~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have seen mixed reviews for "Admissions of Guilt", but I enjoyed this book. I appreciated the character's vulnerabilities - each, in their own way, was a victim of circumstance. Each had to face their own weaknesses, failures, and fears, and learn how to rise above the circumstances to become heroes instead of victims. Each had to make decisions that would determine their future - not only what their lives would become, but who they themselves would become.

I contacted Ms. Winkler, and she was gracious enough to consent to an interview. So without further ado, here are the results of our Q&A...

Q: This is your first published novel. Tell me about your journey to becoming an author.
A: I had always wanted to write since I was a child - reading and writing were a passion for me. Somehow, over the years, my dream of writing was put on the back burner. My working career began as a legal secretary, and I retired as a paralegal in 2004. It wasn't until after my boss died suddenly in 1997 that I decided to finally write a novel. He was a high-profile Maryland criminal trial lawyer, and I was devastated when he died. I promptly quit my job of 16 years, and spent the next three months at my computer writing my novel. Writing was the therapy I needed to get me through the grieving period of my loss. I then tucked my manuscript away until the beginning of 2012, when I decided to self-publish it on Amazon for Kindle. The novel required a massive rewrite in order to bring it up-to-date with modern technology.

Q: How has your life changed since becoming a published author?
A: As a published author with a debut novel, the main thing that has changed in my life is the significant amount of time I have put into learning to market my book, getting an audience, dealing with negative reviews, and learning to overlook anything that doesn't provide positive feedback. My book was published on Amazon on December 8, 2012, and soon after that, I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand, and then on my right. So the changes in my life since becoming a published author are ongoing and definitely a learning experience. I am currently writing my second novel, and there are things I have learned from writing "Admissions of Guilt" that I will apply to the second novel, as far as writing, editing, and marketing are concerned.

Q: While reading "Admissions of Guilt", I found myself identifying equally with Alexa, David, and Rachel. Each character was simultaneously a victim and a hero. Do you believe this is true of all people?
A: I am glad that you were able to identify with that, because that is exactly how I wanted to portray my characters. I believe some of the reviewers missed the mark completely by not realizing that. I do not believe, however, that this is true of all people. Many people consider themselves a victim of some sort, and remain that way forever. I believe that my characters, although victims, were able to rise above it in the end. I believe that people who remain victims in life fail to rise above it because they choose to be victims.

Q: You've been in the legal profession for around twenty years. How true-to-life is Alexa's story?
A: I know many female attorneys who would have been able to take on a case like Rachel's. Whether they would have stayed with their husband or not is another story, but as far as the case is concerned, they would have had the strength and professionalism to separate their personal life from their professional life. Most female attorneys I know are very strong women, which is why I felt confident that Alexa could handle the case and that it would come across as believable in my book.

Q: Which of your characters can you most identify with, and why?
A: It would definitely be Alexa. Again, because I know of so many strong female attorneys who could separate their personal life from their professional life. Alexa loved David. She wasn't about to let go of what she wanted out of life because of what happened. She was strong enough to fight to make it work, and to be able to deal with it in the end. It takes a strong person to forgive an adulterer, especially one who ends up getting another woman pregnant and then bringing that baby home. But due to the circumstances, David di the right thing, in my opinion. He finally took responsibility. I believe that Alexa was strong and smart enough to realize that, in order for her to find true happiness after what happened, she had to dig down deep in her soul to find forgiveness, and when she was able to do that, it set her free. In some of my reviews, people wanted Alexa to leave David, not understanding why a woman would take back a man who cheats on them. Well, strong women do, sometimes. Whether I approve or that or not, or whether I could be strong like Alexa, is another thing. I don't know. But it worked in my story.

Q: What would you like readers to take away from "Admissions of Guilt"?
A: That no one really knows how they would react in a situation until it happens to them. This novel is for every woman who has loved, and for those who have had that love tested to the very core. That forgiveness really can set you free. Alexa always wanted a family, and although she couldn't have children of her own, she was able to forgive David and Rachel. As a result, she would, in the end, have the life she always dreamed of. She could have lived the rest of her life a bitter person, but she chose the right path for her. Forgiveness is a powerful thing.

Q: Tell me about any current projects you're working on.
A: I have started my second novel, but it has been put on hold due to my recent surgeries. I also volunteer for a local hospice in my spare time as a patient care volunteer, and at their local thrift shop.

Q: How can your readers connect with you?
A: Twitter: www.twitter.com/roxannewinkler1
     FB: www.facebook.com/admissionsofguiltbyroxannewinkler
     Email: [email protected]

I have been asked several questions about my writing. Did I always want to be an author? How do I come up with ideas for writing? What do I want to accomplish with my writing?

Growing up, I never had the ambition of becoming an author. In fact, I really didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.

However, a few years ago, I started experiencing an urge to write. Oftentimes, I would sit with pen and paper, but the page remained empty, because I had no idea what I wanted to write. Yet the longing was there so strongly.

Last year, the Lord impressed several things into my spirit that He desired for me to do. One of them was writing. I complained, "But I don't know what to write!" After a while, I calmed down. I quit complaining and started praying. "OK, Lord. What am I supposed to be writing? You place the words in me, and I'll write them." I didn't know if it was a book, a poem, a song...I just decided I had to wait on Him.

A few weeks later, the floodgates opened. I started hearing sentences and paragraphs. I dreamed of people and their stories. I saw in my mind's eye the cover of a book, a man hiking alone through the mountains. I heard the words, "You're Not Alone", and knew it was the title of a book.

I spent the next nine months primarily at my desk, laptop in front of me, and a Bible and a concordance open beside me. I spent a lot of time whining to my husband, "I can't do this. I'm not a writer! I don't know the first thing about writing! Besides, who am I to teach anyone anything? I've got my own issues that I can't get worked out. I don't know enough to teach anyone else!" he would then talk some sense into me, and back to work I would go. Two or three days later, repeat the cycle.

You're not Alone will soon be hitting bookstores. There's a lot of emotions for me. I am nervous - I feel like I've given birth to something, and will now be asking others to inspect my offspring and judge me by it. I am in awe - I see something that God started in me, and He has brought it to completion. I am hopeful - of course, I want this book to do well, and to help others. I am doubtful - I still struggle to keep thoughts of insecurity and doubt and bay, and to simply trust God to have his way.

As to the question of other books, I constantly have ideas flowing through my mind. They appear in dreams, from something I read, from something I hear, from almost anywhere. I am currently working n a novel, but there are ieas for at least three other books floating around my head, as well.

What do I wish to accomplish through my writing? Loaded question! Of course, I would be lying if I said I don't care about money. I'm not looking to become rich, but yes, I would like ot make a profit from the work I put into this. However, that's not my primary goal. First and foremost, I want to strengthen and encourage others. I want to give others a hand and help them to stand through some of life's trials. This journey is hard; walking it alone is twice as hard.

I also want to entertain. Sometimes, we just need a chunk of time that allows us to escape. When writing novels, I want to welcome my reader into another place, and I want to keep them entertained while they're there. I want them to go to new places, meet new people, and have new experiences through the lives of others. And when my readers step back into their own worlds, I want them to take with them a piece of the world they are stepping out of.