Giselle Roeder answers your questions

How do you describe a book like "Flight Into The Unknown?"

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)["Flight" would normally be an airline flight. "Flight" (in this case) is not only that, but it is also an "escape." An escape from an abuser, a stalker; an escape from a life that was like a dance on a tightrope. "Gila" never knew what would happen next... and all she wanted, is get away, get out of Germany, immigrate and start a new life, have a family and live without constant fear. By chance, she saw an advert, posted by a man with a little daughter in Canada: "Looking for a new mommy..." She answered, never expecting to get a reply. The Canadian man's German parents checked her out, found her suitable, catered to her, and manipulated her to agree to become engaged and promise to marry their son before she even met him. When she saw him the first time, her reaction was to run - but decency, honour and respect were strong, she couldn't do that to these nice people. What about the little girl, she was so looking forward to her 'new mommy.'? The wedding was booked without asking her, she signed on the dotted line.
When she arrived in Canada 3 months later, with all her earthly goods being on a container ship, she had a rude awakening. Her money, saved over many years, was used to pay "our debts" - she had no idea what that even was. Too late to get away with only limited English. She was handed a lemon - so she made lemonade, made the best out of a bad situation. There was not only one child, there were two. Over the years there was some success building a family. When those two little girls were joined by a baby brother, life was good - for a while. Bankruptcy forced her to build her own business, it grew and she developed into an interesting radio/TV personality, even became an international speaker. At the height of 'a good life' when the children were teens, her husband did an unbelievable thing and she lost everything. Did she kill herself? No. The strength of the character she showed is an inspiration for women in blended families, emotionally or physically abused women, divorcees and all stepmothers to deal with their problems and see the light at the end of the tunnel. (hide spoiler)]

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Can you tell us a two-sentence horror story?

Giselle Roeder The soldier pushed the bayonet up her crotch because she fought him. He pulled the bloody thing out of her and came to rape my mother.

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If you could travel to any fictional book world, where would you go and what would you do there?

Giselle Roeder How did you ever come up with this idea?! Anyway, I would go to the world of the Grimm Brothers, the Fairytale World. I have loved and hated fairy tales since I was listening to my grandma telling them. And I hated the ones where bad stepmothers made the life for poor children almost unbearable. (Hansel and Gretel) In my book "Forget Me Not" is my grandma's explanation of that bad stepmother. So what would I do in this fictional world? I would be a 'good fairy'. I would help those children but especially influence the stepmothers to become better persons and be better understood. I was one myself, and I find it very painful and hurtful to be presented as a "bad stepmother". I know that I earned a 'special place' in heaven for what I did in my life and I want children to understand that 'blended families' are necessary nowadays and stepmothers are not what they are made out to be in fairy tales.

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If you could travel to any fictional book world, where would you go and what would you do there?

Giselle Roeder How did you ever come up with this idea?! Anyway, I would go to the world of the Grimm Brothers, the Fairytale World. I have loved and hated fairy tales since I was listening to my grandma telling them. And I hated the ones where bad stepmothers made the life for poor children almost unbearable. (Hansel and Gretel) In my book "Forget Me Not" is my grandma's explanation of that bad stepmother. So what would I do in this fictional world? I would be a 'good fairy'. I would help those children but especially influence the stepmothers to become better persons and be better understood. I was one myself, and I find it very painful and hurtful to be presented as a "bad stepmother". I know that I earned a 'special place' in heaven for what I did in my life and I want children to understand that 'blended families' are necessary nowadays and stepmothers are not what they are made out to be in fairy tales.

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What books are on your summer reading list this year?

Giselle Roeder I have downloaded quite a list - for me, as a writer working on two new books. Reading time is limited but necessary. Here is what I like to finish before the summer is over:
"Fall of the Dynasties" by Edmund Taylor
"Lucy's Christmas Miracle" by Don Massencio
"The Grand Masquerade" by Amanda Hughes
"Never a Mistress, No longer a Maid" by Maureen Driscoll
"You are my Sunshine" by Roberta Kagan
plus several writers and Marketing books and when something intriguing comes my way, I'll add it!

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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Giselle Roeder The reason I emigrated - and my life in Canada. How, from not speaking English, I came to be an international speaker and writing English language books. How I raised someone else's kids and ended up alone in old age. My life is like a chess game - something or someone "pushed me around". I am still not sure if my life happened or if I created it. I, and you will find the answer in the sequel to my memoir "We Don't Talk About That". Working on it... but it's tough to write. Much tougher than writing the memoir and I'm still amazed that I survived the first 30 years of my life.

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How do you get inspired to write?

Giselle Roeder It's something "in you". Once you started writing, anything, - I started with short stories, - it's like a seed planted and it sprouts...when the time is right.

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What are you currently working on?

Giselle Roeder The sequel to my book "We Don't Talk About That". My readers keep asking when is it ready. Most say "I can't wait to see what happens next..."

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Giselle Roeder Take some writing courses.

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Giselle Roeder You are never bored, - you wish to have several hands or computers to get all the ideas out of your head.

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Giselle Roeder I read other writers books somehow relating to my topic. Then I wait for inspiration...

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Giselle Roeder After a presentation to a Probus Club people started asking "Do you have a book?" I didn't - so I wrote one since I got too many requests.

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