I very  much enjoyed interviewing Paper Lantern Writer Alina Rubin for this post. She wrote her first novel during the pandemic and now has four novels published and one coming out in October. When not working or writing, Alina enjoys yoga, hiking, and traveling. She also writes short stories, features about historical women, as well as personal and travel accounts on her A Girl On Adventure Blog.

LU: Do you have a favorite scene in your most recent novel, Abigail’s Song?
AR: So many to choose from, but one of them is Caroline’s arrival and the chaos it brings. She is a sweet young woman, but she’s Abigail’s worst nightmare.

LU: I remember that scene! Good choice. Can you tell me three things nobody knows about this book?
AR: 1. I started learning piano when I was 26 and played only one recital. But that recital, the mistakes I’ve made, and the triumph I experienced when I finished, helped me write Abigail’s concert scene.
2. I planned Abigail to be only a short story, but now it will be at least a two book series. It’s the only book so far that I “pantsed” instead of plotted. Ideas came to me each morning when I planned to write or when I went walking after a writing session.
3. Once, after a writing session, my landline phone beeped, like someone was dialing. I was in the room alone. I looked at the screen, and it displayed “44”.
Later that day, my daughter asked me to take her to McDonald’s, and we got number “44” again. I Googled the number and learned it signifies a connection
with angels. Perhaps my guardian angels wanted me to write that story.

LU: I’d say your guardian angel was definitely on duty that day. What are you working on now?
AR: I’m preparing to publish the third book in Hearts and Sails series called A Surgeon and a Spy. In this adventure, Ella’s friends are imprisoned in France, and she goes to help them.

LU: Ella’s a great character. I’m looking forward to A Surgeon and a Spy. Do you plan your books or just write it as it comes?
AR: I’m a big fan of Save the Cat novel structure and plot my books using the blueprint. I figure out what key scenes must happen on what “beat”, and then I’m ready to write. It usually takes me two drafts to create a workable manuscript, and plenty of ideas come as I write, but the original plan rarely changes.

LU: I’ve used Save the Cat, too. It’s a good tool. I know you’ve attended a lot of conferences and book events, Alina. Which one was your favorite?    AR: I went to 20 Books for 50K in Vegas twice and had a great experience each time. I loved meeting authors of all genres, including some I’ve never heard of. Those conferences elevated my marketing to a new level. Next year, I want to give Historical Novel Conference a try.

LU: I’m going to HNS next year, too. It’s a good one. You have a new venture called Hearts and Sails Author Services. What do you offer authors?
AR: Self-publishing can be overwhelming, especially for new authors. I want to share what worked for me and help writers get their books out into the world. I offer proofreading, formatting, setting up a great sales page, and marketing.

LU: You have a lot going on with your writing and your business. Do you have a creative outlet besides writing?
AR: I don’t know if it’s a creative outlet, but I enjoy cooking. I prepared only the simplest dishes until I became a mom. Then I got inspired to make healthy, delicious dishes for my family and challenged myself to choose a recipe and make a new dish each week. Soon enough I learned to make elaborate meals and gained a reputation as a great cook.

LU: I love cooking, too. Do you listen to music while you write or edit? If so, what’s on your writing playlist?
I love to write to the sound of the rain. There are beautiful videos on YouTube that show gardens or cozy rooms with the rain in the background. I put those on and block out all other sounds to concentrate.

I hope this short interview gives you a glimpse of Alina Rubin that you didn’t already know about. For more about Alina and her books, visit her website and follow her on social media. She also can be found in Paper Lantern Writers’ Facebook group for readers of historical fiction. And if you’re in Las Vegas next June, connect with both myself and Alina at the Historical Novel Society conference.