Willow Rose - Writing Bestsellers During a Pandemic

Willow Rose is a multi-million-copy best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 75 novels. Several of her books have reached the Kindle top 10 of ALL books in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books all over the world. As our Author of the Day, she tells us about her latest book, Never Walk Alone.

Please give us a short introduction to what Never Walk Alone is about.

In Never Walk Alone the world is on a Lockdown due to a virus that is much like the coronavirus, but it is more dangerous and kills children. It has originated in Miami and that’s where Harry Hunter lives. When a woman disappears from her apartment he is thrown into an investigation that will soon lead him to what really happened to the town and where the virus came from.

What inspired you to write about a virus and a missing woman?

I was inspired by a story I read about the Italian patient zero. He was the first one to get the Coronavirus, and got very sick from it. He went into a coma for three weeks and once he woke up, he had no idea what was going on or what had happened while he was out. Before he got sick, no one knew about the virus and now the entire world was on lockdown. His father had passed away from the disease. I couldn’t imagine how awful this guy must have felt, when finding out how many people he had infected because he didn’t know he was sick till it was too late. I felt so awful for him. That’s when I knew I had to write about it.

Tell us more about Harry Hunter. Why did you pick this character for this specific story, as opposed to Eva Rae, Jack Ryder or Mary Mills?

The books I write about Harry Hunter are way more action-packed and fast-paced and that was perfect for this type of story.

How has Covid-19 affected your writing?

It made it harder. While it was at its peak, I felt myself having a hard time writing at all. It was like everything I did write, faded in comparison with what went on around us. That’s why I knew I had to write a virus book. Nothing else made any sense. I wrote it as a mystery, so I stayed true to the characters and their former storyline.

You have a knack to writing non-stop action and suspense. How do you pull this off?

With every scene I ask myself, what is the worst that can happen right now? Then I let that happen.

Why did you title this one "Never Walk Alone”?

Because I feel that this is what this lockdown has taught me. We don’t go through life alone. Being isolated has made me appreciate the people around me more. I can’t wait for it to be over, so I can throw a big party for all my friends.

What did you have the most fun with when writing this book?

I really enjoyed Reese’s story. She’s the one who wakes up and realizes she’s infected half of Miami. It was a lot of fun - and scary - trying to put myself in her shoes.

Who was the first character you ever created/invented?

I had an imaginary friend called Caspar when I was a child, and I wrote a story about a boy named Tarzan when I was very young. He wasn’t very strong and it was tough for him becauser with that name everyone expected him to be. He was just an ordinary boy who wanted to be like everyone else.

What is your favorite book written by you?

That’s like asking me to choose between my children. I can’t do that. I love them all.

When working on a new book, what’s the first thing you do?

I write an outline for about twenty chapters so I know where I’ll be going. I always have the beginning middle and ending ready. I need to know where the story is going to go.

Do you write your books for yourself, or do you write them with a particular reader/audience in mind?

I just write whatever story wants to come out the most. I have the next three-four books all planned out and more that are on the drawing table. I guess I write for myself, because I have to. I think I would be writing even if no one read them.

What are you working on right now?

The sixth book in my Eva Rae Thomas series. It’s called It’s Not Over, and will be out sometime this summer, hopefully.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

They can sign up for my newsletter or follow me on social media. If they just want to check out my books, they can go to Amazon and find my author page. Right now the most interaction is in my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/willowrose