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It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Rita A. Gordon, author of 30 DAYS IN BELFAST

Author’s Bio: Rita Gordon is a California native living in the Bay Area and a San Francisco State University graduate. As an emerging voice in the contemporary romance genre, Rita brings a fresh perspective to storytelling. Inspired by the power of love and the beauty of cultural exploration, her writing captures the essence of human emotions, leaving readers spellbound with each page turn. 

In addition to writing, Rita is an avid reader and has amassed an extensive collection of books that fill the rooms of her house. When not reading and writing, she travels, draws flower designs for her coloring books, or volunteers in her community. Her debut novel, 30 Days in Belfast, is available in print and e-book. 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

Rita A. Gordon: I had been writing stories since college but never completed an entire novel. In 2016, I challenged myself to complete a novel in thirty days because I read somewhere that was possible. Although I didn’t finish my story in thirty days, I did complete it in about three months. Then I let it sit until 2019, when I started editing it. I believe the concept came from applying math to completing a novel. I thought if I wrote one day in my character’s life every day over thirty days, I could finish the book in thirty days. It’s funny when I think back now. And Belfast happened to be the birthplace of the person who was the inspiration behind the main male character on whom I was trying to build a backstory. 

DL: How do you handle writer’s block?

RAG: Writer’s block is a real thing. I step away from the writing and do other things. I listen to songs on the music playlist I created for the book I’m writing, which helps put me in the mood of the book and my characters. I also keep a Pinterest board of my character inspiration and location settings. So, I keep the book’s Pinterest board open while I write to keep me in the mood and setting. 

DL: What is your writing process?

RAG: My writing process aligns with how plotters write. I keep a spreadsheet that tracks the characters, ages, persona types, and family relationships. I also show which future books they will appear in. I develop a spreadsheet that maps out the scenes, and I create writing prompts that help me know what I should write about in each chapter. With 30 DAYS IN BELFAST, I kept a calendar that mapped out the days. A lot of activity happened in the book in the morning, afternoons, and evenings, so I had to keep meticulous notes. 

DL: What was the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

RAG: The best writing advice I received is to simply write. Don’t worry about editing, etc., while writing. Let the thoughts flow and put it on the page. Then, later, you can go back and fix things as needed. I applied that to my current work in progress, and it was amazing how fast I could put my thoughts on the page.

 DL: If you were hosting a dinner party, which three authors would be your dream guests and why?

RAG: Oh, this is easy. Kennedy Ryan, because she was born to write. She’s the queen of prose and romance. Kenya Goree-Bell because she is unabashed—and I love it. Her energy is contagious, and her stories are bold, creative, and smoking hot. Evelyn Sola because she has bewitched me with her stories. All three of these authors are on my auto-buy list. 

DL: What are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?

RAG: This is a tricky question since I self-published. A lot of marketing is based on algorithms. So, for indie authors, if you post on social media, it’s essential to get audience engagement in the form of likes, follows, subscribers, and, most importantly, reviews. People like to tell you in comments, emails, or DMs how much they like the book or your work, which we absolutely love, but if readers don’t go onto Amazon or Goodreads and leave a review, it doesn’t help the author get seen by more readers. So, the key is to get readers to post reviews and buy the book.

 DL: What’s your favorite line from a book?

RAG: “Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!” – Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë. 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from 30 DAYS IN BELFAST?

RAG: Here is a blurb from the book. 

Just one distraction could lead to failure—several may spell ruin.

As the daughter of the wealthiest Black man in the country, Rose Ross struggles to make a name for herself as the COO of her father’s tech company. She’s even forced to let go of a promising relationship to focus on her career, but still cannot seem to escape her father’s legacy. Rose fears that if she remains at Rick Ross Enterprises, she will never rise above the vast shadow his name casts. 

When her ailing friend reaches out to her for help, Rose doesn’t hesitate. She has just thirty days to curate the most important charity art exhibition in Europe and break into a field she is truly passionate about. However, just before she leaves for her flight to Belfast, her father informs her that she has only three weeks to decide whether she will succeed him as CEO. 

With her concentration already split between one life-altering decision, Rose is stunned when she meets her friend’s handsome and overprotective brothers. Right away, she recognizes an undeniable, yet different, attraction to both. 

Her mind in turmoil, Rose’s focus is now fractured among love and business. If she cannot make a decision—or if she makes the wrong one—she will lose everything she has worked for and, perhaps, more. 

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

RAG: My current work in progress is a three-book fiction romance series. The first book in the series is called SEVEN DAYS IN SEATTLE. This book is about an attorney who flies to Seattle the week before an important meeting to get away following a breakup. Then, a stranger at a bar offers a pretty distraction, a one-night stand that turns into a week-long affair. They soon discover fate is about to punish them for staying anonymous… by throwing them into each other’s lives in the worst possible way. 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

RAG: Readers can get more information here:

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

RAG: Thank you! 


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