My first
question is on your Eden Hall series. What made you decide to release
all 5 of the books on the same day in 2010?
The Eden
Hall Series was not originally written for publication. I wrote the
series in 2008 as a gift to my mother who was a romance reader. Later I
uploaded them to CreateSpace with print on demand as my only goal. They
were then published to Amazon and have been there ever since.
How long
did it take you to write that series?
The
series took me eight months to write and I had two different editors that
worked with me. I received differing advice from them, but ultimately I
took the advice of one of them and did a rewrite to reduce the steam from many
of the scenes.
Ten years
ago, there was a spirited divide in the romance genre where erotica was growing
and clean romance was just budding. Although the series was written in
the middle of that road, the editors were pulling me in opposite
directions. I did tone it down and deleted some scenes, but I feel the
series is still firmly in the middle of that road. Several years
following that series, I did write a clean romance called Willow Wood.
After all
those books, what made you switch to writing cozy mysteries?
Mysteries
are my preferred reading genre, so I enjoy writing them. The hardest part
for me is finding the time. It is an endurance test sometimes. I
work all day at a demanding job and then try to write in my free time. As
I have many hobbies, there is competition for that free time!
Why did
you choose the indie route to publish your books?
I have
never considered traditional publishing and have never submitted an agent
letter or manuscript to anyone. I have heard too many horror stories from
other authors who struggle to get the rights returned to them from publishing
contracts they signed, and I don't want anyone else to control my
releases. I prefer to work at my own pace and release when I'm
ready. I track my own expenses and income that way. I may also have
control issues. :-)
What is
the hardest part of writing for you?
The
outlining. I want very much to prepare a detailed outline before I write
a mystery. I try it each time and I always begin writing before it's
complete. I have yet to be successful with it. Logically,
especially for mysteries, I think it is the correct way to embark, yet my
urgency to begin always usurps that plan. I have a skeletal idea before I
begin, but it mostly evolves as I write.
What does
your editor remind you to do most often?
To quit
using "that" so much and add more commas. I write a lot of
dialog in my cozies and I write like I speak. Apparently, I say
"that" too much.
What’s
the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
My only
real encouragement comes from total strangers that email me or leave reviews
saying they enjoyed my books. I wish more people felt comfortable doing
that. It's really a lonely profession and reviews are the only feedback
we get.
We have
all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it?
It's
disappointing to get a negative review and I don't think reviewers realize how
much that hurts someone who has invested a lot of time to create a story for
them. I know what I write is not going to please everyone, so I try to
overlook those. If there comes a time when the negative reviews outweigh
the positive, I will know it is time to quit publishing and keep my stories to
myself.
What has
surprised or frustrated you the most in writing/publishing?
I think
I'm always surprised when someone buys my books. Having originally
published the Eden Hall Series without any expectation that it would
sell, I have been surprised and delighted to see it sell in the US and
abroad. I'm also delighted with the cozy mystery readers. They are
a warm and friendly group. I'm so glad to be a part of it.
The most
frustrating part is marketing. I have no experience in that area and
struggle to participate fully with it, because my free time is
limited.
What do
you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I
had known about Scrivener when I first began writing. It is an essential
tool, especially for series writing, because I can track all the different
people, streets, and businesses from one book to another.
Readerlinks
is also a fabulous tool once you begin marketing. I wouldn't want to be
without either of them!
What is
the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Write
what you enjoy and put your best face on it! Although I know I can write
in other genres, I am happier when I write what I enjoy reading. In
addition, I've learned that a good cover is a powerful thing. A number of
people will only give your book a try if they are attracted to the cover.
Are there
any other points about writing you would like to add?
Writing
is like singing. Everyone can do it. Some people just do it better
than others. If it makes you happy, you should do it!
What is
the next book coming out?
Book 6 of
the Spicetown Mystery Series was released in April, Chicory is
Trickery.
Can you
give me a short synopsis?
It’s
springtime in Spicetown and Mayor Cora Mae Bingham discovers there may be
trouble blooming along with the rhododendrons!
With
construction in full throttle in the new subdivisions and the income tax filing
deadline looming over her head, Mayor Cora Mae Bingham is revamping the Annual
Easter Eggs-Travaganza and trying to figure out who is in the Easter bunny suit
this year, when a dead body has to be added to her To-Do list.
Are any
other books in production?
I am
beginning a sequel to Willow Wood, a small-town sweet romance. It
is called Knight Events and will be published as a part of a
Christmas Anthology in November 2020. In the spring of 2021, it will be
released as a standalone book.
In
addition, I have an appointment with my cover artist in June for the next
Spicetown Mystery (Book 7), so I plan to release another Spicetown adventure
later this summer.
I also
have three other mystery series planned, two are spin-offs of Spicetown and I
would love to get started on all of them now. One will involve Dorothy
Parish, the owner of the Caraway Cafe' in Spicetown and the other centers
around Peggy Cochran, the owner of the Carom Seed Craft Corner. The third
series will be called Green Thumb mysteries and will focus on a
gardening protagonist.
I have a
couple of middle-grade mysteries in the back of my mind and a book of poetry
that needs to be published when I find the time.
In the
midst of all these plans, I just learned I am moving again. My day job
moves me around every couple of years and the time has come. As you can
imagine, moving a household to another state does sometimes cause a delay in
plans, so I may not get everything done that I want to do, but I love a
challenge!
Wow! For
someone who says she doesn’t have time to write, you’ve got it going more than
many writers I know. If you’d like to learn more about Sheri’s books, here are ways
to do that.
Amazon
Author Page: https://readerlinks.com/l/286713
Facebook
Romance Author Page: https://readerlinks.com/l/302385
Facebook
Mystery Author Page: https://readerlinks.com/l/420192
Goodreads: https://readerlinks.com/l/286814
Bookbub: https://readerlinks.com/l/324637
Thank you, Christine. I enjoyed the interview!
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