1.)
Do you use pictures as inspiration at the start
of a book?
Most definitely!
Pulling up photos on the internet is essential in helping to visualize the
interior of my characters’ homes, their facial features and colouring, what their
work environment might look like, etc. Antiques play an important role in Gullible,
so I visited websites such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s and browsed their
inventory for inspiration on the type of high-end treasures a millionaire like
Jonathan Woodward, the main male character in Gullible, would have in
his collection. I also watched several videos of live auctions on YouTube that
were a great help in writing the auction scenes in my book. One video I happened
upon showcases the extremely rare pair of Singing Bird Pistols from the early
1800s. This video served as the inspiration for the big con Siena Ricci aka
Marie Lacroix, the main female character, pulls on Jonathan Woodward. My recommendation
to the readers of Gullible – take a few minutes to view this video (search
Singing Bird Pistols on YouTube). It will truly enhance your enjoyment of the
story.
2.)
What is your favourite period drama?
Wow, this is a
difficult choice. I’m drawn to so many period dramas for different reasons. I
love Downton Abbey for its inside look at the landed gentry and the challenges their
lifestyle faced during the early part of the twentieth century. Grantchester
gives me insight into how my parents and grandparents would have lived and the
issues they’d have dealt with in the post-WWII era. And, thinking back on my
first jobs out of college, I can really relate to the smoke-filled offices of
Mad Men and the chauvinistic attitudes of some of my older male colleagues at
the time. Whoops – did I just give away my age?
3.)
Are the titles of your books important?
Yes! I had a different
title selected at first, but as the story developed, I decided Gullible
was much more suitable and intriguing. Can anyone honestly say they were never a
gullible victim at least once, even if they were merely the scapegoat in a harmless
prank? So, when Siena Ricci exploits that trait in the unsuspecting men she victimizes,
we can all relate and empathize with the targets of her scams. But the question
that keeps the reader guessing is, who is the title really referring to – the gullible
men Siena lures into her cons, or Siena herself?
4.)
If you’re struggling with a scene or difficult
character, what methods help you through it?
Sleeping on it
overnight works best for me. I let my brain work on the problem while my body
is resting. In the morning, I usually wake with the perfect
solution to my
dilemma.
5.)
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I’m an early
bird. I am most productive during those quiet morning hours, I start to drag in
the afternoon, and I’m pretty much useless after dinner.
6.)
Who’s your favourite author? Why?
I have many favourites,
depending on the genre. If I’m in the mood for a good crime novel, Michael
Connelly is my go-to author. Ruth Ware is my favourite for psychological thrillers,
and I love Elin Hilderbrand for Women’s Fiction.
7.)
Do you have a pet peeve?
Oh, I have
many pet peeves – just ask my husband! At the top of the list, however, is people
who misuse grammar. I am a self-appointed member of the Grammar Police! I also
hate when items aren’t put back in their proper place (not that I’m accusing
anyone I live with!) and I’m forced to go hunting through the desk drawer for
the letter opener or through the refrigerator for the jar of mustard.
8.)
Can you tell me a little about your next project?
With pleasure!
I became so invested in the characters I created for Gullible that I
decided to continue their narrative. Currently, I’m writing the sequel titled Vengeful
in which my main character, Siena Ricci, finds herself in a sticky situation when
she has a chance encounter with a man who was the victim of one of her cons a
few years back. I’m also gathering ideas for a third book to round out the
series.
Release Date: June 14, 2023
Published by The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 978-1-5092-4851-3 (Paperback);
978-1-5092-4852-0 (Digital)
Pages: 396
Link to Amazon: www.amazon.com/Gullible-Rosemary-Kubli/dp/150924851X
Link to Barnes and
Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gullible-rosemary-kubli/1143179526
Blurb:
Siena Ricci is shrewd, seductive, and an
expert in the art of deception. Masking her identity behind the guise of Marie
Lacroix, a specialist in antiques and objets d’art, she swindles her employer’s
wealthy clients out of their valuable possessions. She hasn’t yet met the man
she can’t manipulate, but then the con she’s playing on Jonathan Woodward has
only just begun.
Jonathan proves to be an easy mark, but
he’s also enticingly irresistible. As their relationship heats up, her plot to
steal his multi-million-dollar antique trinkets begins to unravel. Noticing a
subtle change in Jonathan’s demeanor, Marie questions whether she’s still in
control of the con or if she’s blindly become the gullible victim of her own
scheme.
Bio:
Rosemary Kubli writes the type of books
she loves to read – intrigue and suspense mixed with a pinch of romance and a
clever plot twist or two. Her professional experiences run the gamut from Human
Resources and training to accounting and banking, with publishing being her
most recent endeavor. Aside from the seven years she lived in southern
California, she has always called the northeast corner of Ohio her home.
Rosemary and her husband of 45 years enjoy traveling – on land to visit family
and friends and on sea to any destination a cruise ship will take them. When
not working on her next novel, she can be found discussing the latest in
literary fare with her book club, playing a rousing game of Bunco with some of
her oldest and dearest friends, researching her ancestry, volunteering in her
community, burying her nose in a book, or obsessing over the latest
binge-worthy TV series.
Social Links:
Linktree for all links https://linktr.ee/rosemarykubli
Website www.rosemarykubli.com
Facebook Rosemary
Kubli – Author | Facebook
Instagram www.instagram.com/koobswrites/
Twitter twitter.com/KubliRosemary