Featuring Rosanne Bitner, author

First published in 1983, Rosanne Bittner is a USA Today best-selling author of 68 novels involving American history, from the French & Indian Wars through the settling of America’s Great West. Dubbed an “emotional powerhouse” for her memorable love stories, 95% of Rosanne’s realistic, gritty westerns have garnered 5-star reviews on Amazon. She lives in SW Michigan, but has traveled the West for 30 years and has visited most of the locations in her books.

What is your primary or favorite genre to write? – Western Historical Romance (America’s Old West)

Do you have other genres you write for? – Historical romance that includes the French & Indian Wars, the American Revolution, America’s Civil War and the history and plight of Native Americans, as opposed to writing strictly America’s Old West. Also dabbling in contemporary Native American stories.

Which project is your favorite so far?  Why? – My Outlaw Hearts series. Hoping to be able to write a fifth book and then more books about a couple of the hero’s (Jake Harkner) grandchildren. This is my favorite project because of the psychology involved regarding the hero, Jake Harkner, who was horribly abused as a child. That abuse, and the fact that he killed his own father affect every decision Jake makes in life and is the reason for things he does that often get him into trouble with the law. Jake is the ultimate bad man with a good heart, a man you can’t help loving in spite of his ruthless reputation.

How long have you been writing? – I have been writing for 35 years. Over the next 3-5 years, I intend to keep writing in the genre that I love and hope to also publish my first big contemporary story as well as a WWII story.

Where is your favorite place to write? What kind of atmosphere do you need? Quiet, music, coffee, wine? Any tricks to get in the zone? – I write at home in a cozy corner of my living room. If hubby is watching TV, I put on my earphones and play my favorite writing music, mostly theme songs from famous westerns. That’s what gets me in the zone. I can write anywhere if I have my music and a computer handy.

What genres do you prefer to read? – I read mostly American western romance, but not a lot of them. I mostly read the books I have in my huge library of research books. Research reading, for me, is entertainment. A favorite book I read at 14 is A Lantern in Her Hand, by Bess Streeter Aldrich. It’s a beautifully-told story about a woman who follows her husband to Nebraska when there was virtually nothing. It’s a wonderful description of a pioneer woman’s loneliness.

What’s your favorite book or movie? – The Proud Breed by Celeste De Blasis. It’s an older western romance but a fabulous love story and right up my alley because it’s a three-generation family saga, my favorite kind of writing. A beautiful story about a high-born Spanish woman and her gringo husband from the East, and it involves the rich history of California.

What do you do for fun when you’re not writing? – I like to garden and watch the birds at my feeders.

You can learn more about Rosanne at these various links:

• blog:  http://rosannebittner.blogspot.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosannebittnerauthor
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosannebittner
• Street team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rosannebittner/
• Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/rbamericanhisto/
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/rosannebittner
• Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/b000apxl.10