Rosa Temple

Rosa Temple is the published pseudonym of Fran Clark, who lives in Herefordshire (as it turns out, that’s one of my favourite parts of the UK 😊).

A self confessed lover of ‘early chick lit films’ like Sabrina, Barefoot in the Park, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Rosa honed her writing skills as a ghost-writer for romance novellas and series, as well as steamy adult novels.

As of June 2023, Rosa had published eight books, 4 that were self-published, 3 published by HQ Digital, and 1 published by Simon and Schuster.

Meet Rosa Temple

Questions On Writing

What is the hardest part of your writing experience?
I always feel that the hardest part is starting to write a new book. I’m usually full of ideas and get really excited when the book seems to be writing itself in my head. But when I sit down and set up a document that says, ‘Chapter 1’ at the top of the page, I always find myself lost for words. I get caught up in the misconception that I need to find the perfect opening line and until I find it I can’t move on. It drives me crazy and happens every time. I’m one of these authors who starts writing from the beginning as opposed to writing various scenes and then putting them together to make the whole. I do manage to get over this hurdle by telling myself that this isn’t the final edit and I’ve got lots of time to change things before a single soul sees the draft. I get there in the end, eventually. 

You have self-published books, and had them traditionally published by HQ Digital and Simon and Schuster; is your writing style or process any different for each?
No, for each it’s always the same. I approach each book from a place within and I write from the heart. Characters talk to me and tell me their story. So even if I think a scene is going to go one way, the character steps in and takes over so that I end up with plots I hadn’t plan for. I hope that makes sense and doesn’t make me sound as if I’m hearing voices (haha). However the book is going to be published, I’m always writing themes and characters that I hope are relatable. I think just being yourself comes across and I think readers can tell if a story is being forced. 

I adored The Slow Lane Walkers Club – is there anything that you had to remove from it that you wish you’d kept in?
There were aspects of Daniel’s character that the editor thought wouldn’t endear readers to him. I had to soften him a bit. He came across as an ungrateful so-and-so in the early draft. For some readers it took a while for them to warm to him in the actual book but this is mainly because he is so indecisive to start with and, perhaps, a little immature. He does have endearing qualities but he did have to learn how to bring them out. Realistically, aren’t a lot of us like that? No one is perfect. And we all need to learn life lessons. Daniel certainly does. 

Do you make yourself write everyday/regularly, or do you only write when inspiration comes?
I generally have to write every day, even if it’s just a paragraph because the world of the story tends to take over my life. If I’m working to a deadline I will set myself a certain number of words a day or set a timer and write as much as I can in the time. I sometimes have self imposed deadlines. But I make a point of not beating myself up if I don’t make it. I love to write so I don’t want to put a downer on myself. 

How much planning/world building do you do before writing, and how much comes along as you write?
I do very little planning. I tend to just go with the flow once I get going. It’s rare for me to write plot notes. That may or may not happen once I’m well into the story and get to a point where I think ‘What should happen next?’ If I don’t have an immediate answer then I might thrash out a few scenarios in the notebook. Usually my plans change the second I start to write. But to stop and have a think isn’t a bad idea. 

What does literary success look like to you?
I’d like to have more readers than I currently do and to have more readers leave reviews. It’s great when I get comments about how my writing makes people feel (the nicer comments, of course). I think making a connection to readers is brilliant. They’re the ones I write for and I’d love to get into conversation with them. 

How do you celebrate when a book is published?
Usually with a good meal and lots of expensive wine. I’ve never had an official book launch, can you believe? The Slow Lane Walkers Club will be one year old on 26^th May and I’ll be celebrating that with a Giveaway! 

Questions On Books and About You

Firstly, the most important question, what books are currently ‘on your bedside table’?
So many my bedside is toppling over. On my Kindle I’ve got A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe lined up as well as Milly Johnson’s The Woman In The Middle. Also The Keeper Of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis and that’s just to name a few. For physical books I have Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club and American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I’m coming to the end of The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennet which I love!  

What children’s book would you suggest every adult read?
The Cat In The Hat by Dr Seuss. In fact read the collection. I don’t think there’s anything more entertaining. Plus it rhymes! 

What does your writing space look like?
Mostly it’s a mess. I’ve moved my desk from one corner to the opposite corner at the back of my living room. When I’m in serious writer mode I tidy it up and I have been known to have a vase of flowers on my desk. I have two screens and my laptop is on a stand. I have a weekly planner diary, a To Do list notebook and a notebook that accompanies the book I’m working on. I have Vitamin C tablets, a glasses case, Post It’s and scrap paper on my desk. I have lipstick in my pen tidy in case I need to pop out and looked like death when I started writing. 

How many books do you think you own?
Probably not as many as most writers. Because I moved from my London flat to a small cottage in the countryside, I had to give books away because I don’t have the shelf space. I do usually read on Kindle so my library is pretty massive on that as well as countless sample downloads. 

Who is your literary icon?
Tough question. At the moment it’s several writers on the Simon & Schuster list. I follow a few on Social Media who are doing amazing things; finding agents, having a second book come out and winning prizes. I am very impressed with a writer called Angela Cairns. She has the same agent as me and recently she self published a women’s fiction series. The first book made her best seller. Now that is impressive. 

If you could own one rare/1st edition copy of a book, which one would it be?
I think it would be a classic like Jane Eyre. I had lots of classics before I moved out to the countryside and it was a few of those I gave away to people because they couldn’t all come with me. I did keep my paperback of Jane Eyre but had it been a 1^st edition there would have been no question of me holding on to it. 

Is there an author who you always read?
I always read Jane Fallon’s books. Love her writing style and she always entertains. 

And finally, are there any plans for any new books? If so, what teasers can you give us?
There is one in the pipeline but I can’t say too much about it yet. Just one hint, the occupation of one of the main characters is the same job I do. No, she’s not a writer. I also work in another capacity and if you can find out what that is – you’ll have your answer. 

Thank you so much Rosa for those little insights😊  

Rosa Temple Books