Author Interview: Rachelle Paige Campbell
As my reading has been sporadic and my ability to write book reviews has been limited, I am relieved that I can at least provide you with introductions to some great authors and characters. This week I have the privilege of introducing you to Rachelle Paige Campbell. Â
Rachelle Paige Campbell writes contemporary romance novels filled with heart and hope. She believes love and laughter can change lives, and every story needs a happily ever after.
You can connect with her through:
Website |  Newsletter | Instagram |  Amazon | BookBub | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Rachelle with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
RPC: Dark
CC: Print or E-book?
RPC: Print (I love bookstores.)
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
RPC: Dog
CC: Morning Person or Night Owl?
RPC: Morning person
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
RPC: Summer
Now for a couple of fun personal questions:
CC: How can we pray for you?
RPC:Â I want to pray that we all recognize our similarities over our differences. Our communities make our country strong and we can’t be ripped apart from each other.
CC: That is definitely something our country needs in a big way. It has broken my heart to see our country so divide.Â
What is your favorite Bible verse? Why?
RPC: John 8:32. “You will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” I feel this so deeply in my soul. When you are guided by Him, you can’t be dissuaded by (sometimes petty) other influences.
CC: Amen. It’s so important to stand firm with him. It makes things so much easier to deal with life, even when life isn’t easy.
What are you reading right now?
RPC: At the moment, I’m reading craft books as I edit two manuscripts. I’m looking forward to the next batch of Love Inspired suspense books.
CC: I have a soft spot for LIS. I have few waiting for me as well.
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
RPC: I love to garden. I live in the Midwest so I have a limited season. I take full advantage of the warm days.
CC: I envy your ability to garden. I have a black thumb. Although, I am very proud of the ONE tomato I have. . . even if it isn’t really growing anymore or turning red . . .
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
RPC: I’ve been telling stories since I was a kid. It wasn’t until I had my first child that I decided to pursue my dream.
CC: I think storytelling just runs through must writer’s blood. Â
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
RPC: When I’m writing a first draft, I “see” the plot. I end up editing to make sure my readers can “feel” the book.
CC: That makes sense to me!
What is your writing Kryptonite?
RPC: The words “hey mom” snap me out of my writing groove in a second. It’s a little complicated writing over summer break but I figure it out.
CC: Boy do I feel that one. Interruptions are TERRIBLE.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
RPC: I do my best writing in the morning. Over my morning coffee, I review my notes for the next scene and think about it while I’m walking my dog. When I get home, I’m ready to dive in.
CC: Routine makes such a difference when you have the ability to write.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
RPC: At the start, I wasn’t hitting goals as fast as I “thought” I should. Learning to embrace my process and my path has made so much difference in my mindset. I love the journey I am on and am so grateful for every step on the way.
CC: Learning what is realistic for yourself and your life is really key. I’m struggling to learn that one myself.
Let’s talk about your release, Love Overboard.
Forced to share a stateroom with her ex-fiancé, Caitlyn fakes amnesia to stay on board her dream Alaskan cruise. Torn over deciding his future, Cruise Director Gregory tumbles into helping her. As they grow closer, unspoken secrets threaten to rip them apart, for good.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo
CC: Which character was the most challenging to create?
RPC: Caitlyn was a challenging character because she is shy. My dad is a very shy person. I’ve grown up watching people make assumptions about him based on his reticence. The opinions are always wrong so I wanted to explore shyness from the inside out.
CC: Having personal insight into that must have been helpful and helpful for understanding your father.Â
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for Love Overboard?
RPC: While writing Love Overboard, I discovered a slew of old travel videos available on Amazon Prime. I watched hours of Alaskan cruise videos from the 1980s and 1990s, produced by cruise lines. It was like traveling back in time to my childhood.
CC: Oh, that is fun. I didn’t even realize they had those!
RPC: When I’m selecting character names I first check to make sure I haven’t used the name already. I am not trying to create a universe populated with relatives across my non-series books. Then I figure out the year they were born and look up the popular names from that year on the social security database.
CC: That Social Security database is SO incredibly useful for that!
RPC: I have always wanted to take an Alaskan cruise (still dreaming about it). I have been lucky enough to take several Caribbean cruises. On one trip, my husband and I found a hidden room in a fake smokestack with a beautiful view and a baby grand piano. The discovery sparked a story (and you’ll see this in a scene).
CC: Oh that is cool! Now I’ll have to be searching for secret rooms if I ever make it onto a cruise!
What do you hope readers will take away from reading your story?
RPC: I hope readers will be encouraged to take the trip, take the chance, and fully embrace their lives.
CC: That is an exciting encouragement.
Thank you so much for joining me today and providing all of us with a wonderful distraction. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
RPC: Alaska is my dream trip and I hope to go one day.
CC: I am right there with you. It’s definitely on my bucket list.Â
Thanks for getting to know Rachelle Paige Campbell with me. Don’t forget to check out her book, Love Overboard, and answer the question below to let us know where you would travel.
Reader question:
What do you think about historical stories? Should they portray things with as much accuracy as possible to the time, or should authors make adjustments for today’s cultural perspectives?