Question 1

What does Rosario mean?

Accepted Answer

Rosario originated from the Latin rosarium – a garland of roses. Spanish Roman Catholics’ Rosary is the name given to the Virgin Mary – Our Lady of the Rosary – or a chain of beads used in devotion.

Question 2

What inspired you to write a novel?

Accepted Answer

Until recently, I had never written a word of creative writing. At school, I was not known for my English written acumen! As an architect and industrial designer, writing was a tool for producing reports or drawing explanations. Five years ago, I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not write a novel in a thousand years – this was a red-rag-to-a-bull challenge I could not walk away from! The Rosario is the result of that misplaced assessment of my English abilities.

Question 3

How did you start your creative writing?

Accepted Answer

I used to live in Oxford, where one of the biggest bookshops in the world is called Blackwells. I bought an inspirational self-help book on ‘How To Write A Novel’. I took the author’s advice, who suggested I found something or someone to ‘hang’ the story, plus adding to or changing a fact of history – a fact that no one knows about that could have happened and be credible.

Question 4

Where did the idea of The Rosario come from?

Accepted Answer

I stayed in an ancient house that had carved wooden panelled doors in the lounge and bedroom; the owner told me they could have hung in the admiral’s cabin of a Spanish galleon that had been part of the Armada of 1588 that tried to invade England. Those doors became one of the ‘hooks’ that began my novel.

Question 5

How long did The Rosario take to write?

Accepted Answer

Having nearly been thrown out of English at school, I was astonished at how much I loved writing the story; chapter upon chapter flowed out of me without being conscious of the hours disappearing like water as I built the story. I knew I had found a fantastic art form to create pictures, characters and situations. And to answer the question – The Rosario took just over a year to write… and edit!

Question 6

Why did you base the villain’s complex in Spain?

Accepted Answer

I have travelled extensively in Europe, including visiting the wonderful city of Barcelona and its surrounding isolated mountainous regions; I felt having a fabulously wealthy upper-crust English villain living openly in luxury accommodation, with a secret base for his ‘extra-curricular’ activities in wild Andulusia, would make an original place to spin my yarn.

Question 7

Are there any signed copies?

Accepted Answer

The Rosario is sold as a Kindle and paperback through Amazon. There are no signed copies of the paperback except ones available at book signings or if they are sent to the author for my autograph and a dedication – send me an email for a price.

Question 8

Are there plans for other books or a sequel?

Accepted Answer

Even though the villain, Xavier Natanial Sinclair, was killed off in The Rosario, I have begun a second novel that will continue the adventures of Katie and Max and include some of the characters from the first book. The cast will be visiting different parts of the world, intertwined with new villains and breathtaking scenarios.

Question 9

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Accepted Answer

Being an artist (https://www.sissonsfineart.co.uk) I love painting chapter scenes using words, then imagining the characters – what they look like, how they talk and behave with people and how their strange habits and foilables can enhance my story.

Question 10

Did you enjoy the research behind the many sides of The Rosario, since it must have required a huge amount?

Accepted Answer

I love delving into the details behind the people, organisations, history, places and objects found throughout The Rosario; I wanted the facts to be facts and then place them in the situations I had imagined.

Question 11

A lot of things happen in Devon - do you know it well?

Accepted Answer

I have been travelling to Devon, particularly Dartmouth and Kingswear, since the late 70s, so I am familiar with the towns, villages and surrounding countryside.

Question 12

Have you written any other novels?

Accepted Answer

No, but I have a smattering of chapter ideas for a follow-on novel to The Rosario – which I am exited about. The pages are beginning to form beautifully on my laptop. I also write for emagazines – have a look at my work in www.luxurialifestyle.com/a-visit-to-les-suites-hotel-at-the-cliff-bay-in-funchal-madeira/ and www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/drive-sail-and-fly/private-aviation-peter-sissons-tests-out-diamond-aircrafts-diamond-da62/ plus, I have articles on my writing website www.petersissonswriterauthor.com.

THE ROSARIO
Peter Sissons

ASK THE AUTHOR

Contact me at peter@petersissonstherosario.com or send a question here.

Questions and Answers about The Rosario