Meet Rose Young

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rose Young. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rose , thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

As a writer with two published murder-mystery novels, I’ve heard that writer’s block is a thing, but I’ve fortunately found ways to work around it and avoid becoming stuck.

For my recent novel, Love of Art & Murder – From Mystic to the City of Steeples, my editor suggested I add more depth to my villain’s character and add more action to improve the story. I agreed I was having difficulty and even though I was a little stuck, I luckily have learned how to tap into my creative ability.

The mind likes to think ‘it’s easier to give up’, and self-doubt usually creates the struggle within, but I’ve found we can bypass that thinking, put creativity in charge, and unlock the door to better ideas.

My solution is to walk away from the computer. I’ve personally learned I think better creatively when I am moving, preferably walking in nature.

In this case, I entered my backyard meadow on the edge of a forest and for two hours I zigzagged across the field, even speaking out loud, to review the storyline. I continued until the villain was refined and the action throughout the story had the added depth and nuance.

The imaginative journey I take while walking allows my creative ideas to come to the surface of my consciousness and in two hours, I figured out how to rewrite the character and make the story superbly more interesting. I then outlined all the new details and where they fell into the novel.

If you are new to this idea, it’s best to first realize – the solution does exist and all you actually need is to tap into more information. In some cases, it might help to visit settings that will inspire your descriptions, do further research, or speak with experts to enhance your story. But in my case, I needed to fire up my imagination, so I used the contemplative technique of imagining the scenes while I walked.

This approach makes the creative imagination the leader and then the logical thoughts follow through to work out the details. This type of creative problem solving has worked for me many times. Practicing this way to enter the creative flow has led me to more confidence. When I use this technique and change my approach to creativity, I have no blocks.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My journey to become a mystery writer started when I was a young reader with armloads of mystery novels from the library. My curiosity was always piqued by the investigative methods, and I loved the surprise endings.
Add in my career in landscape garden design, and voila, I was led to create my first mystery novel ‘Roses, Wine & Murder – In the City of Steeples’, 2017. The long-awaited idea came after I volunteered for a day in a New London, Connecticut city garden.

It was 2011 and my friend Ann was a gardener with the local Beautification Committee. The site became my muse and inspired me to use New London’s rich surroundings and regional history to introduce the mystery I always wanted to write. The novel starts with a wealthy wine connoisseur who is found dead in the city garden that my heroine, Roxanne Samson, tends.

It is difficult and rewarding to create a good mystery. It must be alluring, exciting, and somewhat complex. In both of my novels I utilized the local flavor of the Mystic/New London region in Connecticut to highlight and celebrate many popular and historical sites so the reader can track the locations, and even visualize walking in my character’s footsteps.

In ‘Love of Art & Murder’, 2023 the mystery is about the intoxicating realm of art obsession, theft, and greed. I was inspired by a notorious true art crime that is still unsolved today. I expanded on known details and delved into creating how the crime was committed successfully. The research enticed my imagination into action.

When artist Marilyn Maroney is found impaled by her own sculpture, the reader enters the multifaceted art world to solve the mysterious death. The unique investigation of Detective Dan Morrison entails a grand tour of the art world, which includes the personal world of artists, the private world of collectors, buyers, and art dealers; and the public world of art galleries and museums.

Much loved or hated characters make a story dynamic. I give an insider’s peek into the calculating mind of thieves, or a view of death from Dr. Angela Storm, the enigmatic medical examiner. Our madcap duo of Roxanne and Georgi are surrounded by intrigue and danger while they embark on the adventure of hunting for clues to help solve the case.

As most writers I pull details from people I know to create a character. Roxanne is a problem-solver, who is an expert gardener with knowledge of poisonous plants (like me & my gardener friend Ann). Georgi is a twenty-something, flamboyant wine aficionado who runs the Vinho Verde Wine Bar serving wine tasting dinners. Georgi reminds me of my gay guy friends at art & design school in Boston. I miss their vibrant energy, so I created Georgi. (while also envisioning the lively energy of the famous actor, Dom DeLuise.)

One of the keys to becoming a writer is learning how to come up with a really good story by being an active researcher. Wherever I go, my radar for information is on. I carry a small pad of paper, use a Notes app on my phone to jot down ideas, and use voice recording app, too. I found it helpful to read non-fiction and historical information on the topics I feature, such as how brain activity determines death.

For me, the adventure must seem real. Therefore, to enhance my characters, I interview plenty of people about their professions. For example, I interviewed a real fire chief, for my character, Chief Samson. His experiences dealing with odd calls for help, extreme fires, and presidential visits to the Coast Guard Academy were woven into my story.

Additional fieldwork is to visit historic and popular locations for setting descriptions and scenes for character interactions. For my first novel I researched all aspects of wine, winemaking, and visited many vineyards (as I knew nothing). For a certain scene, I rode the Long Island Ferry a few times and was fortunate to meet the captain who invited me to the helm for my research. (This would not have happened if I only sat at the computer. Plus, I’m having fun!)

I love supporting the local region in the stories for the sake of tourism, history, and culture. Writing has been a challenging, worthwhile journey and I’m thrilled to have received great reviews for both novels. Here are two examples:

“Roses, Wine & Murder – In the City of Steeples’ is an exciting read, intelligently plotted and accomplished to a masterly finish. The picturesque setting, coupled with the gripping plot, with wine dinners, poisonous plants, and a gritty investigation make this story a memorable one.”
‘Readers’ Favorite’ 5-Star Review by Divine Zape

“Original, fascinating, and with more unexpected plot twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado, ‘Love of Art & Murder’ is great entertainment for the dedicated mystery buff.” ‘Midwest Book Review’ – James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief

Upcoming Event – September 5th 2024, The Connecticut Author Trail
Rose has been invited to present her novels at this prestigious event at The New London Public Library at 5:30 p.m.
After Party – September 19th, 6:30 p.m. all are invited to the Author Trail Finale at the Garde Arts Center, State St., New London, Connecticut

– Meet all the authors on the CT Author Trail including a special presentation by a NYT best-selling author.

Rose is a Member of:
– Connecticut Authors & Publishers Association, CAPA
– Association of Publishers for Special Sales, APSS
– Alliance of Independent Authors, ALLI

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Be curious. Combine your research with your creativity. Be willing to expand your consciousness outside the box of the norms.
Be courageously open-minded to venture into the new and unfamiliar.
I’ve discovered creativity doesn’t have a time limit, but productivity does if you want to earn a living.
Recommended reading: On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King because he encourages you to be yourself and write with your imagination.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I do a walking contemplation in nature if it is a worrisome problem, or sit under a tree, or by water for an imaginative journey. This is similar to a vision quest (American Indian term) where you can ask for guidance and see what you are guided towards. Realize you have the ability to find the answers to what you need.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photos by Rose Young

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