A Slice of Cake With... Rachel Bross

This week I am delighted to be having a slice of cake with author Rachel Bross.

Normally this is where I give you the interviewee of the week 3rd person bio but Rachel's intro was so chirpy I thought I'd leave it as is and let her southern charm wash over you!

My name is Rachel Bross. Allow me to give you a good ole Southern greeting of “Howdy! It’s so very nice to meet you! How’re y’all today?" I am currently twenty-seven years old, a mother of two, and about to start my career in nursing. My main hobbies are painting, sewing, and singing. These hobbies are the closest to writing I can get, where I still retain the ability to tell a story. I have my Associates of Arts in English and Associates of Career Tech in Practical Nursing from Northwest Mississippi Community College. My senior year of high school, I won second place in the Delta Youth Writing Contest sponsored by Morgan Freeman when my maiden name was Brooks. I have been writing since I was sixteen, but didn’t get serious until I turned nineteen when I had the great joy of taking the creative writing classes available on campus. Writing has become a passion of mine. I want to move people out of their realities and into worlds unknown. Growing up, yes I had friends to play with and television to watch, but I never was truly satisfied until I got hooked into a book that took me to worlds beyond my reach, but at the same time made it seem obtainable. That is what I want to do with my writing, for children, teens, and adults. I want to make them feel like they can walk through the cover and stand right next to the characters.

What kind of books do you write?

I write many different types of stories. My main current WIP, part of a trilogy, is considered medieval in nature with a sprinkling of magics, swordplay, and sarcasm. I like to dabble with whatever pops in my head, so I’m also working on an on the fly, action-packed, raid full of air pirates, metal parts, and steam. Lots of steam. Another is about the sensual caress of working hands with the occasional rooster call or oink. I have others, but their just in thought bubbles at the moment. I hope this is enough for now.

Can you describe your writing why?

I write because it’s second nature for me. Not only do I want to, but I have to. Once the idea emerges, I must get it down or else I’ll be itching until I do. I don’t stay away from a pencil and paper, laptop, or phone for very long so that I can get down what I want when I want. I often toss and turn with running thoughts keeping me up at night. I didn’t know I had this urge in me until after high school, but once it showed itself, it’s never gone away. I can be sitting in the car or in the tub, looking at a picture, or even pose a question to myself and come up with a story right there on the spot, that’s how great the desire to tell stories is for me.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

That’s a difficult thing to do, seeing as how it’s really three books and two aren’t quite done yet, but I’ll share from the first book. This is after the antagonist has been vanquished, leading into the denouement:

As Lamia dies, Peter screams out in agony beside them.

Sarah turns her head, and he becomes quiet. She waits for a long moment, and he moans. She watches him try to get up, falling back to the ground each time. She runs to him, dropping on her side, and almost slides past him.

Hovering her hands on either side of his head, Sarah fights back tears. “Ssshh sshh, don’t move Peter. I’m here. It’s okay, it’s over.” She looks up.

Aengus stands near her, looking down at them.

Sarah offers a weak smile.

Aengus doesn't return the favor, only turns away.

Strange. Shrugging, it off, Sarah grabs Peter’s tunic, pulling him to her, and sets his head in her lap. Heat soaks through her pants. So hot, it forces her to let his head lie on the ground between her legs. She strokes his cheeks, jerking her hand away from his scorching hot skin.

Peter coughs. Smoke, embers, and ash float from his mouth.

She looks him over. His clothes are still intact. Nothing else seems out of place. He looks like his normal self. Then he looks up at her. She jumps, putting her hands to her mouth, and a small squeal escapes.

Peter coughs again, rolling onto his side, and tries to get up.

Sarah moves a leg, putting out a hand to help only to pull it back from the heat.

Peter stops, returning to his back, and tries to speak, but his words are scratchy. “What is it Sarah?” He lays his head between her legs again, looking up at her.

Sarah shifts, anticipating the burning heat against her legs, but it’s bearable. “Peter, your eyes, they’re no longer blue, but orange, red, and yellow.” She sits on her feet, placing his head in her lap.

Peter smirks, coughing out more smoke and ash, and puts his hand on Sarah’s knee. “Do they look bad?” He closes his eyes, taking in a deep breath only to cough it back out.

Sarah laughs, sniffling, and stifles back tears. “Of all the things in the world right now, you’re worried about your new eyes looking bad?” She laughs again, wiping her nose.

Tell us about your latest project

Strange Glow Collective is the survivalist story of two seven-year-olds, Peter, the boy next door, and Sarah who reluctantly come to live with each other through tragedy. On Sarah's eighteenth birthday, she finds a glowing rose in the woods. She and Peter try to hide it on the farm. A shared secret. When Sarah’s mother finds it, she immediately sends the two of them on the run with nothing more than instructions to run past the new moon. Just before Sarah and Peter leave, her parents fall dead without warning. While on the run, Sarah must come to grips with ultimately being the reason her parents are dead while not having enough time to mourn properly. Peter fights another side of himself that is slowly changing despite his efforts to ignore it. His feelings towards Sarah get tangled in awkwardness, built-up anger, and jealousy towards a new man in her life. What lies ahead for Sarah and Peter on their journey of discovery and fright? Dive on in and discover a world that even they are still trying to navigate.

What is your favourite cake?

My favorite cake is undoubtedly strawberry with cream cheese frosting!

You can check out Rachel's books on Amazon.

Join me next week when I'll be having a slice of cake with Nils Odlund.

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

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Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find all her books on Amazon. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.