Friday Feature: @RowRow1990

Here we are again, that magical and marvellous day of the week. Yes, it's Friday. And on this day, as with every Friday, we get to meet another Proser from our talented queue of Feature Friday participants. This week, we have a Proser stepping up to the plate that we are sure you will have come across as some stage on Prose. It's @RowRow1990

P: What is your given name and your Proser username?

R: My name is Rowanne Carberry and my proser name is RowRow1990. RowRow is a nickname that’s often been used for me by my friends and 1990 is the year I was born. Imaginative, I know.

P: Where do you live?

R: I live somewhere in England. I don’t really want a stalker (unless you’re Channing Tatum, in which case, hit me up for my address.) It would also be nice to know more of you that live in England, as the majority of people I talk to, seem to be in America, and as amazing as they are, it’d be nice to get to know a few who are closer to home.

P: What is your occupation?

R: Which one do you want? I have a few! I’m currently a student that is thankfully nearly at an end (and then I think I need a break from education for the rest of my life). I’m training to be therapist but not finishing with the full qualification (big long boring story). I’m also on a creative writing as therapy course. I go to placement as a trainee therapist, I’m a personal assistant for my mum and I also work as 1-1 support for a woman with an autistic agency!

P: What is your relationship with writing and how has it evolved?

R: It’s a love hate relationship. Sometimes we love each other, sometimes I love it whilst it hates me, and sometimes I hate it, whilst it loves me! At the moment I’m struggling to find the time to write as I’ve so much going on, but I do when I can, and I think we’re in a love/love relationship so it’s not going to bad. This could easily change when I start having the time again though!

P: What value does reading add to both your personal and professional life?

R: Without reading I would go insane. I go through phases sometimes where I don’t read, but if I could never read again? I’m not sure I would want to live in that world. It’s something I love; it’s my own personal therapy, a world to escape into when mine is too much. I take inspiration from what I read and use that in my writing, I’ve also been paid to write reviews.

P: Can you describe your current literary ventures and what can we look forward?

R: I can (just as soon as I go and wash the taste of soap from my mouth from a not very well rinsed out cup!)

Well, that was gross.

So my current ventures are a few. There’s one that certain people are dying for me to finish and it’s called “Cuffed”. It’s fucked up. I worry about my mind sometimes and writing this book is one of them. There’s extracts from it littered through my prose profile, but it’s a back burner until I really have the right amount of time to dedicate to it.

I should hopefully be self-publishing a book called “The Soul Catcher” soon, but I keep being let down on my cover designs with people not doing it (anyone out there design covers?!)

A poetry book is being put together but I’m holding off on self-publishing in the hopes that I can get it properly published as I’ve had a few in anthologies – maybe that’s where they’ll all end up.

I’m also co-writing a song with a friend of mine. I’m doing the lyrics and she’s putting the music/voice to it and that will be performed and recorded so that’ll be nice.

There are a few other little bits and pieces as “side projects” but these are the main ones.

P: What do you love about TheProse.com?

R: I love the fact that it’s a place to share your writing and connect with other people. Everyone is so different too so it’s nice being able see the different styles we all have.

P: Is there one book that you would recommend everybody should read before they die?

R: One? Don’t be silly. There are many. So I’ll list a few.

How could she? By Dana Fowley - it’s a true story and it’s awful, absolutely sickening, vile, descriptive, will make you want to be sick, to cry and then in part to celebrate. I say people should read this as it shows the courage that someone went through to get their story out there eventually, and how important it is we support each other, look out for each other, and just be there when needed. It also highlights how sick the human race can be.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch - I just love it. It’s one of the few books I can read , and then watch the film. The book is miles better though. I just fell in love with it. Again it details how awful life can be (I read happy things I promise) but that people can get through it. It’s another book to make you cry.

Anything by Kelley Armstrong or Laurell K Hamilton.

Red Tears by Joanna Kenrick – I don’t even know how to describe this really. I think it should be mandatory reading for everyone.

I was trying to think of something that’s just happy to recommend, but I can’t! Although 

I enjoy them, I read those types when I want to just live in the clouds and so they don’t always stay with me.

However, Marian Keyes, and Ceceila Ahern – are two amazing writers. Although their books do often end happy, I find that they’re not often predictable and generally, have the trials and tribulations of real life in them. But they are essentially chick lit.

P: Do you have an unsung hero who got you into reading and/or writing?

R: I don’t think he can be classed as an unsung hero as I’ve spoken about him before, including in a write I dedicated to him, and by posting one of his, my dad. He is an extremely talented writer. I always loved reading his poems when I was younger, and would always ask for his opinions on things I wrote, I still do now, where it’s appropriate. My mum and dad also always used to read to me and my brother when we were kids, and would encourage books and reading. At school I remember because I read so much I got put onto the advance reading when I was about 6. And then at secondary school, me and the librarian used to swap books, and she’d bring in ones that I shouldn’t have been reading ;). I’ve lots of people help me on my way with my reading and writing, but my mum and dad deserve the biggest shout out of all – especially by putting up with some of the awful things I wrote and encouraging me to do more.

P: Describe yourself in three words! (Just three???)

R: Opinionated. Caring. Determined.

P: Is there one quote, from a writer or otherwise, that sums you up?

R: Just one? Again? Can we stop with the limits here, I don’t do well lol. (If only I could write this much for my university essays.)

So, I have two quotes that are tattooed on me. They are; “Laugh now, cry later.” And; “Aim for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll amongst the stars.”

They may not sum me up, but they sum up things I want to live by (even though sometimes it’s appropriate to cry now and laugh later.)

Oh wait, I have a third, and can’t believe I forgot about this one. As this one does sum me up. Underneath a big Tigger tattoo that is all multicoloured and wonderful is; “But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I’m the only one!”

P: Favourite music to write and/or read to?

R: I don’t have a favourite. I’ll read/write even with the TV on in the background. I’ll often read in silence, but for writing, I need some form of background noise….. so long as it isn’t someone trying to talk to me.

P: You climb out of a time machine into a dystopian future with no books. What do you tell them?

R: Books can be easily created; it’s the stories, the myths and the legends that take time.

P: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you/your work/social media accounts?

R: I have a writing page on facebook which is www.facebook.com/rowanneswriting

My twitter (that I don’t use all that often) is also RowRow1990

I do personalised poems to order which can be done through my faceboook page if you so wish :) And if you let me know you’re from Prose, there’ll be a discount of course.

From me to Prose. How did you end up coming up with such an amazing idea that has evolved into TheProse.com?

Aw, shucks. Thanks Rowanne! If you have yet to do so, please follow and interact with her. If you yourself want to feature, or would like to nominate anyone, do please get in touch. We have a queue of lovely and talented people, but they can drop in any order, so get involved! Email paul@theprose.com with your nominations, even if it's you.