LET'S WELCOME THE AUTHOR OF: Rising Star – Terri Osburn

LET’S

WELCOME

TERRI OSBURN

AUTHOR OF:

Rad-Reader:  This was a very good story, did you come up with Rising Star while you were writing one of your other series?  Or was this a book you always wanted to write?

Terri:  Rising Star came about quite differently than my other books. Back around 2008 or so, I came up with a second chance story about a country singer on the downslide in his career reuniting with the radio DJ he fell for back when his career was brand new. I wrote the first few chapters for a contest but never wrote the full book. Jump to 2015, and those characters ended up in my Ardent Springs series as Wes Tillman and his wife Harley. But they had a backstory that never got told, and that became Rising Star, just with new names, Dylan and Charley.

Rad-Reader:  The three ladies that work at the radio station- Ruby, Matty, and Charley- Did you come up with these characters all at the same time or as the story developed?

Terri:  Long before I put a word on the page, books percolate in my brain and the characters tend to show up. Usually while I’m trying to fall asleep. Charley would have come first, and I’m pretty sure Ruby walked in second. Matty showed up much later, which is her trait in the book. Late for everything. 

Rad-Reader:  Ruby’s character can be crass but then certain times she can be okay like at the remote at Esmeralda’s Pancake House – was it difficult to come up with different scenes for her?

Terri:   Ruby is one of those characters who takes on a life of her own. I never knew what she was going to say next until my fingers hit the keyboard. That makes her a very easy character to write.    

    

Rad-Reader:  Esmeralda’s Pancake House and Pharmacy Burger Joint that you describe are they fictitious or just names changed of places in Nashville?

Terri:  Esmeralda’s is a place I made up, but The Pharmacy is absolutely a real place and has the most amazing burgers. They also serve Brats and make their own sodas, one of which Charley drinks in the book. If you ever come to Nashville, I highly recommend adding The Pharmacy to your must-visit list.

Rad-Reader:  Did you write Dylan and Charlie’s character’s separate and then put them together or did you write them together? 

Terri:  I write all of my books linearly, which means I start at page one and write straight through. Both characters inhabit my brain the whole time. I know of writers who jump around in the book as they go, but I can’t imagine writing that way. 

Rad-Reader:  Was Dylan based on anyone you know or just a combination of people?

Terri:  Dylan is his own man. I love a good guy charmer who can make me laugh, and it seems a lot of readers do to. Lucky for me, he showed up in my head instead of someone else’s.

Rad-Reader:  Was it your idea from the beginning to have the female lead be a DJ at a country music station or did it just come to you?

Terri:  Yes, it was. Back in the early 2000s, I was a country radio personality and when the original second chance story that I mentioned earlier came to me, she was a DJ right from the start. When characters step into my head, they typically come with an occupation or some detail about how they live their lives. Charley was never anything else.

Rad-Reader:  I liked Charlie’s story of spinning her grandfather's records and talking into chair brush did you come up with that or did you hear that from a DJ?

Terri:  I came up with that to show Charley’s drive and how long this endeavor had been her dream. I never did the hair brush thing, but I wanted to work in the music business from a very young age. I think I was 9 when I became permanently attached to a radio. In fact, in 2^nd grade, I won a fundraising contest at my school and got to choose between a giant stuffed bunny or a portable 8-track player. I chose the 8-track player. (And I just showed my age!)

Rad-Reader:  You have so many little stories inside the big story like Dylan and his manager and the one between Pam and Casey the drummer.  How do you know when to put or bring them into the story?

Terri:  I wish I could say all of this is consciously planned, but my books come together very organically. As I write, I learn just as much as the reader does as she reads along. It’s common for a secondary character to be on the page for one purpose, but end up throwing all sorts of twists my way. That’s the magic of writing, and quite possibly my favorite part of the job.

Rad-Reader:  Did you start this story out with an outline or did you just sit down and start writing?

Terri:  I don’t do an outline so much as a loose collection of notes. Sometimes they’re in the Notes app on my phone, since they tend to come to mind at odd times. If I could figure out a way to take notes while in the shower I’d be all set, since a ton of my books show up while I’m singing in there. 

Rad-Reader:  The way you had them meet in the bar, but the whole situation was unique.  Was that your first idea or did you change it up to that?

Terri:  Having them meet at the Wildhorse (another real place) was always the plan. Since this is the first book in the series, I wanted to introduce Nashville as prevalently as I did the characters. Nashville is really a character, too, and the Wildhorse and lower Broadway are the epitome and heart of this town.

Rad-Reader:  Her best friend Elvis a good character and so was Matty, are you thinking about a book about one or both of them?

Terri:  I’ve been surprised by the amount of reader mail I’ve received asking for Matty’s story. I actually feared the readers wouldn’t like her at all, but I understand why they fell for her so hard by the end. Because of the requests, I’m trying to figure out how I can give her a novella of her own, but if I do, I have to say that Elvis won’t be her hero. He’s great for her for a fun fling, but Matty’s hero would have to be something a little different than an ex-military farm boy. 

Rad-Reader:  Your description of places not just in this book but in you other series, make the reader feel that they are there, is that something you are aware of or is it your natural talent and style of writing?

Terri:  Comments like this always surprise me and make me feel better. When you start writing, you quickly become aware of your weak areas, and description was definitely one of mine. But I’ve worked hard over the years to improve in that area. It also helps that I love these little towns, and they’re always based on a real place so I have excellent references. 

Rad-Reader:  Did you always want to be a writer?

Terri:  As I’ve already mentioned, my first dream was to work in the music business, but any kind of business was always on my mind. I think in 6^th or 7^th grade we were given one of those “What do you want to be when you grow up?” assignments. I found mine a few years ago and realized I’d made the whole thing come true. Basically, I wanted to own and run my own business, and that’s what I’m doing. Definitely not in the way I imagined at age 12 or 13, but I’ve definitely made my original dream come true. I just made it better by adding the writing part of the gig.

Rad-Reader:  Are you at a point now where you can pick the story you want to write – like Raising Star?

Terri:  I do pick all the stories that I write. Sometimes the first version of the idea gets twisted a bit as it’s brought to life, but the ideas are always my own.

Rad-Reader:  Do you or the publisher decide if there are going to be more books in a series?

Terri:  That’s sort of a team decision. Though this is a creative endeavor, it’s also a business and that means money is often the bottom line. So, if the publisher decides that a series is no longer worth pursuing on their end, we talk about that and decide how to move forward.

Rad-Reader:  Was it always your plan to have Mitch be the so called bad guy in the story?

Terri:  Yes, it was. Mitch was also in the original incarnation of the story, and was the villain all along. I didn’t know how complex a character he would grow to become, but he was the bad guy from the start.

Rad-Reader:  The lyrics you had in the story as songs that Dylan wrote were those your words?

Terri:  They were. I dabbled in songwriting many years ago, at least on the lyrics side since I don’t play an instrument. Due to copyright issues, if I wanted to use someone else’s lyrics, I’d have to get permission, which can be a complicated and often prolonged endeavor. It’s both easier to write the lyrics myself, and more fun.

Rad-Reader:  If your book was made into a movie who would you want to play…

Charley:  Jessica Lowndes

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/558727897503214379/

Dylan:  Josh Turner

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/94505292151519040/

Matty:  Blake Lively

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/467037423847704855/

Elvis:  Steve Austin
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387942955373409251/

Terri:  

Charley:  Emilia Clark
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/146930006566677000/

Dylan:  Scott Eastwood

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/310326230562624478/

Matty:  Dove Cameron

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/504403226997063227/

Elvis:  Jai Courtney
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453104412488372549/

Rad-Reader:  What song or songs out to day best describes your couple and or their relationship or your story as a whole?

“In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young"

What he wants to tell her when he can't find Charley.

“Better Man – Brett Young”

While Dylan's on the road he wants to be a better man.

“You Had Me From Hello – Bon Jovi”

The overall relationship of how Dylan feels.

Terri: 

"One Night Girl by Blake Shelton"

 Because it says everything Dylan was thinking that first night he spent with Charley.

"What Ifs - Kane Brown (w/Lauren Alaina)" 

Because it’s expresses how their relationship progress, with Charley constantly saying, “What if this doesn’t work?” and Dylan saying, “But what if it does?”

"It Happens Like That - Granger Smith"

Because it pretty sums up the whole book. Sometimes love happens just like that.

Rad-Reader:  What is your favorite dessert?

Terri:  I love a good chocolate cake, but I can be just as happy with a fudgy brownie. That Coca-Cola Cake they have at Cracker Barrel is amazing.

Rad-Reader:  Who pushed you the most saying, “You would be good as a writer.  So, go for it.”?

Terri:  This one is easy. Back in 2006 I met a group of readers who also dreamed of writing their own books. One of those ladies in particular spent the next five years pushing me along. I have no idea how many times she told me I was a writer, but thank goodness she did. I’m not sure I’d have really made a go of this without her constant support and encouragement. So thanks, Fran!

Rad-Reader:  What is your next project and when is it coming out?

Terri:  I’ve already finished the second book in this Shooting Stars series, called Falling Star, and it should release in March of 2018.

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers buy your books?

Terri:  All of my books are available on Amazon, or you can order the print version wherever books are sold. Most stores don’t carry them because I’m published by an imprint of Amazon, and there are all sorts of politics involved that I can’t do anything about.

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers find you on the Web?

Terri:   

www.TerriOsburn.com or on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TerriOsburnAuthor

Thanks for this opportunity. This has been fun!

Really enjoyed the story looking forward to your next book can't wait to see what you have in store for us.  Thanks again for being with us and taking time from your busy schedule.  I know what it's like.

You are now a 1 Rad-Reader Misfit and you can come back anytime and bring your newest book and add it to our 

Shout Out: An Author's Place anytime.

Thanks again,

Pat & Char