Today we’d like to introduce you to Loretta Rogers.
Hi Loretta, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After I retired from teaching, I needed something to keep me busy. Because writing was part of the required curriculum, I thought I’d practice what I taught my students and write a novel. I soon learned that writing a book was vastly different than teaching sixth grade essay writing. After reading about a writers’ group in my local paper, I attended a meeting, then later joined the group. Over the years I have attended a variety of writing conferences to further hone my craft.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Writing has been a journey of frustration, rejection, not giving up, and love. I’ve spent hours staring at blank pages, waiting for the perfect scene to magically appear on the page. Then comes the rejection process. There’s nothing more crushing than reading, “We loved your idea but didn’t fall in love with the words,” or worse, to receive a form rejection letter that begins, “Dear….” and the editor didn’t even bother to type my name. Then when life gets in the way it’s difficult to find time to write. However, on a bright note, thirty plus novels, and several which were best sellers, I consider myself an author.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I was a middle school teacher. After completing my master’s degree, I did a tack-on certification in English as a Second Language (ESOL). Because my husband and I lived in an agricultural community, and there was no one to teach the migrant students, I was transferred from regular ed classes to ESOL 7th-9th grade, and I was also attached to migrant services. I also taught adult ESOL classes three nights a week. I found the experience quite rewarding. Still, after so many years, I hear from my former students and enjoy hearing about their accomplishments.
How do you think about happiness?
I am a simple person. Sitting on the front porch with a cup of hot tea, or a glass of lemon water, watching nature and listening to the birds chirping makes me happy. Not to sound egotistical, but reading a positive review for one of my novels also makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lorettacrogers.blogspot.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rogers.loretta2018/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loretta.c.rogers
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/booksbyloretta
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwD8ONOTgGxyQ14A9_BqMzg?view_as=subscriber
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Loretta-C.-Rogers/author/B004948XP2
