ABOUT ROSANNA LEY

Rosanna has written numerous articles and short stories for magazines, and her novels have been published in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Norway, Hungary, Portugal, Lithuania, Denmark, Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel and the Czech Republic. All Rosanna’s titles are also being published by Quercus in the US.

Rosanna has worked as a creative writing tutor for over 30 years. She has led courses for colleges and universities in England, and runs her own writing retreats and holidays in the UK and in stunning locations in Europe. She has worked with community groups in therapeutic settings and completed an MA in creative writing for personal development in order to support this. She has also mentored and appraised the work of new writers.

Travelling and cliff walking are two of Rosanna’s favourite things to do. She also likes tennis, swimming, reading, eating very dark chocolate and drinking Italian coffee (preferably in Italy…) She lives with her husband in West Dorset and her favourite writing place is anywhere with a sea view.

The fragrance of burning incense at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon crept into Return to Mandalay

This stucco mermaid motif seen on a building in Umbria was the original inspiration for the ‘mermaid’s villa’ in The Villa…

Drinking mint tea in Marrakech while on The Saffron Trail

Goats on the beach on Belle-Ile – inspiration for a scene in Her Mother’s Secret

Quirky house on the beach in Fuerteventura used in Bay of Secrets

Discovering Cuba for Last Dance in Havana – where the memory of Che Guevara lives on

Rosanna makes notes outside the Teatro Civico (Alghero) for Little Theatre by the Sea

At the sanctuary di-Reggio as featured in The Lemon Tree-Hotel

The bridges of Venice inspired the story line of ‘From Venice with Love’

In the orange grove at the Palace Gardens in Seville for ‘The Orange Grove’

Researching Arts & Crafts Gardens in Dorset for ‘The Forever Garden’.

Rosanna’s Ten Writing Tips

  • Read – a lot.
  • Daydream – a lot.
  • Take time to research, think, plot, plan. Let the idea for your story compost. Create a space for it. Become immersed in the world of it.
  • Get to know your characters before you start writing. Think about them. Imagine them in certain scenarios. Listen out for their voice.
  • Write not just what you know but also what you want to explore.
  • Write (every day if possible). Do it. Make it a high priority in your life and then it will be.
  • Listen to criticism but don’t let it hurt you.
  • Edit ruthlessly. Less is more. Show don’t tell. (Which are both clichés but also avoid clichés)
  • Answer the important questions in every scene: Where? When? Who? What? and Why?
  • Never give up.
© Rosanna Ley
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