Author’s
Bio: Rita Gordon is a California native living in the Bay Area and a
San Francisco State University graduate. As an emerging voice in the
contemporary romance genre, Rita brings a fresh perspective to storytelling.
Inspired by the power of love and the beauty of cultural exploration, her
writing captures the essence of human emotions, leaving readers spellbound with
each page turn. 

In addition to writing, Rita is an avid reader and has amassed
an extensive collection of books that fill the rooms of her house. When not
reading and writing, she travels, draws flower designs for her coloring books,
or volunteers in her community. Her debut novel, 30 Days in Belfast, is
available in print and e-book. 

Deliah
Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

Rita A.
Gordon: I had been writing stories since college but never completed an
entire novel. In 2016, I challenged myself to complete a novel in thirty days
because I read somewhere that was possible. Although I didn’t finish my story
in thirty days, I did complete it in about three months. Then I let it sit
until 2019, when I started editing it. I believe the concept came from applying
math to completing a novel. I thought if I wrote one day in my character’s life
every day over thirty days, I could finish the book in thirty days. It’s funny
when I think back now. And Belfast happened to be the birthplace of the person
who was the inspiration behind the main male character on whom I was trying to
build a backstory. 

DL: How do
you handle writer’s block?

RAG: Writer’s
block is a real thing. I step away from the writing and do other things. I
listen to songs on the music playlist I created for the book I’m writing, which
helps put me in the mood of the book and my characters. I also keep a Pinterest
board of my character inspiration and location settings. So, I keep the book’s
Pinterest board open while I write to keep me in the mood and setting. 

DL: What
is your writing process?

RAG: My
writing process aligns with how plotters write. I keep a spreadsheet that
tracks the characters, ages, persona types, and family Relationships. I also
show which future books they will appear in. I develop a spreadsheet that maps
out the scenes, and I create writing prompts that help me know what I should
write about in each chapter. With 30 DAYS IN BELFAST, I kept a
calendar that mapped out the days. A lot of activity happened in the book in
the morning, afternoons, and evenings, so I had to keep meticulous notes. 

DL: What
was the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

RAG: The best
writing advice I received is to simply write. Don’t worry about editing, etc.,
while writing. Let the thoughts flow and put it on the page. Then, later, you
can go back and fix things as needed. I applied that to my current work in
progress, and it was amazing how fast I could put my thoughts on the page.

 DL: If you
were hosting a dinner party, which three authors would be your dream guests and
why?

RAG: Oh, this
is easy. Kennedy Ryan, because she was born to write. She’s the queen of prose
and romance. Kenya Goree-Bell because she is unabashed—and I love it. Her
energy is contagious, and her stories are bold, creative, and smoking hot.
Evelyn Sola because she has bewitched me with her stories. All three of these
authors are on my auto-buy list. 

DL: What
are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?

RAG: This is a
tricky question since I self-published. A lot of marketing is based on
algorithms. So, for indie authors, if you post on social media, it’s essential
to get audience engagement in the form of likes, follows, subscribers, and,
most importantly, reviews. People like to tell you in comments, emails, or DMs
how much they like the book or your work, which we absolutely love, but if
readers don’t go onto Amazon or Goodreads and leave a review, it doesn’t help
the author get seen by more readers. So, the key is to get readers to post
reviews and buy the book.

 DL: What’s
your favorite line from a book?

RAG: “Be with
me always—take any form—drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where
I cannot find you!” – Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights, by Emily
Brontë. 

DL: Would
you like to share an excerpt from 30 DAYS IN BELFAST?

RAG: Here is a
blurb from the book. 

Just one distraction could lead to
failure—several may spell ruin.

As the daughter of the wealthiest Black man in
the country, Rose Ross struggles to make a name for herself as the COO of her
father’s tech company. She’s even forced to let go of a promising relationship
to focus on her career, but still cannot seem to escape her father’s Legacy.
Rose fears that if she remains at Rick Ross Enterprises, she will never rise
above the vast shadow his name casts. 

When her ailing friend reaches out to her for
help, Rose doesn’t hesitate. She has just thirty days to curate the most
important charity art exhibition in Europe and break into a field she is truly
passionate about. However, just before she leaves for her flight to Belfast,
her father informs her that she has only three weeks to decide whether she will
succeed him as CEO. 

With her concentration already split between
one life-altering decision, Rose is stunned when she meets her friend’s
handsome and overprotective brothers. Right away, she recognizes an undeniable,
yet different, attraction to both. 

Her mind in turmoil, Rose’s focus is now
fractured among love and business. If she cannot make a decision—or if she
makes the wrong one—she will lose everything she has worked for and, perhaps,
more. 

DL: What
new projects are you currently working on?

RAG: My
current work in progress is a three-book fiction romance series. The first book
in the series is called SEVEN DAYS IN SEATTLE. This book is about
an attorney who flies to Seattle the week before an important meeting to get
away following a breakup. Then, a stranger at a bar offers a pretty
distraction, a one-night stand that turns into a week-long affair. They soon
discover fate is about to punish them for staying anonymous… by throwing them
into each other’s lives in the worst possible way. 

DL: Where
can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

RAG: Readers
can get more information here:

• Website: https://www.ritaagordon.com/
  [all my books and corresponding links to buy are here]
• Amazon
  Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ritagordon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorritagordon
• Instagram:
  https://www.instagram.com/rgordonshaw/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorritagordon
• Book Buy Links:
• Amazon: https://a.co/d/amRB9wX
• Barnes
  & Noble: https://bit.ly/30DIBbn

DL: Thanks so
much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know
you and your work.

RAG: Thank you! 

Originally Published on https://vocalexpressions.blogspot.com

Deliah Lawrence Attorney, Author, Blogger, Workshop Facilitator

Deliah Lawrence is a Maryland-based attorney and award-winning author of two romantic suspense novels (Gotta Let It Go and Gotta Get It Back) set in Baltimore. She’s also a blogger and workshop facilitator who writes poetry and short stories.

When Deliah isn’t writing, you can find her reading a book, indulging in her addiction to investigation discovery shows; or painting her yet-to-be exhibited oil artworks of landscapes, portraits or whatever else comes to her creative mind. Constantly on the go, she is also a member of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland and Sisters in Crime.