#ThisorThat Thursday Author Interview with Rosalie Spielman

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The amazing Rosalie Spielman is my guest today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Now that it's Fall, I am starting up cross stitching again. I do it mostly when my husband is watching football or anything else I don't pay strict attention to. I like to sit under my quilt with the COL (cat on lap), despite his interest in the threads.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Cleaning the basement.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: My white board, my sit/stand desk, and copious amounts of coffee!

Things that distract you from writing: My phone. Occasionally, my offspring.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Creamer for my coffee.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Eggplant. It will always, always be eggplant.

Something you’re really good at: Apparently I'm a good baker. So says the people eating, at least.

Something you’re really bad at: Deciding when an avocado is ready.

Something you wish you could do: Dance. I mean…not a lot of rhythm in these old bones.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Download mobile games.

Last best thing you ate: I made grilled cheese last night, and it was so good. I used gouda cheese from Aldi, and the cheese pull was amazing.

Last thing you regret eating: I tried to make an online video version of potato duchesse, and for one, it was tasteless and for two, hurt my gut! Blah.

Things to say to an author: "I love your books!"

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Criticize their book while also making it clear you didn't actually read it…

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Probably join the Army. My mother was surprised, to say the least.

Something you chickened out from doing: For several years, I chickened out of doing "speed dating" at reader cons. I did it at Malice last year and realized my mistake. 😉

The funniest thing that happened to you on vacation: It wasn't technically a vacation because we lived there, but my husband and some friends and I went to Oktoberfest in Munich. It was a lot of fun, and I do remember most of it. One thing I clearly remember was a guy asking my husband if I believed in "free love." Um, no I do not. No thank you.

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you on a vacation: I hesitate to share this, but my family and I visited Barcelona, Spain, for Spring Break one year when we were stationed in Germany. We went to the beach, where a lot of the women were topless. I figured, hey, when in Rome, right? But that's not the most embarrassing part. That would be when a local worker cleaning up the beach walked by and said something to her partner about La Blanca. Yep, that's me. La Blanca.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Being named the Writer of the Year for 2026 by the Military Writers Society of America. I go to Orlando later this month to receive the award.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I had slowed down the pace of my book schedule. I've had 13 books published in five years, plus six short stories. I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities presented but should have taken more time to enjoy the process and not be stressed out all the time. I've learned the importance of passing on some things.

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: The most recent piece of advice that rocked me wasn't from a writer, but they asked me why I was stressing myself out so much for what almost amounts to a volunteer position. 😉 Don't get me wrong – I love writing and I love giving readers an escape from the real world, but I often found myself working more than a 40-hour work week, which would make my "hourly" payrate literal fractions of pennies. I love my readers, but that work rate is unreasonable to sustain.

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: Make your health a priority so you can write for many years to come!

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Step away from the story that isn't wanting to come out and "play." Maybe write a short story with completely new characters and setting. Get back to what you love about writing.

Things you do to avoid writing: "Research" for a story that will likely never be written. (AKA just surfing the web.)

 About Rosalie:

Rosalie Spielman is an author, mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She strives to provide you an escape…one page at a time. In addition to short stories, she has written for two cozy mystery series, including books in her award-winning Hometown Mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Military Writers Society of America, the latter of which has named her the Writer of the Year for 2026. Rosalie lives near Annapolis, Maryland, with her family. 

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Rosalie Spielman

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I’d like to welcome the fabulous Rosalie Spielman to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Going on walks, reading, stitching, watching true crime.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Grocery shopping. It’s rather unfortunate that people must eat.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Water and/or a hot beverage.

Things that distract you from writing: My phone. My kids. (They’re grown, but still distracting.)

Hardest thing about being a writer: Promo. It’s a never-ending task, like laundry.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Ideas. I have too many of them!

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Not happening, ever. Though I have been known to send a minion for ice cream.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Kale and eggplant.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: Recently, it’s a reading light that you hang around your neck. I use it for reading or stitching. Nerdy, I know.

The thing you wished you’d never bought: I bought my daughter a goat Squishmallow, goat socks, and a screaming goat button, only to have her kindly tell me that her college mascot (a ram) is a sheep, not a goat… She still likes and uses them but that was pretty embarrassing for this self-proclaimed “farm girl.”

Favorite snacks: Ritz crackers and dark chocolate, especially covering fruit or nuts. (The dark chocolate almonds from Aldi are a favorite right now.)

Things that make you want to gag: Eggplant.

Something you wish you could do: A yoga headstand.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: How to watch a Reel.

Things to say to an author: “I loved your book!”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Repeatedly apologize for a behavior they have no intention of changing. I’ll restrain myself from being more specific…since I’m not moving anytime soon.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Meeting readers who already know who I am. Even after ten books I am consistently stunned to hear people read them.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I would have waited for Welcome Home to Murder to be my debut book.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: That my Hometown Mysteries is their new favorite series.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: In a review (so not directly at me), a reader said they were surprised at the quality of the writing since it was published by a small publisher. Back handed compliment much?

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: That the writing process looks different for everyone and that it’s ok that mine is not like someone else’s – do what works for me.

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: I would encourage me to start earlier, though I didn’t possess the confidence to even try until I was in my forties.

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Since I alternate between two series, I’ll take a break from writing whatever I’m stuck on and focus on a different book / the other series. Or I write a short story. It’s ok to take a break. Though having said all that…with deadlines, I don’t have time for writer’s block.

Things you do to avoid writing: Social media/promo…still work but not writing!

About Rosalie:

Rosalie Spielman is an award-winning author, mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. In addition to other books and short stories, Rosalie writes the Hometown Mysteries series, set in Idaho. Rosalie has been featured in Bold Journey Magazine, the Moscow-Pullman Daily news, Kings River Life News and Reviews, and Fresh Fiction. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime and the Military Writers Society of America, the latter of which awarded her work a gold medal in 2024.

Let’s Be Social:

For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to www.rosalie-spielman-author.com Rosalie strives to provide you an escape...one page at a time.

Bookshop store: bookshop.org/shop/YouKnowTheSpiel

You Know The Spiel reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/760076150762688

Murder, They Write group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/451857037689554

Instagram: Rosalie.spielman

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Rosalie Spielman

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I’d like to welcome the fabulous Rosalie Spielman to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday — Fall Edition!

A few of your favorite fall traditions: My husband and I are happy when we are able to go on our long walks on the weekends again. It’s too hot in the summer, especially for our dog, so it’s a relief—and a joy—to feel those first few days of crisp air!

Something autumn-related that you’ll never do again: Go to a “Back to School Night” at a school! Yay for college-aged kids!

Favorite fall treat: Homemade pumpkin-pecan scones. Yum!

A fall treat that makes you gag: Anything with licorice or anise.

Something you only do in the fall: Rake leaves.

Something you’d never do in the fall season: Rake leaves that are “mine.” We have no trees, so all our leaves are leaves that abandon the the neighbors. LOL! We have no trees, and yet I am constantly raking…

Favorite autumn beverage: London Fog Latte.

A drink that gives you a sour face: Pumpkin Spice latte. I do like Chai, but “PSL” is too much spice.

Favorite fall smell: Freshly fallen leaves.

Something that makes you hold your nose: Not-so-fresh, rotting leaves.

Best fall memory: I love going to fall festivals, and the Kurbis festival in Germany was particularly wonderful. (Kurbis = pumpkin)

Something you’d rather forget: Also in Germany, the time a woman pointed me out, in my witch hat, and exclaimed that I looked so much like a witch since I even had “the witch nose!” Um. That’s my actual nose, but thanks?

A tradition you share with others: Boo bags!

A tradition that can be retired: Boo bags!

Best thing you ever cooked/baked in autumn: One year, I made an herbed and garlicy, super buttery dinner roll wreath from scratch for Thanksgiving. So good.

Your worst kitchen disaster: Same recipe, different year…the bundt pan leaked butter, making smoke fill the kitchen and the fire alarm go off. AND to top it off, they ended up dry. Lol!

Favorite place you spent a fall day: Sitting on my porch with a Chai and one of my pumpkin-pecan scones! I even like to take my laptop and do some writing out there, or some reading.

The worst place to spend a fall day: Inside.

Favorite pumpkin spice item: Pancakes! Having said that, I’m not a huge fan. I like pumpkin, not so much the spices without the pumpkin. (I’m looking at you, Starbucks.)

Something that should never be pumpkin-spiced flavored: Pretty much everything?

Best Halloween costume ever: It’s not mine, but one of the costumes for my kids. One year, he wanted to be a certain Star Wars character. My sister had given the kids goatherder cloaks from Tunisia, which had been George Lucas’ inspiration for the Jedi capes. My son’s cape was pretty large on him, then we got a scary black fabric mask with glowing round eyes and put up the hood… Voila, a Jawa!

Worst Halloween costume disaster: The same year my son was a Jawa, my little Kindergartener wanted to be Princess Jasmine. I found one somewhere and she was an adorable little Jasmine. But, walking along with her brother, all the other parents knew exactly what my son’s costume was, but couldn’t guess my daughter’s, despite the little broach with the character’s face... Poor little thing was so bummed out.

About Rosalie:

Rosalie Spielman is a mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. She writes for the multi-author Aloha Lagoon mystery series and her own Hometown Mystery series.

She currently lives in Maryland with her husband in a rapidly emptying nest. For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to www.rosalie-spielman-author.com, follow her Facebook page (Rosalie Spielman author), Instagram (Rosalie.Spielman), or join her Facebook readers’ group, You Know The Spiel. Rosalie strives to provide you a cozy escape...one page at a time.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.rosalie-spielman-author.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063501963689

 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/760076150762688