Aspiring Author Thursday: Introducing Ruth Josse

I've been blogging buddies with Ruth for a few months now. She is SO nice! Her blog posts are so fun and I love seeing what she's up to. Check her blog out, here. And best of all? She's a mommy who writes! Let's get on to the interview! :)

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I've always loved reading, but it was a long time before it occured to me that I could write stories for others to read. For a semester I worked for my high school newspaper. My big story was on the origins of Valentine's Day and I had no idea what I was doing. That was my first inclination that non-fiction is not my thing. Then I had an awesome English teacher who asked us to write a story. She enjoyed what I wrote and I enjoyed writing it. That was probably the first spark. Years later (like marriage and three kids later) I began to dabble in writing. I secretly began a couple pitiful books that thank goodness never made it to The End. But I found that I loved this writing thing. Then a friend of mine asked me if I wrote, since my mom did, and I shocked myself by confessing my deep dark secret. She invited me to join her writers group and that is where my journey took off.

Your mom writes too? How awesome! And nonfiction is so not for me. I'd accidentally throw a couple fairies or elves in there and it wouldn't be pretty. :)

Do you have a writing schedule, or do you just sit down whenever you get a spare moment?

How I wish my life was stable enough to have a schedule! With my husband's ever changing work schedule and four kids running around, I'm lucky to find a spare moment. They tend to be found during my baby's nap time or after my kids go to bed. Although writing at night is not my favorite. My brain goes to bed before I do.

My brain goes to bed early as well. Someday I'll have more time to write. *sigh*

Could you tell us a little about yourself? Random facts? Hidden talents?

I'm one of eight kids. My dad was a rocket scientist and the smartest person I have ever known. Unfortunately I didn't inherit any of his smart genes. However I did inherit the writing gene from my mom. I'm a SAHM to four awesome kiddos and married to someone who makes me laugh. I've been a piano teacher for almost seven years. I'm not a fan of cooking and only do it so my kids don't starve. I don't mind grilling, though. I have a deep-seated love for Bonanza. (Did you know there are words to the Bonanza song? Yes, I'm a dork.) I live in teeny tiny town and the only things you can do here are go to the post office or go next door and get your teeth worked on at the dentist office. No gas stations. No stores. There are some who wonder how we survive. They forget about the wonderful invention called The Car. I have a quiet voice and can't count the times I've answered the phone only to be asked if my mommy is home.

I hear ya on the cooking thing. Hate it, but have to do it. And I had no idea the Bonanza song had words! lol If a dentist lived next door to me I'd move. *shudders*

If you were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing you couldn't live without? (Besides your family and a laptop of course.)

I guess food. Because I hate fish and coconuts and aren't those the only things you can eat on a desert island?

I love coconut anything. Almond joys. Drool... :) You are totally missing out.

What is one book you could read over and over and over?

I could read ALL of the Anne of Green Gables books again and again..

Those books are so good. I love the movies too.

What book are you dying to read this year?

There are so many! I spend a lot of time looking for books to read and get overwhelmed by all the great choices. This is torture for an indecisive person. I love recommendations so I don't have to pick. I wish I had more time to read, though.

You heard her, guys! Recommend some books! Ready, GO! :)

What genre do you write and why?

It took me a while to figure this out. My first attempt was an adult romance. Wow. Bad. Then I tried my hand at adult fantasy. Better. But not my thing. Too epic. Next was a MG fantasy. Getting closer. I still have to finish it or my writers group might kick me out. Now I'm writing YA. And loving it. This is where I belong. Also, I have an affection for the awesome race of teens. So it fits.:)

Sounds a lot like my attempts! :) I never tried MG though. I just can't bring myself to write something without a little romance in it. Yes, I'm a dork.

Do you have any writing rituals? Music, silence, eating, etc.

I prefer to listen to music unless I'm stuck and really need to concentrate. Then after I've checked Facebook, blogs galore, my email and the Amazon deal of the day I get down to business and read over the last few pages to get into the story. Also, if I'm writing at night, I like to write in the dark. Why? Who knows.

I like writing in the dark, too. Unless I'm writing a creepy scene. Then I find myself looking over my shoulder, waiting for someone to get me.

Where do you come up with your ideas? Dreams, while driving, etc?

Anywhere. From things I see around me. The news. Surfing the internet. Reading. One of my recent short stories came from a little blip of a story I saw on my internet's homepage. Another one came when this girl walked by me at a strawberry farm and for some reason I wanted to write about her. What do you think she would of done if I asked to take her picture? I'm still lamenting that I didn't.

Ha! You totally should have asked. Even though I wouldn't.. ;)

Any advice for aspiring authors?

I don't know if it's my place to give any advice since I'm still trying to figure all this out for myself. But some of the best advice I've been given is to believe in your talent enough to invest in it. Take the time to learn more, practice often and work hard. Also, don't drive yourself crazy by comparing yourself to others.

That last line is so important. I totally agree.

Random Writing Question: Your MC is about to travel through time. Where would he/she go, and why?

There is no way in the world that Lana would ever get into a time machine. She's way too wary of the unknown. Her best friend Aden, on the other hand, would totally do it. And he'd go back and save his mom.

Thank you SO much, Ruth! You are awesome!