this blog, I “Pay it Forward” to other authors by spotlighting them with a Guest Author Interview. I only ask that they too “Pay It Forward” to any other author.                                                                                                                     ~ Cheryl Holloway